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Windy City Watch Collector

 


BOOKS FOR WATCH & CLOCK COLLECTORS


/ Watches / Navigation/Nautical / Clocks / Children'sRepair & Restoration / Other cool stuff / How to Order / Contact us /
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Welcome! : The Windy City Watch Collector and Amazon.com Books are pleased to present this selection of books for horologists.  I've selected some outstanding books to provide you with information on the fascinating subject of horology.

How to Order : Clicking on a title link takes you right to a page where you can order that book. Once at the book site, simply push the "Add Book to Shopping Cart" button.  To order more than one book, use the "Back" button on your browser to return to this page and select the next book.  Once you've selected all the books you want, simply click on "Proceed to Checkout" and follow the easy on screen instructions.

All orders are handled by Amazon.com which has earned a reputation for good service.  All books have a money back guarantee.   Payment may be handled by credit card or by check. You may select the type of shipping desired. Ordered books are shipped by Priority or Express Mail.  International shipping is no problem.


Watches

2008book.jpg (61786 bytes)new.gif (111 bytes)Complete Price Guide to Watches 2008 (28th Ed \) by Cooksey Shugart, et al, Paperback, New Edition (Jan., 2008). List: $29.95. Our Price: $19.77 ~ You Save: 34%! This is the newest edition of the definitive price guide to watches and a good starting point for learning about watch collecting. It is a mini-encyclopedia with over 1,217 pages and over 10,300+ watches listed. There are numerous price changes from last year's edition.  This should be the best price around for this essential reference book/ price guide. This book was just released in January, 2008.  Order now and be among the first to get it as soon as it is released in early 2007! Learn about watches and watch collecting.  The absolute best watch price guide and best place to learn about watch collecting!

Automatic Wristwatches from Switzerland : Self-Winding Wristwatches Heinz Hampel, Hardcover. Size: 8 1/2" x 11", 352 pages. Published by Schiffer Pub Ltd Publication, date: March, 1997. Price $79.   In this book over 200 watches are shown, each with three photos to show the dial, and the complete and partly disassembled movement. The book introduces all the Swiss manufacturers and provides an historical overview of the development of the automatic wristwatch watch from 1926 to 1978. Information on the functioning mechanism and construction of each design is offered along with the data needed to determine the date of manufacture. Good price on a great reference book!

Automatic Wristwatches : From Germany, England, France, Japan, Russia and the USA by Heinz Hampel. Hardcover. Size: 9" x 12". 214 pages. Published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. Publication date: October 1997. Our Price: $50.37.  Save 37%! Long awaited documentation of automatic non-swiss wristwatches. These watches were always considered superior micro-mechanical products and posed a challenge to technicians. Recently collectors' interest has expanded from Swiss watches to those of other countries. A total of 123 watches are illustrated in three different views and are described in detail. View large image of book.

Breitling : The History of a Great Brand of Watches 1884 to the Present (Schiffer Book for Collectors) by Benno Richter, Hardcover, 1995. 176 pages. This book shows the entire range of the company's products. Founding in 1884, the reader is provided insight into more than 100 years of the firm's history, including it most famous watch, the Navitimer. The book contains many photos, old catalogs and advertising material which support the informative text. With the help of reference numbers, the collector can also locate individual watches chronologically. 50 color plates, 272 halftones. Breitling collectors will find a wealth of information in this good reference work on a highly collectible brand!  Out of Print: $100, used copy in excellent condition.  Email me directly. 

Cartier : The Tank Watch: Hardcover - 264 pages, October 1998, Dimensions (in inches): 1.36 x 11.53 x 10.13.  List Price: $75.00. Our Price: $47.25.  You Save: $27.75 (37%)!  Nicely done work on a maker of fabulous timepieces.

The Camerer Cuss Book of Antique Watches, by T.P. Camerer Cuss, et al, Hardcover, 1995, Published by Antique Collectors Club, Dimensions (in inches): 11.02 x 8.77 x 1.15.  Very nice reference work. Organized chronologically, there are excellent examples from all the major periods up to the late 19th century. Examples incude detailed descriptions of important horological features, biographical details of the maker and excellent photography. The book has both a nice glossary and a good index. This is a fun book just to browse, but also an essential comparative reference.  Our Price: $89.50. 

