5 comments about Practical Watch Repairing.

1. This book is very thorough and covers a lot of material. I was looking for something simple to do my own maintenance, and this book goes way beyond. This is geared more for the serious hobbyist looking to sit down and spend some serious study time!



2. This is a very detailed book with good drawings and explainations of proceedures and tools to help you understand what it takes to do watch repair. It's taken me a little effort to understand his style of writting, I think you could call it old english, considering the time and place it was written. A very good book for someone who wants to do any level of watch repair. This book will stay in my library.



3. Paying 5-6 dollars for a 50 cent battery is ridiculous. Buy the tools, and the battery packs for 50 to 75 cents each, and put them in yourself. It's easy to do, just a little practice, and it's a piece of cake.



4. This is a very good book for working on the watches of antiquity... you know, the wind ups. But, if you are looking for a primer on repairing battery watches...LOOK ELSEWHERE!!! The information included regarding modern watches is severely limited. Maybe I'll relist this book and sell it as slightly used.



5. its an old book , so you wont find much about quartz watches, but its fun to read it.

5 comments about Complete Price Guide to Watches No. 30.

1. This is the best book made for accurate history and documentation of pocketwatches and wristwatches. Excellent book, I order a new one each year, to keep up with pricing etc.



2. Este es uno de los mejores libros de relojeria, es indispensable para cualquier coleccionista de relojes, alta calidad, informacion valiosa.



3. This book is very helpful if you are collector of pocket watches. I purchased this edition to replace the 2001 version that I have.



4. This book covers just about everything you could possibly want to know. It has been very helpful in my business.



5. A must book for anyone looking for a wide information source on vintage watches. Contains, price value estimates/ranges, and some history.

5 comments about Wristwatch Annual 2010: The Catalog of Producers, Prices, Models, and Specifications.

1. An excellent survey of the major European watch manufactures and designers. The graphics are excellent. Very little discussion or writeups on the Asian manufacturers. As someone new to watch collecting I found it fascinating and well worth the modest cost. I loved looking at million dollar watches but I would also like to see writeups and comments on watches costing less than one thousand dollars. I will definitely buy next years edition. Amazon's service was excellent as we have come to expect.



2. Very nice, but nothing new. All information you get it at the web.
   Just to have all information together in one catalogue.



3. As a lover of Horology, I have bought many magazines, books & periodicals over the years. I believe "Wristwatch Annual" is one of the tomes' that has all the pertinent information one could desire with regard to any specific watch or Manufacture. I have been buying "Wristwatch Annual" for about 8 years now, and this edition does not disappoint.



4. Reviewer "Peace Monger" complains that there is no mention or representation of Grand Seiko in this issue so let me point out two facts. Number one, Grand Seiko watches are not available from dealers in the United States, I believe they are only available in the domestic Japanes market. Sure it might be nice to see them in this edition but his gripe is unwarranted since Wristwatch Annual is predominantly targeted to a U.S. readership (and perhaps the U.K.). Look at the dealer ads and service centers mentioned, they are all US based. Second point is that this is the first edition of Wristwatch Annual that has (ever) had a Seiko section. So, at least the brand is represented in this edition. I checked my annual editions bavk to the 1999 edition to verify this. I think this 2010 edition is a great book. Certainly an improvement over the 2008 edition which tried to cram too many watches (eight) on each page versus the six per page in this, and last year's 2009 edition. However, the pictures are still a tiny bit smaller than the pre 2008 (2007 and backwards) editions. Nevertheless, the pictures are nice, the individual watch descriptions informative and many new models are represented in this new 2010 edition. If you are at all interested in high quality Swiss and German manufactured watches, you must purchase this eagerly anticipated yearly book!



5. I have been purchasing Wristwatch Annual for several years now. Although it is not completely comprehensive, it usually has information on new and limited edition models, which are of the most interest to me.
   
