Watchmaking George Daniels Review
Yolette Langevin
I discovered this site quite by accident while googling for information on the Cowells CW 90 lathe. Serendipity is the word that comes to mind to describe this find: eye-pleasing layout, clear and informative text, helpful photographs... I shall be returning often just for the pleasure of browsing - and for the inspiration. I should add here that I'm a modeller, not a watch maker, but more and more I find myself turning to techniques used in jewellry and clock-making.
Thank you for this excellent site, and I wish I possessed one tenth of your skill.
Jean Cote
You've tipped the balance for me: I shall be acquiring a Cowells lathe. With the British Pound now at a par with the Euro, I have no excuse for delaying further
Hi
I found your website 'by accident' whilst looking for something else; and then lost it again for a while.
I appreciate the work you've put in to the website - and the watch! I too have Daniels' book, though any thoughts of embarking on a project like this are some way off. In the meantime, I'm working on cleaning and occasionally repairing watches. I'm currently making a winding stem on a 6mm Lorch.
Cowells are only an hour or two down the road from me - I should pop in! I have a Myford ML7RB for the big stuff, but I don't have any means of cutting gears at present.
Anyway, ramble over - get back to the watch!
John
Hi,
I wanted to write and express my respect and admiration for your efforts to make a 'Daniels' watch.
I have been an amateur watch repairer for a few years now, and was given a copy of Daniel's watchmaking as a birthday present last year - what an inspirational book. It gave me the vague idea of trying to make a watch myself, and I was browsing the web idly looking at other peoples projects when I ran across your site.
I'm watching with great anticipation to see your watch completed, and in particular how you get on with making the chronometer escapement and an engine turned dial, as I sense these may be the two most difficult parts to execute.
Thanks for sharing all the details of your project like this.
Andrew Groom
Hello!
Like the others above, I happened on your website by accident while looking for info on the Cowell's lathes. I thank you for the in-depth look at one of their lathes, which is a great help in the decision to purchase one (though I am more interested in the ME series lathe).While I do have an interest in things horological, I will be using it for construction of model internal combustion engines and small instrument work. Thanks again for the look at your lathe.
Curtis
I discovered your site last year whilst looking for info on Cowells lathes. I am frequent visiter . great site very informative. My cowells lathe arrived in Feb 2009 along with their V mill to set up my workshop. Keep up the great work, may be one day I too will have a watch of my own crafting?
I stumbled on this site looking for watchmaking information. Very well laid out, and very nice to see you work. It's also inspiring to see that it's possible to make a watch... It's something I hope to undertake some day (or decade...).
One note. Watchmaking lathe bits aren't anything special. Otto Frei, etc completely gouge their customers for HSS bits. Just buy HSS blanks form Enco, and using a bench grinder, shape them to form. It isn't very hard, is dramatically cheaper ($.59 per blank), and you will be more versatile because you can make your own cutters. This is standard practice in most machine shops.
A wonderful website. It gives me inspiration to complete a model engine I started too long ago.
Thanks for the generous references to other publications or websites for more technical information.
Also, I can see a definite advantage to the Cowells lathe with the milling attachment for smaller parts. It looks like a more efficient setup than using a Myford for milling operations.
It seems like most people, I was looking for something else and found you. I am a watchmaker and still have learned so much from you. One would think that a lot of information would be out there about watchmaking, No. Please keep me informed on you progress; this is one of the BEST making of a watch I have ever seen, thank you.
Hello!
Happened to chance at your website!
Noticed that everything you have are new, is this your new setup? I don't make or repair watches but into design/make small tabletop machines. I have a Sherline mill/lathe with Cowells tailstock. Cowells is a great machine but very expensive! Wish to know you better! Keep in touch-Steve from Singapore.
Nice work.
I have the ME lathe and think i will buy the mill as well.
I am waiting for the re-release of this book in 2 months time and will attempt the same as you. Your work on the site is excellent and it will serve as an important reference for me.
Stayed up late last night enjoying your hard work. I am a NAWCC clock and watchmaker using Levin, Prazi and Sherline equipment. Your site has inspired me to make a few more accessories! Good Job! Looking forward to more updates!
