Dr. George Daniels

Arguably one of the greatest watchmakers that has ever lived, has died at the age of 85.

George Daniels

1926-2011

Roger Smith on George Daniels

Here's a new presentation from Roger Smith on the life's work of the late and great George Daniels and the heart and art of watchmaking.

Well worth a view...

New Book on George Daniels!

I have just received my copy of this new, unbelievably beautiful, book by Michael Clerizo, on the life and work of George Daniels.  Fantastic!

All In Good Time

George Daniels, who passed away in October 2011, was without a doubt one of the greatest watchmakers that has ever lived.   And now new additions of his autobiography are finally rolling out.  Amazon sold out pretty quickly, but fortunately I pre-ordered it two years ago and I should get my copy this week!



Also, check out this forthcoming book from Michael Clerizo on Daniels life and work.



Michael Clerizo is the author of this amazing book on the thoughts and work of independent watchmakers.

The Watchmaker's Apprentice

It's finally shipping!

I'm really looking forward to this. It's only available from the UK Amazon site. The documentary, The Watchmaker's Apprentice, is the inspirational story of how George Daniels rose from poverty to become the most important watchmaker in modern times, and how Roger Smith embarked on an obsessive, seven-year quest just to become his apprentice. George Daniels was likely the greatest horologist in the world before his death in 2011 and regarded as the best watch maker in 250 years some watches now sell for over a million pounds.

New Arrival, Job Number 190149

This is a Moeris (Swiss) Jack Daniels Whisky collectible from sometime in the late 1960s. I don't usually do watches like this but it's from a good customer. I took this photo with the back and dust cover off to show the detail there. The case is base metal, but quite good quality.

The Space Traveller

"London-based manufacturer of watch movements and timekeeping electronics, Hoptroff, today announced The Dickens, a new 7-motor quartz watch movement. The design was inspired by styling of The Space Traveller pocket watch, one of the most audacious creations by George Daniels, England’s greatest living watchmaker."


Read more here:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/409823

Getting Started With Antique Watches

I am frequently asked about books and other resources useful in learning about collecting, and repairing, pocketwatches, and vintages watches in general.  There are several good ones.

These three provide a good deal of information on the history of watches as well as about their care and use. These are a great place to start with the basics.

  



 

How much is your watch worth? This book is the place to look. This is a very widely used price guide that also contains quite a bit of general information on vintage watches, watch terminology, history and more. This book are great as general reference.

Practical Watch Repairing by Donald de Carle is a reprint of a classic instructional book on watchmaking.  Some of it is dated, some but most techniques are basically the same today.

Also by de Carle is Practical Watch Adjusting.

For even more technical information, there's this one by master craftsman George Daniels. This book is the gold standard on how to construct a watch from scratch.

This is not a definitive list, just a few I have seen. There are also many old and out of print books on watchmaking. Regularly checking used book stores and eBay will turn up a more. Old books often contain hard to find information on specialized antique tools and certain repair techniques.

Here are a few online resources:

• Clocks And Watches
• Illustrated Professional Dictionary of Horology
• Mike's Clock Clinic's hints and repair tips
• The Watch Guy
• Escapements
• The Metatechnical Cabinet
• AWCI
• Elgintime, especially this vintage watch FAQ

You can also find many posts about watchmaking, new and old, right here on this blog, and still more in this Collection, here.

Finally, here's a few sources of watch material, specialty services, tools, books, supplies, and more:

• Wuischpard and Son, for case repair
• Esslinger
• Twin City Suppley
• The Tick Talk Shop
• Otto Frei
• Dave's Watch Parts and Tools
• Cas-Ker
• William S. McCaw Co
• International Dial, for dial refinishing
• Advanced Clock Repair Service, for enamel dial repairs, clock repair and more

Of course you can also find quite a lot on eBay too, including old and out of print books, hard to find tools and watch parts.

Collecting, or repair, antique timepieces make for a fascinating and rewarding hobby, enjoy!

Lord Elgin and Lady Elgin Watches

From The American Horologist magazine, November 1937...

Elgin Presents Timepieces to Earl and Countess

"A gala program, broadcast on two continents, Thursday, Oct. 21st, introduced the new Lord and Lady Elgin Models.

"These watch represent the newest achievement in seven decades of American leadership in the industry. The Lord Elgin is a 21-jewel model and the Lady Elgin is a 19-jewel semi-baugette, the only watch of this type in the United States. The Lord Elgins sell from $50.00 and the Lady Elgins from $47.50.

"The Right Honerable the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, K.T., C.M.G., and his lady, the countess of Elgin and Kincardine, were the recipients of the first watches named in their honor. They were a gift from the city of Elgin, Illinois, named for the illustrious family of the present title-bearer. The watches were presented in silver boxes enscribed with the Elgin crest, in London England, by Mr. Francis Powell, president of london's American Chamber of Commerce.

