1 comments about Collecting Royal Copley Plus Royal Windsor & Spaulding: Book 2 (Collector's Guide to).

1. A very handy 144 page reference book featuring hundreds of small, full color photos of Royal Copley, Royal Windsor and Spaulding items. This Book II has no repeats from the previous Book I. Major chapters run from Royal Copley-Still Going Strong, The Truth About Royal Windsor, A Warm Experience at Spaulding, to Labels, Bibliography and Source Material. You'll find this handy purse size volume useful as you attend auctions and antique shows.

4 comments about Classic Handguns of the 20th Century.

1. This text discusses approximately twenty categories of handguns (plus variations within each category) during the specified time period. Writing, photography, and graphic illustration is excellent. The level of detail is extremely helpful to the beginner. Those more experienced with handguns, who have works that specifically deal with their favorites, may find it less informative, though they may still enjoy it as a general historical overview, and for the quality of the photography and graphics. There are some noteworthy omissions (such as the Colt Model M or "pocket hammerless"), but this is still a fine overview.



2. very nice book, the information for the included handguns was very informative. I was able to learn some things about a couple of S&W handguns I owned which was very interesting.The book is a good read for anyone interested in some of the more famous and popular handguns of the 20th century.



3. I thought this is a wonderful book. There are terrific close-up photos of the guns from different angles which are the next best thing to actually holding them. In addition there are exploded diagrams, historical background, and stories about individuals who are particulary associated with each gun. I only wish the book was longer, more in depth, and had more examples of these classics . (The S&W K-22 .22 caliber revolver is one of my favorites that wasn't in the book, for example.) - - I hope the author comes out with additional editions covering other firearms presented in this same style and format. I would definitely buy them. - - - (Note: I'm a very picky buyer - 4 stars is an extremely high rating for me.)



4. Don't get your hopes up with this slim tome. It only covers 20 models of handguns and six of those are pretty much the same guns in different calibers, Colt and Smith and Wesson double action revolvers.

5 comments about Sand Pail Encyclopedia: A Complete Value Guide for Tin-Litho Sand Toys.

1. What a wonderful book. It tells all about the history of sand pails and who manufactured them. BUT the very best part is the pictures. There are over 300 wonderful colored pictures of sand pails organized by themes and years manufactured. Each picture has a wonderful description of the pail....it's size, year made and value. There are also pictures and information on watering cans, sand sifters and various other sand toys we have all seen or played with at one time.

   This is one of those books that brings back wonderful memories of ones childhood. You can just picture the sand castles, shells and water lapping at your feet. Who would have ever thought those inexpensive little beach toys would end up being such pricey collectibles?! A book full of information and pictures that can make you feel like a kid again.




2. EXCELLENT help to me since I knew nothing about Sand Pails and I have been able to identify some at shows and buy a few at great prices. All this from reading this fabulous book. I hope there will be more by these authors.



3. This book is a feast to the eyes of those of us who love and collect these colorful pails and sand toys from by-gone days. As a collector myself, I found the history to be comprehensive and informative, learning things about the very pails I had in my collection I had not known before. The photography is outstanding and the pails displayed represent the best of many wonderful collections. It is a must-have reference book for anyone collecting or interested in old tin beach toys, and a much needed price guide with regard to their value.



4. Great pictures are the first thing you notice about this book. Terrific graphics and a sense of style. There are some wonderful examples of pails that I have seen and some that I never seen before. A neat gift for any collector.



5. Great book with so many wonderful photos and great information!
   Nice presentation and great use of color. Truly enjoyable!

4 comments about The Case Cutlery Dynasty: Tested XX.

1. I haven't even finished the book yet, and I can tell you that it is one of the most captivating accounts I have ever read. The author takes you square into the world of the Case's and their relatives, and pulls no punches about their strengths and shortcomings. Each character has his own chronological tale, so there is a lot of going over the same time period from different viewpoints. The reader can almost feel the way that it was to have to compete in that time period, and new respect is earned for those who went through it and made it work. The book itself is also well made, and worthy of a place in your collection.



2. Was very interesting to find out how many family ties Case had to other companies. Gives a great insight to how foreign imports have affected U.S. manufacturing over the years.