Kevin
Hello from central Minnesota!
We found ourselves with a bunch of donated watch tools and pieces. Your site was extremely helpful in naming all of these old treasures; thanks for the time and expertise that you put into this site!
Elegant and informative; beautifully done.
Although I don't expect to go into watchmaking or repair, I am restoring some fine old microscopes and making many adapters for various camera attachments and microscope adapters. Your methods of work help fill in some blanks and definitely carry over into other disciplines. I'm also making and restoring metal lathes and they keep getting smaller and smaller.
FANTASTIC reference website for hobby watchmakers that want to explore some real watch MAKING. I have searched for years for such a detailed, well written, thoroughly explained and clearly documented informational site about watch making. I really appreciate your efforts. Thank you. -Craig
I found your website by accident while looking for WW collets. Your work is beautiful and your website is one of the most informative I have found on the subject of watch part fabrication. Excellent!
Thank you,
Mark
Very nice work. I check back frequently and I'm always excited to see your progress. Have you considered putting together a book of your photos and posts? It would be a welcome companion to Daniel's Watchmaking on my shelf.
Also, thanks for posting up Saunier's escapements chapter!
-Dave
I am a student at the Nicolas G Hayek Watchmaking school in Miami, check us out on Facebook. I found your site while searching for info on making a balance wheel. Our class is planing to make a few for a ETA 6479 movement. We want to make a Daniels style 4 spoke. However, we are going to try using a flat rim with 8 weights in recessed cavities on the balance rim. Your outline is a great help in getting us started. Thank you for posting so much great info. Best of luck!!!
I've been thinking about this constantly since I started restoration and servicing my own collection. The reference you've created is about the best I've seen in hundreds of hours of searching the web. You're doing great work and I'm looking forward to seeing the progress.
Thanks for the great site, it's a must have bookmark in every Horology student or collector. Your link goes up today.
Hi,
Watchmaking is a fascinating world but many times it has a dark or misterious edge. The old craftsman and also industries have kept their knowledge very much to themselves. The internet and some courageous writers have "opened" the knowledge to the world. George Daniels was one of the greatest.
You have achieved and completed his work.
Congratulations and thanks for this.
NB : very impatient to hear your watch one day tick on your website...
Your journey into the watch making world is simply amazing and inspiring. To be able to view your progress as you move forward is quite incredible. I am about to begin my own journey by enrolling in the online Timezone watch school. I have also purchased the George Daniels book though I am not ready for the knowledge contained in it's covers.
Gareth
You are an absolute genius. I can't believe that you are accomplishing this. I am in the process of making a Will Smith clock. Only about 1/1000 as hard as this project. Good luck. Thanks for making George Daniels book come to life. The world needed someone to do it. Thanks Dean W. Larson, M.D.
Oculoplastic Surgeon
Thank you for a wonderful site, found when I was snooping for Cowells info (I have the Cowells 90 for clockmaking). I'm building John Wilding's Large Wheel clock and made his version of stopwork on a CNC Taig mill. I came across the Maltese Cross shape and the AWI was kind enough to email me The Archie Perkins article on making 4 and 5 turn stops. Wilding's clock needs 6 and I spent several weeks in a fruitless attempt to extrapolate the numbers to 6 turns. Retirement and a move put a halt to this but If I ever "decode Archie Perkins," I will surely follow what you have done in making a 6 turn stop work.
Hi,
I live in the UK and and found your website whilst looking for information about Cowell's Lathes. Great website and very informative. My journey as an amateur into watch and clock work has been greatly enhanced by two very experienced watchmakers here in the UK, who have been only too happy to pass on there experiences. I collect pocket watches and mantle clocks. With the skills I've gained, I happily refurbish/repair all manner of mechanisms now. I purchased a Cowells 90ME Lathe from EBay followed by an IME watchmakers lathe. I have found Cowell's to be such a helpful company. Your website serves as an inspiration to others.
I really do enjoy your website. Your workmanship is inspiring and I especially enjoy the tool making pages. I also own Daniel's Watchmaking and it is very interesting to see the watch actually being made.
Please keep up the outstanding work. I can't wait to see the face you create for the watch.
REGjr