A Dueber Chronometer is offered on -bay. It is the early helical hairspring model and in a solid gold case. I have always wanted one but of course this is not cheap. I believe this is the first one I have seen offered and if I could have it or the Ball Hampden I would probably take the Chronometer. What a dilemma!!!!

I feel for you, Deacon, but I don't see a Ball Hampden on the horizon, so I support a big splash for the Chrono. Should we all chip in a fin to get you started?

[Actually, I would.]

kh

quote:

Should we all chip in a fin to get you started?

[Actually, I would.]

So would I.

I posted the link in "Pitfalls"

Check out the other items for sale. This guy is selling some high gear stuff.

Ken, please excuse my lack of understanding of the American language but what it meant by a fin.

Thanks, Mike

Mike, fin = $5 in both Canada and USA.

Of course Ten Dollars is a "Sawbuck", making a Fin "Half a Sawbuck"! That may not translate either. Beautiful watch though. There has to be a story behind this.

I was thinking Fin stands for Five dollars In Nickels!

A Twenty is a Double Sawbuck

Excerpt from Wikipedia:

The $5 bill is sometimes nicknamed a "fin". The term has German/Yiddish roots and is remotely related to the English "five", but it is far less common today than it was in the late 19th and early 20th centuries

Since this has wandered into currency terminology, this is something I did not know:

Canadian English, like American English, used the slang term "buck" for a former paper dollar. The Canadian origin of this term derives from a coin struck by the Hudson's Bay Company during the 17th century with a value equal to the pelt of a male beaver – a "buck".[8]

Fin = $5

Sawbuck = $10 from the Roman numeral X which looks like a sawbuck/sawhorse.

I remember a line from an old movie where a guy was paying a $16 debt and as he paid he said, A fin, a sawbuck and one of the Queen's finest.

Now, back to the matter at hand, Deacon, I hope you buy this watch for yourself.

Mike - I'm very sorry that I forgot about the non North Americans here, as I know first-hand that you could lay some words or phrases on us that would bring questions.

Lorne, ol' friend, thanks for the link. I wanted to see what Deacon was talking about.