This catalog is more of a brochure and appears to be a typical example of the sort that is personalized by distributors for their customers. In this case, the distributor is Hammel, Riglander & Co., Inc. and the end customer is the retailer Burton M. Reid Sons, Inc. of Springfield, IL.
The brochure showcases K&D's Inverto staking tools, but also lists a variety of their other tools.
Compared to K&D's early 20th century catalogs, the production quality of this one is cheap and nasty. Poor color registration, blurry impressions, etc. stand in stark contrast to the high quality of the 1904, 1908, and 1910 publications.
The brochure showcases K&D's Inverto staking tools, but also lists a variety of their other tools.
Compared to K&D's early 20th century catalogs, the production quality of this one is cheap and nasty. Poor color registration, blurry impressions, etc. stand in stark contrast to the high quality of the 1904, 1908, and 1910 publications.
Page 1 The first page states that all previous models of K&D staking tools had been discontinued by the end of 1949. These older tools, all the way back to the original 1894 Hall design (Frame A), were still available in 1937. They must have gone obsolete between 1937 and 1949. Perhaps material shortages during World War II caused K&D to narrow their product line. The Inverto 18R set in the cut contains the updated roller remover design (similar to the Rex product). The version of the Inverto 18R shown on the label of a "Improved 1946" model shows the older design. It's not clear what this means about the date the newer design was introduced since the actual tool in the "Improved 1946" box contains the new design.
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Page 2 The second page lists the Inverto 18B as well as the Junior Inverto 600 series. Based on the description of the Series 600 "R" variants as "New", they must have been introduced around 1949. Presumably these new sets were created to offer the full range of staking tool accessories (friction jeweling, balance staff remover, roller remover, etc.) to customers at the lower price point of the Inverto 600 tools.
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Page 3 Page 3 of the brochure describes various jeweling accessories for the Inverto models. These attachments are not described in the 1937 Inverto 18 brochure but are shown in the ca. 1945 -1961 version. Introduction of these accessories after 1937 is also supported by the issue date for US patent 2116213, which was applied for in 1937 and issued in 1938. Although it was assigned to Hammel, Riglander and not K&D, this patented design was the basis for the No. 540 friction jeweling attachment. Some jeweling levers have the corresponding patent date stamped into their undersides.
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Page 4 Page 4 shows various special-purpose accessories for Inverto staking tools.
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Page 5 Page 5 of the brochure contains a stake and stump list for the Inverto 18B/R and some of the Junior Inverto 600 models. Comparing this list to that from the 1950 Lindstrom catalog, they appear to be identical. They match so well that it's likely they were set from the same master. Not too surprising given that they have nearly the same publication date.
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Page 6 Miscellaneous watchmaker's tools
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Page 7 Miscellaneous watchmaker's tools
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Page 7 Miscellaneous watchmaker's tools
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