No comments about The Creative Hooker.

5 comments about Hatcher's Notebook.

1. Long before "Myth Busters" Julian S. Hatcher tested such issues as whether a bullet fired vertically will cause serious harm on its descent to earth. [.45 caliber bullets may hurt but won't cause serious injury. On the other hand a .30'06 rifle bullet can be lethal on descent due to its greater mass and greater G1 (that's G1 not GI) ballistic coefficient.] He tested the danger involved in an uncontained cartridge firing. He covers such subjects as: the developmental history of ballistic coefficients for projectiles and how to calculate bullet velocity at any range based on muzzle velocity and the bullets G1 ballistic coefficient; characteristics of burning gunpowder and its attendant pressure curves in the barrel; rotation rate of the bullet due to rifling; dangers involved in the storage of large amounts of gun powder and the massive damage capability of improperly stored gunpowder. This is just one of a myriad of subjects Hatcher covers. In some cases his information has been superseded due to analyses made possible by technological improvements in testing. In other cases his treatment of the subject matter is still relevant today. In any case, it reveals a man with phenomenal expertise in firearms made possible by his involvement in firearms development throughout his career with the US Army's Ordnance Department and his participation in competitive shooting events. It's fascinating reading and a classic treatise on firearms that is a must-have for understanding characteristics of firearms subject matter.



2. One of about a half a dozen MUST have books if you have firearms and hand load for them.
   
   Steve Adams
   AdamsQuailHunter on GunBroker & Ancientguns Forums



3. the data in this book in fundamentally timeless. Yes, some deals with specific firearms and/or circumstances, but even there, many lessons for GENERAL firearms use are still lurking.
   
   This is one of the most valuable reference manuals in my library and has been read many times over during the years.
   
   Even more important is EW Mann's "The Bullet's Flight" and it was written at the turn of the century! Some types of knowledge don't "wear out."



4. BUT... you can't be scared off by technical stuff. Hatcher has a way of explaining it for the layman, but most of the book is just insights into firearms technology as seen by an insider. Great read. Buy it before any other gun book. May I also suggest Hatcher's other masterpiece, Book of the Garand.



5. I'd read snatches from the book in our local Public Library from time to time. Finally decided to treat myself to the luxury of having it on hand all the time. Whilst it may be considered to be a little outdated now (2007) it's still a classic and an absolute mine of knowledge. Provides a fascinating and factual account of the development of modern 20th Century Small Arms, ranging from bolt action rifles, automatic pistols, Machine Guns and Sub Machine Guns. Add to this the development of modern smokeless powders, primers and the treatment of steel, then you have a veritable fount of information that is still relevant today.

3 comments about Good Things from Tag Sales and Flea Markets (Good Things with Martha Stewart Living).

1. I know Martha Stewart has had bad press lately but her ideas are still pretty cool (plus this book was from a few years ago). I'm having a blast with this book because I love to go antiquing and looking for stuff to make things with. Granted, you may not find the extact items she uses but you can certainly find the same general items (e.g. egg cups, button covers, vintage fabrics). I really like how the book is laid out in terms of glass, textiles, etc. Also, she has tips for caring and cleaning different types of items which is great since you generally need to clean things that you find at flea markets etc. The ideas are all really neat and really they are easy to do. Five stars all around from me. The ideas I've gotten from this book have really spawned my creativity to make other sorts of things too. Lots of fun!



2. Try Second-Hand Style: Finding and Renewing Antique Treasures or Decorating With Flea Market Finds or Flea Market Decorating (Better Homes and Gardens Books). I love these three books.



3. I have never seen some of those things available when I've done some scrounging, but the ideas to use them are pretty interesting. My favorite is the linen cabinet made from the shutter doors; you'd have to see it to understand what I mean. Having met a man who is into collecting, I thought we could use it, but so far, not. Thumb through it, see if it's for you.

5 comments about Christopher Radko Ornaments: Value Guide 1986 Thru 2000.