Chronograph Wristwatches : To Stop Time, by Reinhard Meis, Gerd R. Lang, Hardcover, Published by Schiffer Pub Ltd., March 1997, Size: 9" x 12". Hard cover. 256 pages. List Price: $79.95.   Our Price: $50.37. You Save: 37%!  Well done large format reference book with superbly executed close-up photographs. Detailed information on how to read all of the various chronograph dials. Illustrations of most calibers. Should be indispensable for the chronograph wrist watch collector.

Collecting and Repairing Watches  This is a great book for the price and good start to your time-piece library. 191 pages. The technical history of watches is thoroughly covered, the various outdated watch mechanisms--verge, fusee, cylinder escapement--are explained, and interesting footnotes are included. A chapter on repair will get you started.  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.  The book was nicely produced.  List Price: $19.99.   Our Price: $12.99. You Save: 35%!

 Collectible Wristwatches  This is another good book for the price and good start to your time-piece library. 384 pages in a square format, each page shows a watch in color with a short caption. The book was nicely produced.  And, they have the good taste to list http://www.chronometer.net as a super resource!  List Price: $14.95.   Our Price: $9.72. You Save: 35%!

 

Concise Guide to Military Timepieces -- EssentialA Concise Guide to Military Timepieces 1880-1990 by Z. M. Wesolowski, Hardcover, 192 pages Published by Windrow & Greene Ltd Publication, date: November 1, 1996, Dimensions (in inches): 10.49 x 7.70 x .82. List Price: $44.95. Our Price: Not available.  Well done reference book for Military Horologists. It is the first illustrated guide devoted specifically to the highly collectable field of military watches and clocks. Covers deck watches, pocket, wrist and clocks. Current prices are provided (in Sterling) for timepieces covered. This book is highly recommended to all fellow military timepiece collectors! Be sure to also visit the author's web site: Military Timepieces.

Hamilton Wristwatches by René Rondeau, Hardcover, A complete guide to ALL Hamilton men's wristwatches, 1922-1969. Large 8-1/2" by 11" format. Hardbound with dust jacket. Nearly 1,000 illustrations! Detailed notes on over 100 of the most collectable watches. Precise production figures on watches from 1922-1936. Index of EVERY watch by name. Details about movements and Hamilton history.  Order now.  List 34.95.  Our Price: $22.02.  37% savings! 

Complete price guide 2004.jpg (20648 bytes)new.gif (111 bytes)Instant Expert: Collecting Watches by Cooksey Shugart, et al, Paperback, New Edition (Sept., 2004). List: $12.95. Our Price: $9.71 ~ You Save: 25%. Think and talk like an expert.  Insider information on this great hobby and a good starting point for learning about watch collecting. It covers buying and selling skills.  There is information on the care and repair of watches   This should be the best price around for this essential reference book/ price guide. This book is available for September delivery, order your copy NOW! and be among the first to get it! Learn about watches and watch collecting.  The absolute best guide from the author of the essential Price Guide!

 

 

0802713122.m.gif (6311 bytes)Longitude : The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel, Hardcover, 184 pages, Published by Walker & Co, Publication date: October 1, 1995, Dimensions (in inches): 7.75 x 4.85 x .92/ Hardcover / Published 1995. List: $19.00. Our Price: $12.92 ~ You Save: 32%! Truly great telling of the fascinating story of the development of the marine chronometer and its impact on world history. Says neilhorn@pond.com, 05/23/96, rating=10: "A beautiful tale of science, passion and politics. On occasion a book opens your eyes to one aspect of the world that you would otherwise overlook...It is rare to find a book like Longitude that succeeds on many levels. Here is the tale of John Harrison, a self-taught English clockmaker who devoted his life to making it possible for sailors to establish their true location. The prize for this achievement, a fortune in today's currency, was also sought by some of the most brilliant astronomers of the day. In the end, Harrison's passion triumphed against the maneuverings of this academic elite. More than a tale of one man's determination, Longitude is a stirring saga of an era of discovery we have all but forgotten...The force of this change is brought home through Sobel's description of the first chronometers and other early clocks. They are objects of power, beauty and to the sailors who traversed the globes with them, true miracles." I couldn't agree more. This is a worthy addition to everyone's library.

