KEYLESS WATCH INVENTOR.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4429, 19 June 1922, Page 1

KEYLESS WATCH INVENTOR.

DEATH OF MR. L B PHILLIPS. Mr. Lawrence Barnett Phillips, who, at the age of 18, invented the keyless watch, has died at his home, Chesham House, Sutherland Avenue, London, W. Born in Bloomsbury Square in 1842, Mr. Phillips excelled in many branches of 1 the arts and crafts apart from his adopted profession of chronometer and watch-making. He was an author, astronomer, artist, scientist, and antiquary. When 14 he left school to study mechanics and watchmaking, and four, years later invented the rockingbar mechanism for winding watches, which is now universally adopted by British manufacturers for keyless watches. Ip 1861 he started business on his own account as a wholesale chronometer and watch manufacturer.' He also simplified and improved calculating machines by a series of mechanical inventions, which are still in practical use. ■ ARTISTIC SUCCESSES. Five years after starting in business he published the “Autographic Album,” a cpllecton of facsimile autographs and little biographies of celeb; rities of the time. This work was followed in 1871 by the “Horological Rating Tables,” and in 1873 by the “Dictionary of Biographical Reference,” an original work giving the names of more than 100,000 wellknown people of all- countries, and references in each instance to further information. In .1865 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, and in 1885 a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. He retired from business in 1882, and in later years occupied himself as a painter and etcher, constantly exhibiting at the Royal Academy and the leading London a.nd provincial exhibitions. Later he became an Associate of the Royal Society of Painter-Etcliers. Even in this 'connection his inventive genius was busy, and he produced an improved sketching-box and palette, which is now much used by artists for outdoor work. Mr. Phillips x leaves a widow and two sons, who are the proprietors of the Leicester Galleries, W.