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Seth Thomas
Clocks and Movements
by
Tran Duy Ly
ISBN 093016394X
Third
Edition, Volume 1
Published 2004 by
Arlington Books
1421 Brummel St - Evanston, Illinois 60202-3705 USA
Phone:
847-532-9849 - Fax:
888-225-2369
Email:
crunruh@comcast.net
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Seth Thomas Clocks
& Movements is a 2 Volume set. Please note there are no duplication of
clocks from Volume 1
to Volume 2. Volume
1 from pages 1 - 576, with 1,888
quality
illustrations and photographs. Volume
2 from pages 577 - 1,152, with 1,717 quality
illustrations and photographs.
8 1/2 x 11 - Smyth sewn
hardbound in white gloss enamel text, with 2005
Price Up-date, $79.50. (Special Price $47.70)
All
clock illustrations from 1st and 2nd editions are
now in 3rd Edition - Volume 1 and Volume 2.
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Review by David
Warner FNAWCC - Ballwin,
MO
It was no surprise when Mr. Tran Duy Ly
published his first edition of Seth Thomas Clocks and
Movements it received stunning reviews! The book was greatly
commended for many reasons, none more important than being
the first real comprehensive guide to the identification and
values of most Seth Thomas clocks manufactured during the
firm’s first century of production since 1810. Prior to the
publication of Mr. Ly’s guide, collectors everywhere often
consumed more time examining a myriad of individual clock
catalogs than the clock itself. Tran Duy Ly, in one
innovative volume, eliminated that problem for Seth Thomas
collectors by exhaustively extracting a complete collection
of the best catalog representations of the clockmaker’s
finest examples and placed them in his guide. The pages of
his Seth Thomas Clocks and Movements contain refreshing,
exact reproductions of Seth Thomas clocks as found in
original catalogs. Also, the arrangement of clocks are
logical and indexed for ease of use, reflecting the author's
own insight as a highly knowledgeable and respected
collector. Subsequently, the collector’s ability to quickly
identify a clock and determine its originality and value has
been improved immensely by Mr. Ly’s work.
Tran Duy Ly is without doubt the leader in
Horological Reference Books and price guide information!
This book includes his proven and time tested methodology in
the section "Important Tips," and conveys a wisdom
above and beyond the advice of a true expert! This section
is a staple in all of his publications, simply because it
provides sound advice for collectors from novice to
experienced, as well as dealers, restorers,
conservationists, and preservationists! The section also
shares the life experience of Mr. Tran Duy Ly; his
instruction, his experience of buying and selling,
collecting and investing, speculation and auctioneering. The
savvy that is revealed extensively in understanding the
factors that establish the price and value of clocks,
including the finer points of grading, is like having Mr
Tran Duy Ly with you as you examine and discover,
objectively, Seth Thomas Clocks. Mr. Ly's expertise in Seth
Thomas clocks is undeniable.
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INTRODUCTION By Richard W. Oliver,
Jr. "The Clock Guy"
It’s Finally Here! When we opened our
draft copy of Tran Duy Ly’s Third Edition of Seth Thomas
Clocks and Movements, Volume 1, 3rd edition, it was instantly
clear he had another best-seller on his hands and that we were
going to see some clocks we’d not seen before. With the
value of Seth Thomas clocks increasing more rapidly than any
other maker in the past several years, this book is a
mandatory investment for all serious American clock
collectors.
Our Second Edition copy is the most
frequently referenced clock book we own. It’s simply the most
definitive work on Seth Thomas ever published… until
now. (If "true confessions" are in order, we’ve also
rubbed our hands together on more than one occasion when we’ve
seen copies of our high-demand, out-of-print Second Edition
sell on the internet for $350. That’s a 700%
return-on-investment on the paper – let alone the content – in
a six-year period of time!)
Invaluable! When we began
ClockGuy.com in 1998 it was immediately apparent we could not
run a major antique clock brokerage without owning every one
of Tran Duy Ly’s books. Couldn’t be done.
Period. That invaluable investment has paid for itself
over and over again. In our listings we always refer
others to "the source," Tran Duy Ly, to begin or complete
their horological library. That’s just good citizenship!
What Others Say: Pennsylvania clock
dealer Ken Markley says it eloquently, "Tran’s publications
have shaped the course of clock-collecting throughout the
world. He is a brilliant and resourceful person whose
commitment to horological documentation and appraisal are
immeasurable." Recently, a major Midwest collector
bought a whopping four Walter Durfee tallcase clocks. He
commented at the time, "If the clock isn’t in Tran’s books,
I’m not going to buy it."
New Hampshire clock auctioneer Bob Schmitt
tells this story: "Tran Duy Ly came from Viet Nam 40
years ago. On a bus during his first day here, he
stepped on a lady’s foot and said, "Thank you" instead of,
"I’m sorry!" Now he’s the King of Clock Books."
What a country. What an American success story where the
effort of one man can make such a useful contribution to so
many!
Like No Other: Webster uses the terms
importance and merit to define "worth." Tran Duy Ly’s
contribution to horology Americana is both important and
meritorious. For anyone interested in American clocks,
Tran’s books meticulously document the life and work of
numerous clockmakers and their enterprises. Each volume
tracks the ascent of the maker to marketplace prominence (and
often descent from), setting the stage for the reader to enjoy
literally hundreds of subsequent pages of photos of preserved
clocks and original catalogue drawings, along with sound,
friendly advice that serious collectors will wish they’d read
before purchasing their first "beginner clock." A
detailed index by physical category, then model name or number
makes lookup simple and quick. We’re convinced when you
pore through this new volume, you’ll agree that
straightforward and genius are to Tran Duy Ly as importance
and merit are to "worth"!
Pricing Guides: Though any antiquity
is only worth what a cash-bearing buyer is willing to pay for
it on any given day, Tran’s periodically updated Price Guides
offer sound guidance based on recent prices paid, with
feedback provided by major dealers across the country.
Price Guides remind me of the North Star. We may never
reach it, but it’s always there as a consistent, reliable
guide. We always recommend purchasing Tran’s updated
Price Guides. More than anyone we know, he has his ear
to the ground and hand on the pulse of antique clocks in North
America.
Seth Thomas 3rd Edition... At Last!
Happy reading, pondering, decision-making… and investing!
RICHARD W. OLIVER, Jr.
NAWCC
#35749
www.clockguy.com
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