George Thomas: Towson's Master Watchmaker

Origins and Early Watchmaking Career

George Thomas was a distinguished horologist known for crafting complex timepieces from scratch and preserving historically significant watches. Born in Prague in 1930, he apprenticed as a watchmaker in 1945. In 1948, he fled communist Czechoslovakia to Panama, then moved to San Francisco in 1951. Thomas initially worked as a watchmaker but switched to the plastics and chemical industry for better opportunities, spending 35 years there. Despite this hiatus, he never lost his passion for horology and continued restoring antique and complicated watches in his spare time.

This unusual career path—from European apprentice to American inventor—laid the groundwork for his later return to professional watchmaking. His ability to blend old-world craftsmanship with modern precision defined his legacy.

Independent Watchmaking Achievements

Thomas resumed serious watchmaking in the 1980s, applying his formidable skills to build complete mechanical watches by hand. Notably, he constructed a series of four tourbillon-regulated pocket watches entirely from scratch—an exceptional feat of craftsmanship. Three of these tourbillon pieces (along with a complex carrousel escapement watch) are now housed on display at the National Watch & Clock Museum.

Thomas built his first tourbillon watch in 1985 at a time when traditional watchmaking was in decline. His work is often compared to that of history’s great independent watchmakers, as very few artisans remain capable of making a complete watch movement by hand. His craftsmanship bridged old-world techniques and modern precision, proving that intricate complications like the tourbillon could still be created outside of Swiss ateliers even in the late 20th century.

Restoring Historic Timepieces

Among his most significant restoration works, George Thomas was entrusted with restoring the oldest known dated watch, the Melanchthon Watch (1530), which had been acquired by the Walters Art Museum. He carefully conserved and repaired the delicate iron movement and gilded brass case of this Renaissance-era timepiece. His work on this project was even published in Lutheran Quarterly in 2001, highlighting the watch’s historical and technological significance.

Thomas also restored what is considered the world’s smallest mechanical watch—a miniature 19th-century timepiece made in 1860 for the Czar of Russia. His ability to work on such delicate and historically significant watches made him a go-to expert for museums and collectors seeking to authenticate and preserve priceless timepieces.

Founding Towson Watch Company

After decades of independent projects, George Thomas partnered with German engineer Hartwig Balke to establish Towson Watch Company (TWC) in Maryland in 1998. Their goal was to create limited-edition mechanical watches for enthusiasts and collectors. At a time when American watchmaking had largely faded, Towson Watch Company revived the craft, producing precision mechanical timepieces that rivaled Swiss luxury brands.

Thomas was in his late 60s by this time, bringing over 40 years of experience in repairing high-grade watches. As a master horologist, Thomas took charge of regulating movements and hand-assembling each Towson watch, while Balke handled design and engineering. This complementary partnership produced one of America’s most respected boutique watch brands.

One of the company’s proudest achievements was having a Towson chronograph worn on NASA’s STS-99 Space Shuttle mission in 1999, proving its precision in zero gravity. This made Towson one of the few American-made mechanical watches tested in space.

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Revealing the Hidden Message in Lincoln’s Watch

George Thomas’s reputation for meticulous skill led to a remarkable historical event in 2009. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History invited Thomas to open President Abraham Lincoln’s pocket watch—a high-risk task entrusted only to an expert of his caliber. Generations of historians had speculated that a hidden message was engraved inside the watch during the Civil War. On March 10, 2009, in front of an audience of reporters and museum staff, Thomas carefully disassembled Lincoln’s watch and confirmed the presence of an inscription noting the attack on Fort Sumter in 1861. This discovery made national headlines and highlighted Thomas’s standing as a trusted conservator in the horological community.

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Legacy and Historical Significance

George Thomas’s contributions to watchmaking are recognized globally. His handmade tourbillon pieces are displayed at the National Watch & Clock Museum, and his work in restoring landmark timepieces ensures that these historical artifacts remain preserved for future generations. His ability to create watches entirely by hand, regulate them to precision, and contribute to the conservation of centuries-old horological history cements his status as a master horologist.

Towson Watch Company remains a testament to his vision—reviving independent American watchmaking and ensuring that high-quality, handcrafted timepieces continue to be made in the United States.

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Key Timepieces and Projects Associated with George Thomas:

• Philip Melanchthon’s Watch (1530) – The oldest known signed and dated watch, restored by Thomas for the Walters Art Museum.
• Miniature Russian Tsar’s Watch (1860) – The world’s smallest mechanical watch, repaired and documented by Thomas.
• Tourbillon Pocket Watches (1980s) – A set of four hand-made tourbillon watches, three of which are displayed at the National Watch & Clock Museum.
• Abraham Lincoln’s Pocket Watch (2009) – Disassembled by Thomas, revealing a long-rumored hidden message from the Civil War.
• Towson Chronograph (1999) – A mechanical watch worn aboard NASA’s STS-99 Space Shuttle mission.