4 comments about The Time Museum Historical Catalogue of American Pocket Watches.

1. Anyone who collects or just likes pocket watches will love this book. The many pictures (showing examples from the collection) are breathtaking. The book is nicely printed on quality paper and bound in signatures for strength. I found this book worth every penny of the price.



2. It's astonishing. We think that pocket watch history is a relatively limited event. Actually there were millions of watches made, and they have all left a trail. This book helps you understand the great manufacturing impulse at work in the 19th century. It gives you an equally extraordinary perspective into watches being made at that time. You will learn a lot from this book. Then, if you want to dig deeper into the brands and histories that the book presented, you can. Why not five stars? Well, this book didn't tell me everything. There must be other books that tell you more. Regardless, this is a critical work.



3. Recommended, valuable reference for American pocket watches. History of producers and their background. Only complaint is lack of photos of all models described.



4. This is a beautifully presented book on the pocket watch collection of the Time Museum, but it is a catalogue and not a history of watches. If you like to look at the photos and movements of watches the presentation is very nice, but there is very little substance on the development of watches or the major manufacturers themselves.

2 comments about Miller's: Clocks & Barometers: Buyer's Guide (Miller's Buyer's Guides).

1. An excellent resource for both prices & basic history on antique clocks of all types. Pictures provided for each item listed with price ranges taking into account the condition of the item. Although I had a solid basic knowledge regarding antique clocks, I found new information. The only reason I rated this book a 4 instead of a 5, is that Miller's needs to realize that it would be helpful to have dual listings of prices--both the pound/sterling and the dollar! As this seems to be a common complaint about their guides, you'd think they'd catch on! An excellent book otherwise--well written, informative with excellent examples and pictures!



2. I was very happy with my book I did know what I was ordering a friend had it so I will use Amazon again.

No comments about Precision Pendulum Clocks: France, Germany, America, and Recent Advancements (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

2 comments about Patek Philippe: Complicated Wrist Watches.

1. Complication is the upmost level in watchmaking and Patek Philipe is the upmost swiss watchmaker. These two things meet in this beautiful album. The history of Patek Philipe complicated watches from 20s up to 80s represented by gorgeous photos. Every watch is represented by dial, movement and case back pictures. The book may serve both as a nice reading and as a collector's book. Excellent print. The only minus is the lack of detailed movements information (ref. number provided for every watch).



2. It is not only an informative source about the rarest and most sought-after wrist watches by Patek Philippe, it is also lavishly illustrated with amazing color photos that almost stick out of the book. To be able to glimpse at a similar quality of wrist watches you would have to find a specialized museum or fly to Switzerland to the Patek philippe factory.
   Makes you envious of this private collector who had the vision and the foresight, as well as the money, to start collecting these marvelous and almost unique masterpieces.

1 comments about The French Marble Clock: A Guide for Buyers, Collectors and Restorers with Hints on Dating and a List of Makers.

1. How many times have you seen one of those big old French marble clocks for sale at auction or in a shop? Were you intrigued by the craftsmanship, curious about the history, or just impressed by the size? Wonder no more, now that Nicolas Thorpe has written this useful guide to these relics of a past age.

   These clocks were made during the 1830 to 1930 period, and they fall into my definition of an investment antique. They were expensive when new, still useful, and won't be made again. Yet they seem undervalued in the market. Thorpe discusses the aesthetic, historical, and practical aspects of these behemoths. Much of the book is a simple, practical course in cleaning and restoring these cases and movements. It is directed at the LAYMAN, not the expert. If you have never repaired a clock, if you are reasonably handy you can follow Thorpe's directions and do it right.

   Even if you only own one French marble clock, you should have this book. Whether it's a petite boudoir timepiece or a fireplace mantel juggernaut, your understanding and enjoyment will be enhanced by this book.

1 comments about Precision Pendulum Clocks: The Quest for Accurate Timekeeping (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. Book Review by Fortunat F. Mueller-Maerki, Sussex NJ

   Precision Pendulum Clocks, The Quest for Accurate Timekeeping,
   by Derek Roberts.

   Schiffer Publishing, Atglen PA, published 2003, ISBN 0-7643-1636-2, 24x31 cm, 224 pages; Glossary, Index,

   Purchase for ca. [with money]at amazon.com. ...

   The subtitle of this book "The Quest for Accurate Timekeeping" neatly sums up the very essence, the raison d'être, for the art and science of mechanical. Given the central importance of the subject, it is hard to understand why there has not been any serious, in-depth book published on precision horology in 25 years (since Erbrich, Präzisionspenduluhren, 1978, was published, but only in German), and never a book in English. Not only the precision timekeeping enthusiasts, but any serious horologist, owes Derek Roberts thanks for having finally filled this gap. Anybody familiar with prior books by Roberts, such as his volumes on Skeleton Clocks, Mystery Clocks, or Carriage Clocks will have high expectations, and will not be disappointed.

