- Posts
- 392
- Likes
- 3,946
Mick Tock
·I’m pleased to introduce to you the new publication by Manfred Rössler, simply titled El Primero – Der Chronograph, covering all models from 1969 until 2001.
This is not an updated edition of the well known coffee table book published in 2008, which covers all kinds of Zenith watches. This new book is completely different: imagine a collection of Mr. Rössler's own updated notes, tables, further informations about El Primero watches, gathered over decades, condensed into a catalogue and bound between two hard bookplates. This is a workbook, do not expect typographic finesse nor aesthetic surprises.
Also no surprises regarding the book’s structure:
The table of contents does not list a few pages separating the introductory chapters and showing scans of historic ads, brochures, and design drawings including an exploding view of the El Primero movement.
The author uses the foreword to characterize the scrappy information situation of his topic, names and thanks his sources and invites to report additions and corrections. The Zenith manufacture was an important contributor, of course. However, you will find in this book references, which Zenith does not acknowledge, like my watch named ref. G3819 by Rössler.
The development history chapter seems to be an excerpt from Rössler’s Zenith bible. The subsequent pages give us all technical details of the movement variants illustrated by a few movement shots.
The overview tables name 57 different references using the cal. 3019 family and 159 references housing cal. 4X0 movements, with details including production years and volumes. Here I’m really missing cross references (links in new lingua) from each reference row to the page containing the corresponding description in the book’s main part. Though, the cal. 4X0 table names the individual model lines found in the table of contents.
The main part lists all references, each with model name, execution of case, dial, crystal, and bracelet, movement type, water resistance, production years and volume. Each model is illustrated by a face shot. Only a few rare references are missing an image or exact data. There are not more than nine watches per page displayed, the photos are large enough to depict the characteristics of each reference. Unfortunately, the images were not adjusted to a common correct white balance, some photos show false colors.
Although I did not search long enough for errors for my short review I can recommend the book for all collectors who are working in this area. It provides very valuable and up-to-date informations in a practical and convenient package.
The book El Primero – Der Chronograph is self-published by Manfred Rössler and produced by Kastner & Callwey, Germany. You should find it in the known distribution channels specializing in horology, even worldwide. There is no print-on-demand edition. Yes, the texts and captions in this book are written in German language, but this does not diminish its usefulness (says a German native speaker).
Pros:
up-to-date informations by a knowledgeable author
complete
functional
German language
Cons:
suboptimal typography
cross references missing
German language
This is not an updated edition of the well known coffee table book published in 2008, which covers all kinds of Zenith watches. This new book is completely different: imagine a collection of Mr. Rössler's own updated notes, tables, further informations about El Primero watches, gathered over decades, condensed into a catalogue and bound between two hard bookplates. This is a workbook, do not expect typographic finesse nor aesthetic surprises.
Also no surprises regarding the book’s structure:
The table of contents does not list a few pages separating the introductory chapters and showing scans of historic ads, brochures, and design drawings including an exploding view of the El Primero movement.
The author uses the foreword to characterize the scrappy information situation of his topic, names and thanks his sources and invites to report additions and corrections. The Zenith manufacture was an important contributor, of course. However, you will find in this book references, which Zenith does not acknowledge, like my watch named ref. G3819 by Rössler.
The development history chapter seems to be an excerpt from Rössler’s Zenith bible. The subsequent pages give us all technical details of the movement variants illustrated by a few movement shots.
The overview tables name 57 different references using the cal. 3019 family and 159 references housing cal. 4X0 movements, with details including production years and volumes. Here I’m really missing cross references (links in new lingua) from each reference row to the page containing the corresponding description in the book’s main part. Though, the cal. 4X0 table names the individual model lines found in the table of contents.
The main part lists all references, each with model name, execution of case, dial, crystal, and bracelet, movement type, water resistance, production years and volume. Each model is illustrated by a face shot. Only a few rare references are missing an image or exact data. There are not more than nine watches per page displayed, the photos are large enough to depict the characteristics of each reference. Unfortunately, the images were not adjusted to a common correct white balance, some photos show false colors.
Although I did not search long enough for errors for my short review I can recommend the book for all collectors who are working in this area. It provides very valuable and up-to-date informations in a practical and convenient package.
The book El Primero – Der Chronograph is self-published by Manfred Rössler and produced by Kastner & Callwey, Germany. You should find it in the known distribution channels specializing in horology, even worldwide. There is no print-on-demand edition. Yes, the texts and captions in this book are written in German language, but this does not diminish its usefulness (says a German native speaker).
Pros:
up-to-date informations by a knowledgeable author
complete
functional
German language
Cons:
suboptimal typography
cross references missing
German language
Edited:
. I will report about my findings shortly.
