2 comments about Clock Repairing as a Hobby: An Illustrated How-To Guide for the Beginner.

1. This was a Christmas gift for my husband whom is interested in the repair of watches and clocks. He just needed additional information on repairing clocks, and he said this was the perfect book! He was very pleased.



2. Clock Repairing is a fun, delightful, relaxing hobby that more people should take part in, and this book is a great introduction into the world of clock repair. It helps you get passed all the elaborate gears and levers, and into the fun of it. The diagrams in here are great and really helpful. Pick this up if you are new to the clock world.

5 comments about Saving Stuff: How to Care for and Preserve Your Collectibles, Heirlooms, and Other Prized Possessions.

1. This book is excellent. It is easy to understand, cheap to implement, comprehensive, and effective. The book covers maintenance as well as storage. I wish my ancestors had been able to access to this book.



2. I don't need this book. I thought it was a book on saving things that don't matter, or that does matter. Files, odds and ends. I needed a organizer of house items Its primarlily antiques.



3. amazon delivered item on time as promised. Item was a Christmas gift which the recipient liked.



4. "The most comprehensive book on preserving every type of collectible..." Don Williams, Senior Conservator of the Smithsonian Institution, has written a concise volume dealing with how to preserve everything from baseball cards to furniture. Easy to understand preservation practices. No hard to understand museum jargon. An excellent work for anyone who collects anything or the small museum.



5. I absolutely loved this BRILLIANT book! I am a long time antiquer/yardsaler and I found the book extrodinarily useful! I have been able to preserve things i never thought possible, like my grilled cheese sandwich with the virgin mary on it! I also learned to never keep valuable coins in a jar where my daughter may be able to reach them and turn them into Coinstart (that silly hooligan). This is definately one of my top 3.14 books of all time! IT IS A MUST READ FOR THE AGES!
   
   PS. YAY FOR SCHOOL AND BOO TO CRYSTAL METH!

5 comments about Gunsmithing: Pistols & Revolvers.

1. i have had this book since it was released, which was before i started taking classes. it is not the best step by step for beginners. you do need a little more insight on the guns before working on them, but to read from a master all his little stories of past experiences is priceless. i gave it 4 out of 5 stars because you do need to know how your firearm comes apart before reading the book, but once you know how you 1911 comes apart and goes back together you'll love the info in the book.



2. unless you already know all the parts and peices of a gun and how to take it down to exploded view level of dissasembly and put it back this manual is worthless, i got a willson combat trigger for my 1911 i turned to to the section for installing it, it says remove trigger and install new one and went in detail over how to file it down if it didn't fit right but nothing on how to actually get the trigger out or get it back in, same thing with my revolver it says to remove the cylinder but dosen't say how to remove the cylinder, its like a chiltons manual that says remove transmission but dose not go any further than that, this book is fine if you already know what your doing but if you know what your doing then you would not need a manual to begin with



3. This book has projects that are truly practical, and you can even do them in your own gunsmithing shop at home.



4. I'm sure the info is okay, and the auther seems like a really nice and experienced person.. BUT, the writing style makes it difficult for me to follow.. Some sections of the book literally have no paragraphs- just pages filled with margin to margin text! Other sections have a paragraph every other sentence!! I'm not some kinda grammer buff or anything, but I do get frustrated when the formatting of text is so bad that the text is difficult to follow or read! I mean, we pay good money for books- they should be done right.
   
   Additionally, the focus of what is being talked about jumps around too much- he'll be talking about doing some gun mod or other, then throw in an little side story that's not 100% relavent, and then he won't tie it back into what he was talking about- he'll just move on to a new, unrelated topic! It's like stream of thought poetry in some parts, and is so hard to get through that I've stopped trying to read this book for a while- maybe I'll come back to it.
   
   I want to like this book- it seems like the author has a lot he can teach, but I just can't stick to reading it because of the style. I didn't want to post this review because I hate to smash someone's work. But, I bought this book based on the other, glowing reviews- and I think people considering purchasing this book should know the whole picture.



5. 
   An excellent book with truly practical advise - projects that can be done in a home gunsmithing workshop!

1 comments about Flea Market Finds & How to Restore Them.

1. What a gem! This book has all that is needed about your flea market find. The only complaint is that it didn't cover enough items!
   Find information on history, care and preservation. The title says "restore" but I feel that it is preservation that the author covers. Exactly what I wanted as I don't want to make something new and then make it look old again!

5 comments about The Clock Repairer's Handbook.

1. The book arrived quickly, and in good shape. The book has a lot of good information, with clear diagrams.



2. A very concise and detailed book, with many simple graphics but no photographs and certainly not of use to the novice who just wants to clean up and maintain a collection of old clocks.



3. Excellent book!! Very detailed. It will require study, but is easily understood. And it's ALL in there- ftom nubie to expert. I've purchased 5 books, and this is the last one. I'll never need another.



4. Very difficult book to comprehend. Just about useless as an aid to repairing clocks. I think a lot of it has to do with the language gap between American English and what the people in Britain speak. I am sorry I wasted my money on this book.



