1 comments about Antique Firearms Assembly/Disassembly: The Comprehensive Guide to Pistols, Rifles & Shotguns.

1. This could have been a great reference book as it seems to have alot of information packed in it,Antique Firearms Assembly/Disassembly: The Comprehensive Guide to Pistols, Rifles & Shotguns but without a Table of contents or an index, finding the information you are looking for is dependant on a large portion of serendipity.

3 comments about Jeweler's Resource : A Reference of Gems, Metals, Formulas and Terminology for Jewelers (Revised Edition) (Jewelry Crafts) (Jewelry Crafts).

1. Whether you are a Professional Jeweler or a student this book has all the technical info you need...
   
   Alloys, Flux and Solders
   How long do you cut the band for a size 7 ring?
   
   Just loads of stuff!!! THE Jewelery Reference Book!



2. This is a must have for anyone at all interested in jewellery and its sidelines. The amount of information at hand is absolutely wonderful and does save a lot of precious time by having all the info so readily to hand.



3. Excellent content, a must have for the serious jeweler, student or craft person. Covers a multitude of areas not found in other books. This book should be at the top of anyones list that has an interest in making or designing jewelry.

3 comments about All About Collecting Girls' Series Books: Nancy Drew, Judy Bolton, Cherry Ames, Penny Parker, Kay Tracey, Beverly Gray, Connie Blair, Vicki Barr, Dana Girls & Others.

1. When I first bought this book, I was already collecting most of the series mentioned (There is a of them on the front of the book). The first series mentioned was Ruth Fielding. Four formats were listed, of the five formats that exist. This was the first warning. All through the book, John Axe combined formats, or did not list them at all. Although it gives some nice eronious information (i.e. information about the stratmeyer synicate), most of the contents can be found after a two mininte search on Google. At one point, I emailed John Axe with a few Beverly Gray formats that he did not include in the guide. In his reply, he called them "anomalties", and compared them with some misprints that he owned. As of yet, I have not found a good guide, except ones for individual series. ...



2. For the majority of the book, the glossy pages are filled with pictures of nearly every cover of our favorite girls' series books. The Dana Girls section does NOT contain all the different artwork and seems to be slapped together and added to the book at the last moment. But other than that, I liked the book...



3. I bought this book because I wanted to see pictures of all the Dana Girls books. I can't believe that is the only series that isn't pictured fully! Only one book cover in each format of the Dana Girls is pictured. All the other series have every book pictured. That was very disappointing. It was fun to see new books added for this update of the author's previous book: Cherry Ames, Connie Blair, and Vicki Barr, but a letdown that the Dana Girls books were overlooked. I probably wouldn't have purchased this if I'd known.

1 comments about Peters and King.

1. Excellent read. This is a well researched and fascinating book, I found most interesting the precautions used to prevent explosions. King Powder utilized different materials that minimized sparking by using cars with four-wheels made of brass riding on iron rails pulled by a mule or horse with bronze shoes secured with copper nails. Workers could not wear shoes made with nails and were fired if caught with matches or smoking. Some of the explosions were massive and one caused 3000 windows to break. They had to go recruit workers from outside the area. This book is a tribute to the many people that were pioneers of an industry which makes this country secure today. I also like the pictures of old ads and shells in the back of the book. I highly recommend reading this book.

5 comments about Fountain Pens: Their History and Art.

1. This handsome volume reflects the high quality standards, cantankerous spirit, and eccentrically traditionalist preferences that seem to characterize many of us who are drawn to the impractical beauty we call insist upon calling fountain pens.
   
   An introduction and six chapters tell the story of this writing instrument, its long evolution, its demise in the twentieth century, and its rebirth as a collector's item here in our twenty-first. Five lavishly illustrated chapters meander their way from the pre-fountain-pen spectacle of rooms-full of 'inexpensive scribes' with quill in hand doing the work of a small iiterate class ('Pre-1880s: before the fountain pen', pp. 22-39) on to moderate levels of pen production ('1880-1910: early marketing efforts, pp. 40-52) to the rise of a corporate behemoth (1910-1925: competing with Sheaffer', pp. 54-85) to the fountain pen's twentieth century misfortuntes ('1930-1940: how the depression affected the market', pp. 86-107); '1945: the war: how bargain debasement nurtured the ballpoint pen', pp. 108-121) and finally to a day when--mirabile dictu--people write books about fountan pens ('The future: the rebirth of the cottage industry', pp. 122-128).
   
   Mr. Steinberg is neither an economist or sociologist and so given to amusingly sweeping explanations of pen life: 'By the 1930s the world was in the grips of the Great Depression. The public wanted to be dazzled by technological marvels to take their minds off their economic woes. Hence the uncommon popularity of the Schneider Trophy seaplane races and the land-speed record attempts ... For fountain pen design, the Great Depression made utilitarianism and functionality the order of the day.'
   
   However, Steinberg *is* a lover of pens and that's why he's a capable author of a coffee-table illustrated book like this one.
   
   One closes this book with several impressions forming themselves in his brain.
   
   First, there is the sheer technological challenge of making a pen where ink flows in the directions it's supposed to, with tolerable evenness, and a refusal to leak. This is one of those small technological adventures that culminates in something the rest of us take for granted rather than to the cleaners with ink stains around the pockets.
   
   Then there is the sheer variety that flourishes within somewhat unbending natural limits. As with dogs, there are only so many ways and means to make a pen. Yet the plethora of canine breeds on offer has its parallel in the dazzling display of pens of which photographs, paintings, and reproduced advertisements flavor this book.
   
   If you are so inclined, you may well find a resource that will educate your more thoroughly about fountain pens. But probably not with a more satisfactory outcome for the appreciative eye.



