MDDM18: Half-Hunter

[Dave Monroe]

"There, over the Evening, he will find, among the
Clientele, German Enthusiasts, Quack Physicians,
Land-Surveyors, Iron-Prospectors, and Watch-Thieves
who know how to draw a Half-Hunter fdrom one Pocket
into another with the swiftness of a Lodestone
clapping a Needle to its Influence." (M&D, Ch. 30, p.
298)

"Half-Hunter"

Main Entry: hunt·er 
Pronunciation: 'h&n-t&r
Function: noun
Date: 13th century

[...]

3 : a pocket watch with a hinged protective cover

http://m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary

But another seeming anachronism here, nonetheless ...

"Judged by many to be the most influential European of
his time, Napoleon Bonaparte also had the distinction
of inventing the first half-hunter watch. First
considered to be jewels, watches had become useful
articles by the end of the 17th century, due to a
multitude of inventions. Emperor Napoleon was
accustomed to slipping a hunter watch into the pocket
of his tunic as he led forth his armies. One day, as
he directed his men into battle from atop his horse,
he fumbled to open the cover of his watch to read the
time. Seized with frustration, Napoleon lopped off the
watchcase cover with his sword. And so was born the
half-hunter watch!"

http://www.mefrag.com.tw/b_hunter.htm

Now, the professional interest of "Quack Physicians,
Land-Surveyors, Iron-Prospectors, and Watch-Thieves"
in "a Coffee-House frequented by those with an
interest in the Magnetick" is obvious, but why "German
Enthusiasts"?  Esp. at the possibly Francophilic even
"Flower-de-Luce" ...

http://www.heraldica.org/topics/fdl.htm

Let me know.  Okay, that was an easy one.  Now ...

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