New Books

McEvoy (R.) & Betts (J.) editors: Harrison Decoded - Towards a Perfect Pendulum Clock
NEW. 183 pages, 82 illustrations, 2020. A thorough study of Harrison's pendulum clockmaking from a practical perspective and the story of around forty years of collaborative research into John Harrison's complex and surprising pendulum clock theory. An unofficial test of Martin Burgess's 'Clock B' at the Royal Observatory, made from modern materials and following the perceived format laid out in Harrison's convoluted text 'Concerning such mechanism ...', showed exceptional timekeeping and proved that Harrisons ideas were sound. With dust jacket. (Ref: N5026)  in stock.

McKay (C.): J. Smith & Sons of Clerkenwell - Facsimiles
NEW. 72 pages, illustrated, 2001. Advertising material and catalogues, dating from 1880 and circa 1910, showing Smith's products are reproduced in facsimile, as well as a Victorian article about the firm from The Illustrated London News. The material covers all kinds of English clocks. Card covers. (Ref: N531)  in stock.

Mennim (E.): Transit Circle: The Story of William Simms 1793 - 1860
NEW. 303 pages, illus., no date. A biography of William Simms senior who entered into partnership with Edward Troughton in 1826. Troughton & Simms made all kinds of scientific instruments but are best remembered for their optical instruments which were sold to observatories around the world. Soft covers. (Ref: N399)  in stock.

Miles (R.H.A.) (Translator): The Bulle-Clock of Favre-Bulle, a Practical Manual
O/P. 55 pages, illus., reprinted 2012. An English translation of a practical manual published by Favre-Bulle circa 1929. The book describes the design principles of the Bulle electric clock and the practical aspects of checking, testing and adjusting the movement and the electrical circuit. If you have the clock, you need the book! Soft covers. (Ref: N213)  in stock.

Miles (R.H.A.) & Ridout (M.): Brillié Electric Clocks
NEW. [98 pages], illustrated, 2007. This book published by the AHS's Electrical Horology Group is an English translation of several original French product catalogues, installation and set up notes, and a fault-finding guide. The catalogues cover a wide range of Brillié clocks and the notes on operation, installation and fault finding will be of use to restorers. Soft covers. (Ref: N1427)  in stock.

Miles (R.H.A.): Synchronome - Masters of Electrical Timekeeping
NEW. 274 pages, over 300 illustrations, revised 2nd edition, reprinted 2021. The book contains a small number of revisions and corrections to the first edition which was published in 2011. A well researched and comprehensive work on the Synchronome company, their master clock in all its forms and variants, and their slave dials and ancillary equipment. The book also has chapters on the development of the precision clock by William Hamilton Shortt with a list of all known Shortt clocks, the detail of their order-book specification, original location and subsequent history where known. The book is the standard reference work on Synchronome and Shortt - Synchronome clocks. With dust jacket. (Ref: N5167)  in stock.

Millburn (J.R.): Adams of Fleet Street - Instrument Makers to King George III
NEW. 420 pages, illustrated, 2000. An excellent study of the scientific instrument business founded by George Adams in 1734 and continued by his sons George junior and Dudley until 1817. Adams made some of the finest instruments of the 18th century and wrote several technical books. This book reproduces several catalogues by Adams and has a detailed list of publications by the family. With dust jacket. (Ref: N1373)  in stock.

Moore (D.S.) & Priestley (P.T.): Some Account of Liverpool Watch Case Makers 1785 - 1798
NEW. [13 pages], 3 figs., 1997. Useful information about Liverpool watch case makers and their marks, first published in Antiquarian Horology. Card covers. (Ref: N1357)  in stock.

Negretti & Zambra: A Treatise on Meteorological Instruments
NEW. 176 pages, reprint of a book first published in 1864. A detailed work describing the principles and construction of barometers, hygrometers, rain guages, anemometers, ozonometers and other meteorological instruments. Paperback. (Ref: N224)  in stock.

Niehüser (E.): French Bronze Clocks, 1700 - 1830 - A Study of Figural Images
NEW. 267 pages, well illustrated in colour and black and white, 1999. An interesting book showing clocks with bronze figures, with the symbolism of each one explained - Gods, Heroes and Muses, Cupid and Venus, Noble Savages and Genre Scenes. The book also has a directory of 1365 documented French bronze clocks with references to the literature where more information can be found. A very useful book if you want to research your clock. With dust jacket. (Ref: N397)  in stock.

