Any member truly interested in watches, either for collecting or repairing. If you will just read the first 100 pages of the fat book you will be amazed at what you learn. Try just two pages a night. Do you know how the jewel count locations are arranged.
Even in a 7 jewel watch, where are the jewels placed? See page 74.

Sorry, new member to this site and pocket watches so I have to ask....what is the fat book?

Fat book is the price guide

Michael

Here is a link to the best Price Guide you can get.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/ihc185...rksid=p2047675.l2562

The best part is that it is from IHC185!

Regards,
Larry

The price guide is a worth while source of great info, from front to back.

The best reference I have come across.
Especially for someone new to the hobby and still on the learning curve.

Thanks to all for quick response! I do have this book just did not know its “nick name”. New to the lingo. As I have zeroed in on Illinois pocket watches I also bought the book by Bill Meggers Illinois Pocket Watches on CD ($15 from IHC Member Bill Selover "partimeart" on eBay great deal). Joined this group to hopefully continue my education and enjoyment of my new found hobby!.
Thanks again.

Michael,

Welcome to IHC185! You really need both types of books, the various brand name volumes like the Ehrhardt & Meggers Illinos "bible" for all the detailed grade & serial number info and the fat book for up to date price guidelines, as well as a wealth of interesting and useful horological info, as Patrick pointed out.

Michael,
Also the "Watch Makers Guide" by Fried is an indispensable volume of information.

OMG, we got another one hooked. Welcome to the club. Remember there is no such thing as a stupid question. Someone will learn something from it.....

Michael glad to have you on board. The book Pat mentioned is great and De Carles book on repairs is a great book also. I probably butchered the name but when you get a chance look for it.

Thanks for the info. I did get the book you mentioned Richard by Donald de Carle. The book you suggested Pat is a little high price for me right now but will put on my “wish list”. I bought an inexpensive movement to take part to see how these things tick, or at least get some first impressions. First I am going to review the first part of de Carle’s book but there is some info that is way to deep for me but still looks interesting. Right now I am at a very high level view. There are some good clips on youtube also that show some hands on work that really helps.
Thanks for welcoming me aboard and I look forward to the ride…..

Michael,
Welcome!

The Fried book is expensive, but it is worth it. Keep looking and you may find one for a little less. I found mine through Alibris I think for around $40 in good (not great) condition. Look's like they're going for a bit more now, but keep checking, as the prices vary quite a bit.

Alibris

Evan

Thanks Evan, you were right it was there for $40 and I bought it. Thanks to all for responding, my membership is paying dividends already!

Welcome Aboard Michael, This is great fun and has provided plenty of opportunity to practice patience and discipline. Focus Grass Hopper, focus. My wife seems to poke her head in to my study right when I have a delicate part in my tweezers causing me to turn away from my bench and somehow squeeze the tweezers just enough to launch the part across the room... which invariable leads to several minutes on my hands and knees with a flashlight.

Because the books tend to discuss a particular process or technique applicable to watches in general and because there are very few model specific technical manuals available... I have found it very helpful to take pictures throughout the process of breaking down a watch for maintenance.

Each brand and model has new advances in design... the orientation of the winding gears, the order of the wheels in the wheel train, the set levers and clutch springs in the winding and setting mechanisms... the winding direction of the main spring in the barrel, clockwise or counter clockwise...

As such, I have found it very helpful to take digital photo's of my movements before I start and then take a series of photos as the movement comes apart. As each "zone" or each "layer" comes apart, I stop and take a photo. Invariably, when I am going back together, I find myself with a clutch spring in my tweezers asking myself which side is up, does the loop go to the left or the right, which little post and hole do the loop and hook lay in... Being able to pull up my photo for that "layer" or "zone" takes all the guess work out of it. Things like, does the third wheel go above or below the fourth wheel, does the long shaft go up or down, pinion up or down... do the wheels go back E,4,3,2 or do they go back E,3,4,2

The other thing I've found (quite by accident) about the photos is that I see things in the photos I never notice with the naked eye... even under magnification. When I open a high resolution photo on my computer, suddenly I see a piece of lint laying on the escape wheel and always wonder how the heck it got there and how long has it been there.

Some of these guys have quite elaborate set ups... I've found that I can do most of the tear down and assembly work at an old secretary desk in my study with a nominal selection of tools... and a remote cleaning and polishing station in a corner of the garage.

Paul is right. Pictures are invaluable. I have pictures of every step I took as I dismantled it. As Paul said they will show things you never knew was there and jog your memory in the assembly process. When the watch is finished I store the pictures in a 4x6 file box for future reference. Just print them on an index card.

Excellent idea and as my other hobby is photography it fits right in. I can see how keeping a photo record is a must and a much larger digital image will be very helpful. One can add text , directional arrows and the like also as a good reminder. Thanks for the advice Paul and Pat.