COLLECTIBLE CHARACTER WATCH REFERENCE AND GUIDE BOOKS REVIEWS

Collecting character watches is a great hobby that will give you years of enjoyment. If you are considering starting a collection for yourself, or just want to find a great character watch as a special gift, the best way to do that is to familiarize yourself with classic collectible character watches to avoid overpaying for any model or to make sure that you are not taken in by paying a lot for a cheap copy. Reference books are a great way to bone up on the history behind these great collectible pieces, to view photos so that you can immediately recognize a true collectible when you find it, and to become an informed, educated, knowledgable expert in this area. Here are a list of great publication that can start you on your way, including photo, name, author, year published, publisher, ISBN numbers, brief description, and reasons why these should be on any watch collector's "must have" list.

THE MICKEY MOUSE  WATCH: FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME  Robert Heide and John Gilman. Hyperion, 1997.
ISBN-10: 0786863439
ISBN-13: 9780786863433  Hardcover.
Some of the best and most widely recognized books on vintage Disneyana are written by the dynamic duo Robert Heide and John Gilman. Noted experts on the field of popular culture, they have published several volumes that include information on vintage Disney watches including this fabulous and informative "must have" book. This is a wonderful guide for anyone interested in Disney watch collecting, whether a novice or expert. 

• Easy to read, small sized book that's full of pertinent photos (approximately 100) of watches, advertisements, publications, graphics, and other visual aids to accompany their well-written text.
• Covers the history of the Mickey Mouse watch (and other Disney watches) from its beginnings in 1933 to present day (1988) watch models.
• Book sections are broken down into decades, with chapters outlining the important milestones in that time period. With so many timepieces to cover in each of these decades, the authors have done a fabulous job of concentrating on particular pieces that are crucial to watch collectors.
• Invaluable for identifying not only the timepieces covered but for understanding the social history and trends of each decade and how they reflected on Disney watch collecting.
• Full of fun facts and lively anecdotes on the subject.
   

COMIC CHARACTER WRISTWATCHES  Debra S. Bruan. Schiffer, 2001.
ISBN  0764313290  Softcover.
Another great text that covers not only Disney watches but the spectrum of comic character watches is Debra Braun's Comic Character Wristwatches. Braun has been an expert on toys for many years and has written other publications including guides on Looney Tunes collectibles, Garfield collectibles, and Flintstones collectible pieces.

• 160 page paperback is packed with over 375 color photos, descriptions, and a pricing guide for collectible character watches generally manufactured between 1970 and 2000.
• Includes not only Disney, Looney Tunes, and other comic character classics, but also advertising and movie promotion watches as well as some political timepieces and a section on related collectibles that includes watch stands, catalogs, rare watch packaging, and collectible advertisements.
• Contains a lively introduction as well as a list of helpful hints that will assist you in purchasing the best product for your needs.
   

COMIC CHARACTER TIMEPIECES: SEVEN DECADES OF MEMORIES  Hy Brown, Nancy Thomas. Schiffer Publishing, 1992.
ISBN-10: 088740426X
ISBN-13: 9780887404269  Hardcover.

If you are interested in comic character watch collecting, including Disney watch collecting, this exhaustive tome is a must for your library. Hy Brown and his wife Nancy Brown have created the ultimate guide for anyone interested in comic watches, and was written to "enlighten, illuminate, and to induce others to enjoy the comic watch hobby". If you were to invest in only one reference guide for character watches, this is easily the best choice. This is an absolute must for any character watch collector and also makes an interesting and unusual coffee table book.

• Covers the history of character watches from the first political, promotional, and advertising models; to the advent of the character watches with the Mickey Mouse watch; through the evolutions of the models through the years; to the very latest character timepieces.
• Chapters are initially broken down into time periods, from the earliest known novelty timepieces prior to 1933 to the present time.
• Further chapters explore different types of comic or novelty watches, such as advertising, political, and personality watches, as well as separate chapters on pocketwatches and clocks.
• At the end of each chapter is a section of lists to help the collector start their own collection.
• Is composed of over 5000 beautiful full-color photographs of the items covered, as well as information text on each time period or subject.
• Also covers advertisements, ephemera, and packaging developed with the timepieces that are also of interest to collectors.
• Book does include a price guide. Author's note: "While this book contains a price guide, the personal value is only in the eyes of the buyer and seller."
   