3. I must warn you that this review may be prejudiced; I am a direct decendant of Jean Case, the son of the last Case decendant still manufacturing knives and a high school acquaintance of the author. Still, I would like to share an objective view of this text from a historical point of view. My undergrad degree is in American Civilization and I am currently completing my Masters in 20th Century American History. I found Brad's book thoroughly engaging and though provoking from this perspective. Following the Case family is a microcosm of westward expansion, the industrial age, the progressive era, the Great Depression through the catastrophic effects of free trade and foreign importation. Historians, sociologists, anthropologists and economists could all benefit from reading this compelling text. I am going to recommend that members of our faculty use it in 19th or 20th cen. Am. Hist. classes.



4. I'm a huge fan of author Brad Lockwood, having read all of his novels ("Wink" rules and "Sellout" will be a great film) but I was a bit confused when I saw he had a non-fiction book coming out. Now, I don't know anything about knives, only from using them in my kitchen, but this book is truly amazing. I knew Brad could write, but I never realized how far he could take the story of his family - almost 2 centuries of knife makers - and make a very "testosterone heavy" industry so interesting. Wow! Buy this book - It isn't just about forging steel, it's about the women who put up with their husbands being away for months on end, and somehow kept the family together. A great, fast, truly informative historical read. It took me 3 days. Rereading it took 4.

1 comments about Care and Repair of Antiques and Collectables.

1. If you buy antiques whether for resale or home use, you must also own or look at Care & Repair of Antiques & Collectibles: it's packed with over four hundred color illustrations and photos and provides hints from professional restorers and conservators on how to handle antiques, how to repair them, and how to maintain them. From repainting repaired ceramics and stripping and cleaning wooden collectibles from jewelry to furniture to cleaning textiles, this is a 'bible' of preservation for any owner, curator or dealer in antiques of all kinds - and a book many a general public lending library will also find useful.

1 comments about Mechanical Typewriters: Their History, Value, and Legacy.

1. There is a relatively small community of typewriter collectors, of whom I am one. Within this community there are subdivisions: those who collect the very early machines, those who collect a particular brand, those who collect a particular type (e.g. portables, desk machines, electrics). Because the typewriter was such a common device in both homes and businesses for almost all of the twentieth century, and because they were produced in the millions, many have failed to appreciate the impact these machines made on our society. The typewriter is the story of American ingenuity come to life. While there were foreign contributions to its development, the overwhelming percentage of patents and improvements were American. The typewriter freed countless women from a living of domestic servitude and allowed them to support themselves in a newly-created occupation. It changed both the nature and tempo of American office work, where efficiency and productivity were measurable.
   
   This book focuses on the earliest machines prior to World War I. As many know, the early typewriter took many forms: some had the familiar typebars, while others used a rotating type wheel where letters were pressed to paper one at a time, some allowed the paper to move past the type, and still others allowed the paper to remain stationary while the typewriter moved! There were typewriters available for a few Dollars for the occasional home use, while the most mechanical models were quite expensive.
   
   For the 'outsider', this book is a detailed and beautifully illustrated (in color) survey, by brand, of the available machines and their types in these early years. Many of these machines can still be found and purchased rather inexpensively, while the rarer machines are steadily increasing in value. The machines covered here are not for those of us who like to actually type--most don't have the standard keyboard we use today. These are machines for display.
   
   This book will remain a valuable resource on the subject long after it has gone out of print. I would like to see a followup on machines covering the period between the Wars, when the industry as a whole continued development. This field represents American ingenuity at its best, and is a lesson for all of us in this regard.

1 comments about Antique Oak Furniture: An Illustrated Value Guide.

1. Antique Oak Furniture adequately presents fundamentals of turn-of-the-century oak pieces, but I found it not worthwhile for valuation purposes.

1 comments about Warman's Paper (Encyclopedia of Antiques and Collectibles).

1. This was clearly a labor of love for co-authors Martinus and Rinker. Their mini-guide to ephemera collecting in the front of the book is more than worth the cost of the book. It is a joy to read. It provides anyone interested in collecting ephemera will an outstanding overview of the field.
   
   Although the prices listed in the guide are now outdated, the book remains a useful reference for any serious collector of ephemera. This important reference deserves a place on any old paper collector's bookshelf.
   
   It would be wonderful to see a revised edition of this guide with current prices.

No comments about Ancient Indian Artifacts: Introduction to Collecting (Ancient Indian Artifacts).

No comments about Standard Catalog of Farm Tractors 1890 to 1960.