Joining the British Horological Institute

[Neverenoughwatches]

Eyup watch peeps, i hope we are all well. Is anyone here a member or fellow of the BHI ? I want to join as an associate and take their distance learning courses in a view to sitting some exams to further my membership. I've read through their site  but any advice or extra information would be really appreciated.  

[SpringMangler]

Been thinking of doing the same so will be interested in any replies.

[Neverenoughwatches]

3 hours ago, SpringMangler said:

Been thinking of doing the same so will be interested in any replies.

Eyup SpringMangler,  at 56 going to full time watchschool is not an option, though i nearly considered the one year 1800 hour schooling. The BHi courses at least have exams and some qualifications at the end of them. The two courses are just over a grand which i thought wasn't bad and for the same again includes tutor feedback. There are only 2 serious repairers in my town one of them is the only member of the BHI in my county of Yorkshire. He lives about a mile from me, works from home and has been a watchmaker for over 40 years. A visit to see him might be a good move.

[SpringMangler]

41 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Eyup SpringMangler,  at 56 going to full time watchschool is not an option, though i nearly considered the one year 1800 hour schooling. The BHi courses at least have exams and some qualifications at the end of them. The two courses are just over a grand which i thought wasn't bad and for the same again includes tutor feedback. There are only 2 serious repairers in my town one of them is the only member of the BHI in my county of Yorkshire. He lives about a mile from me, works from home and has been a watchmaker for over 40 years. A visit to see him might be a good move.

I'm even older than you, so not looking for a new career. Whatever hobby I'm into, be it photography or watches, I want to know as much as possible. Must be a bit of OCD. Looking at the various options the BHI looks well structured and, as you say, relatively well priced. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

5 hours ago, SpringMangler said:

Been thinking of doing the same so will be interested in any replies.

I found this advert in a book from 1943, the annual subscription has gone up somewhat in the last 80 years.

Edited August 18, 2023 by Neverenoughwatches

[oldhippy]

Anyone can join the B H I. I know from previous experience with the first course there is a lot of technical drawing, filing and making parts so you will need a good lathe to make parts on such as balance staffs. Being just a member doesn't hold any weight apart from getting a reduction in price of there monthly mag. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

6 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

Anyone can join the B H I. I know from previous experience with the first course there is a lot of technical drawing, filing and making parts so you will need a good lathe to make parts on such as balance staffs. Being just a member doesn't hold any weight apart from getting a reduction in price of there monthly mag. 

Anyone can join as an associate, but that entitles you to take the courses. There are short day courses taught in their workshops which isn't too far from me. Which will be good for clearing any areas that i struggle with. Its the accredited exams that i would be interested in. The first DLC is a level 3 for technician and covers basic services and repairs, lathe work and soldering and can be taken at own pace, from there you can become a member. The level 4 and 5 is much more involved at an intermediate level and final grade specialist course. Its a step into being more than just an amateur and something to strive for.  There is a lot of talk about there being a distinct lack of folk repairing watches. Thats also evident by the number of just 2 in my area. It would be nice to find a mentor, i have my eye on a chap that might be interested in helping me. 

[tomh207]

I was looking at this a while back but didn’t go for it at the time as the cumulative costs including buying a lathe at the time put me off. I have seen/heard of several well spoken of watchmakers whose professional credentials are from the BHI DLC. If I was a bit younger like Rich I would most likely have done it for an early retirement gig. Now I have a lathe amongst other things () I should look at it again, 63 can’t be too old to be an apprentice .

 

Tom

Edited August 18, 2023 by tomh207

[Neverenoughwatches]

13 minutes ago, tomh207 said:

63 can’t be too old to be an apprentice .

 

Not if your tutor has 20 years on you. Watchmakers live well into their 80's 

16 minutes ago, tomh207 said:

Now I have a lathe amongst other things () 

Other things ? Two different sized eyes and a tongue that permanently sticks out ?  now i come to think about it thats exactly how i look when I'm tinkering at my watch bench. 

[tomh207]

46 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Other things ? Two different sized eyes and a tongue that permanently sticks out ?  now i come to think about it thats exactly how i look when I'm tinkering at my watch bench. 

I think it was caused by intense concentration and the loupe might have been a bit small

[rossjackson01]

Nevereboughwatches. Envy you.

However, like Tom, I also looked at this course. Discounted it quickly for three reasons. Cost, age and space.

Cost. My bride would strangle me. 

