The Biblio File: Interview with Clock Book Collector Arthur Galwin by Nigel Beale

Arthur Galwin has collected clocks for more than 30 years. In so doing he has amassed an impressive reference library of books on the topic. Not driven to collect First Editions, Arthur’s primary motivation has been to cover the waterfront, to pull together as comprehensive a collection of books on clocks as can be found anywhere in the world.

During our conversation Arthur refers to the person who restored John Harrison’s extraordinary marine timekeepers. That person is Lt Cdr Rupert T. Gould. His story can be found in Time Restored: The Harrison timekeepers and R.T. Gould, the man who knew (almost) everything, by Jonathan Betts. Arthure also refers to a number of ‘classic’ book on clocks. The include: Old Clocks and Watches and their Makers, and The Watch and Clockmakers Handbook: Dictionary and Guide, both by F.J. Britten, English Domestic Clocks by Cescinsky and Webster, and French Clocks the World Over, by Tardy.

As for us non-technical types interested in this fascinating field Arthur recommends Revolution in Time: Clocks and the Making of the Modern World by David Landes.

Copyright © 2007 by Nigel Beale