A Tournament Name, Not a Maker Name
The clock takes its collector name from the San Sebastián tournament of 1911, where the design appears in competition. The name describes a documented historical appearance; it does not identify the manufacturer.
A Persistent Attribution Problem
Collectors have often associated the type with the Netherlands, but definitive proof remains absent. Surviving examples use multiple movement types, including German Kienzle movements, suggesting assembly from externally sourced mechanics rather than manufacture by one movement factory.
A Design that Traveled
The form appears again in later European play, including Euwe–Maróczy in 1921, and in Soviet competition at Leningrad in 1924. Its longevity suggests a successful tournament design even if the commercial chain behind it has disappeared.
Historical Significance
The San Sebastián clock is a model example of how object history can outrun company history. Photographs establish use. Surviving clocks establish construction. The missing piece is the workshop or seller that brought those components together.