 |
Antique Clock Books
Having said that, I own all of the books that I have reviewed below and as such it is only my opinion. Take a dozen people and they will all come up with a different list, so treat this as only a guide. If you have very specific requirements then you may have to dig a little deeper to find the specific antique clock book that you're after. A good money saving tip I use is to search on eBay first. I have found many great books on eBay and at prices much cheaper than most book shops. Clocks being a more specialist area, you may have to do a bit more searching but hopefully you will find what you are after. (Scroll down for what books are for sale on eBay right now) Good reading!
The Standard Antique Clock Value Guide by Alex Wescot - Published by Collector Books (October 2002) - Paperback 224 pages.This antique clock book features clocks from the period 1870 to 1930. I find it a particularly useful addition to my library because it deals with clocks that are more commonly found throughout the United States. As such most of the clocks featured are affordable by the collector and include fine clock makers such as Ansonia, Seth Thomas, Ingraham, New Haven and Waterbury to name a few. As a guide I find this book invaluable and would recommend anyone interested in antique clocks from the late 19th to early 20th Centuries to get hold of a copy.
This book is full of photographs of shelf, novelty, wall and grandfather clocks, in fact there are over 1000 full color photographs. As well as including valuations of the featured clocks there are detailed histories of the major antique clock making factories. Each clock is categorized by type which makes navigating the book a very user friendly experience. As an addition to the book reviewed above this would prove invaluable to the antique clock collector. Make sure you get the 2nd edition, not the earlier 2001 edition.
Eric Bruton is a well known watch and clock expert and this book shows why. Packed full of illustrations the dictionary explains clearly and concisely all the terms and phrases you could ever want explaining. It has over 2000 entries and in my humble opinion is an indispensable book that everyone should have in their collection. This book does much more than just give technical explanations of all those strange terms associated with the field of horology, it also gives an insight into the history of time and the people who made all these technical marvels possible. Highly Recommended.
For the complete novice to clock repair you may wish to buy a book that is considered easier to understand, like:
This is an excellent antique clock book for the novice as an introduction to clock repair. Assuming no prior knowledge it runs through the complete repair sequence including sections on lubrication, striking and chiming mechanisms, electric, spring driven, cuckoo and 400-day clocks. This presents more like a manual but don't be put off, this is an excellent book. I know that some colleges use this book as part of their course and therefore for beginners this is highly recommended. Do you know a really good book? Please let me know! Happy Collecting!
Below is a list of current US & UK eBay auctions of Antique Clock Books.
* all articles on auction courtesy of eBay ** links open a new window at eBay with product details. US Auctions Top
|
Encyclopedia of Antique American Clocks by Robert W. & Harriett Swedberg - Published by Krause Publications (2004 Second Edition) - Paperback 367 pages. 
The Collector's Dictionary of Clocks and Watches by Eric Bruton - Published in 2006 by Robert Hale Ltd - Paperback 
The Clock Repairer's Handbook by Laurie Penman - David & Charles Publishers; Revised edition (December 1994) - 176 pages - Hardback or Paperback
Whatever you need to know about repairing or even finding a fault with a clock mechanism will be found in this book. However, this book is probably a little advanced for the absolute beginner and does tend to assume a certain degree of knowledge of technical terms, many of which do differ from the American terms. If you have a reasonable knowledge then you will find this book very useful. 
Clock Repair Basics by Steven G. Conover - Clockmakers Newsletter; Spiral edition (September 1996) - 92 pages 
