Readers of this blog new and old should realise that I have an interest in all things door springs! One of my interests is in the history behind the many inventors, manufacturers, distributors of and the varied differing designs of devices/door closers that incorporate a spring of some sort or another in some sort of fashion.
I have stated that Henry Downer is the first officially recognised in 1790, as the one to use a spring to shut a door. I have also elsewhere on this blog stated that I believe a Mr Smith is in fact or should be recognised as the first to use some sort of spring device to close a door beating Mr Downer by some 20 or 30 years (1760 or 1770).
Tonight and in this blog post I am going to somewhat upset the apple cart by highlighting passages from two books/sources printed in the 1850's that I have recently discovered that claim their company were the first!
The first published in 1850 from the book entitled "The British colonies: their history, extent, condition, and resources," it states:
"THWAITEs and REED, (established 1740,) Manufacturers of Church and House Clocks, Counting Machines, Watchman's Clocks, Wind Dials, Weathercocks, and all kinds of No. (original Inventors of the Spiral Door Springs) for Exportation,"
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=attQAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA165&dq=thwaites+and+reed+door+spring&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjgz_PrpoHbAhWMDcAKHaJKAaQQ6AEILjAB#v=onepage&q=thwaites%20and%20reed%20door%20spring&f=false
The second can be found in the The Builder Volume 9 published in 1851 where it also states the company of Thwaites and Reed were the original inventors of spiral door springs as can be seen below.
"THWAITES and REED, original inventors of the spiral door-springs, beg to call the attention of the trade to these manufactured by them, which, for durability and ease in working, are superior to any other; they have been in use upwards of twenty-five years at the Bank of England, and many other public establishments.—To be had only at their ——factory for church and house clocks, counting machines, wind dials, fti.. 4, Rosamon street, Clerkenwcll. Established 1740."
https://books.google.co.uk/books?pg=PA490&dq=thwaites+and+reed+door+spring&id=cCRPAAAAYAAJ&output=text
I have stated that Henry Downer is the first officially recognised in 1790, as the one to use a spring to shut a door. I have also elsewhere on this blog stated that I believe a Mr Smith is in fact or should be recognised as the first to use some sort of spring device to close a door beating Mr Downer by some 20 or 30 years (1760 or 1770).
Tonight and in this blog post I am going to somewhat upset the apple cart by highlighting passages from two books/sources printed in the 1850's that I have recently discovered that claim their company were the first!
The first published in 1850 from the book entitled "The British colonies: their history, extent, condition, and resources," it states:
"THWAITEs and REED, (established 1740,) Manufacturers of Church and House Clocks, Counting Machines, Watchman's Clocks, Wind Dials, Weathercocks, and all kinds of No. (original Inventors of the Spiral Door Springs) for Exportation,"
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=attQAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA165&dq=thwaites+and+reed+door+spring&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjgz_PrpoHbAhWMDcAKHaJKAaQQ6AEILjAB#v=onepage&q=thwaites%20and%20reed%20door%20spring&f=false
The second can be found in the The Builder Volume 9 published in 1851 where it also states the company of Thwaites and Reed were the original inventors of spiral door springs as can be seen below.
"THWAITES and REED, original inventors of the spiral door-springs, beg to call the attention of the trade to these manufactured by them, which, for durability and ease in working, are superior to any other; they have been in use upwards of twenty-five years at the Bank of England, and many other public establishments.—To be had only at their ——factory for church and house clocks, counting machines, wind dials, fti.. 4, Rosamon street, Clerkenwcll. Established 1740."
https://books.google.co.uk/books?pg=PA490&dq=thwaites+and+reed+door+spring&id=cCRPAAAAYAAJ&output=text
Here is also a link regarding the history of Thwaites and Reed for those interested.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thwaites_%26_Reed
As always feel free to leave a comment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thwaites_%26_Reed
As always feel free to leave a comment
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