   Unfortunately, this year's publication shows mostly regular models that are not very different from the year before. We only get a glimpse of the new or limited edition in a photo in the company profile section.
   
   Furthermore, while it has a bit of information on Seiko, it has none on Grand Seiko, which is as Lexus is to Totyoa.
   
   Overall, the content is just not as good as before.

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 Vintage Rolex Sports Models: A Complete Visual Reference & Unauthorized History.

1. very informative and loads of nice pix ! good ref guide to vintage rolex !



2. While an informative reference on the History of Rolex. The book lacked the depth in accuracy that a collector wants to see in regards to the details of the time pieces there were presented in this book
   
   The authors used pictures thay were computer generated and as such this book did not reflect the true time piece. The authors use of AutoCAD drawings to represent the side profile of the case and this provides no gratitude for a Rolex collector, because collectors would like to actually the real time piece. Also, it seems that they superimposed different Rolex dials on the same watch case. As such, I feel that the authors did not throughly conduct a full field research of the topic they were so passionate on and doubt the accuracy of the whole book.
   
   The Rolex History was fantastic, but it's nothing you can't find on the WEB. As a Rolex collector, I would like to see actual pictures of the time pieces presented, as this provides me a sound representation of the time pieces that I am interested in.
   
   Pictorial wise, even though I can't read Japanese, I find the Japanese Rolex books far more informative.



3. Good book containing a lot of interesting information.
   
   However it is a pity that all the pictures of the watches are not real, i.e. image recreated by computer, therefore all the watches look the same and the book does not mention the dimension of the watches.



4. The book deals with older Rolex models. The number of photos, which are more valuable than words, is quite limited.
   
   The photos are of rare watches and the book has more of a educational aspect since the majority such watches are not sold or traded anymore.
   
   A good book if you are a keen Rolex person.



5. This book only has old watches in and not all of them at that. Some details are incorrect.
   However it is just a book on Rolex sports watches, but it has nothing new, the most modern watch it has is a 1975 GMT. So if you want to know something about Rolex wathes in the last 33 years, its not alot of good,

2 comments about Wooden Clocks: 31 Favorite Projects & Patterns (Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Book).

1. This book is very nice. I like it so much. It has a lot of different patterns. Most of them are wooden boxes. One more thing would like to let everyone know that this is not for beginners. This is very advance book for more advance scroll saw lovers. I been doing this for long time and some of the boxes I would need to sit down and think before I start making it. If you want to make sometihng different this the book you should buy



2. I was very disappointed when this book arrived. I had assumed, based on the cover, that it would include plans and techniques for building working wooden clocks. By and large it does not.
   
   This is very specifically a book for scroll saw enthusiasts. What this means is that most of the book consists of patterns to cut out of sheets of wood into which existing self-contained clock mechanisms are inserted. The wooden mechanical clock on the cover is not at all representative of the contents.
   
   In fairness, there is one project with plans for building the depicted wooden clock, and it makes for an interesting ten or twelve pages. However, even this is a disappointment; the plans are by and large not dimensioned, simply being templates to be photocopied. I can understand this for some of the more complicated parts, but surely it wouldn't hurt to tell us how long each of the (numerous) axles are? Some of the construction of the body of the clock also seems suspect, with key joints being only supported by glue instead of using any real joinery.
   
   If you are looking for a book of scroll saw patterns, this might be a good one; I don't know, as I'm not really interested in that. If you want to make wooden clockwork as depicted on the cover, be aware that you will be paying for only a dozen or so pages of fairly unimpressive information. There are probably better sources of the information you want.

5 comments about Coll. Encyclopedia of Pendant and Pocket Watches 1500-1950 (Collector's Encyclopedia).

1. I was disappointed with this book. There appears to be no organization and the information does not appear to be accurate. I expected much more and this book did not deliver.



2. My 22 year old son is starting a collection of pocket watches and he has enjoyed this book. He uses it when he goes online to fine new treasures.
   It helps him know what to look for.



