Books on watchmaking?

[Phrooq]

This is my first look at this section of the forum, and although I am very interested in watchmaking I want to do a little more research.

Could anyone recommend some good books and web-sites on watchmaking. I tried searching on Amazon and came up with books on watch collecting rather than watch making.

Thanks

[JohnF]

Hi -

The only ones I know of are in German, which unless you can read it makes them kind of worthless. :-S

Not sure of anything else, though: I seem to remember that there are some books out there on watch repair, which may well give you significantly more information that doesn't require a high level of technical knowledge to get through (like a BA in Mechanical Engineering!). The German language books I have cover the fundamental physics of watches and the implication for calibre design as part of the technical education for apprentice watch makers during their technical training, as well as materials and the like, and the math is not trivial. Not that hard, but it's not trivial.

The watchmaking books that I use the most are watch repair books, more of the hands-on "let's take this one apart and see how it works" kind of practical book. I've got two: one is an old field manual for US watches from 1945, the other is a re-issue of a classic troubleshooting guide written by a master watchmaker with 50+ years of experience in figuring out why a watch doesn't work or why it isn't keeping time. But it's in German...

JohnF

PS: and no, I'm not going to translate it. :-)

[marc_wl]

This is my first look at this section of the forum, and although I am very interested in watchmaking I want to do a little more research.

Could anyone recommend some good books and web-sites on watchmaking. I tried searching on Amazon and came up with books on watch collecting rather than watch making.

Thanks

Hi,

I bought this book (ca 60 Euros) in the Espace Horloger museum (http://www.espacehorloger.ch/index.html) store during my visit (http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=23512)of Vallée de Joux in august. It exists in French, English and German. It's a clear course of every aspects of horology of watches and some clocks. Nicely illustrated in colors, pictures and schemes. I like it very much.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c337/marcwl/theo.jpg


The horlogerie-suisse web site (http://www.horlogerie-suisse.com/vente/livres.html) has a selection of books in English and it has been my starting source of infos about watchmaking in the technical sections |>

[rfrazier]

These are the ones I currently have. I want more. ;)

Donald de Carle: Practical Watch Repairing, The Watchmaker's and Model Engineer's Lathe, and Practical Watch Adjusting.

Henry Fried: The Watch Repairer's Manual, Bench Practices for Watch and Clockmakers, and The Escapement.

Per Torphammar: Amateur Watchmaking.

Bestfit Catalogue (good technical information on such things as crowns, by Henry Fried.)

I've no books on complications. But, I'm looking.

I use them all. It helps to have the same thing explained from a couple of points of view.

Best wishes,
Bob

[Brian B]

I went to my local library and was able to check out "Complicated Watches and their repair" by Donald de Carle, F.B.H.I.

I once was asking for a book at my local library and they didn't have it but they said they had a certain amount of annual funds to buy books to add to their collection for tax-paying folk like us... if your library doesn't have it, see if they can acquire it so you can check it out for free! It's great to know we all have a collection of millions of books at our fingertips at our local library.

I'm all about saving a buck here and there. If I really love and get into this hobby/2nd career I'll end up buying the books myself later for my own collection.

Good luck!
Brian

[Henry Hatem]

Hi group –

There are some knowledgeable folks on the list!
All the books Decarle, Fried, etc. mentioned are good.

Try to focus on what you want out of the book - general reading, historical or practice? This will help you get the right books

Teaching the WOSTEP curriculum we used the Theory of Horology textbook. It is very good but is intended to be used in conjunction with teaching. The book of course could be used without but it really is the theory behind the exercises we had students perform. The book does not cover exercises - just theory. It has great diagrams and even introduction to complications as well s other general information like how they make jewels tribology etc.

Two of the best books for complications are:
Complicated watches by Emanuel Seibel & Orville R. Haagans
A guide to complicated watches by Francois LeCoultre

Do not overlook another author Henry Jendritzki has 3 plus books mostly out of print on watchmaking, very practical and very solid information. There is currently a reprint of Jendritzki's Watch adjustment available from the two sellers below.

Last but not least is the Joseph Bulova School of Watchmaking training manual. Older text book but clear concise descriptions and the information is still valid today.

Two places to search for these books is the AWCI web site
www.AWCI.com (http://www.awci.com/)

And one of the finest minds and book sellers in horology
http://www.booksimonin.ch (http://www.booksimonin.ch/)
Please let them know I sent you. I have no financial interest in either.

[karmatooburn]

Funny that I have just started collecting books myself and started a thread in the Public Forum. Here is a link to that thread for whats its worth.
http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=30303

[rfrazier]

Thanks for the suggestions on books for complications, Henry.

One I recently got was the lastest edition of Britten's Watch & Clock Maker's Handbook. This is packed full of goodies, even if the information is extremely compressed.

Best wishes,
Bob

[JohnF]

Hi -

I've got a copy of one of the Jendritzki books (the repair one) and all I can say is highly recommended. Massive amount of material there...

JohnF

[Henry Hatem]

Brittens is a good source