1. I've found the overall picture layout of the book and the indexes very helpful and well thought-out. However, it is not by any stretch a complete cataloging of the Radko line, as some of the ornaments I'm aware of were omitted. And I'm certain there must be more. Also several pages of the book were improperly cut in the binding process creating short pages. The proofing of the book prior to publishing is also suspect since I've found several problems. Most of the secondary market values are not representative of values I've tracked in the past 6 years in that they way too low.



2. The book itself is fabulous, my mom was totally happy to get it Christmas morning. The book condition was poor. The book was $55 and was in a flimsy package when it arrived. It had dents all along the edges. Also, though there was a huge storm in the Pacific NW, the shipping took an extra 5+ days (without a single e-mail notification I might add.)



3. One of my fondest memories of Christmas growing up in the 60's and 70's was decorating the Christmas tree with the wonderful glass ornaments that my parents had. My mom would constantly remind me and my brothers to be careful with them because they were very delicate, and very old, passed down to her from my grandmother. I got the most reminders because I was the youngest. Now these were not Christopher Radko ornaments of course, but Radko has produced many ornaments that look like exact replicas of the ornaments we had thirty, forty years ago. My wife and I still have many of those ornaments although sadly, many were damaged in a basement flood some years ago.
   
   The Radko ornaments have captured the hearts and imaginations of many baby boomers like myself as their popularity and collectibility grows every year. Bangzoom publishers have met the demand of collectors with the first of two volumes covering Radko history. The first volume covers 1986 through 2000, and a second volume, due next year, will cover 2001 through 2006. The book begins with a Radko 101 introduction to the ornaments. What makes them so popular and so collectible is the sheer variety of lines. There are limited editions, various series', charity ornaments for causes such as the fight against breast cancer, special event pieces, store exclusives, as well ornaments geared towards various cultures and ethnic groups. It is this diversity which provides something for nearly everyone who wants to collect the Radko line.
   
   The 300 plus page book is packed with thousands of color photos of the ornaments for each year of release. The guide lists the name of the piece, the size, style number and two prices which reflect the value of a single, loose ornament, and a second value reflecting the price for the set. The book also notes how many of a particular ornament came in the set. The first piece that caught my eye was the first page of the 1986 line with the large, round ornament called "Checkers". This is exactly like ones we had those many years ago. It's so simple in its design yet still so beautiful. There are many great examples of those reflector type ornaments. Those are the ones that have a sort of pushed-in indentation with silvery or other color paint that shimmered and reflected light.
   
   As you page through the book, you'll start to see Radko get more bold with his designs as there were more figural ornaments produced. The line got bigger and bigger with each new year. It has never ceased to amaze me at how much care and detail go into these pieces and go into making them look like they may have been made in the 40's or 50's. The first 236 pages display the regular, year-by-year release before getting into the special series lines like Disney, Sugar Frost Follies, and garlands. The book concludes with a comprehensive index. It's a simply gorgeous book from cover to cover. If you're a Radko collector, or want to start a collection, this book is the place to start.
   
   REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON



4. This book is beautifully done. There is an alphabetical index as well as a numerical index, so one way or another you can probably find what you are looking for.
   The ornaments are divided into "chapters" by year and are listed alphabetically within each year. There are special sections for finials, garlands, and Disney. The original price, the Radko product number and a "secondary market" price are listed under each ornament - which is helpful to a certain extent. Nowadays most people are unwilling to pay the "secondary market" price, so it is just there to make you feel good if you own a special ornament (for example the Partridge in a Pear Tree).
   If I had to list one personal disappointment with this book, I would have to say that I was unable to find some Radko that I own which should have been in here! I was hoping to find a name or number for them but couldn't.
   If you like Radko, and collect it - buy this book!



5. A terrific reference book for anyone who collects, or just enjoys Radko vintage ornaments. Great pictures and just a treat to look through. Good info on each ornament, and this book has helped me quite a bit in evaluating my collection, and pricing some of it for resale. I feel you get alot of information for the money. Can't wait for Volumn Two in September!! Kudos to David Olsen!

5 comments about Spiffy Kitchen Collectibles.

