This beautiful book relates the incredible story of how leading clockmakers, primarily of England, struggled to control accurate timekeeping for over 300 years. A remarkably thorough yet concise text, by several of today's leading horologists, is accompanied by nearly 1,000 photographs of clocks, which demonstrate each fascinating development. From museums of international significance, as well as private collections worldwide, the best examples of each new invention to establish accurate time-keepers is illustrated and recorded here. Chapters are devoted to the Royal Observatory at Greenwich...

"The longcase clock has been a part of the Englishman's home for some 300 years and has gained a place in his heart seldom if every achieved by any other domestic item. An example of its importance in family life is that it, with the bed and the house, was nearly always mentioned specifically in the will." In Derek Roberts's important new book, readers find a wealth of valuable information detailing the British origins, evolution, and wide range of longcase clocks that have been produced since the sixteenth century. In twenty chapters Mr. Roberts provides a detailed overview of many facets of...

Since the 13th century, a few special public clocks have included the movement of the sun, moon, earth and other planets, and from those early days Jacks were devised as human figures which actually "struck" the hours. Soon thereafter, automata appeared as mechanical figures that performed many and various acts, such as the four knights on horseback who joust on the hour at the Wells Cathedral in England. Over 300 clocks, for buildings or tabletops, which do far more than tell time, are presented here with concise historical explanations, detailed drawings, and clear color photography. 22...

This beautiful book presents the fascinating developments in precision time keeping in England from 1720 through the 18th and 19th centuries. The work of well-known 18th century horologists, Shelton, Ellicott, Arnold, Cumming, Earnshaw and the Vulliamys, Reid and Hardy and others are included. Their technical advances in precision pendulum clocks are documented along with the evolution of the cases they were housed in, from the early Georgian style to the classic Victorian dome-topped regulators. Over 700 color and black and white photographs and illustrations document these historically...

This long-awaited volume chronicles the horological work carried out in France, Germany, and North America and completes the fascinating history of precision timekeeping in recent time. In France, renowned clockmakers include the Berthouds, the Lepautes, Robin, Janvier, Lepine, LeRoy and Leroy, Bourdier, Jacot and Jarossay. In Germany the primary emphasis is on Riefler, Strasser, and Rohde, but the works of other important makers are also considered. America's contribution to precision timekeeping is chronicled including the works of Seth Thomas, Charles Fasoldt, William Bond and Son Co., E....

The skeleton clock probably is the most fascinating of all clocks. It displays, by means of its fretted-out frame and lack of any protective case other than a glass dome, its inner-most workings. Therefore, this type of clock attracted the attention of some of the finest makers, particularly those working in France from circa 1760-1860 as it enabled them to display their skills so completely. It was for the same reason that it was popular with their wealthy clients, who could show off their latest acquisitions so perfectly. A typical example of this is an amazing clock made by Sarton for the...

The beauty of carriage clocks and their accompanying cases is an integral part of their design, but one aspect-their intricate movements-also displays solutions to mechanical problems that only the genius designer could solve. In this major new work by an expert clock historian and restorer, the reader will find over 400 exquisite color and 285 black-and-white photographs of hundreds of traveling clocks, as well as the explanations of all the major designers' work from the 17th century forward. Special chapters present the work of noted clockmakers Breguet, Garnier, Vulliamy, Cole, Frodsham,...

Step into the private world of Derek Roberts, an eminent antique clock dealer since the 1960s to the present who has written eight books covering many aspects of the subject. Revisit an era when clocks, and antiques in general, were plentiful and modestly priced and compare with today, when good examples are difficult to find and higher priced. Clear advice is given on buying and selling clocks, including buying, researching, restoring, and conserving, and then documenting them prior to sale. Pitfalls are discussed, with examples of problems that may be encountered and mistakes made, some of...

The Witching Hour is a story of a young teenage witch finding herself and love in a world where witches are burned