Absolutely amazing. George was a good friend on my father's at a young age and yes it's true, George used to go to my grandparents house, holes in he's shows and all and my grandparents would feed him. My father said he was always taking things to pieces and putting them back together. He remained a friend of the family and attended my mum and dad's wedding. I remember seeing him as a young boy myself, but we lost touch when my father moved with he's job to Staffordshire. I took an interest in George as my father kept news cuttings about George. Eventually I found out he was living in the Isle of Man and wrote him a letter saying who I was and he new my father from a young age. I got a lovely letter back from him saying he remembers my grandparents and how kind the were to him and remembers my mum and dad getting married and when I was born in 1952. He also sent me some pictures of he's car collection and a signed copy of he's book, unfortunately he became frail and unwell towards the end then past away. A lovely rags to riches story of an incredible man who lived in Shrewsbury avenue, Kenton. Harrow as a boy.
This is one of my favorite videos on RU-vid. I come back to it every few months and take something new from it each time. What a master craftsman and brilliant engineer.
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I met him in London!!! Was a meeting to discuss funding & going to wostep!!! Which I did in 95!!! And at the time there was a young lad working in our workshop, part-time has he was making his own watch!!! Unknown by the name of ROGER SMITH!!! Love this video! From poor beginning to rise to the top!! Inspirational!!!
The greatest watch maker of modern times. Some of his pieces at auction are now approaching £3m and I cannot see them stopping their upward trajectory to the tens of millions. This man had utter class and was a living masterpiece like the watches he painstakingly produced. I think we all know what he would have made of the UK today. It's better that he did not have to witness it..
He eventually wrote his book (I have it and it is superb). He also started his school, his pupils continue making fine timepieces that keep his legacy alive. His revolutionary Co-Axial escapement lives on with Omega.
His story is aspirational and heartwarming. What a great men! You have to admire how he casually rolls that mainspring into the barrel, as if he was Lucky Luke rolling a smoke with one hand...
Wow. What an inspirational man. I could listen to him talk all day and go to sleep with a smile on my face and a burning in my soul to build something with my hands. What an incredible man. I've been wanting his book for a long time and now I'm gonna go find a copy and order it as soon as I finish this. RIP George Daniels and thank you for leaving behind such an incredible legacy.
This really is the missing part of the Daniels story. For me particularly what George says at the end struck true. All those horological opportunities abroad, and yet he remained true to himself in keeping traditional British watchmaking alive. To say I enjoyed this 30 minute clip was an understatement. It literally made the hair on my neck stand up, and lit that fire once again for me. Thank you Roger Smith for sharing such a wonderful piece of history.
Inspirational drive, dedication and craftsmanship. His watches work for many hundred years and wait ... here comes another Windows update. How time has changed :)
This 30 minute film on George Daniels is a must see for all interested in horology and precision manufacturing. I too believe that the English people have a natural inbuilt ability towards technology past present and future. I wish I could have met George. If I ever get over to the Isle of Mann I will try and get an invitation to visit Rogers Smiths workshop. Absolutely fascinating. I do agree that buying such a beautifully made time piece just to have locked in a bank vault as an asset is truly shameful. It should be worn with pride!
Amazing, simply amazing. Real genius and passion at work. Fortunate are we the genius that is Smith & Daniels have found the watchmaker calling. One of my regrets in life is that I will likely never have the privilege to call one of their creations to call my own.
Nice story everyone should enjoy this mans journey and his legacy how it is still alive and well and why. Great to be here enjoying this slightly aged film a documentary of time and the time keeper. Horology is my life a micro-machinist who makes watch movement parts no more and now enjoys the fine art of making his own micro machined parts for a watch movement? who knows, right now what it is I am here to enjoy is this man and the English place in horology history.
If Daniels could make a watch that required a service every twenty years, why does a Rolex only manage a quarter of that? This is a fantastic insight into the work of a brilliant man. In the comments someone asks why Daniels moved to the Isle of Man. Perhaps it was to legally avoid UK death duties which were, and are, appallingly high.
That was really interesting film. I'd heard about his great watches and I'm glad to see he wasn't the dark obsessed creature I'd imagined but a good guy with principles. Thanks for uploading, I really enjoyed it
Great stuff, I only found out about this guy a few days ago,but I have had a serious binge on everything about him...think it’s his book next for me,and I’m not even a watch dude!
I'm like you except I am a watch guy as in owning three Rolexes. I collect other things mechanical (antique and vintage electric fans) and fine figurines and chromographic prints. He's a fascinating person and undoubted genius in his field.
"London the home of the handmade watch" I take it he later liked the Isle of Man more. LOL. Brilliant insight into the life of a multi talented genius. Cheers.
A fascinating documentary, presented in a simple, no-nonsense manner. Many thanks for this upload. What would George make of the present shambles in UK politics, I wonder? I don't think there is any doubt as to which side of the argument *he* would take, but then, he knew all about adversity and how to rise above it. In life, if you are anything other than a useless drag on the rest of us, you have to have something to offer, and George had it in spades, of course.
I thought that, too. This film was made in 1975 or 1976, so the Linn Sondek, DUAL 701 or the Thorens TD124 and many other fine turntables were available. These hi fi components would have seemed much more appropriate for such a distinguished artisan.
Roger do you know which of the 8 pocket watches George made is featured in this video? Is it maybe the Hornby or Sarah Jane? Not clear in the shots of the rear plate
What a decent bloke, i loved what he said at the end, "im English and Nationalist" this attitude has been relentlessly attacked in the last 20-30 years and has been completely discouraged, these days to say such things, people would brand him a racist or a fascist, he's nothing of the sort, it a sad reflection of what we once had and have now irrevocably lost, all in the name of diversity
Unfortunately all is now lost. Daniel's would indeed be vilified and attacked for his general stance. It's better that he passed before things have gotten really bad.
Incredible man! A perfect example of the English eccentric - but any arrogance here is tempered by the knowledge that he pulled himself out of a poor beginning by long hours of dedicated work. A vintage Bentley (of course) and what amused me most - a BMW bike ( of course). Once you've owned one of those, you can't ride anything else.
I seem to remember watching it when it was broadcast. I've often thought back to it. The level of his dedication, the genius of skills, and the solitary nature of the occupation captivated me.