   However I must point out that the title is somewhat misleading. Roberts set out to produce the comprehensive treatise on precision timekeeping, a vast and broad subject, and after many years of research, collecting material and writing he had produced a work that could never fit into one volume, and indeed he had planed this to be a three volume work. Schiffer Publishing balked at that concept and forced the author to publish it as three separate books. (The second and third, named "English Precision Pendulum Clocks" and "Precision Pendulum Clocks: France, Germany, America and Recent Advancements", are due out in intervals of half a year). The publisher must have felt that there were better market opportunities in selling at first one book only. Marketing considerations must also have driven the misleading title; something along the lines of "An introduction to Precision ..." or "An overview of Precision ..." would have been more accurate and more descriptive for this book. Furthermore it soon becomes clear to the reader that abandoning the original "one-title, three volumes" concept came late in the production, because the text repeatedly refers to examples in the yet unpublished companion books. In one instance the reader is told to go to chapter 28 (in a 10 chapter book) for further information. To this reviewer such sloppiness in the final editing is slightly annoying.

   Once the reader however realizes that the text was designed to set the stage, to merely introduce the topic of precision timekeeping, it becomes clear that such goal is achieved in a superb manner. The specialist reader will find a concise and very readable introduction, while the more casual horologist may well be content with getting a good overview of the subject, without the burden of the details and technicalities of the volumes yet to be published.

   Unlike in his earlier books, Roberts does not attempt to write it all himself; actually 4 of the 10 chapters appear under the byline of eminent experts in their specialized fields (Jonathan Betts on Astronomy and Precision Time; John Martin on Escapements; Denys Vaughn on Electric Clocks, and A.D. Stewart provides a 200 year timeline style summary of the subject). The core of this volume - and the core in the quest for the perfect pendulum clock - is the 50 page chapter on the compensated pendulum, dealing with all the various approaches to both temperature and barometric compensation. This subject obviously is also close to the heart of the author. The last two chapters deal with the achievements of Thompion and Graham (the early strivers in the UK for more perfect pendulums) and Harrison (the first horologist utterly devoted to perfect timekeeping).

   The value of the book is as much in its illustrations as it is in the text. Some 280+ illustrations have been carefully selected to illustrate the points made, with careful attention to assuring that the photograph taken clearly shows the feature described in the text. Many illustrations are functional, technical diagrams, with captions (often in the style of "Lever A, lifts the Notch B, releasing pin C, letting wheel E turn ...") sometimes taking more space than the image. Clearly Roberts has taken as much effort and pride to get the illustrations and captions right, as he has devoted to the text. He follows the convention of showing most of the sample clocks he describes in several images, often from different angles, all under one illustration number.

   The book succeeds in working well for various types of readers: On one level it is an enjoyable "coffee table" book with pretty pictures of superb world-class clocks, as well as interesting tid-bits of technical knowledge to be learned by the casual, unsystematic browser. Unlike most books appealing also to the superficial reader, Roberts however also succeeds in producing a scholarly text that stands up to highest scrutiny for the individual who is willing to read every caption and pursue every footnote. The references to sources and further bibliographic resources (grouped at the end of every chapter) are voluminous; the compensated pendulum chapter alone lists 32 publications providing additional details.

   "Precision Pendulum Clocks: The Quest for Accurate Timekeeping", and its future companion volumes, are indeed destined to become the standard text on the subject, and should be part of any well rounded horological library.

   Fortunat Mueller-Maerki, Sussex NJ

2 comments about Swatch: A Guide for Connoisseurs and Collectors.

1. I enjoyed this book. It's pictures were very nice and of course colorful. Had a good introduction to the history of Swatch watches and also informitive for the beginner collector. Nice book overall.



2. Somewhat disappointed, not a guide for the collector. Covers very little in terms of particular Swatches. Only lists a handful of Swatches from each category, not the exhaustive list the tittle leads you to believe. On the other hand, if you are obsessed with the most interesting watch ever produced, then you should have this book. Just don't expect to use it for looking up unknown Swatches. If anyone knows of a good book that lists all Swatches made please let me know mark.duncan@mindspring.com .

2 comments about Watches: The Ultimate Guide.

1. It's a great book for the price.



2. Covers a lot of watches, from very expensive through Swatch, but all European. No mention of either American classics or the high end Japanese watches, to me a bit of a disappointment.

1 comments about Pocket Watch Handbook.

1. This book was first printed in England in 1985, so don't expect any information more current than that. It is not a price handbook either. What it does provide is a high quality history of the development of the watch from the Middle Ages with a fair deal of technical explanation. For one unfamiliar with how watches are made, some of the terminology will be difficult. The book also provides some examples of how to research a watch and how to engage in the business of selling watches. Unfortunately, information on starting a watch shop in England in the 1980s is not very useful for most American readers of today, and the research is only moderately interesting. But as an historical introduction to watches it is a top-notch overview, suitable for the technically inclined beginner. The photos are of high quality.

No comments about The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived.