A short film about the extraordinary watchmaker, Dr George Daniels CBE. Made by the BBC in 1999 to celebrate the coming of the new millennium, and filmed in Daniels' iconic Riversdale workshop and residence on the Isle of Man.
George Daniels' contribution to horology was far more than making a nice watch. He was a horological scientist in every sense of the word. The depth of his understanding and contributions to horology went far beyond anything that was done before or since. This man was truly a gifted genius. david
He had a happiness that few know about. To believe in oneself and see a movement that others fail to see and spend a lifetime trying to achieve it is so wonderful. A great man whom few would recognise his greatness. The mind is a wonderful thing and it is delightful to be able to hear such people talk , to meet him would have been an honour and a previlege. I can only pull his leg about calling electronics engineers, "Dammed electricians" . We too can do a few things that he would appreciate too, but ours are an invisible functions and no lens can see our electrons with which we also do wonders, There is a romantic feeling about dealing with something men can handle themselves which they can see and touch. Electronics products will never create these feelings in a man. They would if we only could see the electrons in Magnetrons and Klystrons!
I know this is an old post but I want to say this anyway. I attened the opening ceremony of the AWI headquarters in Cinicinnati back in the day. George Daniels was there. I waited for an opertunity to meet him. At that time few new who he was and no one around him was even talking to him. I went over and introduced myself and told him I was an admirerer of his work etc... I extended my hand and he looked down at it. Looked at me. Turned around and walked away without a word. Maybe a great watchmaker but not much of a human.
Great minds and effort to create nothing but the best, keeps this word in good hands. I'm not a watch maker however I'm always fascinated with its beautiful mechanics. I use to watch my uncle, he was a watch maker . Thx for what he has put out there in the world of great invention.
7:12 Omega were the only company who eventually adopted the coaxial escapement and only after dragging their heels a lot. Now it's their biggest selling point.
Does anyone else see the Swiss reaction to his Co Axial escapement being similar to the way the English watchmakers in London treated John Harrison? "He couldn't possibly make something as good as we can because he has no "training" i.e.He's not in the "Worshipful Company of Watchmakers of London". What goes around comes around. Then what's the first thing the Swiss try to do? They try to "improve" it ,and insisting on oiling something designed to run without oil. I'm glad I made the switch to clocks many years ago,so I don't need to worry about the Swiss and all their BS.
