What-is-it question CXCXI

[dognose]

What-is-it question CXCXI

A clever little invention that was on display at the Industries Exhibition at Birmingham in 1886. It was made by the Birmingham silversmiths G.E. Walton & Co.



Any thoughts?

Trev.

[oel]

Some type of silver swivel?

Oel.

[dognose]

Hi Oel,

Indeed it is a swivel for attaching a watch to a watchchain, but this is no normal swivel.

Trev.

[oel]

Something like this type of hook on swivel ?



Oel.

[dognose]

Sorry Oel, I may have misled you slightly. This is the part of the swivel that is in question:



It is not decorative, it has a particular purpose.

Trev.

[dragonflywink]

Looks like an anti-theft devise, if a pickpocket pulled on the chain, those little spikes would drop down to catch the pocket fabric, the owner would know to pull it out while holding the spikes flat...

~Cheryl

[oel]

Yes, Cheryl that must be it, congrats!


Oel.

[dognose]

Well done Cheryl!



Described as 'Chief Inspector William's Patent Watch Protector or Thief Catcher', it presumably had the duel benefit of preventing the actual theft and also that of alerting the victim to the attempt and thus possibly leading to the apprehension of the culprit.

Trev.

[dognose]

A variation of the device produced by the Dennison Watch Co. of Birmingham in 1911:


Dennison Watch Case Co. - Birmingham - 1911

Trev.