ABSTRACT
In 1974 David Jones applied for a provisional patent on his invention, a clock that could be read from any direction. The idea evolved over the years through a number of prototype stages, until in 1978 David decided to produce an initial batch of 100 as a limited edition’. Having taught himself all the basic manufacturing skills, he was able to complete 30 clocks towards the end of 1978, which were sold to private individuals for £60 each. The business had reached a critical stage after consuming some £10,000 of David’s resources without showing much return, for now a further complication threatened the launch. In April 1979, David, a dentist in a small partnership, decided to set up his own surgery. Thus he was caught in the middle of launching two independent and very different businesses.
