New-York tribune., 1919-11-30
jewelers. Would Ban
Time Guarantees
System Of Indicating Wearing
Quality Has Resulted in Losses
TO Public and Trade

As q result Of the action taken re-
Gently by the National jewelers.
Association of Cincinnati in passing
the time guarantee system. leaders
Of the industry in New York and other
large jewelry centcrs have entered the
fight to end the giving OF time guar
antics on filed gold articles OF all
kinds. plated goods and repair work.
The movement is meeting with the en-
couragement of the largest jewciry
manufacturers in the United States,
who are Of the opinion that the jew
elry trade can get along as we'll with
out the time guaranty as the history,
glove and automobile tire trades.
Noble r. Fuller. president of the
National Wholesale jewelers. Associa-
tion. in denouncing the time guar
antey, said: "Thc system Of indicating
quality has enabled the unscrupulous
manufacturers to foist upon the gull
bic public, through the assistance of
greedy and morally cailoused whole
salers and retailers, lot Of Junk
that should not be digriiicd by call
ing it merchandise. The various proc
esses of accomplishing this are we'll
known to the trade. II is known. for
instance. that retailers have traded
new watches for old ones. getting the
old onc1 for practically nothing, then
turning them in to a factory as not
hav,rg worn the time limit ard receiving
a NV case in exchange. which is then
pat in stock and sold. II thus appears
that with the time guaranty on
merchandise neither the public nor the
dealers ere protected, but both are
targets and victims OF the CRATER.
"At present there is no law cover
ing this phase OF merchandising. con-
sequently there is nothing TO keep the
manufacturer Of fake goods from
stamping the article with q time
guaranty, even though the legitimate
manufacturer does eliminate il. Il is
more than probable. however. that the
force Of public opinion would soon
swing to the support Of the manu-
facturer who stamped his goods with
his name or trademark and backed
up his sales with quality and honest
adjustments. There is no doubt
that the elimination of time guaran-
ties is desired by the majority Of
those in the jewelry trade and By
those OF the buying public who have
given the subject some thought. or
have suffered from the abuses Of il.
Personally, ! am in favor of the elm
ination OF time guarantees. but think
there should be an indicator Of
quality OF jewelry which should be in
cluded in a general revision of our
national stamping laws. thus forcing
the unscrupulous manufacturer to an
honest basis or putting him out Of
business"
Jonas Koch. president of the New
York Wholesalers Association. in com
men,ing on the subject. said: "T/e
length Of time that an article will
wear depends upon the care with which
the article Is worn by the purchaser.
| am confident that with the elimina-
tion Of time guarantees on filled cases
a higher grade OF goods will be sold;
the consumer will then not be inAu-
enced in the belief that one twenty
five-year gold filled case is as good
as another. but will have to accept
the retailers assurance of the merits
OF the watch case under consdera-
ton. The reliable and confidence in
spring retailer is the one that will
secure the greater number Of Gus
TONER'S"