Bestfit Catalogues

[oldhippy]

They are still working? 

[AndyHull]

On 12/30/2018 at 5:05 PM, oldhippy said:

Here are two new links. I bought both so they are mine.

 https://www.mediafire.com/file/mz809lm3bms8zk3/bestfit_part1.pdf/file

https://www.mediafire.com/file/eqbhdor949r0ilp/bestfit_part2.pdf/file

You will need this pasword to open each volume. tickandtock

These are still working, the links at the start of this thread do not.

[Watcher]

Also available here thanks to Christian

https://watchguy.co.uk/cgi-bin/files?subdir=BestFit&dir=Technical%20Manuals&action=documents

[AndyHull]

I also uploaded a version with slightly better OCR and indexing here -> https://drive.google.com/open?id=1XbRtG03Bx-nqcfHBpHDVcTQcoN94HefM

 

[berniethebolt]

thanks OLD HIPPY just  downloaded the pdf files which should come in useful! just need the patience (and time) to trawl through them.i am struggling to get info on a AS 1171 that i am trying to renovate which came in pieces.i have managed to put most of it together but i will need one of the train wheels so need to identify and get the part no and hope for the best.B

[Dumasdrew]

Just downloaded these. Thanks OH! I'm always on the lookout for valuable resources like these to add to my collection.

[B42Woody]

On 12/30/2018 at 12:05 PM, oldhippy said:

Here are two new links. I bought both so they are mine.

 https://www.mediafire.com/file/mz809lm3bms8zk3/bestfit_part1.pdf/file

https://www.mediafire.com/file/eqbhdor949r0ilp/bestfit_part2.pdf/file

You will need this pasword to open each volume. tickandtock

Sorry I didn't know zippy was now full of crap. If you have adblocker you might need to disable it for mediafire. These are safe I have tested them. 

 

Hi OH,

Are these links still viable and safe?  Thanks!

Also, is anybody aware of a Bestfit use tutorial?  I just bought a battered and beaten paper set but I'm completely lost when I flip through the fragile pages.

[oldhippy]

I have just checked and there's no adds or anything. I'm sure it's OK. 

[transporter]

I’ve just downloaded them, all ok, thanks to the OP for the links 

[B42Woody]

Thanks folks!

[ElioBD13]

On 12/30/2018 at 6:05 PM, oldhippy said:

Here are two new links. I bought both so they are mine.

 https://www.mediafire.com/file/mz809lm3bms8zk3/bestfit_part1.pdf/file

https://www.mediafire.com/file/eqbhdor949r0ilp/bestfit_part2.pdf/file

You will need this pasword to open each volume. tickandtock

Sorry I didn't know zippy was now full of crap. If you have adblocker you might need to disable it for mediafire. These are safe I have tested them. 

 

This is a gold mine. Thanks a lot.

[oldhippy]

You are most welcome. 

[Jon]

14 hours ago, ElioBD13 said:

This is a gold mine. Thanks a lot.

I find the mainspring sizes are more accurate than what Cousins will tell you on their website. You have to find the Dennison to metric conversion table in the second catalogue, starting on page 834 to make any sense of the sizes, but once you get the hang of it, it's a doddle!

[nickelsilver]

If you enjoy and find useful the downloadable Bestfits, please consider buying at least the proper download at some point for 10 bucks (reprints are around 90 and honestly worth every penny). If we don't support the supply houses finding parts will only get harder. Same goes for going through the Jules Borel or Cousins databases to get part numbers; I understand as a hobbiest the temptation to find the parts cheaper on Ebay and why not, sometimes, but try to give business to the supply houses when you can.

[Jon]

9 minutes ago, nickelsilver said:

If you enjoy and find useful the downloadable Bestfits, please consider buying at least the proper download at some point for 10 bucks (reprints are around 90 and honestly worth every penny). If we don't support the supply houses finding parts will only get harder. Same goes for going through the Jules Borel or Cousins databases to get part numbers; I understand as a hobbiest the temptation to find the parts cheaper on Ebay and why not, sometimes, but try to give business to the supply houses when you can.

I agree, I use Gleave and Co. in London more and more these days https://gleave.london/

It's one of the only supply houses you can actually walk into and buy something. Their expertise has gotten me out of some scrapes sometimes, especially regarding mainsprings. Try phoning Cousins and getting some advise, yeah right! I think not...

[clockboy]

35 minutes ago, nickelsilver said:

If you enjoy and find useful the downloadable Bestfits, please consider buying at least the proper download at some point for 10 bucks (reprints are around 90 and honestly worth every penny). If we don't support the supply houses finding parts will only get harder. Same goes for going through the Jules Borel or Cousins databases to get part numbers; I understand as a hobbiest the temptation to find the parts cheaper on Ebay and why not, sometimes, but try to give business to the supply houses when you can.

 

35 minutes ago, nickelsilver said:

If you enjoy and find useful the downloadable Bestfits, please consider buying at least the proper download at some point for 10 bucks (reprints are around 90 and honestly worth every penny). If we don't support the supply houses finding parts will only get harder. Same goes for going through the Jules Borel or Cousins databases to get part numbers; I understand as a hobbiest the temptation to find the parts cheaper on Ebay and why not, sometimes, but try to give business to the supply houses when you can.

I agree where would we be without the likes of Cousins.

[Plato]

1 hour ago, nickelsilver said:

I understand as a hobbiest the temptation to find the parts cheaper on Ebay

Don't think I've ever found parts cheaper on eBay compared to Cousins. However, I do bulk up my orders on Cousins - I have a list of favourite tools so if I only need one cheap part I add a tool I've had my eye on. I doubt they care though!

[grsnovi]

I just purchased the 1998 printing of the two book set for $90 from https://www.jewelerssupplies.com/

I prefer to be able to look and browse paper and don't like searching using (usually poor) search functions.

Having once upon a time been paid to produce written material I was concerned about violating copyrights by sharing scanned copies but the printed catalogue has no copyright notice anywhere.