main spring database

[Veritas]

I wish there was a database for clock mainsprings here, pinned at the top or some place easy to find. Often times you get a clock and dont know if mainspring is original or not and or maybe you just need a quick reference for mainsprings.
Maybe we could make one here?

[David Robertson]

Veritas,

Much of this was done many years ago by the S LaRose Company. It appears in the back of the older catalogs. Mike Murray converted it to a PDF document and posted it on his web site. To access it, Click Here (ftp://atmos-man.com/pdf/mainspr.pdf)

This should be a good starting point. If you wanted to put it in a different format, there should not be a problem. It is information compiled by S LaRose who is not defunct. If you were to use Mikes actual document on another site, I think you would want his permission. Links to his site are obviously fine.

[Veritas]

Thanks Dave, i did not know Mike had this on his site. I will just use it for my own use not to be doing any thing wrong.
Is this what you also use sometimes too?

[David Robertson]

Sure.. I refer to it if I don't know what a spring should be.

I don't think there is a problem using it or even re-formatting it.. I was just cautioning about placing Mike's document.. with no modification.. on another site.. without his permission, of course.

For instance, if you wanted to take this information and add it to a larger database, I would not see a problem. In other words. the info is public use.. but Mike's specific document is copyrighted.

At least that is my interpretation.

Perhaps this will serve enough needs that a larger database is not needed?

[Veritas]

It will give me a good start, for instance i did not see a new haven 8 day time and strike on the list.
Just wondered as i want to change both springs in my banjo clock which is a 8 day t and strike.

[wdonovan]

Great list. It's a .pdf so it can be downloaded to your computer (in case it disappears from the website). Or it can be printed.

[Len Lataille]

Just because LaRose is out of business does not release any of their material into the public domain.

None of their catalogs that I have, and one goes back to 1973 show notice of copyright. I dont recall if notice was required at the time, but it is no longer required today. It just makes it easier to claim infringement if the material is marked and the item is registered.

If they did not renew after 28 years, by the laws at that time, then that material would be public domain. That is, IF what they included was public domain to begin with, or was of their own creation. What would be the point to renewing the copyright of a 28 year old catalog?

Almost all material before 1923 is considered public domain. Some after that time has also fallen into the public. A Google search of the specific material will sometimes help.

A good example are Tran Duy Ly's books. His compilation of material from catalogs is a new work and covered by copyright. Yet the individual material from catalogs, long in the public domain is free for anyone to use.

[Veritas]

len perhaps there is a copyright on it, i dont know for sure. But for your own personal use it should be ok to use. It has quite a few clocks on it but i will add to it over time.