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

1. 
   Part of the way into Goodrich's "The Modern Clock," I realized I needed to start with a text that didn't assume the reader already works in a clock repair shop. There being several options, I decided to check a few out of the library before buying. Kelly's "Clock Repairing as a Hobby" was one of the ones that was available. It is definitely better suited to the beginner than Goodrich. It defines many of the parts and describes the workings, and also gives basic advice on how to proceed in clock repairs. I'd rate it as useful, but uneven and insufficient. Some clock parts are mentioned in the text or appear in a drawing (e.g., "cannon pinion") but are never defined. There are drawings of several escapements or striking mechanisms, but the reader is left to imagine how the parts move relative to each other based on the description in the text. For a beginner's book like this one, a drawing showing several states of the mechanism would be much more appropriate. Several basic concepts, like how the "lift" is distributed between the pallet faces and escape gear teeth, or what is meant by the "run of the lock" are never touched on at all! If I hadn't already seen an Internet-based animation of the deadbeat escapement, I wouldn't have a clue how it worked based on the description in Kelly! So I'm going to keep looking for a better book.



2. Book seems fine unless you are looking for a book to repair cuckoo clocks...which I was. I searched for "cuckoo clock repair" and this came up. Seems like a fine book, but is useless to me.



3. The work being reviewed here is the 1972 Edition. There have been two or three reprints of this work throughout the years but about all that has changed is the cover.
   
   There are a couple of considerations that need to be addressed in reviewing this work. First, this is a work, as stated on the cover and in the preface, "....for the beginner." It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that a complete course in clock repair and building can not be covered in 124 pages, and that is 124 pages of a rather small book. Secondly, this book was first published in 1972 which makes it 37 years old at the time of this review. This is okay though due to the fact that most of the clocks targeted in this book are well over 100 years old and the principles and techniques that worked in 1972 still work just as well today. Hey folks, we are not talking about a book here that teaches you to change batteries in ten dollar digital watches. Good grief, throw the bloody thing away and buy a new one (after you properly dispose of the battery of course, and not just send it to the landfill where it will add to the poison that will haunt your great, great, great grandchildren). Once again...this book is strictly for the beginner and concept and theory has not changed in well over 200 years, much less in thirty. The information here is not outdated. Now that being said:
   
   I love this old book. I have been fascinated with clocks since I was a wee one and was the bane of my father's existence as I would dismantle every clock in the house as fast as he could replace them. The problem came in when it was found that I was unable to put them back together. I love niggle little work, fine work, and he use to take me to his office that he shared with my grandfather. It was a dental office and they use to let me practice making dentures, partials, filling pulled teeth, and repairing such. Again, the problem came when I started taking apart their expensive dental equipment (I wanted to see how it worked), and again,I was not real good at putting in back together.
   
   Over the years I have collected old clocks; you know the kind, the wonderful old windups that you found on your grandmothers mantel. I have only one requirement when I purchase these clocks...they must NOT be in working condition! A working clock is a wonderful thing, it is like magic, but it is even more wonderful and wondrous if you know you are the one to make it so, i.e. work.
   
   This little volume covers basic clock movement, both theory and design, and practical clock repairing. I found that the section addressing the pendulum and the various variations of particular use. The author uses simple and for the most part nontechnical language to explain the complex workings of these machines, and explains them at the level that a beginner can easily understand. Wonderfully simple schematic drawings are provided. In the section devoted to the chimes and chiming mechanisms the author has even provided the sheet music for several popular (Whittington chime as an example) sounds. This, to be quite frank, is rather unique.
   
   I love the section devoted to practical repairing. The author has given us a complete rundown on all of the tools needed for your hobby. We also provided with a very nice explanation as to what each tool us used for and how to use it. The author has even gone into quite a bit of detail as to the work bench which (and trust me here) is quite important. The book does discuss the lathe and grinding wheels, but to be honest with you, if the repair requires machining special parts I am way over my head in this area and I simply take that part of the task to a professional.
   
   Now most of what I have learned has been completely self-taught. The author has stressed the importance of cleaning and maintenance. I learned long, long ago that many fine old clock that do not work and have not worked for years upon years can be purchased from the unwary for the price of a few cups of coffee, taken home and given a good cleaning, which takes very little time, and resold for enough to buy whole bunches of other old "broken" clocks! I know, I am a terrible person, but you know, business is business. If this book has one weak area for the beginner or hobbyist, it is the fact that is does not put enough emphasis on cleaning or cleaning techniques. There are other books out there that cover that and of course there is the thrill of simply learning it yourself.
   
