DIAMOND JUBILEE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 103, 14 February 1950, Page 2

DIAMOND JUBILEE

SIXTY YEARS AT ONE CALLING MR. GEORGE BOWMAN’S CAREER Sixty years ago t<3-day George Bowman began in Temuka his apprenticeship to Mr John Sim to the watch-making trade. He began at 5s a week, and in his sixth and last year he was paid 12s 6d. Out of his time, the young man moved to Ashburton in 1896, and * was at first an improver (25s a w T eek) and then a • journeyman (£2 12s Gd a week) in the employ of Mr Robert Murray. Mr Murray, be it noted in passing, had the business which was afterwards that of the late Mr Frank Curtis. Mr Bowman’s next “boss” was Mr S. Salek, and following him Mr J. V. de Beer; for these two employers 30 years’ service was given, and when the latter retired in 1929 Mr Bowman bought the business which has been his ever since. Its location has changed twice—first it was located in Mr de Beer’s shop (where Bonnington’s pharmacy now is), then in Burnett Street (where Rose Marie Gowns is now in possession) and in January, 1939, the move was made to the present East Street shop. Mr Bowman speaks feelingly of the depression years, which were his first in his own business venture, and that in a business peculiarly sensitive to hard times, but with quiet satisfaction recalls that since those times business has never looked back.

Changes With the Years Changes in both watch-making and in the jewellery trade have been many over the years. Mr Bowman, for instance, recalls the days before wrist watches were made, when men wore large pocket watches, and the few women who possessed timepieces wore them on long muff chains and tucked them into the front of their dresses or into specially made pockets. The standard watch was a.Rotheram hunter, costing £2 to £4, the corresponding watch to-day selling at about £ls. Parts broken or lost had years ago to be made by hand, whereas now every watchmaker carries stocks of factory-made spares. Mr Bowman remembers the first Swiss watches coming to New Zealand and also the first cheap watch, the Waterbury, which sold at 13s 6d and incidentally, had a mainspring 9 feet long as compared with about 18 inches in the average watch to-day. The first wrist watches in New Zealand were ladies’ Waterburys, which had a leather case protecting the face, and appeared about 1900. Perhaps the biggest change as regards jewellery has been the enormous popularity of brooches for long years and their virtual disappearance to-day. Another revolutionary happening was the appearance of cheap’ jewellery, mostly from Czechoslovakia and England, so much from Birmingham that it acquired the general name of brummagen goods. On the other hand, since ladies’ watches came in there has been a constant demand for them, and pearl's withstand changes of fashion which make other ornaments unaccountably fickle.

Old Ashburton In common with other old residents, business and “private,” Mr Bowman has seen innumerable changes and improvements in the town. The oldfashioned nor’-westers for example, enveloped East Street shops in clouds of dust, and made extra work for shopkeepers as \vell as for housewives. Changes in methods of travel have brought notable changes to the town —for example there were at one time no fewer than four livery and bait establishments here, and those who can quite easily believe that where the Radiant Hall now stands was one, and the site of the Somerset garage was another will not so easily credit that where Russell and Co.’s Burnett Street frontage now is (Mitchell and Turners buildings) there was a ' third. The middle block of Hast Street is most like it used to be, says Mr Bowman, but elsewhere modernity has replaced the original buildings; what with new buildings and asphalt/lawns and trees the main street of to-day bears little resemblance to that of 50 or 60 years ago. In 1896, with wages 255, boards 15s a week, the young improver to an interesting calling thought he w’ould try somewhere else, but changed his mind and has no regrets that he did stay - 54 years instead of the year or two he thought would be enough. Services to the Town All through these years Mr Bowman has taken an active interest in all that has spelled the progress and welfare of the town of his adoption. Societies and clubs for the advancement of recreation and healthy sport have for decades been given generously of his time and substance. The Methodist Church has also reason to hold him in esteem for his consistent support throughout the years.