The Watch Repairer's Manual by Henry B. Fried.

Has anyone ever seen a copy of this book with spiral binding rather than the traditional perfect or library binding?

Nothing can make me crazy like trying to get instruction from a book that wants to flip closed during use.

Thanks Debbie, I sent an email to Echo Point Books and got this response which leaves me optimistic:

Hi Lorne, We’ve never done it in spiral but that’s something we’ll definitely take under consideration. Thanks for the input! Best, Sean

This is still in print. Amazon has them right now in both soft and hard cover.

(Oddly, I found my 1946 cc more useful for pocket watches! dca)

http://www.amazon.com/Watch-Re...tch+repairers+manual

So, David and Lorne, for someone who will eventually get into tearing a pocket watch apart, is this 1961 edition an essential library/reference book? And pocket watches only is all I'll ever get into so should I look for the older edition?

I'm sure there must be other books as well but thought I'd jump in on this topic with the question.

Thanks

I will leave that to Dave to answer.

I am in the same boat as you, going to buy the last edition and some better quality screwdrivers and start tearing… er, I mean delicately dismantling a watch.

I was hoping to find a spiral bound edition but have a hunch that could take a long time.

Lorne I think it should be possible to do.

You need a paperback book or a suitable donor hard back copy and guillotine the bound edge off.

Punch holes along the cut edge then obtain the spiral which I think is available in plastic and fit it to the holes.

You need have the use of a powerful guillotine and punch. We have them in the school where I used to work.

I'm sure we had the plastic binders as well.

I'll go in ASAP and see what could be done.

I'll keep you in touch and we may be able to sort something out.

Watch this space!

Ralph --

I'll take a stab at your question about 'essential library/reference watchmaking books' before Dave since I went all through this not so long ago. Just about everyone thinks Hank Fried's book is #1, and I don't think the edition is that important.

Then people have different opinions on other good reference and reading, but they are worth mentioning because they might state things a bit differently and therefore expand understanding.

The following are all vetted and recommended.

2) the U.S. War Department's TM9-1575.
3) Donald De Carle's Practical Watch Repairing
4) P. Buford Harris' Modern Watch & Clock Repairing
5) The Chicago School of Watchmaking Home Course
6) The Bulova School of Watchmaking course.

Not necessarily in that order.
You'll probably only require a few of them.

I'll let someone else talk about available videos. They can also be helpful.

kh

Hi Lorne, I've checked the possibilities.
The book can be easily cropped in one go and would be a good finish. If paperback, the front cover would be ok but the cover of a hard back would be no good as its so thick.
We only have the plastic binding but my experience of them is they are too flimsy for a thick book.
However why not use an A5 ring binder instead? I think that would be as good as a book, in fact probably better.
ABE Books have soft back used copies for sale @ $33 inc. shipping within the US.
Cheers, Mike

I totally concur with Ken Habeeb, and place the Chicago Watchmaker's school book which can be found loose bound at the top of my list for "beginners" to study and understand.

Second to that, the War Dept manual which covers both Elgin and Waltham 16s movements sort of like you would clean and reassemble an MI Garand . . .

Finally the Bulova School of Watchmaking is by far the finest training manual I have read and used, but in truth it needs about 1,000 hairsprings for "practice" to get down the the real "Nitty Gritty" of important content.

AFTER those, Fried is a decent "quick reference" when you know what you are looking for.