Age. 75. But I am capable of learning visually. The written word would defeat me.

Space. I live in a parkhome. One bedroom and a 6' x 9' study which has 2 tables. One for my bride's craft work, the other for my computer and watchmaking.  I have no room for the required lathe, but I have purchase a 3" bench vice. 

 

Judging by your and other's posts. I think our hobby standard is far better than many of the professionals. The amount of watches I have received that are scrape marked, parts missing or even put back in the wrong place is many fold. I have gained a good appreciation of the application of care to a watch and the movements. 

Mark, and Alex's courses cover most bases. YouTube videos offer a plethora of information and structural advice. These make it my distance learning course. The only thing I don't have is a tutor. I do feel that I overcome this by having the members of the forum guide me. I'm still learning. But going professional? 

I think that the B H I is the way for recognition. As I said. I envy you

 

Edited August 18, 2023 by rossjackson01
Spelling, Grammar

[Neverenoughwatches]

9 minutes ago, rossjackson01 said:

Nevereboughwatches. Envy you.

However, like Tom, I also looked at this course. Discounted it quickly for three reasons. Cost, age and space.

Cost. My bride would strangle me. 

Age. 75. But I am capable of learning visually. The written word would defeat me.

Space. I live in a parkhome. One bedroom and a 6' x 9' study which has 2 tables. One for my bride's craft work, the other for my computer and watchmaking.  I have no room for the required lathe, but I have purchase a 3" bench vice. 

 

Judging by your and other's posts. I think our hobby standard is far better than many of the professionals. The amount of watches I have received that are scrape marked, parts missing or even put back in the wrong place is many fold. I have gained a good appreciation of the application of care to a watch and the movements. 

Mark, and Alex's courses cover most bases. YouTube videos offer a plethora of information and structural advice. These make it my distance learning course. The only thing I don't have is a tutor. I do feel that I overcome this by having the members of the forum guide me. I'm still learning. But going professional? 

I think that the B H I is the way for recognition. As I said. I envy you

 

Aw bless you Ross, you're a lovely bloke and you always inspire me. You've given me another little nudge towards giving it a go now. The BHI workshops are only 70 miles from me, so yes i do feel quite fortunate. I still haven't quite figured out why I'm drawn to the hobby, something inside me wants to carry on and become better. As for you Ross, you've come a long way since you started and you never fail to surprise me with your quest for knowledge, your ingenuity and drive to overcome obstacles, and your passion for it all. This forum would not be the same without you buddy.

[tomh207]

@rossjackson01 I think that for me and @Neverenoughwatches we seem to have a common drive, we need to know all the things when we hit a new venture. I can quite happily build you a custom watercooled PC, custom computer keyboard or a watch I can get parts for. The first two are easy, I spent time as an electronic engineer in the dim and distant past and also time as a computer service engineer working down to components. So for me I think this is the same mindset of problem solving and maybe a bit of going back to my childhood working with my granddad on mechanical things like steam engines.

Tom

[rossjackson01]

1 hour ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Aw bless you Ross, you're a lovely bloke and you always inspire me. You've given me another little nudge towards giving it a go now. The BHI workshops are only 70 miles from me, so yes i do feel quite fortunate. I still haven't quite figured out why I'm drawn to the hobby, something inside me wants to carry on and become better. As for you Ross, you've come a long way since you started and you never fail to surprise me with your quest for knowledge, your ingenuity and drive to overcome obstacles, and your passion for it all. This forum would not be the same without you buddy.

When you say 'The BHI workshops are only 70 miles from me', does that mean you could go there and use there facilities, lathes etc?

[Neverenoughwatches]

24 minutes ago, rossjackson01 said:

When you say 'The BHI workshops are only 70 miles from me', does that mean you could go there and use there facilities, lathes etc?

Yes Ross, but only on day courses i imagine, not something freely available just because i would be a member .

[rossjackson01]

Neverenoughwatches

I'm working my way through the B H I free download sample lesson for the distance course. Very interesting. 

Thank you

[Neverenoughwatches]

6 hours ago, rossjackson01 said:

Neverenoughwatches

I'm working my way through the B H I free download sample lesson for the distance course. Very interesting. 

Thank you

I think there are two pdfs to download Ross, another for the level 4 and 5. How are you finding the one you downloaded ?

[rossjackson01]

1 hour ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

I think there are two pdfs to download Ross, another for the level 4 and 5. How are you finding the one you downloaded ?