1. What a delightful slice of Americana. I'm interested in mid-century America especially suburban living and this book captures a little bit of this so well. Look through the pages and it's clear that the author (and publisher) have taken some editorial effort to produce an interesting book. I was particularly pleased to see that this is not the usual dull looking, badly designed collectors book, full of amateur snaps of objects sitting on a table with several presented on the page as square photos.
   
   The thirty-eight chapters probably include every popular kitchen gadget available at the time (all nicely presented as cutouts though missing light grey shadow effect that really would have completed each image) but nicely there are included period magazine covers, ads, pages from manufactures brochures and other graphics. Another thing I liked about the book is the addition of the packaging the utensils came in showing the design and typography, predictably lacking in any graphic design but showing vibrant colors and in fact anything to catch the housewife's eye while on the store shelf.
   
   An ideal book for collectors and because of the way it has been editorially produced it will have instant nostalgia appeal and interest anyone who wants to know how folks lived a few decades ago.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.



2. What a great book. Loads of pix of the way things used to be. How many of these items do you remember in your grandma's kitchen? It was just what I wanted as far as seeing what is collectible these days. Values included in the book seem to be realistic. Will look for more like this from the author.



3. I have enjoyed this book very much. It is very informative. I own lots of kitchen collectibles, but was not sure of their use. Now I know. This book has covered a wide range of items and every page is bright and colourful. I'm sure others will enjoy this book as much as I do. It sure takes you back to the "Good Old Days". A great book to browse through and add to your collection.



4. This book is great. There are so many kitchen items featured that it is amazing. It has been really helpful for me.



5. I just recieved Spiffy Kitchen Collectibles and was quite disappointed to find out that it is exactly the same graphics and photographs as contained in the Warmans Kitschy Kitchen Collectibles Field Guide, just in larger format. I saw they were by the same author, but didn't think they'd be exactly the same inside!

No comments about The Art Economy: An Investor's Guide to the Art Market.

5 comments about Classic Wristwatches 2008/2009: The Price Guide for Vintage Watch Collectors Over 1300 Models! (Classic Wristwatches: A Catalog of Vintage Timepieces & Their Prices).

1. Very easy usefull Price-Guide.
   There are to many expensives models, I would prefere a Mid-Prices Guide only.
   It's a good help for new collectors.-



2. Vintage watch collectors and libraries catering to this audience will find this invaluable: it's updated every two years to keep the values and market information current, and it reviews details on over 1,100 wristwatches made by over forty of the most interesting makers. These are watches solely no longer in production, with descriptions illustrating each and providing invaluable tips on identification, current value, and characteristics influencing price.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



3. I just went over the book, and I was a bit disappointed.
   Picture for money is quite interesting, thanks to a lot of images for small bucks, but the goods of the book is just that.
   
   Interesting are the pages with the history of the maisons, that provide some useful hints about not very well known producers.
   
   Organization of the book is quite disappointing, though: the models depicted are put on paper at random, with no age or value order.
   As far as I could understand, those are the watches that were estimated by some kind of trader during the year, so no section covers completely the model range of a brand. If you need to evaluate a specific piece, most of the time you have to guess comparing it with similar age-feature watches of the same or other manifacturer.
   Some brands aren't even in the book (Breguet? Rado?) while for other you just get 6 models.
   
   The book is useful, anyway: with few dollars it can help you in identifying a particular brand that may catch your imagination, or browse through many hundreds of pictures, to find ideas for particular models, shapes, or features you may like to have in your collection.
   
   If possible get a new copy: I bouth an used one, and the binding glue went bad: pages started to part from the book.



4. Very nice and informative book. Quality is fine and price is fair. I strongly recommend it for watch enthusiasts like me.



5. This book covers a very broad selection of watches and is especially strong in the major brands - Omega, Patek, JLC, IWC. Rolex, etc as well as some of the more "working class" timepieces which today are very collectible.
   
   Some of the calibre and associated information on some of the listings are not totally accurate but on balance, this soft cover resource provides a good point of reference to check value and collectability of many classic watches.

5 comments about Tansu: Traditional Japanese Cabinetry.

1. An informative, interesting book on Japanese tansu at a price thats more affordable than some of the other out-of-print or premium reference books available on the market. Pictures show excellent examples. A good book for any tansu fan, beginner, expert. Recommended to any one interested in tansu's.



