Hello everyone;

Ok, Here's the latest installment of the database with all your ssuggestions added.

Keep the ideas coming lads, (and ladies) and we'll get it finished real soon I think.

That's nice of you Bud. I do have a few suggestions for things to add.

Type of winding (key or pendant), type of setting (key, pin, lever or pendant), type of dial numerals (Arabic or Roman), dial material, plate material, case material.

That's great, thank you Edward. I'll find a spot for those and come back with it again.

Can you tell me from what materials dials are made?

Also plate material?

Thanks

Bud

Ed,

Wind Type is there
Setting Type is there
Dial Material is there
Plate Material is there
Case Material is there

Bud, how is the search going to work is there a drop down window or something...?

As I understand this, the form you show will be to input data only...?

You may be able to remove the 'shipping cost' input and just leave it at 'cost of watch' & 'total cost' the difference is the additional costs involved in obtaining the watch.

Looks interesting....thanks for your efforts....

One last question, How does the search engine work...? Do you also need to put in a 'Submit' button...? One to click after you input the info....

Regards,

Jerry

Bud another option would be to link an item in the database to any pictures that you might have taken of the watch. Obviously one would have space on your hard drive for the pictures but that would be a nice option. The other option would be to enter Watch companies of your choice of pre-enter the watch companies and select them via drop downs. Also on some items you could have drop downs as defaults, in areas like size, jewels, setting type.

Internet databases are wonderful assets to collectors. Most of my watches are Elgins and a big reason for that is it is so easy to find basic information through the Elgin website:

http://elginwatches.org/databases/elgin_sn_intro.html

I wish there were similar comprehensive databases for other makes. Such databases (I know there is one for Schwinn bicycles, and I'm sure there are many others) are a boon to collectors. I'm sure the availability of information attracts collectors, such as myself, and greatly benefits the hobby. I encourage your efforts.

That having been said, assembling such a database would be a monumental project unless the information is already available in some useable form. Researching and entering the data, especially for manufacturers who's factory records vanished a century ago, will be a huge project and time consuming, probably too big for one person to handle.

Perhaps you could set up the basic framework or format of the site and invite others to fill in the blanks where they have the knowledge, Wiki-style. This forum has a large number of members who might be willing to help, at least in certain areas. I know, for example, one member is an avid South Bend collector and he might be able to contribute information on that make.

The members of this forum have a wealth of knowledge. If that knowledge could be brought together in one place and made available to all collectors, it would greatly benefit the hobby. My own statistical knowledge is limited but I would be happy to do some leg work, research, or data entry to contribute to the project in some way.

I think a centralized watch collectors' internet database is a wonderful idea. Let's do it!

Yeah... uh.

Well, Waltham an South Bend are on the web also.

Bud,

Dials are made from porcelain enamel, metal or melamine.

In addition to those that Frank listed, there's also, Hampden, Rockford, Illinois & Hamilton....
None are great like Wayne's Elgin site but one can at least get some info from them and the Illinois site has a high cost involved to get any info....I would never use it....

Regards,

Jerry

Hi Jerry;

Ok, the database will work like this. The entry screen is of course the place where you input data, and so, it's nothing more than a database for your particular watches. The search engine is very diverse and most (if not all) of the fields can be indexed. You can search the database for any combination you like. For example, let's say you have 100 watches. all different makes, models, serial numbers, movement sizes etc. etc. etc. You know what I mean.

THE SEARCH
Let's say (after you've input all of the data for your personal collection), you would like to search your database for all of your 18s Elgin gilded that cost you more than $100. All you have to do is click on the Search Again button at the top there and a blank screen will come up. You click on each of the fields that you want that certain information from and hit ENTER and Voila!! your search is complete and presented to you on another screen. You can then print that information in a pre-prepared format either on the screen or as a hard copy.

DROP DOWN WINDOWS
As you're entering data, some of the fields will have drop down menus from which to select the option you want. That being said, some items such as case size I would recommend that it NOT be a drop down window because it's only two characters and would be seasier to yype it in that select it from a drop down window. Fields such as the maker, wind type setting type et. would be a drop down option.

COST and TOTAL COST FIELDS
I would recommend keeping both these fields for data because it gives you the option to include the cost of shipping in your total cost or just leave it out. Or, as you suggested, just add it to the cost before the data is entered into the database.

Claude, you mentioned that photos would be a nice option.

PHOTOS
The database can give you the option to include any photo you want. Either a single photo as a representative of that particular watch or a quantity of photos. Either way is possible.


Christopher. You were speaking about a different sort of database I think. This wasn't to accommodate all the watch information I could possibly find, but to provide a collector with a database that was suited only to watch collecting. Although what you're proposing would be a great idea, but I just don't have enough years left in me to complete such a venture.

I hope this addresses some of your concerns gentlemen, and I'll go and work a little more on it and get back to you shortly with all your suggested improvements.

Regards

Bud

quote:

In addition to those that Frank listed, there's also, Hampden, Rockford, Illinois & Hamilton....
None are great like Wayne's Elgin site but one can at least get some info from them and the Illinois site has a high cost involved to get any info....I would never use it....

There's online datatbases for Rockfords, Hampdens, Illinois and Hamilton? I must have been too busy playing with my cat to notice.

I guess, don't know what you do in your spare time, Bud....

They are on the 'Dark Side'....that is as far as I can go here....

