The first staking tool I purchased was a K&D Inverto 18 made after 1924 (based on the patent information stamped into the bottom of the frame.)
At least I think it's an Inverto 18. The box says it is, but the frame is unmarked. Hmmm...how to be sure? Turns out that the answer is to spend a lot of time and effort over the course of about a year to learn everything one can about the subject. |
For those that don't know, a staking tool set is an old school* watchmaker's tool dating back to the era of mechanical watches.
A staking set consists of a set of punches (usually called "stakes"), a set of dies (usually called "stumps"), and a base frame for aligning the stakes, stumps, and watch part(s). There can be 100+ stakes and 20+ stumps in a given set. *Staking sets are still made today for working on antique/vintage watches, modern luxury watches, and the mechanical bits of quartz watches. |
Staking sets are used to press/tap watch parts together or apart as needed. The stakes and stumps have various shapes for the job at hand.
Many stakes are simple flat faced or domed face punches, but some have complex shapes designed for specific tasks, and sometimes for specific watches or watch brands. |
Sources
I've tried to stick to primary sources where ever possible in charting the evolution of these tools.
My collection of primary sources is detailed on the References page.
I've tried to stick to primary sources where ever possible in charting the evolution of these tools.
My collection of primary sources is detailed on the References page.
First, what's with the "Inverto"?
K&D invented and were famous for producing a staking tool frame that enabled the watchmaker to use any stake in the set as a stump. All that was necessary was to invert the stake and place it, business end up, through the die plate and into the base of a specially designed frame.
Prior to this innovation, staking frames had shallow/short frames and thus only the short shanks of stumps would fit into the die plate. These stumps had flanged shanks to keep them from falling through the hole in the die plate.
Kendrick and Davis had four Inverto patents:
US0904847, filed in Oct. 1907 and granted in Nov. 1908.
US1045487, filed in May 1908 and granted in Nov. 1912.
US0923495, filed in Aug. 1908 and granted in June 1909.
US1539890, filed in June 1923 and granted in June 1925.
The earliest patent coverts the basic Inverto design.
The second patent covers the original "Friction Punch Sustaining Sleeve"
The third patent covers the "On or Off Punch Frictioning Device".
The fourth patent covers the floating die plate.
K&D also had a staking tool patent (US707887) issued prior to the invention of the Inverto. It covered the spring loaded stake retaining feature in the head of the frame. Some Inverto frames have the "Aug 26, 02" date of this patent stamped into the underside.
Prior to this innovation, staking frames had shallow/short frames and thus only the short shanks of stumps would fit into the die plate. These stumps had flanged shanks to keep them from falling through the hole in the die plate.
Kendrick and Davis had four Inverto patents:
US0904847, filed in Oct. 1907 and granted in Nov. 1908.
US1045487, filed in May 1908 and granted in Nov. 1912.
US0923495, filed in Aug. 1908 and granted in June 1909.
US1539890, filed in June 1923 and granted in June 1925.
The earliest patent coverts the basic Inverto design.
The second patent covers the original "Friction Punch Sustaining Sleeve"
The third patent covers the "On or Off Punch Frictioning Device".
The fourth patent covers the floating die plate.
K&D also had a staking tool patent (US707887) issued prior to the invention of the Inverto. It covered the spring loaded stake retaining feature in the head of the frame. Some Inverto frames have the "Aug 26, 02" date of this patent stamped into the underside.
K&D Inverto Product Line Summary*
Model Inverto
The original Inverto
120 stakes and 25 stumps in a flat (non-tilting, non-inclined) tool block in a wooden box
Model Inverto 17
The original Inverto renamed after the introduction of the "On or Off Punch Sustaining Device".
Model Inverto 17A
Inverto 17 with a ball bearing base and glass dome
Model Inverto 18
Same overall frame design as Inverto 17, but with new "On or Off Punch Sustaining Device" as standard feature.
1.7"/43mm die plate working surface, 5.7" (144mm) tall
25 hole die plate
120 stakes and 25 stumps.
Initially supplied in a flat (non-tilting, non-inclined) tool block in the wooden box.
At some point before Sept. 1919, the auto-tilting tool block feature of the box was introduced.
The auto-tilting block disappeared later, presumably because it was expensive.
Model Inverto 18A
Inverto 18 with a ball bearing base and glass dome
Model Inverto 18B
Redesigned Inverto 18 frame with cut away front and head designed for easy addition of a No. 540 Friction Jeweling Attachment
"Same frame as the 18R without the friction jeweling lever"
1.77" (45mm) die plate working surface, 5.75" (146mm) tall
100 stakes "for modern watches" and 20 stumps
2 adjustable roller remover stumps
10 sub-punches and holder for driving out screws and similar work
26 (early frames) or 28 hole (later frames) die plate
Model Inverto 18L
Inverto 18B frame with Friction Jeweling Attachment
100 stakes "for modern watches" and 20 stumps
Friction jeweling accessories: 18 reamers and holder, sub-punches and holder, 6 graduated flat face hollow stumps
26 (early frames) or 28 hole (later frames) die plate
Model Inverto 18R Deluxe
"Contains all of the features of the 18L...plus..."
