Posted by Peter H on December 12, 2008 at 12:02:09 user Peter_H.
In Reply to: Re: Captain John's Chronometer and Barometer posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on December 12, 2008 at 11:05:07:
Wrist watches were still fashionable (and correspondingly expensive) novelties
Andrew - are you sure about that? I have a facsimile repro of a Harrods 1929 Catalogue. OK, Harrods is the top end of the market (at least it was then), but it will do for our purposes. You could buy a 'silver wristlet watch' for £2.0.0. The 'Ladies' version (which might do for a child) was £1.10.0. The cheapest pocket watch available cost £3.0.0. There were a number of wrist watches offered, in different styles, including a Rolex 'Oyster' for £5.15.0. I don't get the impression that wrist watches were 'novelties'. My father used to wear a watch which had been given to him when he got his first job - round about the same time.