   Is this the only book you will need to pursue this hobby? Heavens no! Will this work turn you into a master craftsman or woman overnight in the field of clock repair? Nope! Is this the best book out there for the beginner? I haven't a clue as I have not read all of them or used all of them. Did this book work for me? Yes. It has given me all the basic I needed and I have found that if I need more information I need to find "clock specific" literature on the particular piece I am working on and in many cases have to go directly to the manufacturer. Or I find that being a complete pest pays off big time. When I get in trouble I simply pester local professionals and wheedle information out of them a bit at a time.
   
   Am I good at this hobby? Hardly, there is so much to know and learn, but I do enjoy learning it and I do enjoy fiddling with the things. It is a good thing though that I do not have to make a living working on clocks...there would be great hunger and poverty in the family if I did. Anyway, this is a good book and I do recommend it.
   
   Don Blankenship
   The Ozarks



4. i am sure this book will helpful just haven't got to it yet but sure it will do the trick thank you john



5. 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.

5 comments about Antique Trader Antiques & Collectibles 2009 Price Guide (Antique Trader Antiques and Collectibles Price Guide).

1. This is my second Antique Trader book. Mr. Husfloen has apparently done a lot of research and the pictures of the products are wonderful, clear and sharp. My hats off to the team who put the whole product together. Good job. It is really more helpful to have as many pictures of the products in this type of book. Thank you.
   
   
   
   
   M. Bodenweiser
   Koffee & Krumbs Book Nook



2. Im very happy with the books that were sent and made great gifts for my friends. "ANTIQUE TRADERS Antique & Collectibles" books are one of my most favorite reference books to have while treasure hunting..THX



3. This book is excellent. Many items shown, mostly in color. Very nice assortment of items. I received this book quickly, and was very pleased with it.



4. I have been buying Antique and Collectible books from Amazon for years. They have the best buys and the latest book I bought, Antique Trader Antiques & Collectibles 2009 is great. I recommend this to all that are interested in pricing their valuables.



5. I purchased this because the 2008 version had great reviews compared to other antique guides. One of the strengths was they had more pictures than their competitors. Well, it does have lots of pictures. But there are so few items listed for each section that it is of little use, unless they happen to have a picture of something you are looking for. They do cover the marks to look for in each section.
   
   Some sections are much bigger than others. For example, bottles are covered well with lots of pictures of different types. I can see now that the long lists in Kovels are more useful if you know what you have. For instance Hopalong Cassidy items would have more listings in Kovels than in Traders.
   
   So, if you want to see lots of pictures to browse and help with identification of what to look for in more detailed books, then this is a good book for that. The pictures are in color and well done.

5 comments about Collecting Costume Jewelry 303.

1. "Collecting Costume Jewelry 303", Julia Carroll's third book, is a wonderful successor to her first two volumes. Once again, Mrs. Carroll has produced a book that both informs and delights. From the in-depth study of Sandor Goldberger jewelry in Chapter 1 to the Jewelry Album in Chapter 6, this book is a joyous ride through the fascinating world of collectible costume jewelry. As in her other two volumes, "Collecting Costume Jewelry 101" and "Collecting Costume Jewelry 202", the information here is heavily-researched, sorted, organized and presented in an easy-to-use manner. The photos are, once again, all about the jewelry. Crystal-clear and clean, with no distracting backgrounds, the lovely pieces are presented in all their glory. The catalog pages shown throughout the book are so well-photographed that one can read every word, right down to the pricing. The chapter on Takahashi Bird Pins gives these lovely creations the attention they have long deserved, while the chapter on Craft Jewelry of the 1960's and 70's illustrates the danger of judging on surface looks alone whether or not a piece is designer-made. The chapters on Stones and Findings are highly detailed and packed full of information, conveniently collected here in one place. Like her first two volumes, this book works on many levels and for all collectors, whether they are just getting started or have years of experience. I have all three of Mrs. Carroll's books, and they are always the volumes I consult first. If you are building a library on collectible costume jewelry, Julia Carroll's books are a must-have. Definitely worth purchasing!



2. Julie's book are always a delight to receive!Just like getting an early Christmas present,and one that I will enjoy using for years to come. Her dedication to the history of costume jewelry shows in each of her publications. Costume Jewelry 303 concentrates on such topics as stones, findings, and manufacturing techniques and how they were used by various jewelry companies. I found the information on different stone types particularly fascinating. She has also included two spotlight articles on Sandor jewelry and Takahashi bird jewelry. Julie has done more than most authors to preserve the history of costume jewelry manufacturing in the U.S.A. that might otherwise have been lost. Her research in tracking down the few remaining people who were involved in the actual manufacturing is amazing. This book goes right on the shelf next to Julie's other books that I refer to practically daily.
   I am in the costume jewelry business and rely on her writings for essential (and accurate) information about my inventory.