3. Great pictures,but I have aspected more from this book about movement's and calibres explanation.If you have just started to collect pocket watches,than this book is for you.If you need some details for movements and calibres you will be at the start of your expertise !!!



4. Here's an example of a book that should never have been produced. The author is obviously misinformed and quite frankly, ignorant, regarding watches. The book is riddled with incorrect information regarding watch descriptions, including blatantly wrong jewel counts, movement descriptions, and the repititious "very fine and rare", "fine and lovely", "very fine and very rare", ad nauseum. The author constantly includes "micrometric regulator" in descriptions of pocket watches, that have NO micrometric regulators! The book is attractive, and has some excellent photographs, but, at best, this is a book that needed an author with some watch "smarts".



5. The book is divided in 5 chapters, each one covering one century of watch development. Each chapter deals with case, movement and decorative procedures development. In the end of each chapter you will find a full range of color fotos of watches of that period. The pictures are very beautifull, but not unique: you will find them in The Sandberg's Watch Collection Book. I think that the book should earn just 3 stars, just because it does not have "unique" pictures. However, the pictures were unique for me, since i don't have sandberg's book.

2 comments about Masters of Contemporary Watchmaking.

1. Let me start by simply stating that I love watches. I have an obsession. It's an obsession that cannot be overcome by just buying more watches either. And, books like this do not help...
   
   This book is truly spectacular. The sheer size and weight alone is impressive enough. The images depicted are something you just can't get by looking at or in a watch. Nor can you get such great information about some of the greatest living watchmakers of our time. The author did a terrific job of capturing each of the watchmakers stories. Including very candid information from such controversial masters such as Franck Muller.
   
   A good portion of this book provides a deep look into the minds of several great watchmakers. In addition, towards the end, several other watchmakers are introduced as are their time pieces. Speaking of the time pieces, the images provide very large and high resolution views of some amazing movements. One can quickly forget how small the parts are when viewing at such a large scale.
   
   If you have a passion for watches, then you cannot go wrong by buying this book. If you have a love of anything mechanical, then you will quickly learn to appreciate the fine art of watchmaking.



2. Great watches are usually the end of a story rather than the story itself. It is how the watch came into being; the thought process; the trials and tribulations of the man - and up until now it has usually been a man - behind the watch that provides the raison d'être of the watch itself. Giant leaps in technology have less impact without the human touch: sending a probe to Mars is impressive, but landing a man on the moon was breathtaking.
   
   Watchmaking is no different. To understand sublime timepieces you have to understand something of great watchmakers; however, that isn't always easy. Master watchmakers tend to either work for large brands, where their roles are hidden under layers of marketing fluff, or as independents, where they likely to have little or marketing presence at all. And in both cases, when we do manage to learn a little in an article or press release, it is often too shallow and product orientated to reveal much of the watchmaker himself.
   
   Masters of Contemporary Watchmaking provides an in-depth insight into 12 great watchmakers - George Daniels, Svend Andersen, Vincent Calabrese, Philippe Dufour, Antoine Preziuse, Franck Muller, Aniceto Pita, Alain Silberstein, Marco Lang, Vianney Halter and Roger Smith- through revealing interviews and lots of photographs, many of which are published for the first time in this book, that would by itself make the book a must have for any watch aficionado, but there's more . . .
   
   It also provides an window into the wider world of independent watchmaking, with pages devoted to Felix Baumgartner, Aaron Beçsei, Nicolas Delaloye, Romain Gauthier, Paul Gerber, Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey, Richard Habring, Beat Haldimann, John and Stephen McGonigle, Rainer Neinaber, Thomas Prescher, Daniel Roth, Stepan Sarpaneva, Peter Speake-Marin, Andreas Strehler, Christian van der Klaauw, Kari Voutilainen and Volker Vyskocil.
   
   If you appreciate fine watchmaking, this is a book that you will read over and over and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

3 comments about Practical Clock Repairing (3rd Edition).