5. This book was a total waste of money for me. The UK English is nearly impossible to decipher at times. It is very difficult reading. This mihgt be a good book for experts but is worthless to the beginner. The author describes repair in detail, but assumes the reader knows all the technical terms being used without explaining them. The drawings are difficult to decipher. Photos would have been better. If you are a beginner looking for a good book to get started in clock repair, this isn't it!

2 comments about Conservation Treatment Methodology.

1. Truly, enjoyable reading if you're interested in the field of conservation. If you can see a cartoon pop-up of conservator's head, well, Barbara Appelbaum explained all. Many good stories, and some technical stuff actually add real flavors. Good stuff, indeed!!



2. I am delighted to have this book. Barbara Appelbaum has thought through and presented many ideas I have met over the last 30 years as a conservator, but that no one before has put into this kind of focus. She demonstrates the kind of thinking that is critical to responsible care and treatment planning. Thanks you, Barbara, for giving us the benefits of what you have been doing and teaching all these years. This is an enormous contribution to the conservation field. The content is insightful and practical. The book should be read, owned and used as reference by everyone who owns or takes care of art objects.

5 comments about The Old Outboard Book.

1. This book is one to get for all ages.It lists all the brand motors of old. It gives the history of each motor which I found very interesting and helpful.It also gives a price guide of each motor and which I disagree with. The motor I have I would not sell for the price thats listed in the book. But it gives you the info on what you are looking for.



2. This is NOT a detailed repair manual, but rather a valuable history of outboards including many of the obscure makes such as the one you have leaning in the corner of the shed.



3. After reading the 2nd edition of Peter Hunn's The Old Outboard Book I couldn't wait to get the revised and expanded 3rd edition. I take the book with me when I go looking for old outboards and swap meets. No better reference exists in my opinion.



4. This book has become the "Bible" for most outboard collectors. It has everything in one place. The big list of almost ALL known US outboard manufacturers, The price guide which is the only published guide of its kind, developed thru consultation with a good cross section of prominent and active collectors, Great Serial number guides, Spark plug charts, and much more. Peter's style is very readable, with a "story" connected to each brand. Hundreds of outboard collectors keep a copy in their car, while touring the country looking for additions to their collections. Most helpful to identify, and value that Garage sale or Outboard meet, find. HIGHLY recommended, especially for those new to the hobby.



5. This book is stretched between a technical manual and a coffee table book way too tight. Hunn covers the larger manuf. with research that could be found on any historical website, and briefly touches on the rare and obscure in general descriptions. Do not rely on this book for technical information. Simply order specific parts lists for the motors you have. I would like to know if Hunn's other book was better as a picture book, as this one was too poorly written to be of any enjoyment.

5 comments about The Care and Feeding of Books Old and New: A Simple Repair Manual for Book Lovers.

1. The backcover blurb reads "Here at last is a short, simple, inexpensive guide to book care and repair." Amen! While this book, as other reviews suggest, may not be ideal for rare or leather-bound books, it is great for the mundane volumes of any book collection, or for experimentation purposes, if you're a neophyte repairer. Their advice for removing old price stickers, e.g., is excellent and easy and less harmful than the use of a fingernail. In addition, the advice comes with a charming dialogue about dogs the authors have owned and loved, and the dogs' contribution, or lack thereof, to the book owning and cleaning process. I have thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it as a first step toward book repair mastery. Just don't try it on your Gutenberg Bible!



2. This breezily written guide to repairing books (and many other aspects of book buying and collecting) is a good introduction to its topic for the casual collector. The writing is extremely clear and simple, and the authors do not give advice on more advanced repairs in which you might do damage to the book. It is more of the "how do I get the price tag off the jacket?" or "what do I do about a dirty fingerprint on a page?" variety. And that IS helpful.
   
   At some point, the reader becomes aware that the book is no longer talking about book repair but about various topics that become less and less related to the original topic: how to store books, how to handle books, libraries, book borrowing, and so on. I found this somewhat entertaining, though it does not fit into the book's putative topic, as given in the title and subtitle.
   
   The authors write in a style that is very informal, with many references to their own lives and experiences. This makes the book easy to read, and it is generally not overdone so much as to become cutesy-wutesy. However, the authors' constant references to dog, including the most far-fetched analogies between book care and dog care, did become tiresome. No matter how much the authors love dogs, they should understand that most such references are not actually useful and that some readers may be cat people--or even just book people. However, the effect of this was not to impede understanding; it was simply annoying a few times.
   
   Overall, a good, short introduction to this topic that is easy to read.



3. As a Librarian who specializes in Preservation Management, I found this book somewhat appauling. I found it to be full of factual errors. Many of the cleaning and repair procedures described in this book would actually do more harm than good in the long run - while book tape, rubbing alcohol, homemade paste, and Elmer's glue might seem like harmless substances, these items will break down over time, yellowing, cracking, and damaging your treasured book. The bookbinder's motto is not as these misguided souls profess "Don't make it any worse", but rather "Don't do anything you can't undo". Readers of this book will come away with just enough knowledge to do some real damage! If you're unsure of your methods, you're better off leaving your books alone! If you're really interested in learning book repair, there are many manuals written by trained professionals who actually have some idea what they're talking about.