TIME TO REWIND: A GUIDE TO COLLECTING DISNEYANA INGERSOLL WRISTWATCHES 1933 - 1939. by R.H. Farber, 2004.
ISBN 0-9736226-0-1 Softcover.

This is one of the newest and most comprehensive publications ever produced that covers every Disneyana watch produced in the 1930’s. This is a publication that watch collectors have been dreaming of for years, and has finally been published by the author himself! This is a must for anyone considering purchasing a vintage Disney watch from the 1930's.

• Invaluable reference guide includes numerous photos and information that will help the novice or knowledgable Disney watch collector to learn how to identify Disneyana watches produced in the 1930's.
• Reviews documents authenticating the year each model was manufactured.
• Includes valuable tips for collecting the best Disneyana watches from the Great Depression.
• Includes exhaustive photographs, vintage ads, documentation, and details on how to identify authentic products.
• Gives a history of the character watch.

COLLECTING COMIC CHARACTER CLOCKS AND WATCHES - Identification and Value Guide  Howard S. Brenner. Books Americana, 1986.
ISBN: 0896890627.  Softcover.

This is another helpful publication on anyone interested in collecting vintage Disney watches and one of the few reference guides to include collectible clocks. Howard Brenner had been collecting for most of his life and in 1980 began collecting comic character timepieces. He has since amassed one of the largest and most comprehensive collections in the world. His unique and extensive collection has been featured in several local and national publications.

• Will enable you to recognize, identify, and evaluate all currently known pieces in this guide.
• Includes informative sections including How to Use This Book, Condition Criteria and Grading Standards, Pricing, Supply and Demand, and Selling Your Timepieces.
• Over 150 black and white photographs and over 30 color photographs of over one hundred classic vintage collectible watches from the 1930's to the 1970's.
• Features a lively and informative Introduction, plus Frequently Asked Questions and A Short History of Comic Character Timepieces.
• Many watches shown with original packaging and includes date of manufacture, name of manufacturer and a price listing for a range of conditions from Good to Mint in Box.

BRADLEY CHARACTER WATCHES: IDENTIFICATION & PRICE GUIDE. The Ehrhardts. Heart of America Press, 1995.
ISBN 0-913902-89-6. Softcover.

This is an exhaustive look at the enormous collection of comic character timepieces manufactured by Bradley from 1972 to 1985, with a section on character-less collectible adult watches. Character watch collectors will love to pore over this guide, chock full of watch models, features, year produced, estimated values guide, including watch ephemera including advertisments and displays.

• Features nearly all Bradley character watches manufactured from 1972 to 1985.
• Catalog format includes black and white photos with appropriate model numbers, year manufactured, estimated values, detailed descriptions, and advertising jingles and catchword phrases.
• Includes an exhaustive index along with an explanation of style numbers used by Bradley for these models.
• Also includes collectible clocks made by Bradley.

VINTAGE AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN CHARACTER WRISTWATCH PRICE GUIDE   David A. Mycko and the Ehrhardt's, Heart of America Press, 1989. ISBN 0-913902-57-8. Softcover.

This is a great adjunct to any character or comic collectible timepiece library. The book features hundreds of black and white pictures of many classic collectible timepieces from 1933 to the 1980's, along with their own method of calculating the value of each piece. The book also contains some great copies of original ads for many of these watches, which are always fun and informative to view and many times impossible to find elsewhere.

• Hundreds of black and white photos of classic collectible timepieces.
• Lists character name, company of manufacture, company of copyright, watch type, brief description and watch size, and estimate of watch value as well as box value. Also indicates animated dials.
• Includes political timepieces.
• Glossary of terms and index.  
• Section at rear of book that lists companies and individuals that both buy and sell these collectible watches.