"Through the facilities of the British Broadcasting Company, Trans-Atlantic Radio and the Columbia Broadcasting System, the dedication speech of T. Albert Potter, president of the Elgin Nation Watch Company, and the expression of gratitude by Lord Elgin was heard on 50 American stations. The program was climaxed by Lord and Lady Elgin setting their watches to the "time from the stars" tonebeat - exact to hundredths of a second - radio-transmitted from the Elgin National Watch Company Observatory at Elgin, one of the thee greatest observatories in the world.

"The American broadcast emenated from the Red Lacquer Room of the Palmer House, where several hundred civic leaders, wholesale distributors and company officials banqueted. Toastmaster Harry C. Daniels, president of Elgin's Association of Commerce, traced briefly the history of Elgin through the days of Chief Blackhawk, Joliet and Marquette, to the settlement along the river in 1935, the start by a handful of skilled workmen - of the Elgin National Watch Company and the founding, in 1865, of an industry that was to attain world renown."

More about Lord and Lady Elgin watches here and here...

Watches Presented to Lord and Lady Elgin

From Horology magazine, November, 1937

Watches Presented to Lord and Lady Elgin

A gala program, broadcast on two continents, Thursday, October 21st, introduced the new Lord and Lady Elgin Models.  These watches represent the newest achievement of the EIgin National Watch Company. The Lord Elgin is a 21-jewel model and the Lady Elgin a 19 jewel semi-baguette.  

The Right Honorable EarI of Elgin and Kincardine, K.T., C.M.G., and his lady, the Countess of Elgin and Kincardine, were recipients of the first watches named in their honor. They were a gift from the city of Elgin, Illinois, named for the illustrious family of the present title-bearer. The watches were presented in silver boxes, inscribed with the Elgin crest, in London, England, by Mr. Francis Powell, president of London's American Chamber of Commerce.  

Through the facilities of the British Broadcasting Company, Trans-Atlantic Radio and the Columbia Broadcasting System, the dedication speech of T. Albert Potter, president of the Elgin National Watch Company, and the expression of gratitude by Lord Elgin were heard on 50 American stations. The program was climaxed by Lord and Lady Elgin setting their watches to the "time from the stars" tonebeat-exact to hundredths of a second-radio-transmitted from the Elgin National Watch Company Observatory at Elgin. 

The American broadcast emanated from the Red Lacquer Room of the Palmer House where several hundred civic leaders, wholesale distributors and company officials banqueted. Toastmaster Harry C. Daniels, president of Elgin's Association of Commerce, traced briefly the history of Elgin through the days of Chief Blackhawk, Joliet and Marquette to the settlement along the river in 1835, the start by a handful of skilled workmen --of the Elgin N ational Watch Company and the founding, in 1865, of an industry that was to attain world-renown. 

Happy Holidays!

Amazon finally shipped me a copy of George Daniels autobiography!

I showed up yesterday just in time.  I ordered it two years ago, but who's counting...

Also, I received for Christmas Horotec 10-0 hairspring tweezers!

Happy Holidays all, and have a great New Year.

Vintage Pocketwatch Resources

I am frequently asked about books and other resources useful in learning about pocketwatches, and vintages watches in general.  There are several.

These three by by M. Cutmore provide a good deal of information on the history of watches as well as about their care and use.



Some Others:



How much is your watch worth? This book is the place to look. This is a very widely used price guide that also contains quite a bit of general information on vintage watches, watch terminology, history and more.




Practical Watch Repairing by Donald de Carle is a reprint of a classic instructional book on watchmaking.  So of it is dated, some but most techniques are basically the same today.

Also by de Carle is Pratical Watch Adjusting.

For even more technical information, there's this one by master craftsman George Daniels.

This is not a definitive list, just a few I have seen. There are also many old and out of print books on watchmaking. Regularly checking used book stores and eBay will turn up a more.

Here are a few online resources:

• Clocks And Watches
• Illustrated Professional Dictionary of Horology
• Mike's Clock Clinic's hints and repair tips
• The Watch Guy
• Escapements
• The Metatechnical Cabinet
• AWCI

Here's a few sources of watch material, specialty services, tools and supplies:

• Wuischpard and Son, for case repair
• Crystal Fit, for crystals
• Dashto
• The Tick Talk Shop
• Otto Frei
• Dave's Watch Parts and Tools
• Cas-Ker
• William S. McCaw Co
• International Dial, for dial refinishing
• Advanced Clock Repair Service, for enamel dial repairs, clock repair and more