The Jailhouse

[AKvetch]

Back in the 1800s the Tates Watch Company of Massachusetts wanted to
produce other products and, since they already made the cases for
pocket watches, decided to market compasses for the pioneers
traveling west. It turned out that although their watches were of
finest quality, their compasses were so bad that people often ended
up in Canada or Mexico rather than California. This, of course, is
the origin of the expression, "He who has a Tates is lost!"