On the 10th June 2013 the final piece of equipment from the George Daniels Riversdale studio was removed, for relocation to the Roger Smith Studio.

The piece shown in the images is a Hauser P325 Optical Jig Boring machine (Nr. 82), which is a high-precision manually operated milling and drilling machine capable of achieving tolerances of 0.001 mm. This historic piece played a pivotal role in the development of the Daniels Co-Axial escapement as George used it for the conversion of the various Omega, Rolex, Patek Phillipe and recently discovered Zenith watches from the lever escapement to Co-Axial. These were converted in order to prove to the watch making industry that his Co-Axial escapement was viable and offered a significant improvement to the long term rate of the mechanical timekeeper.

The removal of this piece is the culmination of a year long project by Roger Smith as the pieces have been meticulously photographed and catalogued before their integration into his studio, based on the Isle of Man.

It was George Daniels’ wish that this important horological collection be preserved and used by Roger Smith and his team of watch makers in the maintenance of all existing Daniels watches and in continuation of Daniels London and of course in the making of Roger Smith’s own RW Smith watches. This final piece now means that George’s wish and bequest is now complete.