Craftsmanship Par Excellence - The Legacy of Clockmaker John Innes
John Innes (1932 - 2016)
British precision instrument maker cum clockmaker. Innes mastered so many of the crafts involved in creating a mechanical timepiece that he was able to make every part of a watch by himself, except for the springs and the glass. A true Old School Master Craftsman.
John Innes in his workshop at historic Kronhusbodarna, Gothenburg (1973)
Photo courtesy of the City Museum, Gothenburg
Biography
Early life
John Innes, of Scottish descent, was born in England in 1932. Fascinated with all things mechanical as a child he started early on to earn some pocket-money repairing watches, typewriters and fly-fishing reels for friends and family. Cogs, levers, cameras and escapements made up his universe.
Through schooling and apprenticeship, Innes became during his formative years a precision-instrument maker and repairer of scientific instruments, including microscopes. He excelled in minute metal work while attending watchmaking night classes. He was a fine cornet player and a member of the Morris Motor’s Brass Band, probably the finest band in the south of England for many years.
... from Alexandria to Cape Town on foot ...
Innes joined the British Army in the 1950’s and was stationed in Egypt. Immediately after being demobbed he decided to cross the African continent from Alexandria to Cape Town on foot - a journey of some 10 300 kilometres (6 400 miles).
After having been arrested and detained in Sudan on unfounded spying charges “for the benefit of a Foreign Government”, he was ultimately released and managed to reach his destination. Unable to shave in his Sudan cell he sported on his release a marvellous beard. That beard came to be his lifelong signature feature.
John Innes outside his workshop at Kronhusbodarna, Gothenburg (1973)
Photo courtesy of the City Museum, Gothenburg
Career
Innes moved to Gothenburg, Sweden in 1960 to work as a precision instrument maker for Chalmers University of Technology and Sahlgrenska Hospital. He also opened a part-time clock making, cleaning and repairs business (mostly long-cases and brackets but also ordinary as well as vintage wristwatches) and set up his workshop at historic Kronhusbodarna in Gothenburg.
Historic Kronhuset in Gothenburg, Sweden.
He honed his skills as a clock and watchmaker and in 1970 he went on to specialise full-time in restoration of fine timepieces - the field reserved for the most skilled watchmakers. He quickly made a name for himself amongst collectors.
In 1980 he moved his business to London to reach a wider audience. He continued his restoration works for his customers in Europe, New York City and faraway places like Santiago de Chile. He also did work on commission for antique dealers and was on several occasions a participant at various watch exhibitions - once caught on camera "rubbing shoulders" with the Prince and Princess of Wales ("Charles and Diana").
Innes was at one time on the shortlist for the position of Queen Elisabeth’s Royal Clock-winder (Royal Horological Conservator) but fate decided otherwise. He also had a brief stint as a temporary conservator at the Clock Tower of the Great Bell of Westminster (a.k.a. Big Ben).
Later life
Innes continued to restore watches well into later life. He moved on to a pleasant life in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, carefully tending to his collections of clocks and watches, his vintage scientific instruments, and all his fly-fishing reels, rods, lures, and tackles.
".. a keen party goer, an avid cornet player... a Master Craftsman"
Death
John Innes passed away in 2016 in Sleaford, fondly remembered as a truly kind and witty person, a keen party goer, an avid cornet player (right to the very end of the road - according to his neighbours!) and, last but not least, as a Master Craftsman.