did you know one of the very first installment plans for watches were first concocted by an american watchsmith?
Illinois watch company was trying to sell these "Bunn Special" pocket watches
"When the Illinois Watch Company went out of business after World War I, a jeweler in Sioux City purchased crates of the Illinois mechanisms. He then purchased watch cases from another company, and placed in them the approved Illinois mechanism. The jeweler called these watches "Bunn Specials" and placed them for sale at a reduced price.
Conductors and engineers at first were reluctant to buy these watches, even though the mechanisms were definitely "railroad approved." The jeweler realized that he had to promote his hybrid product. He then had an idea. Why not let a railroader take the watch upon making a down payment offer? He could then pay the remainder of the amount with a portion of his paycheck over a period of time.
For an incentive each time the railroad worker would make a payment, the jeweler would give him a free ticket to the movie theater across the street. The amount of payment doubled each time until the watch was eventually paid for."
