Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on 20 January, 2017. The tycoon often stood out during his election campaign due to his populist remarks. Were his utterances simply his marketing style or were they simply the result of his brusque manner of expression?
Waterbury, an American clock factory, clearly employed populism as a marketing strategy as early as 1885. The company took up discourses on anarchism, Irish immigrants, or the rise of Socialism, which were also ardently discussed among the populace; however, the company did not react in the least to such discussions. They latched onto them merely as a way of promoting their publicity. “Keep a watch on everybody!” was the Waterbury motto. Regardless of whether they were a president, an Irishman, an anarchist or a police officer, everyone could purchase a good reliable watch for little money. One watch even bore the fitting name, “Trump”.
Was the name referring to the trump card or was it trumped up?
Pocket Watch, Waterbury Watch Co., Waterbury, USA, c. 1895, Inv. 2016-84