1. the book is very good but what i found out is that i already own this book mi guess 2 is better than one.ihave other booik and thyis i would rate as very good j mailler



2. This book is a classic, around in various incarnations since the 1950's.
   
   The reason is simple: it covers a wide range of clocks and tackles a complex subject with admirable clarity. Well over 100 illustrations.



3. The book was what I was looking for and more. Answered questions I didn't know I even had.

5 comments about Rolex Wristwatches: An Unauthorized History (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. Probably one of the best known books on Rolex watches. This book includes every model that was available at the time of going to press.
   
   A book that you will read again.
   
   Much valuable information on the masterpiece watch - Rolex.
   
   It's a good book to have on hand as you will see frequent reference made to this book.
   
   If I had a budget for one Rolex book only, this is the one that I would buy.



2. This is an outstanding book for the novice or experienced collector. It's packed with facts, photos and fantastic details.
   
   Each model is adequately covered and prices are cited as well. Especially, since this volume often is available in good or excellent condition from the used market, it gives those with small pocket books a classic entrance into the fascination with Rolex watches.
   
   Rolex, with one of the first effective waterproofing movements, rose from a small operation to a name now recognized worldwide on a level with Coke, Levis, and other such products.
   
   To collectors, Rolex is a good watch, but certainly not a great watch, compared to rare and exotic models especially made for the carriage trade.
   
   Patek-Philippe, the standard to which many collectors measure as the "holy grail" of great watches, for example, produces far fewer pieces than do Rolex and Omega, and, of course, at supremely higher prices.
   
   Rolex, on the other hand, is one of the more respected brands produced on an assembly line. Their sales remain high because Rolex approaches change cautiously. The line does NOT proliferate with new models and designs each year. Its quality control is fantastic for a production line watch, but none has super complications, either.
   
   Rolexes are certified chronometers, meaning for mechanical watches, their accuracy is usually acceptable: + or -5 seconds daily for those formerly used to absolutely exact quartz, radio-receiving WWV watches, that sell in Wal-Mart for less than $100, keep perfect time, but look like they cost that, too.
   
   Rolex recently gained the title of "manufacture" (not, manufacturer, although that's what it means) A "manufacture" is "watchspeak" that refers to a watch production house that builds its own movements. Rolex finally ditched the last of its outside movements with the popluar Cosmograph Daytona when it switched from Zenith movements to those made in-house by Rolex itself. That's a move that improves acceptance of Rolex by watchmakers and collectors. Rolex and Omega, both, stay at the top of the charts for high respect and strong popularity among myriad other mass-producers of upper-middle priced watches, some that market at more than Rolexes. Rolexes that grow in price toward 6-figures, usually either feature lots of diamonds, or they're old, rare examples, of collector pieces in superb condition.
   
   Hand-produced watches that become 6 or even 7-figure watches as soon as they hit the market in tiny qualities are sought by very wealthy, world-class collectors, while Rolex on the other hand, has a name far more recognizable as a "good" watch than any one of more than 50 manufactures that sell for much higher prices. Those watches are far more exotic, and usually are mind-blogingly complex pieces, often with multi-axis tourbillon-assisted movements. (Tourbillon also is spelled correctly; NOT tourbillion, but a hard-to-make piece to fight gravity for accuracy.)
   
   Exotics for the world-class Rolls-Royce and Ferrari crowds, simply are not available in the more practical application catalogs of GM, Chrysler or Ford autos, or those of Omega and Rolex watches.
   
   This book does show some of the more valued, old watches, with some discussion, but its main focus is on the prospective wearer of Rolexes, also with tips and illustations that should help draw attention to the proliferation of counterfeits out there. A friend, who is a watchmaker in a city, says that he sees several fakes weekly that many sad buyers have paid dear money for on Internet auctions. There are, however, many honorable used Rolex sellers, and often on Ebay. Spot them by their high scores and the tremenduous volume of 99+percent approval rates.
   