3. As with her two previous books, Julia Carroll has created a work packed with information. Books in the collecting costume jewelry genre are too frequently simply filled with photographs where a blue rhinestone brooch...is described as " BLUE RHINESTONE BROOCH".
   Ms. Carroll's books apply scholarship and research to a subject that has seen little of that, particularly in the widely available mass market jewelry most of us see regularly. Filled with informative text, it's also lavishly illustrated.
   I highly recommend this book as well as her first two books as indispensible to a dealer or collector of costume jewelry.



4. The jewelry books by Julia Carroll just keep getting better and better! She features examples & topics never seen before in other books. I loved seeing all the old stone catalog pages with examples, the chapter on learning how important it is to study the back of the jewelry as well as the front, and all the beautiful jewelry featured in the Jewelry Album. She also tops it off with wonderful articles on Sandor and Takahashi bird pins that will delight any collector. I could not put the book down! I have been collecting for many years but it goes to show that the learning process never ends. Keep it up, Julia!



5. Wow, Julia Carroll has done it again. I wish I could give this book 10 stars instead of 5! Like her other two books this new costume jewelry book is a great reference chocked full of interesting and useful information. I especially love the chapter on Takahashi birds which includes tips on how to identify the unmarked ones. I sat down and read this book cover-to-cover as soon as it arrived. Well worth the price!

5 comments about Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop, Revised.

1. I just struggled through this book, and it's total lack of organization is maddening. The author jumps off on a thousand tangents, but can never finish a thought. He starts on one idea then moves on to another - he talks about how wheels on sanding machines can be made from scrap wheels, and mentions that he was recently at Pearl Harbor, and they had lots of carts there, so obviously there is a scrap yard somewhere where old wheels can be purchased.
   
   WHAT ?!?!?
   
   Due to the horrible editting the text often contradicts itself - to reference just the bit about grinders again, he talks about how scrap wheels are good, especially for hollow grinding ... but you need more precision if you're going to do certain things ... like hollow grinding.
   
   
   I wanted to like this book, because the author is so clearly a friendly interesting guy...but the bottom line is this:
   
   Pretty much every other book I've read on knifemaking is better than this one.



2. I bought this book along with 3 other knife making books. Wayne does a good job of describing knife making procedures with a minimum of tools. If you are on a budget I would strongly recommend this book. It has LOTS of pictures and does a good job of explaining them unlike some other books. If you have a little more budget than $50 get David Boye's book Step by Step Knife Making or the Barney/Loveless book How to Make Knives



3. This book is full of good information for the beginning knifemaker. It is well worth your money. This book will make a great gift for any handyman, especially if they have limited knowledge about knifemaking, as I did. If they are experienced at making knives, they may or may not learn new tricks or styles of knifemaking.



4. This is by far, the best knife making book I have. If you are like most, broke, you have got to get this book. Well written and put together. This is real world, not a techy manual. If you buy no other book, buy this one. This book is the reason I started making knives. I got this one for under $10, used(I could not tell it was used). What a steal. 5+ stars



5. This is a really great book. This book is mainly concerned with forging knives from scrap coil and leaf spring from cars. Its one of the best books on making your own tools too. If your new at knife making then this is a must have. It covers most aspects of knife making, even some stock removal. What its best at is to show you that you can make knives from scrap and homemade tools for next to nothing. I highly recommend this book.

4 comments about The Complete Wooden Runabout Restoration Guide.

1. Great technical book on old wooden boat restoration; HOWEVER, you really need to bone up on your understanding of boat part terms if you're going to keep up with and understand what Danenberg is talking about. This is a must read for anybody contemplating the actual restoration of a wooden boat. There's a whole bunch more to it than just slapping on a fresh coat of varnish!!!! If you're still ready to tackle the project after reading this book, you probably really are up to doing it.



2. A comprehensive review of woodenboat contruction and repair. Author concentrates on practical repair and re-construction. Not designed for restoration of show boats, but for serious amateurs looking to re-build and use a wooden boat classic. Plenty of phographs and drawings to help you along. Covers just about every topic from keels and frames to finish and upholstery.



3. A comprehensive resource for all aspects of restoring wooden boats. Easy to understand and good additional resource citations.



4. If you are planning to restore an old wooden boat this book is a must have.
   Well written, large font and good content.

1 comments about Restoring Antique Furniture: A Complete Guide.

1. I found that this book has alot of information to take in. It has been helpful to me as a lot of old chair that I get need fixing and I am now more able to do it correctly.
   Thanks

1 comments about How to Recognize and Refinish Antiques for Pleasure and Profit, 5th (How to Recognize and Refinish Antiques for a Pleasure).

