It's about time [no pun intended]!

[Barry G]

I just got the latest edition of Shugart's "Complete Price Guide to Watches" and read with interest the descriptive text for "M.I. Tobias & Co."

For years, Shugart has helped perpetuate the false notion that the later Swiss-made watches marked "M.I. Tobias" were still authentic Tobiases that were simply made "in the Swiss manner." This has led to (or at least supported) all sorts of outrageous claims by numerous sellers trying to pass off cheap Swiss fakes as rare and valuable English timepieces.

Well, it looks like our pleas for accuracy are no longer falling upon deaf ears. The latest edition has this to say on the subject:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
The M.I. Tobias firm started in Liverpool, about 1805. The Tobias family did not manufacture watches and specialized in exporting watches to the U.S.A. Watches signed M.J. Tobias are Swiss made.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

So, there you have it -- Watches signed "M.J. Tobias" are Swiss made. I realize that this doesn't "prove" anything, but hopefully this will at least prevent people from misrepresenting their watches in the future.

Regards,

Barry

My Online Pocket Watch Collection (http://barrygoldberg.net/watches.htm)

[Barry G]

I just got the latest edition of Shugart's "Complete Price Guide to Watches" and read with interest the descriptive text for "M.I. Tobias & Co."

For years, Shugart has helped perpetuate the false notion that the later Swiss-made watches marked "M.I. Tobias" were still authentic Tobiases that were simply made "in the Swiss manner." This has led to (or at least supported) all sorts of outrageous claims by numerous sellers trying to pass off cheap Swiss fakes as rare and valuable English timepieces.

Well, it looks like our pleas for accuracy are no longer falling upon deaf ears. The latest edition has this to say on the subject:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
The M.I. Tobias firm started in Liverpool, about 1805. The Tobias family did not manufacture watches and specialized in exporting watches to the U.S.A. Watches signed M.J. Tobias are Swiss made.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

So, there you have it -- Watches signed "M.J. Tobias" are Swiss made. I realize that this doesn't "prove" anything, but hopefully this will at least prevent people from misrepresenting their watches in the future.

Regards,

Barry

My Online Pocket Watch Collection (http://barrygoldberg.net/watches.htm)

[Steve Kosovich]

He will take corrections from anyone that has any accompanying information and correct it in the next years book.
I had found he kept listing H.L.Culver for Elgin when in fact it was H.Z Culver. I sent him the proof I had found and it was changed for the next years issue and I received a thank you letter and photocopy of the correction.
So if anyone sees an error,let him know about it.

Steve Kosovich

[Spike]

“If anyone sees an error, let him know about it.”

How do we let him know about countless errors? I'm referring here not to horological errors, although accuracy and comprehensiveness are primary of course, but to editorial errors. Because the Complete Price Guide to Watches is so prominently associated with our hobby I wish more attention were given to the elements of grammar, usage, style, punctuation, and form. This wouldn’t cost much – for ten or fifteen bucks an hour a good college English major could clean it up pronto, and by doing so enhance both its utility and its stature.

This from a reader and admirer of the Complete Price Guide!

p.s.: an index would also be nice!

[This message was edited by Annie on January 31, 2003 at 15:04.]

[Steve Kosovich]

Annie,
Why don't you send this list to Shugart,his address is in the book and let him know your ideas.Never know he might appreciate them.Its worth a shot.

Steve Kosovich

[Jon Miller]

...and naturally, I misspelled a word in my remark about poor writing!

[Barry G]

I am a writer by trade and am simply appalled at the grammar found in the Guide. He seems to have invented his own syntax.

However, I still find the book invaluable and have no trouble understanding what is meant. At least he uses punctuation, even if he does go overboard and use too much of it.

Regards,

Barry

My Online Pocket Watch Collection (http://barrygoldberg.net/watches.htm)

[Spike]

Steve Kosovich says “why don't you send this to Shugart – his address is in the book – and let him know your ideas. Never know – he might appreciate them.”

I don’t think so - the present editor’s name is Martha Shugart. Submitting this criticism would be a job for someone who's much more tactful than I am. (Or much less tactful!)

[This message was edited by Annie on February 02, 2003 at 20:35.]