Clear as mud! Information overload at present. I read the .pdf three times. When the questions came, I had no idea what the questions meant. Written word defeats me. Hence why I would not be able to take such a course.

Can only find the download for level 1.

Edited August 19, 2023 by rossjackson01

[JohnR725]

On 8/18/2023 at 4:53 AM, Neverenoughwatches said:

Anyone can join as an associate, but that entitles you to take the courses.

ask it looks like according the website you get a few more things other than the courses which of course you'd still have to pay for. Do get a really nice magazine. Then you get all sorts of bonus things like privileged access to the collection plus of course you get to go to the library. Yes they do of a really nice library.

I see a reference to a museum and I had a question but I found the answer on the Museum's website.

Quote

Established in 1994, the Museum of Timekeeping cares for a unique collection of artefacts at the home of the British Horological Institute in the picturesque village of Upton, located between Newark and Southwell in Nottinghamshire.

basically what it's telling us is that the Museum and the library that used to be part of the BHI is now a separate entity operating as a museum.

19 hours ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

The BHI workshops are only 70 miles from me,

so looks like the museum is open to anybody and you're only 70 miles away and have you visited yet?

https://www.museumoftimekeeping.org.uk/

even if you didn't take any of the courses of visiting from time to time because it looks like they have interesting things that they do not just the courses. Plus the BHI has local chapters I don't think I have one within 1,000,000 miles but they do of local chapters that might be interesting to go to.

 

 

 

 

[oldhippy]

One thing I have just remembered was you get an increase in wages if you are on an apprenticeship. That was back in the 1970's  

[rossjackson01]

1 hour ago, oldhippy said:

One thing I have just remembered was you get an increase in wages if you are on an apprenticeship. That was back in the 1970's  

If I join, can I get an increase in my pension? I'm in my 70s.

[oldhippy]

If you live in England and you are already a pensioner  like me you will be getting a 7% pay rise. Are you happy now. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

4 hours ago, JohnR725 said:

ask it looks like according the website you get a few more things other than the courses which of course you'd still have to pay for. Do get a really nice magazine. Then you get all sorts of bonus things like privileged access to the collection plus of course you get to go to the library. Yes they do of a really nice library.

I see a reference to a museum and I had a question but I found the answer on the Museum's website.

basically what it's telling us is that the Museum and the library that used to be part of the BHI is now a separate entity operating as a museum.

so looks like the museum is open to anybody and you're only 70 miles away and have you visited yet?

https://www.museumoftimekeeping.org.uk/

even if you didn't take any of the courses of visiting from time to time because it looks like they have interesting things that they do not just the courses. Plus the BHI has local chapters I don't think I have one within 1,000,000 miles but they do of local chapters that might be interesting to go to.

 

 

 

 

No i haven't visited yet John, i didn't know about the museum until i looked at joining. Its on my list to do now. The library will be worth a visit. There are also day courses on site available 

34 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

If you live in England and you are already a pensioner  like me you will be getting a 7% pay rise. Are you happy now. 

Shame that everything has gone up 70 %

[JohnR725]

3 hours ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

No i haven't visited yet John, i didn't know about the museum until i looked at joining. Its on my list to do now. The library will be worth a visit. There are also day courses on site available 

I do find it's interesting is the collection and the library are now a separate entity wears before they were all one thing. But no matter what you should take the time to go and visit it's a interesting place to visit. Even I visited there once one summer got to see everything but I had a VIP visitation I knew the people in charge at that time.

Another thing you want to keep an eye on is the calendar for events not just the classes because I think in the summer or sometime once a year they have some sort of big event and that would be well worth visiting to not just one class possibly lots eyeglasses I then one year Roger Smith was coming for instance to give a talk. Like that always looked really interesting also if you had a chapter nearby might be worthwhile to go to those don't know how welcoming and they are to hobbyists just tell them you taking a course you're at the beginning level and maybe they'll be okay

the reason why joke about how welcoming of they are is in this country will be American watch and clockmakers Institute. We used even have a local chapter that we got annoyed with them and split and were still functioning and very happy. But some of the chapters made it very clear that they do not like hobbyists and others like us we didn't care and I don't know how the British chapters are with people that are obviously hobbyists whether they look down on you are not even nice of Summit give us a report as to what happens chapter meeting because it is a nice opportunity to meet other people that are doing watch and clock repair and learn additional stuff. It looks like you just have to join and then probably join the local chapter