Escapements

William H. Samelius, the Dean of the Elgin Watchmakers College, is considered the finest American watchmaker of his age. From a family of watchmakers going back to watchmakers for Swedish royalty, Samelius held the prestigious position of Director of the Elgin Watchmakers College after organizing the school after World War I. Under his tutelage, 3,500 student watchmakers graduated from the college. He donated a set of watchmaker’s tools to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. Samelius’ contributions to American horology are incalculable.

Samelius built a complete set of 45 escapement models (of which our examples are a part), demonstrating the variety and history of pendulum clocks. They were featured in the Elgin National Watch Company Exhibit of the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, Illinois, and the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.