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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well explained and well illustrated. An excellent read., 19 Dec 1998
By A Customer
I have read many books on English clocks, but this one certainly filled a large gap by being the first one I have seen devoted to 30 hour clocks. The book covers various types of 30 hour clock, including lantern clocks, longcases ("grandfathers") and wall alarm clocks. I found the overall value of the book excellent, especially as the illustrations are of a high standard, allowing significant amounts of detail to be understood.The book admirably fulfils its subtitle, tracing the development of the 30 hour clock from about 1600 through to the almost mass produced country clocks of the early 1800's. The historical development is well explained, with the first short duration pendulum clocks made in the 1660's, the development of the London 30 hour clock and then the rise of the country or provincial 30 hour clock. It was good to find that weight driven wall alarm clocks (so often overlooked) are allocated their own separate section. The approach to the subject is centred on the clock movements and their dials. These are the parts of each clock actually made by the man who has his name on the dial, but I suspect the approach was also enforced because so many of the early 30 hour clocks in existence today have lost their original cases. Over 100 clocks are illustrated, including one of the earliest English lantern clocks still in existence. The vast majority of the clocks covered have not been seen in previous publications, which is another "plus" for anyone interested in this subject. Many clocks are illustrated in their "as found" condition. Clocks by several famous London makers are covered, including Simon Bartram, William Selwood, William Bowyer, Henry Jones, and of course Joseph Knibb and Thomas Tompion. There is also excellent coverage of country makers, whose work often shows a high degree of individuality. Some of the country makers included are Richard and Will Snow, Walter Archer, James Woolley, George Newton, Robert Apps, Jonas Barber, Samuel Deacon, James Delance, Richard How, Thomas Lister, Thomas Power and Richard Savage. In addition to illustrations of individual clocks, there are later chapters covering cases, dial features and movement characteristics, including information on more than one hundred different wheel trains. I am sure this book will be of interest to restorers and enthusiasts alike, and it has become one of my main reference works. For the enthusiast, there is also advice on what to look out for when buying and collecting 30 hour clocks.
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