La Mesure Du Temps En Mer et Les Horlogers Suisses. (The Measure of Time at Sea and the Swiss Watchmakers) Published in La Chaux de Fonds by the Institut L'Homme et Le Temps. 1995. By Estelle Fallet. New. First Edition. 9¾" - 12" tall. 520 pp. Over 750 Examples illustraited with color/bw images.  This book is written in French and is the best book on this fascinating aspect of Swiss horology.  It is also probably one of the most well done books on marine chronometers in general! Price $85.  E-mail me directly to order this book. A super reference book! 

new.gif (111 bytes)Mercer Chronometers: History Maintenance and Repair, by Tony Mercer.  An illustrated history of Thomas Mercer Ltd, from the early days of the firm's founder as a watchmaker in Liverpool, then as a chronometer manufacturer in Clerkenwell, London, later in St Albans. The firm dominated chronometer manufacture, producing them for many other 'makers' world-wide. There are details of Mercer's chronometers, regulators, master-clock systems, measuring gauges, and the many other types of clocks and instruments that were produced. A photographic survey shows many of the historic chronometers by other makers that have been serviced by Mercers. Balance design to reduce temperature error is discussed, while the repair, maintenance, and rating of chronometers is given special attention. Appendices summarise the history of the company, illustrate old horological tools, and list the serial numbers of chronometers by Mercer as well as their main rival, Victor Kullberg. Tony Mercer's first-hand knowledge of chronometer manufacture gives a valuable insight into the trade and its many characters.  Hardcover. 246 x 174mm, 240 pages, 300 illustrations, full-color cover. Price $75.  E-mail me directly to order this book. A super reference book! 

militarytimepiecesbook.jpg (43815 bytes)Military Timepieces, by Marvin Whitney, Published by the American Watchmaker's Institute. Hardcover. 667 pages. Price $75. Comprehensive work that covers domestic/foreign aircraft clocks, elapsed time clocks, Elgin/Hamilton chronometers, Chelsea marine/boat/deck clocks, Longines-Wittnauer Watch Company, marine clocks, message center clocks, meteorological instrument clocks, master navigation (GCT) watches, navigational stop watches, pocket watches, precision watches, wristwatches, diver's wristwatches, and more. Good technical information spread throughout. E-mail me directly to order this book. A super reference book! Price $75.  Best book on the subject!!

 

KKcover.jpg (26266 bytes)Military Timepiece 150 Years Watches and Clocks of German Forces, by Konrad Knirim published by Verlag PETER POMP, Bottrop - Essen , 2002. ISBN 3-89355-232-4. Hardcover. Price $185.  636 pages Around 4500 illustrations - mainly in color  New much enlarged edition now with English as well as German text. Over 1000 timepieces described in great depth - each description accompanied by excellent photographs of any significant detail.  This is an encyclopedic reference work - the dedication of the author both in his researches and his presentation of information is quite awe inspiring  Without a doubt this is the most comprehensive work on the subject that covers (1) The German Empire and WW I; (2) The Austrian Hungarian Forces; (3) The Weimar Republic; (4) The 'Third Reich' and WW II; (5) The Navy in WW II; (6) The Airforce in WW II; (7) The Army in WW II; (8) The Postwar Forces; (9) The Forces of the GDR; (10) The Federal Forces; (11) Appendix. Good technical information spread throughout. E-mail me directly to order this book. A super reference book and yes there is a lot of information on German Marine Chronometers!    

The Movado History by Fritz Von Osterhausen, Fritz Von Osterhausen, Hardcover, Published by Schiffer Pub Ltd Publication, date: March 1997, ISBN: 0764301268. Our Price: $89.95. Nice work with a large amount of written information including color photographs. Nice account of watches submitted to Swiss Observatory in competitions. This is a large format book which presents the evolution of Movado from its roots in the Jura Mountains in 1881 through more than a century of tradition and technological advancement. There is an abundance of information on Movado's "purse watches". 250 beautiful color illustrations and early complicated and calendar watches. A beautiful book whether you are a Movado collector or just appreciate fine watch photographs! View book.

The Official Ebay Guide to Buying, Selling and Collecting Just About Anything   Not technically horology specific but an excellent book on how to use the eBay auction web site to buy, sell and trade your timepieces.  List Price: $13.00. Our Price: $10.78. You Save: 25%.

The Official Price Guide to Collecting Clocks  432 Pages. Published in 2003.  Learn about clocks and values.  List: $19.95. Our Price: $12.97. You Save: 32%!

Omega Designs (Feast for the Eyes) by Anton Kreuzer, Hardcover, Published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., Publication date: October 1996. Size: 8 1/2" x 11". Hard cover, 224 pages w/ Index.  Our Price: $59.95.  This well done, important, color illustrated book presents an illustrated description of all the watch movements manufactured by the Omega Watch Co. since registration of its trademark in 1894. Over 400 hundred watches are shown in 80 color and 334 black and white photographs. For the Omega collector, this is wonderful source of information on the development of each Omega movement! View book.

Paul Ditisheim, Chronometrier, by Fritz von Osterhausen. 1st Edition Hardcover Published by Editions Simonin Publication date: 2003. French/German text with photocopy of 17 page article in English by Fortunat Mueller-Maerki.  A must read if you are interested in perhaps the finest watchmaker of the 20th Century.  Extensive documentation on the life of Paul Ditisheim, 135 pages with color/bw photos., serial number list, extensive performance records of individual pieces, etc.  Order now! Our Price: $85. E-mail me directly to order this book.

Piaget : Watches and Wonders Since 1874 by Franco Cologni, et al, Hardcover, Published by Abbeville Press, Inc., Publication date: March 1, 1996, Dimensions (in inches): 11.47 x 10 x 1.45, Our Price: $85.00. A nice and comprehensive work.

Pocket Watches : From the Pendant Watch to the Tourbillon by Reinhard Meis. Hardcover. Published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. Publication date: January 1987. List Price: $79.95.  Our price: $62.30.  Save over 22%!

coverRevolution in Time: Clocks and the Making of the Modern World:  Outstanding book!.  Explores the historical meaning of time and its many perceptions and uses. This revised edition contains a new preface and discusses new findings on medieval and early-modern time keeping. Also new to this edition is discussion of contemporary high-tech uses of the watch as a mini-computer, cellular phone, and even radio receiver or television screen. Includes b&w photos of timepieces. Landes is Coolidge Professor of History and professor of economics, emeritus, at Harvard University.Book News, Inc.®, Portland, OROur Price: $16.95

 

 

The Rolex Report: An Unauthorized Reference Book For The Rolex Enthusiast: by Jeff Hess. List: $39.99. Our Price: $27.82. You Save: 30%!   There is no other publication available nearly as good. Everything regarding Rolex is represented. Overall, an excellent book to have for reference

rolexbook.jpg (9113 bytes)Rolex Wristwatches: An Unauthorized History: by James Dowling and Jeff Hess. One of the best works ever written on this important company.  List: $125. Our Price: $78.75. You Save: 37%!   There is no other book available nearly as good. Everything regarding Rolex is represented.The name of Rolex is recognized around the world. It has become an icon of beauty, quality, accuracy, style, and taste. While there are other fine manufacturers of timepieces, none has reached this pinnacle of public respect and acclaim. The watches produced by Rolex over the last 90 years are celebrated in this lavishly illustrated new volume. Mssrs. Dowling and Hess, acknowledged Rolex authorities, have captured their beauty in full color photography. They accompany the most thorough and extensive history ever written of the company. Information for collectors and current market values of the watches makes this a truly useful volume and one that will be cherished by watch lovers around the world., 392 photos , 9" x 12", Price Guide. Overall, an excellent book to have for reference

Complete price guide 2004.jpg (20648 bytes)new.gif (111 bytes)Instant Expert: Collecting Watches by Cooksey Shugart, et al, Paperback, New Edition (Sept., 2004). List: $12.95. Our Price: $9.97 ~ You Save: 25%. Think and talk like an expert.  Insider information on this great hobby and a good starting point for learning about watch collecting. It covers buying and selling skills.  There is information on the care and repair of watches   This should be the best price around for this essential reference book/ price guide. This book is available for September delivery, order your copy NOW! and be among the first to get it! Learn about watches and watch collecting.  The absolute best guide from the author of the essential Price Guide!

 

 

Russian Wristwatches : Pocket Watches, Stop Watches, Deck Watches & Marine Chronometers (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) by Juri Levenberg, Paperback Published by Schiffer Pub Ltd., Publication date: March, 1997.   Our Price: $19.95. Nice photos of various Russian timepieces now encountered in the West. This book illustrates the diversity of Russian timepieces. The material is well documented.

Time in Gold , Wristwatches, by Gerald Viola, Gisbert L. Brunner.  An excellent reference. Our Price: $62.30  Save over 22%!  Another excellent reference for the wristwatch collector.

Tiffany Timepieces.  Author: John Loring; Buy New: $37.80. You Save: 27%!

Vintage Rolex Sports Models: A Complete Visual Reference & Unauthorized History.  Author: Martin Skeet; Buy New: $58.25.  You Save: 22%!  

Watch of the Future : The Story of the Hamilton Electric Watch, by Rene Rondeau. 2nd Edition Hardcover Published by Rene Rondeau Publication date: June 1992. A must read if you own even one Hamilton Electric, collect Hamilton Electrics or have examples in you collection. Includes technical manuals for the two electric movements. Rene is the Hamilton Electric watch Guru. Order now and receive an autographed copy! Our Price: $29.95. E-mail me directly to order this book.

Watches, Volume 4:  Our new 400 page annual book is the only buyer's guide in English which does not use generic pictures, but is packed with large, high quality, exclusive photographs where the watch is shown on an angle, allowing one to see the dial and the thickness of each piece. Each photograph (4 pictures per page) is accompanied by a full description, including movement, functions, case, dial, indications and price. It is updated with most of the new watches for the 2002-3 season and is the bible of the watch industry.  Price 24.95

new.gif (111 bytes)Wristwatch Annual 2006 : The Catalog of Producers, Models, and Specifications by Peter Braun (Editor), Luis Fernandes (Editor). List Price: $35. Our Price: $22.05. You Save: 37%. Paperback - 376 pages. Dimensions (in inches): 0.73 x 11.63 x 8.27.   There is no other publication available nearly as good. Everything from Rolex to Minerva is represented. Overall, an excellent book to have for reference for new watches

0764303759.m.gif (13824 bytes)Wristwatch Chronometers : Mechanical Precision Watches and Their Testing by Fritz Von Osterhausen, 2nd Edition, Hardcover. Size: 9" x 12". 216 pages. Published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. Publication date: October 1997. Our Price: $79.95.   This book provides a detailed account of wristwatch chronometer testing, with information about testing methods, procedures, and guidelines. Also included in a detailed listing of the Swiss Testing Agencies' yearly reports from 1925 and the Swiss Observatories' reports kept between 1941 and 1967. The second part focuses on chronometers produced by various manufacturers with many full color illustrations of chronometer wristwatches. Highly recommended for serious collectors!

 

ARMBANDUHREN CHRONOMETER -- German Language First Edition of the above book: I have a limited number of German 1st Edition of this book (1990) with slipcover for $45. E-mail me to order this book. 

conn.gif (14419 bytes)Wristwatches: A Connoisseur's Guide, by Frank Edwards, Hardcover, 160 pages, Published by Firefly Books: September 1, 1997.  Dimensions (in inches): 11.27 x 9.04 x .79.  Our Price: $24.95. Said N1IPY@prodigy.net from USA , 02/24/98, rating=10: "EXCEPTIONAL - COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE - HISTORY, FACTS, PHOTOS.  Comprehensive guide to all major watch brands..history, product range, flagship models...are all described with plenty of photos. The evolution of the wristwatch from invention to the modern day solar, kinetic and radio controlled models are portrayed. Fascinating...A Must Have!!"  I agree.  A very worthwhile book that is also resonably priced.

 

American Wristwatches: Five Decades of Style and Design by Edward Faber, Stewart Unger, Ettagale Blauer. Revised edition. Hardcover. Size: 9" x 12". 272 pages. Published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. Publication date: March 1997.   Our Price: $79.95. This work traces the history of the American wristwatch. Original insightful research brings to life some of the persons who had a profound influence on its development. Design periods are highlighted and the resulting watches are fully illustrated. This revised edition corrects some of the errors of the first edition. A must for collectors of American wristwatches. Over 700 pictures featuring Hamilton, Gruen, Bulova, Waltham and Wittnauer.

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Nautical/Navigation Books  

AIRCRAFT NAVIGATIONAL MANUAL- US NAVY- 1941.  THIS BOOK, PUBLISHED BY THE U S NAVY HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE, IS H. O. PUB. NO. 216, DATED 1941. IT IS A FIRST EDITION, PREPARED AT THE PENSACOLA GROUND SCHOOL. THERE IS SPOTTING ALONG THE UPPER EDGE AS WELL AS ALONG THE RH EDGE AND AN EVER SO SLIGHT BOW OF THE COVER. IT IS STAMPED PROPERTY OF THE MARINE AIRCRAFT SCHOOL ON THE UPPER CENTER COVER.. IT CONTAINS 258 PAGES, HAS NO DUST JACKET AND IS IN OVERALL GOOD CONDITION. Price: $45.  E-mail me to order this book. Interesting reading and makes a great addition to a military/aviation collection/library.

Air Navigation.   Weems, P V H; 1943; hardcover; 406 pages; tables; charts; photographs; fold out navigation maps. This famous aviation book, written in the midst of World War Two, explains the techniques of navigation as it was being improved during wartime. Some of the 12 chapter headings are: Charts, Compasses, Radio, Dead Reckoning, Instrument Flying, Outline Of Meteorology, Celestial Navigation, Aviator's Dead Reckoning Tables, Navigation Auxiliary Tables, and more. The book contains several fold-up charts illustrating the material covered in the text. The back cover has a pocket containing a large fold out navigation chart. All are in good condition. The book has been withdrawn from library circulation and has library markings. Price $50. E-mail me to order this book. Interesting reading and makes a great addition to a military/aviation collection/library.

garminetrex.jpg (28779 bytes)Garmin eTrex Vista 24 MB GPS with Compass, Altimeter & PC cable -- It's the ultimate navigational tool.  The eTrex Vista has enough map detail to help get you out of town, an electronic compass to keep you on course, and a barometric altimeter to record the details of your trek.  this GPS is designed for serious hikers and climbers who want the best in navigation on or off the trail.  The Vista comes with a PC cable to download map data for greater detail.  I've used one for 2 years now and find it to be indispensable whether looking for an address out of town, my way back to a point on a trail, or looking for a Thai restaurant in a new city.  Can also be used inside a car or mounted on a bike.  Our Price: $192.94.  SAVE 36%!!!   

 Aviator's Guide to Navigation (Practical Flying Series), by Donald J. Clausing, Paperback, Published 1997.  List   Price:$34.95.  our price $23.07.  

"Chronometer Rate Book".  Circa middle 1930s.  Price $35.  This was discovered in a storehouse recently.  New old stock, never used log book designed to record chronometer rate fluctuations in ship's navigating chronometer.  Printed book for the maritime trade by famous Nautical retailer, John E. Hand Co. of Baltimore and Philadelphia. Marbled cardboard cover with 50 pages.  Titlepage has space for ship's and Captain's name as well as the rates of up to three chronometers.  Sorry, chronometer(s) not included. E-mail me to order this book. Rate Book ImageA nice addition to any chronometer collection -- will enhance value of any chronometer -- Quite interesting! 

The Quest for Longitude : The Proceedings of the Longitude Symposium Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts November 4-6, 1993 by William J. H. Andrewes (Editor), Hardcover Published by Collection of Historic Scientific Publication, date: November 1, 1996, Dimensions (in inches): 11.28 x 8.86 x 1.47, ISBN: 0964432900.  Our Price: $75.00. The Quest for Longitude is a book for students and for teachers, for collectors and for scholars, and for the thousands of people who, having enjoyed Sobel's Longitude, desire a well illustrated reference that describes in detail the many fascinating devices and the intriguing characters who, by solving the ancient problem of finding longitude at sea, changed the world forever. 250 illustrations, 120 in color.

chronometermakers.JPG (74066 bytes)Chronometer Makers of the World, by Tony Mercer, Published by TAG. A super reference book with 301 pages with illustrations and photographs. This book lists all chronometer makers that Tony Mercer is aware of.  A General history, identification marks and extensive listing names/dates/anecdotal detail of makers and associated craftsmen is included.  The history and development of the Marine Chronometer in general is covered. Among the makers that are covered, are names like: Dent, Elgin, Ericsson, Hamilton Watch Co, Heath & Co, Henry Hughes & Son, W. Iversen, Johannsen & Co, Kelvin, T. H. Knoblich, Victor Kullberg, Lange und Sohne, John Lilley & Son, Duncan McGregor & Co, Mercer, Ulysse Nardin, John Parkes & Son, John Bruce and Sons, James Poole, Reid & Sons, Thomas Russell & Son, Joseph Sewill, Wempe Chronometerwerke GmbH, etc.

Hardbound with slip cover and revised edition.  Heavy-weight printing on high-quality paper.  An essential must for all collectors!  Authoritative work on the subject.  This book is handled by Amazon UK and will be shipped from England.  Order now and save 34%!  £26.40.  In my opinion, the best book on the subject!

gouldbook.jpg (25944 bytes) Marine Chronometer: Its History And Developments (Hardcover), by Rupert Gould, Published in UK by Antique Collector's Club. Hardcover. 300 pages. List Price $79.50.  Order now and save over 37%!:  Your price: $50.09.  Originally published in 1923, this is a facsimile edition of the definitive reference work on the marine chronometer. This revised edition covers the chronometer's history from the earliest attempts to measure longitude while including detailed discussions and illustrations of the various mechanisms and their inventors.  Lt. Commander Rupert T. Gould, R.N., was a former navigator and commander in the Royal Navy and restored the original chronometers held in the National Maritime Museum. Commander Gould combines an easy style with a deep understanding of technical matters and gives us a classic work unrivalled after almost eighty years.

Synopsis: Originally published in 1923, this is a facsimile edition of the definitive reference work on the Marine Chronometer, with seventy additional photographs. This revised edition, now with the author's later revisions and corrections, covers the chronometer's history from the earliest attempts to measure longitude while including detailed discussions and illustrations of the various mechanisms and their inventors. It is difficult to grasp, at first sight, the extraordinary fact that the first machines capable of performing the extraordinary feat of accurately determining a ship's longitude, were designed and made by an obscure Yorkshire carpenter, John Harrison (1693-1776). Harrison was entirely self-educated and never served a day's apprenticeship to any clock maker. The Marine Chronometer is not only the entirely absorbing story of John Harrison's marine timekeepers, which won him the reward of GBP20,000 offered by the British Government for any method of finding a ship's longitude within thirty geographical miles at the end of a six weeks' voyage, but also covers the inventions of such famous scientists and pioneers as Christian Huyghens (1629-95), Jeremy Thacker, Henry Sully and Leibniz. The book also recounts in detail the inventions of other professional clock makers such as Paul Ditisheim, J.G. Ulrich, Thomas Earnshaw, John Arnold, Ferdinand Berthoud, Thomas Mudge and Pierre Le Roy.  In my opinion, this is the best and most facinating book on the subject!  List Price $79.50.  Order now and save over 37%!:  Your price: $50.09.  Please note this book my be pre-ordered and is scheduled for release in August, 2006.  

