Collecting & Repairing Watches (Paperback)

by Max Cutmore (Author) "The history of watchmaking may be divided into periods..." (more)
Key Phrases: cannon pinion, curb pins, duplex escapement, World War, English Watch Company, Waterbury Clock Company (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This book examines the technology and manufacture of all types of watch; offers collectors advice on what to look for; and includes a step-by-step assessment guide to use when purchasing. Basic instructions are provided on repair work, identifying essential tools and materials.

Product Details

• Paperback: 191 pages
• Publisher: David & Charles Publishers (July 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0715312146
• ISBN-13: 978-0715312148
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #765,422 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #75 in	Books > Home & Garden > Antiques & Collectibles > Care & Restoration
  #99 in	Books > Home & Garden > Antiques & Collectibles > Clocks & Watches

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A very well written summary of the watch development, April 7, 2000

By	flavio pimenta (Distrito Federal, Brasil) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Collecting and Repairing Watches (Hardcover)

If you are a "newbie" in the world of watch collecting, this is the right book for you. It focuses the watch evolution from the late 16TH century to the modern quartz watch. It has a lot of graphics and black and white pocket watch pictures...The book, however, is, in my point of view, intended for a quick knowledge of the watch's history and mechanics...It doesn't cover, for instance, the modern automatic wristwatch. I think that's the best book to read before trying something more techicall. The reading is very straight forward, but the experts in the field will find the book very summarized.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Old pocket watches explained, August 13, 2002

By	misterbeets "misterbeets" (Safe Harbor, MD USA) - See all my reviews

The focus is on antique European pocket watches, especially British ones, this being a British publication. The technical history of watches is thoroughly covered, the various outdated watch mechanisms--verge, fusee, cylinder escapement--are explained, and interesting footnotes are included, like the wage records from a 19th century watch shop. A chapter on repair will get you started, and even tell you how to restore the blueing on the watch hands (heat them in a tray over an alcohol lamp). The author has spent much of his life studying and collecting old watches, and has produced an easy-to-read guide filled with interesting and useful information.