Soldering, Brazing and Welding edited by Bernard E. Jones, 1916

This 1916 book (republished in 1921) teaches the core skills of soft and hard soldering (brazing) and introduces basic principles of welding metals. It is a book derived from many articles by different authors in the magazine 'Work', an illustrated weekly of the time. Oxy-acetylene was a new process at this time and this kind of brazing with brass, and welding metals other than steel were new possibilities for metal workers. The excellent descriptions, definitions and pictures are very clear and understandable. There are some really interesting recipes and divisions of types of soft soldering. The section on soft soldering has way more information than any current book on the subject. The detail and images is very good [read more]....

Precious Stones: Considered in their Scientific and Artistic Relations by A. H. Church, 1899

This 1899 (republished 1905) book outlines the knowledge at the time of gems and precious stones. It is surprisingly accurate and most is still current. It is a completely revised version of the 1882 book "Handbook of Precious Stones". It covers the science, the origins, the use, and meaning and more of gems. A very thorough book. Any gemologist can benefit from reading this book - and it should be mandatory for anyone studying gemology. It also deals with issues of design and artistic use of gems which sets it apart from any other gemology book I know of [read more]........

Lost Wax Jewelry Making: The Build-up Technique - Complete Edition

One of the few books available on books on wax modelmaking; "Lost Wax Jewelry Making: The Build-up Technique" by Minoru Azama, printed in Japanese by Kashiwa Hobby Books. 1999. Azama process emphasizes building up wax as opposed to starting with a wax blank and carving away material. He uses this approach for organic as well as geometric subjects. The potential of this technique is unlimited! Azama's work is outstanding, some of it so very precise and geometric that one would think it had been carved of hard wax. The book was written for students at the Japan Jewelry Academy, and Mr. Azama has been generous enough to write a complete English translation.

Educational Metalcraft by P. Wylie Davidson, 1913

This book, originally published in England in 1913 covers repousse, fine chasing, silversmithing, jewellery and enamelling. It is part of Longman's technical handicraft series of books. Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement it details the practical ways that are not touched on as deeply in most texts since. The drawings are excellent, clear and insightful. Like, really excellent. Along with exceptional chasing and repousse information there are surprises, like the many pages of wire and sheet metal strip twisting examples for borders and decoration. The section on enameling is unusual in its early viewpoint, grinding lump enamel being the only option, and firing trivet designs of interest. It has over 378 illustrations, beautifully hand drawn and carried out. File Size: 22MB,227 pages.

Metal-Work, Chasing and Repousse for Home Art Workers by Frank G Jackson, 1903

The subtitle of this book is "Chasing and Repousse for Home Art Workers". It was published in 1903. This book deals mostly with chasing and repousse information. Really great engravings and drawings to show tools, exercises and pieces. One of the few to show tool holding positions in the hand. Lots of drawings of chasing tool ends and shapes. There are a number of specific projects described, some hardware oriented. This book is an essential reference for the serious chaser. File Size: 19MB, 62 pages.

Decoration of Metals - Chasing, Repousse and Saw Piercing by John Harrison, 1894

Published in 1894. This heavily illustrated book, many photographs and line drawings which cover chasing and repousse in depth and with subtlety. The hundreds of excellent line drawings of tools, stamps, and more are excellent. The tool end images are especially clear. There are many photographs of complex chased trays and other objects. This is a great book, and essential for a serious jeweler and chaser. File Size: 68MB, 164 pages.

Watchmakers' and Jewelers' Practical Receipt Book, 1892

This is a book of bench tricks, recipes and tricks written in 1892 compiled and published by the Hazlitt company in Chicago. Called 'A workshop companion' it is full of rare, forgotten recipes and arcane jeweler's knowledge. The front page says "compiled from Private Formulae" by the Hazlitt Company in Chicago. It covers "Practical formulae and directions for solders and soldering, cleaning, pickling, polishing, coloring, bronzing, staining, cementing, etching lacquering, varnishing and general finishing of metals as applied to the watch and jewelry trade, together with all the important alloys used by the trade and many miscellaneous recipes" The patination recipes are truly interesting, as are the polishing compounds and alloys including early references to different ways of making blue gold and other odd alloys. A real treat, a book that sells for hundreds of dollars, if you can even find a copy. 128 pages jammed full of information.

The Private Book of Useful Alloys and Memoranda for Goldsmiths, Jewellers by James Collins, 1871

This 1871 book was compiled from the in-house notes of "one of the largest and most eminent Manufacturing Goldsmiths and Jewellers in this country" which had gone out of business, thus freeing Mr. Collins to reveal the companie's secrets and experience. Much of the book is alloy recipes for all different purposes, such as enameling gold alloys, gold for making pens, gold and silver solders. There are sections on refining, on 'coloring' the gold (depletion gilding). There are 96 pages of alloying and trade secret information, and 36 pages of intriguing advertisements for books being published in 1872.

General Letter Engraving for Watchmakers, Jewelers and Kindred Trades, by G. F. Whelpley, 1892

A Complete Exposition of the Art of Engraving on Metals. If you want to learn how to engrave letters, monograms and writing this great book is an excellent guide. This 1892 book addresses what was then a decline in the education of apprentices, and was intended to give aspiring engravers a way to successfully self educate as a letter engraver [read more]....

Electro-Plating (with numerous engravings and diagrams), Paul Hasluck, Editor, 1905

This rare book first published in 1905 gives a good explanation and introduction to electroplating, with extensive chapters on polishing and finishing work for plating. There are numerous recipes throughout the text and the writer's 'Voice' is clear and readable. While the descriptions are aimed at an electroplating shop of the late 19th century the information can be scaled down for the small shop. All the tools and equipment for each procedure is described in detail. Along with large tanks the author explains making a small tank using glass plates in a wooden box cemented with gutta percha and pitch. An oddity is an engraving and description of a plating balance that lets you measure the weight of metal applied to plated articles. There is a truly extensive chapter on various kinds of batteries and how they are made giving a unique insight into early electricity - useful to the McGyvers out there. This is the most information I've ever seen about batteries. Then there is a similarly exhaustive discussion about Dynamos (DC current generators). (read more)