1. If you have an attic of old items or a penchant for garage sales and 'junk', you may be surprised to find with that only a few simple tools you can turn inexpensive 'found objects' into treasures for a personal collection or resale. This is for the part-time antique collector and provides tips on everything from evaluating furniture, metal, and other common items to gluing, coloring, and refinishing antiques. An excellent guide any part-time hobbyist or collection catering to them needs.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

5 comments about The Old Outboard Book.

1. 
   This is a "must have" book for anyone owning or interested in older outboard motors. Especially those in the 2 to 40 hp power range.
   
   I highly reccommend the book, there is a lot of history here as well as mechanics.
   
   Ron Roberson
   Boyce, Louisiana



2. book is very interesting
   was looking for maintenance manual.
   this book is a good reference history of outboards.



3. 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.



4. 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.



5. 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.

5 comments about Conservation Treatment Methodology.

1. Barbara Appelbaum has written a magnificent treatise on a complex subject for all of us, expert and non-expert alike. This book needed to be written, was overdue in the art and decorative art worlds, and fortunately for all of us she took the time and effort to put her pen to paper. The result is an easy to read book, where she unravels the complex without skipping any of the important details. This is a talent that cannot be overstated, particularly in the case of conservation. Museum curators and conservators both need to read it, as the methodology of conservation treatment begins long before any hand is lifted to do the work, a concept she amply and ably deals with to great and useful effect. All collectors also would benefit tremendously by reading Appelbaum's book before dropping a piece off to be conserved or restored; the knowledge gained from this book will ensure the results are more satisfying. The methodology she lays out in the book quite simply sets a clear standard, one that needs to be integrated into any curriculum on conservation if it is not already. We owe Barbara Appelbaum a debt of gratitude for taking this subject on in such a masterful way...buy the book and you will be handsomely rewarded! Thank you Barbara,
   Richard



2. When I heard about this book, I wanted to get it as soon as I could. The book was ordered and reached me in due time. It was simple and easy to do. No going to a bookstore looking for this book, just order it from Amazon.com and it is done.



3. This is the first book that provides the philosophical underpinnings of conservation in a way that puts it into the larger context of museum work. Conservation and interpretation need to be considered together, and this book shows how to do it. A brilliant book.



4. As a conservation student, this book is just what my daughter needed to supplement her education



5. As a university professor who teaches graduate courses in heritage conservation, I welcome this book as an essential text. Barbara Appelbaum provides a carefully constructed foundation for research and decision-making in our field. Conservation Treatment Methodology will find a welcome home on the shelves many heritage professionals. It maps a rational process for assessing the material and cultural needs of objects within the broad context of collections care.

5 comments about The Gold-Plated Porsche: How I Sank a Small Fortune into a Used Car, and Other Misadventures.

1. I finished this book a while ago and I enjoyed it, but given the author's knowledge level, I felt it could have been more in depth. This book is about half a recount of the authors experience in buying and building a Porsche 911, and the other half random tangents about his life experiences. While some of the stories are interesting, it dilutes the purpose of the book. If you are looking for an in depth guide filled with advice on how to buy and build your car, you will get some of that but not really enough to make it worth it. If you just want to read a book that has some car stuff in it with some other stories then its not all that bad. I just felt that the author with his vast mechanical background building planes and things could have imparted more really helpful information. I don't mean a technical manual, just more real experience stuff. I guess I just wasn't that interested in some of the non car stories. Also, the rebuild was supposed to take a couple years and cost many thousands of dollars, but I just didn't get that feeling - more details might have helped. I don't want to slam this effort and the details of the building experience that he does include are worth the read, just expect to read a bunch of extraneous stuff.



2. Outstanding book especially for porsche enthusiasts. Not too technical heavy. It is essentially an autobiography.



3. Having suffered a number of sports car ownership misadventures, I came to Wilkinson's tale predisposed to empathize. The narrative is compelling enough that I read it in a weekend, groaning at his missteps and cheering his successes as he tells tales of flying, driving, and most particularly the reconstruction of what began as a relatively nasty old 911. He does not bog down in technical details, but some sense of cars is most likely a prerequisite to enjoying this book. I gave a second copy to a friend as a gift; hopefully he'll enjoy it as I did. This might also be a good read for anyone who is about to embark on some kind of automotive restoration project; it is both cautionary and encouraging at the same time!



4. Author lived through some interesting times provided some insights about some of my favorite car magazine along the way. As a new owner of a used '82 Porsche 911, I especially enjoyed reading about his restoration project.



5. I love this book. For any car freak it is great! Don't buy this book looking to learn the in's and out's of rebuilding a Porsche. It does have some worthy tips though. Buy this book if you want to be entertained and learn the ups and downs of the authors journey through life. Great book for people who pronounce it Porsh as well as people who say it right...Porsche!