bibliography

This bibliography, I consider a work in progress. The information available for instruction on engine turning can be somewhat difficult to find and I share here some works that I have found very helpful and I am hopeful others will find them helpful, as well. Also, any help in locating further writings and information to post here would be very gratefully appreciated.

Instructional

• George Daniels, Watchmaking, ISBN 978-0-85667-704-5-This book is superb on a number of levels. Written by a man who taught himself to make watches and came to be known as the worlds greatest living horologist, the discussion of engine turning is excellent. He was an autodidact in the field of engine turning, as well. At one time, this book was difficult to find and expensive when found second hand. A second edition was published last year and it is much more affordable now.  His discussions of cutting tools is excellent and his drawings and explanations are first rate. One can learn a great deal from this volume in all areas of small workshop machining. Mr. Daniels died October 21, 2011 and he is best known as the inventor of the coaxial escapement watch. A thorough discussion of this important innovation in watchmaking can be found in this book and the Wikipedia listing will give more links to those interested, including a living history interview that he gave to his student and protegé, fellow watchmaker, the notable Roger W. Smith. He was an amazing man.
• John Jacob Hotzapffel, The Principles & Practice of Ornamental or Complex Turning, ISBN 0-486-22965-3-The Holtzapffel  ornamental lathe and its chucks and components are considered forward thinking for their time and they were truly the prizes of kings and royals. Aside from designing and building these amazing machines, a number of books were written by them on all topics of mechanical manipulation, turning, and finishing of both wood and metal. The ornamental lathe is the “Patriarch” of the engine turning family and the rose engine was first designed as an accessory to be used with an ornamental lathe. The illustrations and descriptions of tool shapes, particularly those used for 3D work, provide the reader and user with a vocabulary that is easy to understand as it describes the them and helps allow for consistency in descriptions of turned articles.
• Martin Matthews, Engine Turning 1680-1980, ISBN 0 9508801 0 8-Mr. Matthews self published this book and it is very hard to find and has become quite expensive. He also has a video available on DVD entititled, Four Generations of Watchcase Making, and is available for sale on line in all video formats. A simple web search should enable it to be found easily. The book focuses on the Plant array of machines, but is most interesting as well because of its well written descriptions and illustrations of the following chucks:  Epicycloidal, Eccentric, James Wilcox’s Circloidal, John Holt Ibbetson’s Geometric Chuck and the marvelous William Hartley Compound Geometric Chuck. The marvelous story of the Hartley Chuck is told brilliantly and anyone interested will find it a delight. He lists a number of faults common to engine turning and suggestions for avoiding them. His section on guides and touches is also most informative, as is his take on the ever important tool sharpening. The video depicts Mr. Matthews fabricating a watch case in its entirety, spinning a sheet of silver, forming it, fabricating the hinge mechanism, and engine turning it, as well. In the video, he uses a number of antique machines, including a bow lathe.
• John Edwards, Holtzapffel VI, A Compendium of Rare or Previously Un-Published Material Related to Ornamental Turning. ISBN-13: 978-0957659407. This book is not specific to engine turning and guilloché, but focused more on ornamental turning, which many engine turners and guillocheurs also practice. It is rich with information previously unpublished and most edifying.

Inspirational

• Jean Yves Godechoux & Sophie de Bernis, Boites En Email Et Argent Guilloché, 1880-1930, ISBN 2859173188, This book contains excellent color photographs.
• James Miller, The Work Of A Master Goldmith, A Classic Collection, ISBN 978 0 7198 0102 0-Mr. Miller is an English goldsmith trained formally and was awarded his Freedom of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths when he completed his indentured apprenticeships. This book represents 40 years of work by Mr. Miller and his collaborators, who included engine turners in their numbers. The photographs of engine turned articles are simply splendid.
• John Traina, The Fabergé Case: From The Private Collection of John Traina,  ISBN 0-8109-3344-6
• Janet Zapeta, The Art of Zadora America’s Fabergé, ISBN 0-86565-201-5-The book contains excellent photos of modern engine turning and objets de vertu commissioned by Andreas Von-Zadora-Gerlof. Many of the pieces, including the impressive Four Seasons Clock were constructed with my mentor, Lew Wackler, as the work-master.