   If you see a Rolex that is just too cheap, or is "new," it most likely is either a fake, or it requires extensive, expensive repairs, or it's possibly stolen. Rolex has no authorized outlets allowed to sell new watches on Ebay, I'm told. This book helps you recognize each genuine Rolex model so that your next purchase will be a positive, pleasurable expierience.
   
   There is NO Rolex owner or collector who would be anything other than very proud to own this book. Right now, it's THE standard out there! If you can afford only one Rolex book, this is it.
   
   My ownly gripe is its weight. Because of that, it's hard to read in bed, for instance, and is best read seated upright at a table. If you're serious, you'll want to do that anyway so you can take notes on a pad beside it.



3. It has been said, but this really is the king of all Rolex books. The pictures are outstanding, every little detail is here in the text. If you want a book on Rolex watches, this is the book for you.
   Its a great coffee table book, but full of everything Rolex.
   It has the dates, year by year of all the different models and gives movement numbers and case numbers.
   It also covers the Tudor watch, also made by the Rolex company.
   The book is a very useful reference book if you are a Rolex owner, or want to buy Rolex. It has numerous sections & include several discussions including: tips on differentiating the real from the fakes, history of the different models, bracelets, purchasing Rolex via ebay, vintage Rolex, etc.
   I must 100% recommend it.



4. Similar to Rolex watches on which this book focuses, it's heavy, quite large, and overpriced. Again similar to Rolex watches, it does the job fairly well. Generally good to excellent photography traces the evolution of Wilsdorf's watches from "unknown," to a famous name. Furthermore, Wilsdorf understood the value of publc relations and advertising campaigns to boost his product to what's probably the most recognized brand of Swiss mechanical watches. While the book is lavish in its photographic presentations, there are too few words. Especially with watches, I want to know original and current selling prices, too. I yearned for a newer edition. Of course there can't be one every year, but this volume is better suited to the collector of older watches. I'd love one highlighting post-2005 Rolexes. But, you sure can't slight the research accomplished. Tops in that regard, few cover older Rolexes as completely. As a photographer who owns six Rolex watches, I appreciate the photography, and respect the teeth-pulling exercises the authors no doubt went through to locate the pictures. I prefer smaller books that are more conveniently sized for reading and storage. My library leans like the famous tower due to myriad so-called "table- or coffeetable-top" books that are oversized. Sometimes, as is this publication, that's the only way I find the material I seek: books about cars and watches. A slick, perhaps thicker, paperback edition possible to read lying down beats hell out of these large, cloth bound, impractical volumes. This book, at its price, is a product only a "watch buff" or a Rolex fan will likely cough up $125.00 to own. I'm both, plus I got it for $75: a "bargain," I suppose, maybe much in the same way Rolexes are when compared with several finer Swiss timepieces, such as Patek Philippe, a brand against which all watches are weighed,watchmakers often say. Rolexes are no Patek Philippes, of course, but they don't sell new for $100,000, $200,000, $300,000 or more, either, and sans diamonds as well! As a "gearhead" and watch hound for more than 50 years, I say a Rolex is similar to a Dodge pickup loaded with leather, GPS, Sirius and all the toys. They're tough, rough, practical. As mechanical devices go, they're reliable as granite. Each has a strong, masculine, but very attractive presence, and either one that's serviced religiously will work a century more. This isn't the best watch book I own, nor is it even the best Rolex book I have, but those of us dedicated to horology and Rolexes may say, as did I: "To hell with its dimensions, ungainly weight and price: I gotta' have it!" Unless Auntie Maude is the bearded weight lifter at the circus, don't send her after it. Plan to sit at a table to flip through it comfortably. (Be sure to order the 3rd edition, circa 2006!)



5. This is a fantastic Rolex reference which is rich is history, background information, and abundant full-color photos. This is a must-have reference for the serious Rolex collector.