Military Timepieces

by Marvin E. Whitney (Author)

3 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0918845146

ISBN-10: 0918845149

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Marvin Whitney began his extensive research for this book in the mid-eighties. He took advantage of archive records in Washington, D.C. and travelled extensively in New York, Pennsylvania, an New England searching out little-known facts. In 1986 Mr. Whitney began to reduce his voluminous notes and sketches to formally written articles about these timepieces, and authored a long-running series, "The Ship's Chronometer," in the Horological Times. This was followed by his popular series, "Military Time". There are 32 chapters which make up this book. The book contains hundreds of photographs and many illustrations and diagrams. This book is probably the most complete compilation on military timepieces to date.

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Product details

Hardcover: 667 pages
Publisher: Amer Watchmakers Inst (June 1, 1992)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0918845149
ISBN-13: 978-0918845146
Product Dimensions: 1.5 x 8.8 x 11.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
Average Customer Review: 3 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,992 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #7353 in Books > Education & Teaching > Schools & Teaching
- #25578 in Books > Textbooks

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It's OK. Not sure I recommend it for the price.

ByQuintin Trammellon December 23, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

A good book. Mostly American timepieces. All black and white photos. Could be better details in the photos. I love the exploded drawing of the watches. Not sure I recommend it for the price.

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A GREAT BUT NARROWLY FOCUSED WORK

ByLawrence Cutleron October 13, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This is certainly a blockbuster of a book - a veritable catalogue of all classes of military timepieces from the beginning to the recent present. It is also richly illustrated with many archival black and white photos, technical drawings and spec sheets. Mr Whitney is clearly an expert on the subject, having worked as a horological specialist over a working life with American government authorities. It is a rich legacy - the distilled research, notes and first-hand experience of a lifetime. Thankfully for watch enthusiasts, he had the foresight to realize that many of the then common timepieces he worked with would, in time, become rare and of historical interest. Sadly, despite his efforts, he also tells us in his introduction that much technical and contract information held by private manufacturers was destroyed as irrelevant once it was declassified. This explains why there remains today so many unknowns over which military watch enthusiasts endlessly debate and speculate. Will it ever end? Probably not!

Why not five stars? Mr Whitney writes mostly about American timepieces for an American audience, often referring to America as "we" and US Forces as "our" forces. That's well and good if you are also American AND your prime interest is American timepieces, but not if your interest is more international, encompassing say German, French, Japanese or Italian items. I can't recall anything in the book on Soviet era timepieces, perhaps a reflection of Cold War attitudes of ignoring the enemy. While there are some sections on Swiss-made pieces made for British forces, other countries get, in my opinion, little more than a surprisingly and undeservedly cursory mention. Without wishing to appear too critical, a more accurate title would have been "Mostly American Military Timepieces".

To be fair, Mr Whitney is more a technical chronicler than an historian, and his writing style is more in than vein - showing a workmanlike prose rather than literary flair. His brief is to document. Consequently, If you are expecting excitingly told behind-the-scenes stories and anecdotes, you will be a little disappointed. This, I believe, limits its appeal to a more general audience. However, if your prime expectation is a well-documented reference work that appeals to the true enthusiast, albeit a little dry and American-focused, you will be very pleased with Mr Whitney's great work.

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Five Stars

ByM. G. Lordon June 28, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

One of the best book in my library.

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