Человек в высоком замке

           Andyet,onegoldpinsoldwouldbringmorethanfortybrasspins.Theycouldgetalmostanypriceontheretailmarketforareallywell-designedandexecutedgoldpin…assuming,asFrinkhadpointedout,thattheirstuffwentoveratall.

           Atthispointtheyhadnotyettriedtosell.Theyhadsolvedwhatseemedtobetheirbasictechnicalproblems;theyhadtheirbenchwithmotors,flex-cablemachine,arborofgrindingandpolishingwheels.Theyhadinfactacompleterangeoffinishingtools,rangingfromthecoarsewirebrushesthroughbrassbrushesandCratexwheels,tofinerpolishingbuffsofcotton,linen,leather,chamois,whichcouldbecoatedwithcompoundsrangingfromemeryandpumicetothemostdelicaterouges.Andofcoursetheyhadtheiroxyacetyleneweldingoutfit,theirtanks,gauges,hoses,tips,masks.

           Andsuperbjewelers’tools.PliersfromGermanyandFrance,micrometers,diamonddrills,saws,tongs,tweezers,third-handstructuresforsoldering,vises,polishingcloths,shears,hand-forgedtinyhammers…rowsofprecisionequipment.Andtheirsuppliesofbrazingrodofvariousgauge,sheetmetal,pinbacks,links,earringclipbacks.Welloverhalfthetwothousanddollarshadbeenspent;theyhadintheirEdfrankbankaccountonlytwohundredandfiftydollars,now.Buttheyweresetuplegally;theyevenhadtheirPSApermits.Nothingremainedbuttosell.

           Noretailer,Frinkthoughtashestudiedthedisplays,cangivetheseatougherinspectionthanwehave.