The Watkin Welder and Other Specialty Tools
In the 1930s, the invention of the spot welder by Watkin allowed a much greater success rate when soldering fine wires, especially, steel. Elliot’s of Liverpool produced the welder commercially and promoted it in the instruction manual: ‘The Watkin welder has been designed by an eminent orthodontist essentially for the speedy and efficient welding of stainless steel wire and tape. Weighing only 35lbs, it is completely portable. The Watkin Welder has proved invaluable to other professions, and is used extensively in the engineering, electrical and allied trades.’ The Watkin Welder sold widely and it was used by the valve maker Mullard and by leading orthodontists, clinicians and hospitals throughout the world for twenty-five years until an electronic spot welder superseded it. Watkin did become wealthy through its sales but as he did not believe in patents he did not make the great fortune he perhaps deserved. Modern spot welders still have more than a passing resemblance to his original design, especially in the rotating star head section.
Elliots Liverpool Ltd also produced the Watkin Dental Vibrator, but this never sold in great numbers.
His work was recognised and honoured by the highest authorities in the UK:
- 1947:RCS, honorary FDS
- 1954:Diploma in Orthodontics from RCSRCS. Eng
- 1954:Diploma of Dental Orthopaedic Royal Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons Glasgow. He also worked for a period on the examination board of the FRCS, Glasgow.
- 1961:Life Membership of the BDA
- 1965:Elected President of the Liverpool and District Odontological Society.
On 11 November 1965, he died at the age of 83 years, the day after seeing a full list of patients. He was buried in Burslem Cemetery but, thanks to John Clifford, his memory lives on in both Liverpool and Manchester. His old office at 84 Rodney Street was renamed Watkin House about 10 years after his death and a padded upholstered seat in lecture theatre was named after him when Manchester Dental Hospital refurbished the post-graduate room around 1980.
Read more about this topic: Harold Gladstone Watkin
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