John White wrote that page 327 of the facsimilie Dover publication of the
1895 Montgomery Ward's Catalog No. 57 has lock washers.  I looked there,
but failed to see them.  Washers were also listed on page 406, and again, I
do not see any lock washers.  By the way, the Dover reprint is unabridged
as it says on the cover.  I have an original catalog from the Luetkemeyer
Hardware Company of Cleveland, Ohio, ca1917, that lists a whole page (page
644) of lock washers in "Plain Pattern", Positive Pattern" and "National
Pattern"  These ranged came to fit bolts ranging from 3/16 to 1 5/8 inch.
They were packed 1000 to a box.  There was also an assortment box
containing 40 "Made Especially for Auto Work".  The catalog does not
mention these as being new products or anything about a patent for lock
washers, so I assume that they had been around for a while.

George L. Miller
URS Corporation