Regards,

Jerry

I try to do mine with an Excel sheet but from the latest version posted I would say this is 100x better and great to store on a flash drive for insurance purposes and such.

I agree Claude, this could be a really nice way to store info for ones watch collection, especially if you are just starting your collection....

However, if one has a large inventory of watches it would be very time consuming to put one's inventory into this format....for a newcomer this would work perfect though....

I have mine in individual folders located in My Pictures section of the computer and I also backup My Pictures to Flash Drive each week-end.... and you are correct, this is done mainly for insurance purposes....

Bud:

One thing I'll add to the one in your example above, the code for that s/n is "o3n15l" that watch shown is not a Hunter.... But you have done a super job with your layout and it really looks like it will work....

Regards,

Jerry

Bud,

Nice idea and looking great. In addition to Ed’s suggestion on case material some suggestions are case manufacture or markings, case model or style, and case serial #. I hope that’s not too much, if so perhaps case characteristics would cover it?

RR

Thanks Jerry, and you're right. It is 03n151 with 19 jewels not 17

Sure appreciate you catching these. When I first started this I wasn't indexing them and every time I hit "next data entry" it was shuffling the code for that field. Glad we caught it in time.

Bud

quote:

One thing I'll add to the one in your example above, the code for that s/n is "o3n15l" that watch shown is not a Hunter.... But you have done a super job with your layout and it really looks like it will work....

Hi Richard;

No not at all. I'll add it in if you think it's important information to have access to.

Bud

Nice idea and looking great. In addition to Ed’s suggestion on case material some suggestions are case manufacture or markings, case model or style, and case serial #. I hope that’s not too much, if so perhaps case characteristics would cover it?

Good evening gentlemen;

I think when I've had a good look at this, I'd like to have someone beta test it for a while. Maybe two or three of our members would be interested in doing that. If so, please let me know and I'll complie it and send you a copy.

It's a great way to get more and better ideas for the database.

Thank you all for your kind and thoughtful replies.

Bud

Bud I alpha/beta test some of our company software so if you are willing to email it to me I would be more than will to help. Are there any other software needed like framework.net or C+++ distributials?

Bud,

I would be willing to test this also.

I've been collecting watches for less than 3 years, but one of the first things I did was set up a database for any watches I would buy. Being that I am a Mac guy, my choice for setting up my database was FileMaker Pro. It is a very easy program, allows for creating a custom format, allows for drop-down menus for each field, and has great "search" capabilities. I am by no means a FileMaker Pro "power user," but I still remembered just enough from my working years to set this up for my watch collecting. One of the big uses is to check for a sequential serial number in my collection when a particular watch pops up on eBay. For example, if a 16s Getty-style Stewart Special shows up, I'll do a quick search. I can quickly go through my Getty Stewarts in my "Found List" and determine if I've struck gold (by the way, the closest I've come is two numbers apart...gotta keep up the hunt ). Attached is a screen shot of one of the pages in my database. In the photo, you can see one of my drop down menus. This definitely saves me a lot of typing and also provides consistency for the entries. As I tab from field to field, the menus automatically drop down. It has been a great system and I would highly recommend FileMaker. For years, now, it has also been available for PC uses. I believe it can also import data from Excel, etc. Check it out.

That looks cool Bruce. I've got an iMac myself so that will be a good option for me if Bud's creation only works on Windows-based computers.

A quick check came back with $229 for that software. Do you know any place I can get it for less?

Ed, after I left work 8 years ago I no longer had access to FileMaker Pro. Because I only needed it for my watch database, I went on eBay and bought an older version really cheap. I just had to make sure the version I bought would be compatible with an Intel-based iMac. The software was just a disk in a padded envelope and I have to use the user's manual online if I run into a problem trying to figure something out. For photos, I just store them in my "Pictures" folder. When you click on the photo field in your layout it asks you if you would like to insert a picture and in another window my "Pictures" file appears. I just choose the photo I want and it pops into the picture field in my database page. Check it out. I think you'll like it.

Hi Bruce;

Isn't that funny? It's Filemaker Pro that I used to create this database as well. I guess great minds think alike.

The only trouble with Filemaker Pro is that at $700. or $800. it's out of reach for many younger players.

Thanks for showing your Bruce.

Would you care to trade raw codes just for comparison?

Bud

Thanks Claude & Roger. As soon as it's up and running correctly I'll send it off to you both.

I'll get an address then.

thanks

Bud

Bud, as mentioned in my last post, I bought my current FileMaker Pro off eBay so I could get a cheap older version. I think I paid around $85. Still works fine for a "non-power-user" like myself. What is neat is seeing the wide variations in the look coming from two different users. The ability to customize is limitless. By the way, the reason mine isn't too colorful is so I can save a little ink if I have to print out a record. Concerning raw codes, I wouldn't know a raw code from a cooked code if I fell over it Nice job you are doing....very attractive!

Bud,
I was wondering how this project is going? If you need another person to beta test it I'll volunteer.
RR

This looks like a good idea, and while from what I am reading it is a Windows application and wouldnt work for Linux users like myself. It has given me some ideas for a php/mysql version that I could run on my media center server, or make use of an old domain I have tghc.org.

Just a quick note to you Ed but you don't actually need to buy the software. We can create a run time version of the database so that it will run on your computer without the need for the mother sofware.

Bud