Also check out Whitney's The Ship's Chronometer and La Mesure Du Temps En Mer et Les Horlogers Suisses books!

 

militarytimepiecesbook.jpg (43815 bytes)Military Timepieces, by Marvin Whitney, Published by the American Watchmaker's Institute. Hardcover. 667 pages. Price $75. Comprehensive work that covers domestic/foreign aircraft clocks, elapsed time clocks, Elgin/Hamilton chronometers, Chelsea marine/boat/deck clocks, Longines-Wittnauer Watch Company, marine clocks, message center clocks, meteorological instrument clocks, master navigation (GCT) watches, navigational stop watches, pocket watches, precision watches, wristwatches, diver's wristwatches, and more. Good technical information spread throughout. E-mail me directly to order this book. A super reference book! 

Miller's Clocks & Barometers; Buyers Guide, by Derek Roberts, Hardcover, 320 pages. Published by Antique Collectors Club, Publication date: May 1, 1997, Dimensions (in inches): 11.09 x 6.64 x .85. Our Price: $29.95. Handy and well illustrated pocket reference guide that you can take with you on your travels. Includes a nice checklist for marine chronometers.

Nautical Antiques: With Value Guide, by Robert W.D. Bal, Hardcover, Published by Schiffer Pub Ltd., Publication date: March, 1997. Our Price: $31.76 -- Save 21%.  Super reference work on this till now rather obscure subject.  Nice photographs and interesting information. A thorough and well done work.  Includes nice sections on marine chronometers and sextants.  Good reference at a great price!

Paul Ditisheim, Chronometrier, by Fritz von Osterhausen. 1st Edition Hardcover Published by Editions Simonin Publication date: 2003. French/German text with photocopy of 17 page article in English by Fortunat Mueller-Maerki.  A must read if you are interested in perhaps the finest watchmaker of the 20th Century.  Extensive documentation on the life of Paul Ditisheim, 135 pages with color/bw photos., serial number list, extensive performance records of individual pieces, etc.  Order now! Our Price: $85. E-mail me directly to order this book.

whitneyshipschonometer.jpg (63707 bytes)The Ship's Chronometer, by Marvin Whitney, Published by the American Watchmaker's Institute. Hardcover. 500 pages. Price $75  Authoritative work on the subject. Treats chronometers from the earliest days to Atomic clocks. Excellent first hand description of the development of the Hamilton chronometer during W.W.II (Whitney was a chronometer maker at the U.S. Naval Observatory). General discussion of the disassembly, cleaning, and oiling of a chronometer. List of chronometer makers in the United States. Numerous photos and diagrams throughout.  E-mail me to order this book.  In my opinion, the best book on the subject!  Also check out Whitney's Military Timepieces and La Mesure Du Temps En Mer et Les Horlogers Suisses books!

 

Technical Manual:  Air Navigation.   TM1-205. Published by the United States War Department Washington, November 25, 1940.  Prepared under direction of the Chief of the Air Corps.  This manual describes and illustrates various methods of air navigation used by pilots of the Army Air Corps just before W.W. II.  It contains 298 pages of illustrations, diagrams, maps, tables, and instruction!   Published just before American entry into W.W. II, this is the edition that was used to train many military pilots during W.W II.  Origianl used copy: very good condition with some very minor wear along top edges and binding. Price $30. E-mail me to order this book. Interesting reading and makes a great addition to a military/aviation collection/library.

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E-mail (easiest way to contact me): Chris Hooper: chris@chronometer.net or phone: 011 31 20 625 9708 (from 9AM to 5PM GCT).  

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Date last updated: 02/19/08