We regret to announce the death of John Travers, marine chronometer escapement maker, which took place on October 31st at his home in Ramsgate.  Notwithstanding his great age, Mr. Travers was in excellent health until a short time ago, and it is but little more than a year since he completed his last escapements.
    He came of an old and distinguished Lancashire family, many members of which were noted for their courage and strength in turbulent times of England's history. Born at "the top of the Holt" near Rainhill on August 4, 1849, he began his working life in one of the toolmakers' shops, which in those days were numerous in that district. At the age of 14 he came to London and worked in Goswell Road with the late Thomas Mercer senior. Starting as chronometer finisher, he proved himself an extraordinary skilful and rapid workman in this branch, and after some years as a finisher he turned his hand to escapement making, and became particularly expert in "making the pivoting" which includes pivoting and polishing the escapement pinion, mounting the wheel, and making the staff and rollers. In this department of chronometer work, he rose to excel all others, not only for the perfection of his work, but also for the great speed with which he could accomplish it.
    In his normal week's work he used to make six marine pivotings complete, and on more than one occasion, when work was pressing, he made ten pivotings throughout without working overtime. In addition to pivotings he also for many years cut and polished the escape wheels and cut the fusees. The amount of work that he accomplished in his lifetime may be reckoned with the fact that as his workbooks show, upwards of twenty thousand marine pivotings left his hands, besides thousands of escape wheels, marine and pocket, and a wide variety of chronometer parts. He worked for every British manufacturer of note and for many well-known foreign firms. He took great pride in his long business connections with some of these.
    He was particularly pleased to recall that he had worked for the illustrious firm of Kullberg for an unbroken period of fifty years. Like many others in the chronometer trade, he considered that the best testimonial a workman could have was that "he worked for Kullberg's." His work, like his life, was flawless, and continued to his last days. The last pivotings he ever made, in 1936, were as perfect as they had always been. In his work he was never surpassed, though he would not admit it, for he was the most modest and unassuming of men. He recognized the ability of other men in his own and other branches the trade and to his last days he spoke with veneration of "the great pivoter, Harry Mann" and of William Sills, prince of finishers, and George Abbott, great artist in détente making. The last two were his personal friends, and though they have long passed on, each left a son who ably carries on the old tradition and craftsmanship in chronometer work. As with these men's work, as with his own, it was a delight to see, true and just in every particular, accurate to a degree that few aspire to, finished with that art that seems to be almost lost. Like the poet he believed that "the gods see everywhere" and "every hid and unseen part" was wrought with the same care and finished with the same perfection as those parts that were visible. He had no patience with "good enough" and if the minutest defect appeared in any part he would break it up.
    A great lover of country life, he kept a farm at Abbots Langley, Herts. from 1872 to 1887, and managed all its affairs besides continuing his chronometer work. He won many prizes at the Crystal Palace and county shows for his poultry eggs and other farm produce. He used to say that all his life he had been very happy, but that these were his happiest days. Strenuous days, indeed they must have been, with a growing family and the cares of business, yet he found time for other interests. His splendid physique made him a leader in outdoor sports, and he was well known as a first rate cricketer and footballer, and a very good rifle shot. He gave up the farm in 1887, and for his family's sake returned to London, where he lived until 1908, when he removed to Ramsgate. There he remained until his death, steadily and quietly pursuing his craft. The chronometer work fell off greatly soon after the War, but he continued to have fairly regular work up to the time of his retirement, little more than a year ago. His lifelong association with the chronometer trade gave him an unparalleled knowledge of the technicalities of every branch of chronometer making, and he was the means of introducing several improvements in the system of manufacturer. His own methods of working, too, were largely of his own devising, and he developed a system of his own for cutting escape wheels, which ensured great accuracy and perfect finish.
    Honourable and upright, courageous, independent, clean and straight in his own life, he feared the face of none, called no man master and owed no man anything. Kind and thoughtful for others, he constantly helped many of his fellow workmen less fortunate or less provident than himself, and in turn was respected by them above the common run of men. He was most happy in his family life, and was fully rewarded in the constant care and devotion of his very large family of fourteen, eleven of whom live to mourn his loss. He lost one of his ten sons in the War, and his wife, to whom he was much attached, died in 1921.
    By his passing our world is poorer, for he was, without contradiction, one of the finest horological craftsmen England has ever seen. Trained in a hard school, he surmounted all its difficulties, and surpassed all his masters in the beauty and the quality of his work. It is doubtful such work will be ever seen again, and he would ask for no better testimonial than that of his own handiwork, spread afar over wide seas and many lands, hidden from most men's eyes, yet steadfastly performing its service for the safety and benefit of mankind.