Pocket Watch Handbook (Paperback)

~ Max Cutmore (Author) "Clocks were constructed before watches, so that a history of watches logically begins with a brief look at their clock ancestry..." (more)
Key Phrases: fusee radius, verge watch, cannon pinion, Lancashire Watch Company, Guildhall Library, Gregorian Calendar (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

With the aid of over 80 drawings and photographs, the author shows clearly how the different movements work and discusses the many efforts made to improve timekeeping over the years. Much of the information provided is based on his own original research. For the collector, there is a wealth of useful advice on repairing, buying and selling, simple research, and the study of rare or specialist watches in museum collections. The book is packed with ideas on what to look for and the pitfalls to avoid, so that modest resources can be spent wisely and bring many hours of interest and enjoyment.

About the Author

M. Cutmore is a chartered engineer who served in the Royal Navy before taking up a post as a senior lecturer in mechanical engineering. He is an acknowledged expert on watches and his other books, The Watch Collector's Handbook and Watches 1850-1980, have become standard works on the subject. All his books incorporate his own investigations and research, particularly into watch movements.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: David & Charles Publishers (October 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0715314629
• ISBN-13: 978-0715314623
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #739,680 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Book, September 20, 2005

By	Michigan Rifleman "ndjamena" (Lansing, MI) - See all my reviews

This book was first printed in England in 1985, so don't expect any information more current than that. It is not a price handbook either. What it does provide is a high quality history of the development of the watch from the Middle Ages with a fair deal of technical explanation. For one unfamiliar with how watches are made, some of the terminology will be difficult. The book also provides some examples of how to research a watch and how to engage in the business of selling watches. Unfortunately, information on starting a watch shop in England in the 1980s is not very useful for most American readers of today, and the research is only moderately interesting. But as an historical introduction to watches it is a top-notch overview, suitable for the technically inclined beginner. The photos are of high quality.