Confused by clock hand nuts

So most 19th century clocks have that typical pin attachment keeping the clock hands in place.
Some, such as the dial below have a round nut.
When did this kind of nut with no pin first appear and when did it become common?

 

Nuts probably came in with the German clocks of the 20s and 30s. Many types of clock never went nutted.

 

I am so tempted, Af! But I am leaving this one severely alone!

 

I have a German clock from the late 1880's and it has a nut (pictured above).
The manufacturer went bankrupt around 1900, at least so I've researched.
Is there a possibility the nut is a later replacement?

 

There are no fixed rules. Only generalities.

Please always post as much information as you have. Full picture, maker's names, your country, as these things all help identification and answering questions.

 

I have discovered it is not much of an exaggeration to state that there are a lot of nuts all over the antique world.