Fortunat Mueller-Maerki é um dos maiores especialistas mundiais em História da Relojoaria e desde há anos temos mantido frutuoso e profícuo contacto com ele. Agora, e com a sua autorização, passamos a publicar neste blog algumas das suas preciosas apreciações sobre obras de temática horológica.
Eis mais um artigo, publicado anteriormente no número de Setembro de 2010 do "Antiquarian Horology", título da Antiquarian Horological Society, Reino Unido.
A Snapshot of the Current State of the Science, Craft and Research in Horology in Great Britain
“BHI 150 – A Seminar Celebrating the 150 Anniversary of the British Horological Institute, June 7-9, 2008.” [/B] Edited by Timothy and Amyra Treffry (Editors); Contributions by Alan Middleton, Andrew King, Malcom Leach, Derek Pratt, Jonathan Betts, Colin Ferguson, Jim Arnfield, George Daniels, Volker Viskocil, Roger Smith, Charles Fordsham & Co., Peter Spaeke-Marin, Gideon Levingston, John McGonigle, Stephen Forsey, Alexander Schmiedt, Markus Gloegger, Kees Grimbergen, Stefan Gagneaux, Pilip Woodward, David Walter, Henry Casson, Bill Connor, and Tom van Baak; Photorgaphy by Bill Taylor, Jayne Hall, and Justin Kollapis. Published 2010 by the British Horological Institute, Upton, (UK). ISBN 950962 18 X0. 248 pages, 29x21 cm, paperback, numerous illustrations (photographs, plans etc, mostly in color). Available for UKP 49 (plus postage) or borrow from the NAWCC Lending Library.
In 2008 the British Horological Institute, the professional association of the British horological trade, celebrated its 150th anniversary with a three day scholarly conference. Twentyfour different contributors, from the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and the USA, presented twentyfive different new and original scholarly papers, covering a broad scope of subjects, reflecting the current state of the art in horological skills, knowledge and historical research. Two-and-a-half years later the copiously illustrated proceedings of that event have now been published. The result is one of the most varied and most scholarly horological books of the recent past.
The authors not only represent a geographic diversity, but also cover the wide range of aspects of horology, ranging from in depth historical research, through practical aspects of designing and manufacturing unique clocks and watches, to more theoretical issues of horological science. The largest concentration is on the practical side: at least fifteen of the twentyfour authors are known to have designed and/or built unique and creative clocks or watches by themselves. A major cluster of papers deals with clocks featuring multiple pendulums, of course including the “Triple Pendulum 150th Anniversary Clock” which a team of BHI experts designed and built (including a novel escapement) in the years leading up to the event in order to celebrate the round number. There are also four papers dealing with the work of John Harrison, as well as contributions on the history of the BHI. The book is richly illustrated in color throughout, not only with the illustrations of the lectures, but additionally with countless snapshots of the events of the conference, showing many of the participants.
The fact that books of this type continue to be published is laudable. They are an important segment of the permanent printed record of horological scholarship. But this reviewer wonders who the typical reader and buyer of these kind of publications is? Besides the various speakers - and a hopefully significant share of the conference attendees - there are certainly countless other serious horologists out there who would derive immense pleasure from reading several, if not most parts of this book. In many ways doing so will feel like spending time digesting an overly hefty issue of a most varied, first rate, well produced horological magazine. But that does still not answer the question of who will buy it, let alone read it. It is my guess that even the most captivating and compelling issue of a horological magazine would not find a significant readership if the readers had to order every single issue (and separately pay every single time they ordered an issue). And therein lies the tragedy of this kind of compound scholarly volume: It would be most enjoyable and enlightening reading for many people, and will be cherished of the library of those who do acquire “BHI – 150”, but in all likelihood, far fewer readers will get to enjoy this pleasure than warranted by the content.
I hope some of my readers will prove me wrong and order a copy. I am quite certain they will not regret it.
Fortunat Mueller-Maerki, Sussex NJ USA August 2011
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