Ogle (V.): The Global Transformation of Time: 1870-1950
NEW. 260 pages, 2015. Improvements in communications and speed of travel in the late 19th and early 20th centuries meant that previously small discrepancies in local time-telling became a global problem. This book chronicles the struggle to standardize clock times and calendars and to establish international standards. With dust jacket. (Ref: N4172)  in stock.

Ohlson (O.): Helpful information for Watchmakers
NEW. 95 pages, illus., the 2000 reprint of a book first published circa 1910. An interesting booklet published by the Waltham Watch Company to assist repairers of Waltham watches. Card covers. (Ref: N1186)  in stock.

Ortenburger (R.): Black Forest Clocks
NEW. 268 pages, illustrated, 1991. An excellent book covering the development of clocks made in the Black Forest over 300 years, illustrated with over 600 different examples. With dust jacket. (Ref: N232)  in stock.

Ovens (R.) & Sleath (S.): Time in Rutland - a History and Gazeteer of the Bells, Scratch Dials, Sundials and Clocks of Rutland
NEW. 400 pages, illustrated, 2002. A very comprehensive book, with a wealth of information for horologists and campanologists, about England's smallest county. The book has a gazeteer of all bells, sundials and turret clocks known to be in Rutland and a biographical listing of all Rutland clockmakers plus notes on clockmakers from outside the county who made clocks which are now located in the county. A useful section is devoted to information about British bell founders who supplied bells to Rutland - this information is not easily available elsewhere. A good book which deserves a place on your bookshelf. With dust jacket. (Ref: N234)  in stock.

Pearson (M.): Kent Clocks and Clockmakers
NEW. 320 pages, illus., 1997. A comprehensive account of over 1200 clockmakers from the earliest period until the late 19th century. This edition is limited to 1000 numbered copies. Another useful regional title. With dust jacket. (Ref: N241)  in stock.

Penney (D.): Box-Chronometers, c.1750 - 1980: an historical overview of English Work
NEW. 24 pages, illustrated, 2023. Profile No 5 in a series of booklets by well-known horologist David Penney. While much has been written about the technology of chronometers, this overview is an attempt to place these timekeepers into a proper context, one that better explains their invention, the business of their manufacture, and their subsequent development. Card covers. (Ref: N5199)  in stock.

Penney (D.): Enamel Watch Dials: A Celebration of English Work
NEW. 24 pages, illustrated, 2022. Profile No 3 in a series of booklets by David Penney. The manufacture and use of vitreous enamel dials on English pocket watches started in the late 17th century and became the norm in the 18th century. This book describes the production methods and the changing designs from 1725 to 1930 and mentions the makers - the Willis family, Mathews, Weston, Marnham and Clarke. Card covers. (Ref: N5183)  in stock.

Penney (D.): English Wristwatches: The Untold Story
NEW. 24 pages, illustrated, 2021. Profile No 2 in a series of booklets by David Penney. A very good account of the early history of the development of the wristwatch, starting with leather converters to hold a small fob watch, followed by watches with added lugs to take a one-piece strap, then the wristwatch more or less as we know it today. The wristwatch concept was invented in England in the 1870's and this book includes watches by Rotherhams, Nicole Nielson, J. W. Benson, W. H. Williamson and the Lancashire Watch Company (LW Co watches were cased up for the wrist after the firm went bankrupt in 1910). Card covers. (Ref: N5164)  in stock.

Penney (D.): Mail Guards' Watches: As used on Mail Coaches and early Railways
NEW. 24 pages, well illustrated, 2025. The latest book in a series of Horological Profiles by well-known horologist David Penney. A brief history of the British Post Office's mail coaches and the strong, durably cased watch movements, often of several day's duration, as needed on some of the longer routes. Official post was first carried in mail coaches in 1784 and continued until the business transferred to the railways in the 1830's and 1840's. A useful contribution on a little known subject that is becoming very collectable. Card covers. (Ref: N5243)  in stock.

Penney (D.): Morton's Patent Watches
NEW. 24 pages, well illustrated, revised and corrected edition, 2022. The first book in a series of Horological Profiles by well-known horologist David Penney. The book features the rare English watches with the single-impulse detached escapement patented by George Morton in 1856. The watches were retailed as Morton's Patent, Morton's Patent Improved, Patent Chronometer, London Patent Chronometer, and Patent Union Chronometer. 15 watches are described in detail with excellent colour photographs of each and line drawings of several escapement variations. A listing of known watch serial numbers is given together with the case hallmark, enabling these watches to be dated. Essential reading for owners, dealers and enthusiasts as this information is not available elsewhere. Card covers. (Ref: N4557)  in stock.