Inverto 18B frame with Friction Jeweling Attachment
100 stakes "for modern watches" and 20 stumps
Friction jeweling accessories: 18 reamers and holder, sub-punches and holder, 6 graduated flat face hollow stumps
2 balance staff removers for large and small watches
2 adjustable roller remover stumps
2 sets cannon pinion closing punches and stumps
10 sub-punches and holder for driving out screws and similar work
26 (early frames) or 28 hole (later frames) die plate
Model Inverto 18X
Not a complete staking tool. Rather, a set of accessories and the factory upgrade service to install the No. 540/504R/540S Friction Jeweling Attachment to a customer's existing staking tool frame.
Model Junior Inverto Series 600, 601, 602, 610
Redesigned Inverto 600 frame. Smaller frame and die plate vs. the Inverto 18B frame.
Cut away front similar to the 18B with a 1.42"/36.2mm die plate working surface, 5.6"/142mm tall
26 hole die plate
600: 60 punches, 20 stumps
601: 80 punches, 20 stumps
602: 100 punches, 20 stumps
610: 120 punches, 20 stumps (supplied in an Inverto 18B box)
Model Junior Inverto Series 600L, 601L, 602L, 610L
As above for the corresponding 600 series, but with "complete Friction Jeweling Attachments and deluxe box like 18R"
Model Junior Inverto Series 600R, 601R, 602R, 610R
As above for corresponding model in the 600 series, with "complete Friction Jeweling Attachments and deluxe box like 18R"
2 balance staff removers for large and small watches
2 adjustable roller remover stumps
2 sets cannon pinion closing punches and stumps
10 sub-punches and holder for driving out screws and similar work
*K&D made quite a few other models of staking sets that were not Invertos. I'll leave those out of this account (for now at least) given that it's already looking like this is going to be about as long as a 19th century Russian novel.
Model Inverto
The original Inverto
120 stakes and 25 stumps in a flat (non-tilting, non-inclined) tool block in a wooden box
Model Inverto 17
The original Inverto renamed after the introduction of the "On or Off Punch Sustaining Device".
Model Inverto 17A
Inverto 17 with a ball bearing base and glass dome
Model Inverto 18
Same overall frame design as Inverto 17, but with new "On or Off Punch Sustaining Device" as standard feature.
1.7"/43mm die plate working surface, 5.7" (144mm) tall
25 hole die plate
120 stakes and 25 stumps.
Initially supplied in a flat (non-tilting, non-inclined) tool block in the wooden box.
At some point before Sept. 1919, the auto-tilting tool block feature of the box was introduced.
The auto-tilting block disappeared later, presumably because it was expensive.
Model Inverto 18A
Inverto 18 with a ball bearing base and glass dome
Model Inverto 18B
Redesigned Inverto 18 frame with cut away front and head designed for easy addition of a No. 540 Friction Jeweling Attachment
"Same frame as the 18R without the friction jeweling lever"
1.77" (45mm) die plate working surface, 5.75" (146mm) tall
100 stakes "for modern watches" and 20 stumps
2 adjustable roller remover stumps
10 sub-punches and holder for driving out screws and similar work
26 (early frames) or 28 hole (later frames) die plate
Model Inverto 18L
Inverto 18B frame with Friction Jeweling Attachment
100 stakes "for modern watches" and 20 stumps
Friction jeweling accessories: 18 reamers and holder, sub-punches and holder, 6 graduated flat face hollow stumps
26 (early frames) or 28 hole (later frames) die plate
Model Inverto 18R Deluxe
"Contains all of the features of the 18L...plus..."
Inverto 18B frame with Friction Jeweling Attachment
100 stakes "for modern watches" and 20 stumps
Friction jeweling accessories: 18 reamers and holder, sub-punches and holder, 6 graduated flat face hollow stumps
2 balance staff removers for large and small watches
2 adjustable roller remover stumps
2 sets cannon pinion closing punches and stumps
10 sub-punches and holder for driving out screws and similar work
26 (early frames) or 28 hole (later frames) die plate
Model Inverto 18X
Not a complete staking tool. Rather, a set of accessories and the factory upgrade service to install the No. 540/504R/540S Friction Jeweling Attachment to a customer's existing staking tool frame.
Model Junior Inverto Series 600, 601, 602, 610
Redesigned Inverto 600 frame. Smaller frame and die plate vs. the Inverto 18B frame.
Cut away front similar to the 18B with a 1.42"/36.2mm die plate working surface, 5.6"/142mm tall
26 hole die plate
600: 60 punches, 20 stumps
601: 80 punches, 20 stumps
602: 100 punches, 20 stumps
610: 120 punches, 20 stumps (supplied in an Inverto 18B box)
Model Junior Inverto Series 600L, 601L, 602L, 610L
As above for the corresponding 600 series, but with "complete Friction Jeweling Attachments and deluxe box like 18R"
Model Junior Inverto Series 600R, 601R, 602R, 610R
As above for corresponding model in the 600 series, with "complete Friction Jeweling Attachments and deluxe box like 18R"
2 balance staff removers for large and small watches
2 adjustable roller remover stumps
2 sets cannon pinion closing punches and stumps
10 sub-punches and holder for driving out screws and similar work
*K&D made quite a few other models of staking sets that were not Invertos. I'll leave those out of this account (for now at least) given that it's already looking like this is going to be about as long as a 19th century Russian novel.
Detailed Inverto Model Information
Choose a model number from the menu above for more detailed information about each model of the Inverto.