"The Watchmaker " a short documentary film.

[Neverenoughwatches]

Is this what it was like in the 80s and 90s for retiring watchmakers ?  Poor old sod

https://youtu.be/29oO__D8wf4?si=BB54z38LUqm8suMH

[RichardHarris123]

No finger cots, smoking inside and dubious electrics. What's not to like?  

[Neverenoughwatches]

18 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

No finger cots, smoking inside and dubious electrics. What's not to like?  

that's our kind of working environment . I would have loved to have picked the boy's brain.  Ages since i watched that video ,I think he mentioned his knowledge will go with him.

[watchweasol]

Hi. I knew one like him in York , retired and gone. Jahn Knovak  old school. My workshop in not much better except for the lighting and bench. They were pure gold old guys like him.

[Malocchio]

I wonder if parts ever got lost on the floor or bench.

[Neverenoughwatches]

1 hour ago, Malocchio said:

I wonder if parts ever got lost on the floor or bench.

I bet he knew exactly where everything was and hadn't pinged a part in decades. His tweezers would have truly been an extension of his huge knarly hands.

[JohnR725]

3 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

I bet he knew exactly where everything was and hadn't pinged a part in decades. His tweezers would have truly been an extension of his huge knarly hands.

I was thinking that he probably knows where everything in the entire shop is.

Then I was curious where the shop was and whether it still existed and the building exists of course he is no longer there the article explains when he died. That I was wondering if his apartment was above the shop?

http://westhampsteadlife.com/2014/01/15/a-moment-in-time-on-mill-lane/9921

[Neverenoughwatches]

26 minutes ago, JohnR725 said:

I was thinking that he probably knows where everything in the entire shop is.

Then I was curious where the shop was and whether it still existed and the building exists of course he is no longer there the article explains when he died. That I was wondering if his apartment was above the shop?

http://westhampsteadlife.com/2014/01/15/a-moment-in-time-on-mill-lane/9921

Good old Norm, he'll have forgotten more about watchmaking than I'll ever know. I wonder what it was like in his shop in the 30s when wristwatches were becoming ever popular taking over from pocket watches. I bet there wasn't a watch brand he hadn't handled, what a mentor to have for vintage repairing. 

[JackH]

There is a plaque at the site of his old shop. https://openplaques.org/plaques/9382 

When he lit up the pipe in the film, it reminded me of my old boss in the electronics service department where I worked in the 70s. He would light up his pipe after lunch each day and I can remember the nice smell and the good times there.

[MyBench]

I loved the film.  It captures the sedate lifestyle of his practice.  He just seemed so calm.