Horological Meandering

When It Rains, It Pours

 

When things in your life seem overwhelming, an American expression that you’re likely to hear is: When it rains, it pours!

We say this when there’s really nothing else to say. It helps us make sense of a string of luck, usually bad. And in the US, we all say it. Even our mothers say it! But where did the expression come from?

The Morton Salt Company. Yes, developed by ad execs in the early 1900s to sell salt, it’s one of the most successful and long-lasting early advertising slogans.

Morton was looking for a way to promote its new product, a free-flowing table salt. The packaging sold then looks almost the same today, a blue package of table salt with a handy metal spout (patented). Morton started adding magnesium carbonate in 1911. An anti-caking agent, this allowed it to pour freely. (They now use calcium silicate.) Before that addition, salt would clump together if humidity was too high. The company wanted to emphasize the idea that their salt would pour freely, even in damp weather.

The umbrella girl was the first idea chosen, then the team worked on coming up with the copy. The original pitch was “Even in rainy weather, it flows freely,” was too long and clunky. They tried the old proverb, “It never rains, but it pours,” but found it too negative. They eventually choset: “When it rains, it pours.”

Since 1914, the slogan and the girl (both company trademarks) have appeared on the salt packaging sold all across America. The Morton Salt girl was not inspired by a real person; she was just an illustrator’s creation. And after six redesigns, it looks like this version of the Morton Salt girl is here to stay — she has not really been tampered with for 50 years. That hasn’t stopped her from being one of America’s most iconic girls. According to the company’s website, 

“Each year she appears in parades, at costume parties and in schoolrooms throughout the country, brought to life by creative youngsters and adults.” 

(condensed from Kitchen Daily 2012)

I thought the expression could be used ironically in good situations, because in my family we used it not just in times of trouble, but in good times too where the happy events come in waves. But I find no mention of that on the Internet.  Their loss, I say. Now I can get to the point of this post. 

It's Raining, it's Pouring, the Old Man is Snoring

It's raining; it's pouring.

The old man is snoring.

He went to bed and bumped his head,

And he couldn't get up in the morning.

although I remember it like this

He bumped his head and he went to bed

and he couldn't get up in the morning.

This ditty dates from the first decades of the 20th century; the same time as the Morton Salt girl. A bit earlier than my appearance on earth, and now I am the old man snoring...

What is the point of this Post?

I'm beginning to wonder myself - has this turned into a Bernard-like stream of consciousness? (where are the naked ladies? you might ask).

No, I am getting to the point now.

I paid for the P15 first, when Bill sent me the invoice. Then, while waiting months for my Purists P15 Zenith Cronometro and its huge box to arrive, I got a bit itchy. As one does. 

A week or so ago I made the fatal error of clicking on "Watches for Sale Showcase." 

Having done this a number of times in the past, I've learned that rarely do dreams come true, only occasionally do deals work out to the satisfaction of both parties, and only the most optimistic of dreamers get a response of "that sounds like a fair deal." Usually it's "are you crazy?" or "I changed my mind".

At the risk of fouling things up I didn't dare mention it in public. But the deal happened - an unloved Rolex Daytona went away and 24 hours later (thank you Express Mail) here she is in its place:

I know several PuristS have this watch, although at this moment I can't name them. But I can say that I saw it about 5 years ago in New York and I fell in love with it then. But it never got my full attention, and the 2-3 deals I pursued never came to pass. Untl now.

The heaviest watch I've ever owned!

Cazalea

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