ADVERTISING EXTRAORDINARY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1908, 16 March 1887, Page 3

ADVERTISING EXTRAORDINARY

The crowds who thronged the Thames and its banks on the occasion of thn University boat race tb,e other day hnd a novel and quite unlooked-for source of amusement. This was a Bteara launch, upon which was a living figure representing- old Father Time, but carrying a huge Waterbury watch instead of the now superseded hour-glass There was also a man bearing a gigantic watch. Both figures were very striking and attracted attention at once. As the launch proceeded, it was seen that little boxes were being thrown on this side and on that, now into the various craft on the water, and out on the banks as well It seems that the launch was that of the Waterbury Watch Company, who m order to call attention to their wares had adopted this novel but effective means. During the day 30,000 tin boxes of sweets were thrown out. In a large proportion of these were coupons on which the undertaking was to give a watch to the bearer on presentation at an address name:!. Of course there was great scrambling to get hold of the sweets, with the ohances they hid among them. Since this Company began business m Eng'and m September last they have already sold no fewer than 70,000 watches, and m America the average sale for some time past has been 320,000 watches a year, or about 1000 on every working day. — "Times" (London).