2. If you own three books on pens, this should be one of them.



3. I purchased this as a Father's Day gift for my dad, who is a fountain pen addict. He loved the book and the history, but especially the pictures of the old ads for some of the classic fountain pens. He continues to talk about the book and for about $20 I found a gift that has become one of his favorites.



4. This is a beautiful book. The covers and pages are of high quality papers. Steinberg has written a truly excellent book on history of the fountain pens. Though by no means it is comprehensive and detail but definitely more than adequate for any serious collectors as part of the essential knowledge on fountain pens. The illustrations are well laid out accompanying the story and they are simply superb. A very elegant book and suitable for both beginners and serious collectors. Even good as a gift to introduce someone to pen collecting. I simply love the book and a pleasure to read it.



5. I've received the book yesterday. It is not the first related to Fountain Pens that I see, but this one is really nice. It is not written as the others but as a review of the history and the kind of pens. I've read almost a half of it last night!

5 comments about Sheet Music Reference and Price Guide (Sheet Music Reference & Price Guide).

1. I was researching almost 100 pieces of late 1800's to 1930's sheet music from my mother's house, and found almost all of them in the book. In addition to listing the titles alphabetically, with prices, there are cross references to performers, composers, cover artists and genres. An excellent resource for the collector.



2. I was disappointed, but maybe that is my fault. Many music sheets were listed, with values. But there was virtually no editorial matter about the hobby in general -- nothing on price trends, determinents of value, reproductions, collecting, storing, arranging, buying and selling, etc. Very little 19th century or high-priced stuff. Mostly a book of lists, which would be useful for many collectors.



3. If you have some old sheet music that you wish to sell, then this is the guide for you! I highly recommend this book!



4. This 320 page volume contains over 13,000 listings of sheet music! There are over 300 full color pictures of sheet music covers and prices updated for the year 2,000. In addition to the alphabetical listing of songs and current prices, there are chapters on Cover Artists, Performers & Composers, Misc. categories ranging from advertising, black face, military, to patriotic, sports and WW I and II. There isn't a lot of back ground information, but a ton of listings, dates and prices. A valuable reference source for sheet music collectors.



5. I'd like to thank all the people who bought my mother, Marie's, book. She died July 25, 1998. Many of you continue to call about the book and she would be very grateful for your continuing praise.She was about to update the book for the 3rd edition but that was not to be. Thank You

5 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia Of American Dinnerware: Identification and Values (Collector's Encyclopedia of American Dinnerware).

1. I really love this book. I've used it many times to find the names of patterns I have from years of estate sales to sell on e-Bay. Great work.



2. A wonderful beautifully done book.This is a great book for looking up patterns. There are plenty of color photos which show great detail. I plan on buying the previous and subsequent volumns of this book.



3. While the book was somewhat helpful with listing the various companies, it was very short in pattern names, examples and pricing.



4. Other than the photos, there isn't much here. It's very amateurish. Whole categories are missing -- there is barely a mention of "Fiesta" at all. Makes you think the publisher had an arrangement so as not to infringe on sales of their Fiesta books. There is no mention of Metlox. Also, while there is a price guide, it only lists the specific pieces that are shown in the photos, not all the pieces in the line. This is a major shortcoming. There should be some mention of pieces not shown. The book is also poorly organized, with ads from old magazines interspersed with original writing. It reminds me of an 8th grade book report. Spend your money elsewhere.



5. The title of this book implies that it is an all-encompassing American dinnerware reference work. However, it is sadly lacking in both breadth and depth. Any collector would be well advised to look elsewhere. This work is so superficial that it is virtually useless.

2 comments about Barbie the First 30 Years 1959 Through 1989: An Identification and Value Guide.

1. I've had this book for years and look at it often. the European dolls pictured are not seen in most other guides . I wish some of the photos were better and that the color was more true to life in them but I can't fault her research or her doll knowledge. I don't know this author like I do Jim or Michael or Joe so this is a legit review and not done out of kindness but the guys i mentioned are top notch too and don't need friendship reviews either



2. There's not a lot of printed information in this book, it's mostly pictures, but I absolutely LOVE this book. The pictures are great, & they come in handy if you need something to refer to, say for auction information (buying or selling). I highly recommend this book if it's pictures of vintage items you're after, you won't be disappointed!

1 comments about The Antique Hunter's Guide to American Furniture: Chests, Cupboards, Desks & Other Pieces.

1. A wonderful book that is replete with detail, this edition is indispensable for those who frequent auctions and antique shops. The examples given in the book run the gamut from utilitarian/functional to elaborate/ornate. The book is weighted towards the low-medium market, and examples of antiques that are reachable only to those with a prodigious income are few and far between; no Boulle, Belter, or Marot to be seen here. As such, this volume is infinitely usable, and somewhat of a welcome change from the reams of books focused on antiques only seen at Sotheby's or museums. This volume makes a wonderful companion to Miller's Price Guide.

2 comments about Thimbles and Thimble Cases (Shire Library).

1. On the thin side, both in terms of number of pages and helpfulness of information. Best best for me is the old Warman book on thimbles. Why don't they update that one?



2. Thimbles may be considered mundane, ordinary sewing tools by most, but there's a world of thimble collectors who think otherwise, including author Eleanor Johnson who's enjoyed needlework and crafts and who specializes in antique needlework tools. Thimbles And Thimble Cases will fit in the pamphlet section of any collection and provide a key to collecting a range of thimbles, from simple working thimbles to specialty pieces and their cases. From old to more modern fare, Thimbles And Thimble Cases receives color photos and a fine discussion of the differences between luxury items and novelties.