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by A.L.Rawlings
ISBN 0 950 9621 3 9
Third Edition 1994, Edited by Timothy and Amyra Treffry
394 pages, numerous diagrams, tables, graphs (no photographs)
Preface by George Daniels. Comprehensive Index.
Published by: The British Horological Institute, Upton Hall, Upton Newark, Notts NG23 5TE , United Kingdom,
Tel +44-636 813795 , Fax +44-636--812 258 (Credit card orders taken by fax or phone).
This book is undoubtedly the broadest and most comprehensive book in English on the theory and science
of watchmaking and clockmaking currently in print.
History
The first edition was produced 1944, the second slightly updated edition in 1948. The book quickly became
the standard textbook wherever professional watch and clockmaking was taught in academic instuitutions.
Mr. Rawlings died in 1959, and the book had been out of print for decades when the BHI embarked on a thorough
updating and revision (incorporationg new discoveries of the last decades in a distinguishing typeface).
The longtime editor of the BHI Horological Journal, Tim Treffry, coordinated the tasks, which involved
some of the most eminent horological scientists in the world. The resulting third edition was finally
published after much delay in 1994.
Content:
The book covers every aspect of the science and theory of timekeeping and making timekeepers. 18 Chapters.
Full of mathematical formulas on various aspects of the physical (mechanical) part of clock performace
and clock making, including the theory of the geometry of various clock components. Rawlings was a physicist
by training, although he spent most of his career with timekeeping devices.
Chapters deal with such issues as the elasticity of springs (both airsprings and mainsprings), harmonic
motion in a cycloidal path, the viscosity of clock oils, escapement errors, the theory of gear trains,
temperature compensation of pendulums, etc., to name but a few issues.
Evaluation:
This is a book every horologist must have who wants to understand (on a scientific) level what is happening
inside a clock. It is, however, a complete waste of time for the hands-on tinkerer who abhors mathematical
formulas and physics.
/ Clock Books / New Books
Information on this page supplied by Fortunat F. Mueller-Maerki (FMMatEZI@aol.com).
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