2. Informational book on tansu, which is collectively a variety of Japanese cabinets. The book describes the different types of cabinets, their uses, and also historical information by period, along with detailed structural notes (ie. cabinets being made from certain types of woods to accomodate changing humidity during the season, flexibility to withstand earthquakes and typhoons, etc.) Black and white photos and diagrams included.



3. This book was exactly the information I needed to help design a new stair step tansu cabinet that was both historically accurate, and modernized for today's homeowners. The history of the cabinet style, the construction, the joinery, the hardware, and the finishes used were well laid out in the book and easy to read and understand.



4. Found this book very interesting with its description of differing tansu from different regions in Japan. Great for collecters of tansu who wish to know meanings/locations of their tansu as well as the era from which it was constructed.



5. If you're thinking of purchasing a tansu or already own one and want to know more about it, this is the book to have. It covers everything from the history of these unique pieces of furniture, to the materials used in their construction, as well as providing tips of how to select, refinish, and care for them. Truly a scholarly work. But perhaps the best part of all is the book's exquisite photographs showing outstanding examples of tansu from all regions of Japan. You can't help but drool when seeing them.

5 comments about Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes.

1. In Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes, author C. Dianne Zweig offers readers a new twist on kitchen, home, and garden collectibles, marrying different periods and styles in a look which is vintage chic, country kitsch, and retro-romantic. It's all about 'cottage style,' a trendy and enjoyable way to both collect and creatively use popular collectibles, antiques, odds and ends, and treasured furnishings. This book offers readers over 900 individual and vignette photographs submitted from the top collectors out there. This fresh and exciting look at vintage cottage collectibles contains kitchenware, romantic china, pottery, French enamelware, buffets, china cabinets, tables, chairs, beds, fabric, tablecloths, chenille quilts, pillows, linens, vintage sewing projects, lighting, mirrors, frames, wallpaper, wall decor, wicker, birdcages, cottage nursery, holiday items, whimsical and flea market salvage, objets d'art, garden ornaments, tools, and other 'hot' cottage, beach, and cabin collectibles.



2. This is a great book - I was so pleasantly surprised to find it is jam packed with great information and beautiful photos. I was also excited to see photos of my work and some of my collections included! Thank you, from Natasha Burns in Melbourne Australia



3. This book is not only beautifully photographed and informative, it is also a great trip down memory lane. Gives great ideas for decorating in Cottage Style!



4. Although I had contributed photos for this book, I had no idea it would be so comprehensive in scope. The basics of collecting, such as buying, displaying, storing and using your treasures are addressed. There are sections for collecting for every room in the house. There is even a sweet section about cottage collectibles for the nursery. And there are sections about a lot of different styles of cottage collecting: romantic, shabby, beachy, country, woodsy.
   On top of all that, this is without a doubt the most beautiful book about collectibles that I have ever come across. This is definitely a Preserve Cottage favorite. Great job!



5. Delights the eye with hundreds of gorgeous photos! Dianne's book is a well-organized and comprehensive guide to collecting, decorating and appreciating cottage collectibles. Beautiful and informative!

1 comments about Mexican Silver Jewelry Details.

1. There is far more to Mexican silver artifacts than belt buckles and bracelets. "Mexican Silver Jewelry Details" is an impressive compilation showcasing the diversity, beauty and sophistication of Mexican silver jewelry revealing them to be works of exquisite art from pre-Columbian examples down to modern pieces. The individual pieces are organized into three distinctive categories: Top Designer Pieces (hallmarked and representing technical virtuosity and artistic achievement); Popular Silver Jewelry (having artistic merit, often hallmarked, but created by relatively unknown or lesser-known artists); Tourist Trinkets (anonymously made and mass produced). Illustrated with 1150 color photos, each piece is provided with identifying information and value ranges making it an ideal reference for collectors and dealers. Enhanced with the inclusion of a bibliography, index, an illustrated glossary, and an illustrated section on hallmarks, "Mexican Silver Jewelry Details" is a seminal work of impressive expertise and a strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Antique/Collectibles reference collections.