4. The Care and Feeding of Books Old and New is a lovely little volume that provides the novice book repairer with all the information they need to make minor repairs on damaged books. The authors do an excellent job of describing the tools needed and methods to be used, and are very clear about what sort of damage should be tackled only by an experienced book binder. The repair of loose pages and broken hinges are covered, as well as what to do about a stinky book.
   
   I believe this is an excellent book for any bibliolater (defined by the authors to mean anyone with an extravagant devotion to books) to have on their book shelf. With the dust jacket in a protective cover, of course.



5. 
   
   This book got my attention when I saw it in a bookstore.As I have done some minor book repairing,I bought it without looking at it too closely;thinking one can always learn something new.This book is extremely elementary and a relaxing read; if you don't let the "dog talk" annoy you too much.
   Some of the few books I've seen on basic care and repair of books;are the books by Jane Greenfield,referenced on page 152.I feel they still are the books that cover the subject best.The rest of the material in this book is okay for someone who is just beginning to look into "books on books";but again it is extremely superficial.
   I am also surprised that "A Passion For Books",by Rabinowitz and Kaplan was not mentioned;one of the best I've read.
   Like I said,a very elementary book on books.It might serve the purpose for a collector just starting or for a Librocubicularist.*
   *Reads in bed

3 comments about Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop: Get Started Without Spending a Fortune.

1. If you want to FORGE a knife this is the book for you....If you want to BUILD a knife===>There are others more suited for that



2. Wayne's first version of this book was the first knifemaking book i purchased. Wayne has guided me and been my mentor and friend from the first (approx 4 yrs ). This latest version is one of the best books a beginner could get. All the fotos and diagrams are in color which greatly helps in understanding the lessons. It has new fotos and diagrams all in color. Although this book has approx same number of pages as the original, it seems to contain 50% more info in it. I would reccommend this book to all knifemakers...beginner and experienced. Definitely a 5 star book.



3. I own both editions of this book. Wayne is a personal friend, and my mentor in knifemaking. It can be intimidating to read some publications and see all the high-tech machinery that some makers use. This book shows that people can develope their passion for making knives without spending a fortune. It is clear and concise, and takes alot of the guesswork out of being a beginner. Wayne learned knifemaking by trial and error, before there were books, magazines and videos on the subject. This book is a must have in the library of any knifemaker. I read mine constantly for reference and inspiration.
   
   Craig "MADKAT"

5 comments about Inside the Jewelry Box: A Collector's Guide To Costume Jewelry, Identification And Values (Identification and Values).

1. I had been collecting costume jewelry for over a decade when I discovered this treasure of a book. Immediately, I was drawn in by not only the beautiful photographs and great reference material, but by the author's writing style. She's one of those rare authors that can take the same information (not that she did) as another writer and make it her own. Her great personality and warm generous spirit shine through on every page.
   
   This is truly one of my very favorite books on costume jewelry!



2. This book covers a host of costume jewelry, better than average photos of the manufacturer's signatures or maker's marks (very important if you are a collector!), along with good descriptions and some pricing information. Included in the back of the book are copies of some of the original advertisements for some of the jewelry. Good stuff! I'd recommend this book if you are a collector.



3. Wonderful pictures! I like the way she has some jewelry shown under designer headings while she also shows groups of brooches, necklaces, etc., with various designers together. I especially like the beginning that shows the backs of designer pieces; something you don't get to see a lot in these jewelry guides. It's one of those books you take out on the porch on a nice day and go through page by page from beginning to end (for me, it was like a kid in a candy store), and by the time you get to the end, you feel much more knowledgeable about costume vintage jewelry!



4. The jewelry in this guide is mainly from the author's and apparently her friends' collections. Quite a bit of the jewelry is unidentified by company. The book is strangely organized beginning with around a dozen companies, unalphabetized, followed by sections under the headings of "Quality," "Fruits & Vegetables," "Bakelite, Lucite & Other Plastics," "Parures & Demi- Parures," "Necklaces," "Bracelets," "Brooches & Pins," "Earrings," "Rings & Things," "Pebble Jewelry," and "Guilloche." Under these headings there is no discernible organization. The book concludes with a short section on contemporary jewelry, general information on reproductions and care and repair, thirteeen pages of vintage ads, and some costume jewelry internet web sites. The strengths of this book are that the photography is pretty good and the collection of figural pieces is extensive.



5. I am so happy to add this wonderful costume jewelry book to my collection of reference books. Very well written and I love the sections on DeLillo, Rosenstein, Claudette, Hobe and especially Calvaire since I recently purchased a magnificent Calvaire wide collar necklace & bracelet set with emerald green rhinestones. I was also happy to see the green "baked potato" set since I also have the same set but in a different color. It would be fantastic to one day find out if this set is really a Nettie Rosenstein set. Thank you so much, Ann, for featuring these special designers. Hope to see another book from you soon!