War Talk Prompts Southern Grandma To Buy Watches

From Horology magazine, October 1939

War Talk Prompts Southern Grandma To Buy Watches

A Montgomery, Alabama, grandma of some 60 years odd recently walked into the Montgomery jewelry store of Ruth & Sons and said, "Let me see some watches." She looked awhile and then chose four, one a Hamilton and three of another make, and then upset the whole day at the store by saying to the clerk, "Deliver them please-but not until March 8, 1954."

Of course, the clerk asked for an explanation. And he got it. It was this way: Grandma has four grandchildren and they are very young, the oldest being but five. And, "Things are very uncertain now," she said. "I don't know how long I'll be here and there's so much talk of war and trouble. Anyway, I wish to leave the children something fine as a remembrance from me, and I think watches are appropriate and they'll keep for a long time." Assuring her that the watches would be secure indeed in their flint-walled vault, the clerk carefully oiled and wrapped each precious watch in chamois skin before Grandma's eyes. He told her, too, that the watches would be ready for delivery at the appointed date because the vault is safe even against air raids.