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We jump forward at least a couple of decades from the Inverto 18 in the 1920s to somewhere in the 1940s-1960s before I was able to find information about the Inverto 18B.
The 18B is an "Improved cutaway front staking tool frame and die". I haven't been able to locate any information about exactly when this frame was introduced. It's also not clear that the new construction holds the inverted punches as well as the older design. Seems to me that the sleeve under the die plate is a better option than the cut away front and recess at the bottom. I understand the advantages of the new design for easy punch removal, but I'm not sure that it's worth the loss of stability/rigidity. The Inverto 18B frame was made in two versions. The difference is in the features for installing a friction jeweling attachment. See the friction jeweling detail at left. The detail shows the earlier No. 540R version of the friction jeweling attachment. Inverto 18B frames with a serial number starting with "S" are drilled and tapped to allow easy installation of a No. 540S Micrometer Friction Jeweling Attachment. The micrometer stop of a No. 540S looks much like the thimble mechanism of a machinist's micrometer. No. 540S installation could be done in the field by the owner. Older Inverto 18B frames without the "S" prefix on the serial number are designed to take the No. 540R Micrometer Friction Jeweling Attachment. The No. 540R is a variant of the even older No. 540. The No. 540R is compatible with Inverto 18B frames, while the No. 540 is compatible with the older Inverto 18 frames. Early die plates had 26 holes. Later die plates have 28 holes. This change may coincide with the "S" prefix on the serial number. Inverto 18Bs came with standard accessories (100 stakes "for modern watches" and 20 stumps) and two adjustable roller stumps. |
Standard Accessories - Earlier Sets
Earlier Stakes:
1,7,8,9,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,25,26,26B,26C,27,28, 31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,38A,39, 40,41,42,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,58,59,59A, 60,61,62,63,63A,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,71A,72,72A,73,73A, 80,81,82,83,84,85,86,(87*),88,89,89A,90,91,92,93,93A,94,95,96,97,98,99, 100,101,101A,102,102A,103,103A,106,108, 110,111,111A,115,116,117,118,119,119A,120 The Inverto 18B & 18R brochure lists the stakes in the earlier sets. The stake numbers are the same as those on the later list, but many of the hole sizes are slightly different for the same numbered stake between the two lists. *The Inverto 18B & 18R brochure indicates that the No. 87 is included in the older sets, but this is likely a typo. The corresponding No. 57 is not included and with the No. 87, the total stake count would be 101. |
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Earlier Stumps:
1,3,33,37,60,69,78,79,87,88,89,90,92,93,94,95,96,97,99,99A See the Inverto 18B & 18R brochure, page 5, for a detailed list of the stumps included in the older sets. Note that the table on page 5 doesn't indicated that the No. 69 stump is included, but it is called out in the list on page 4. The inclusion of the No. 69 would bring the stump count to 20. It's unclear why there are two stumps marked No. 99 on chart on page 5 and both are indicated as included while the No. 69 is not. The inclusion of the No. 69 is confirmed by the chart of earlier stakes and stumps for the Inverto 18 and Inverto 600 shown on Tom Adelstein's helpful post on the subject. Based on a notation elsewhere on Tom's site, his chart may be from a 1950 Lindstrom catalog. No definitive list of the stumps included in the modern Inverto 18B set is available. |
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Standard Accessories - Later Sets
Later Stakes:
See the K&D Tools Catalog of 1961, pages 8-9, for a detailed description of the stakes for the modern 18B sets. The stake numbers are the same as those on the earlier list, but many of the hole sizes are slightly different for the same numbered stake between the two lists. Later Stumps: No definitive list of the stumps included in the Inverto 18B/R sets ca. 1961 is available. The full range of available stumps is listed in the K&D Tools Catalog of 1961, pages 10-11. |
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Standard Accessories ca. 1963-1972
Stakes ca. 1963-1972:
See K&D Staking Tool Punches & Stumps Booklet ca. 1963-1972, pages 2 & 3 for a detailed list of the stakes for 18B sets made during this period. The minor changes between this list, the list from the 1961 catalog and that from the ca. 1972-1993 tool catalog excerpt are described on the above page. Stumps ca. 1963-1972: No definitive list of the stumps included in the Inverto 18B/R sets ca. 1962-1973 is available. The full range of available stumps is listed in the K&D Staking Tool Punches & Stumps Booklet ca. 1963-1972. |
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Other Accessories
2 adjustable roller stumps:
No. 305B (uses stake #8) for bracelet and baguette sizes No. 305C (uses stakes #9 and #10) for larger sizes The 1961 K&D tools catalog shows an updated design for these stumps compared to the "New Attachments For Staking Tools" brochure. The newer design looks simpler to make and to use. A larger, knurled stump eliminates the need for a wrench. The newer design also looks suspiciously like the Wilson Rex roller remover. |