1841 replies to this topic

[awitze]

I suspect that Willmann-Bell will eventually figure out a way to distribute Annals volume 8, but they are in control of all orders. We will pass along the interest on this forum to Perry. Thanks for your interest and support. 

[Crusty99]

Looking again at my amateur astronomy book shelves... The Willmann-Bell covers just leap off my shelves into my hands!

 

  

[George N]

They made some nice Ronchi screens too. Glad I have a set. 

.....and...... they still sold a large selection of mirror-making supplies - grit, polish, tiles, etc

[BwanaBob]

I suspect that Willmann-Bell will eventually figure out a way to distribute Annals volume 8, but they are in control of all orders. We will pass along the interest on this forum to Perry. Thanks for your interest and support. 

Would you also let him know that in addition to the Annals Vol 8, many here would like one last crack at whatever stock is on hand. Thank you.

[cbwerner]

Well, that's a bummer. They're actually local to me.

[Napp]

The Webb Deep-Sky Society apparently still has stock of the Annals of the Deep Sky and the The Night Sky Observer's Guides.

[Daniel Mounsey]

Yea, this really is a downer. I just got off the phone with them right now. 

[Raul Leon]

This news really sucks for astronomy in general!

[sanbai]

Daniel haven't mentioned that, but it seems that Woodland Hills (telescopes.net) have some WB books in stock.

Company 7 also carries some of them according to their web, but that would need confirmation per mail or phone.

Daniel, any hope from your call for a last opportunity shopping at WB?

Edited by sanbai, 27 October 2020 - 05:02 PM.

[Eskil]

*sigh* How sad to read this topic..

[Eskil]

For those within the EU it seems like AstroShop still has copies of the existing Annals..

 

Sadly, not the Night Sky Observer's Guide which have been on my wishlist for quite some time now.. 

[star drop]

Sad indeed.

[Toups]

I just gave them a call and spoke to (I believe) the owner.

 

<...snip...>

I am a happy customer and recently bought some grit and James Daley's "The Schupmann Telescope" in September.  At the time I had some e-mail messages with Perry (the owner) and he was having trouble with his order processing software and was having trouble getting adequate software support.  That being said, everything was very quickly resolved and I was a very happy customer.  Clearly running the business was becoming more difficult and the ordering processing software was causing issues.

 

At some point, most decide that it is time to retire and pass things off to the next generation.  Unfortunately with a small business, especially in a niche market, it is generally difficult to find someone willing to take it on. 

 

Had I known he was going to close the business, there were probably other things I would have liked to have ordered.  I too hope that someone else will take the reins of the business and allow it to continue.  It sounds like one option may be to sell the business to a larger business.

 

I wish him all the best even though it is currently our loss. Willmann-Bell has served as fantastic resource for books, especially the ATM "classics" and also supplies.

[FrenchStar]

I don't buy a lot of stuff but I do have one weakness: astronomy books! I bought almost all the observing handbooks published by Willmann-Bell. Missing from my collection are “The Arp Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies” and volume 7 of the “Annals of the deep sky”. (I was going to order volumes 7 & 8 for Xmas...)

 

I certainly hope that all those great books will be picked up by another publisher. It will be important for the astronomical community to show support especially in such a niche market.

I feel for Jeff Kanipe and its incredible Annals of the deep sky collection. I hope that it doesn’t mean the end of this ambitious project.

[SNH]

I'm literally shocked. I thought 2020 couldn't get worse...and then it did. My first WB book was when a friend bought me Volume 1, 2 and 3 of The Night Sky Observer's Guide last Christmas. At the time I didn't think he needed to do that, but now I'm so glad he did. And I just bought Volume 1 of the Annals series to read one of the books and see if I liked them. I did, and figured I'd buy the next ones two at a time...

 

I was also thinking I would one day get the Uranometria 2000.0 All Sky Edition to replace my "Northern Hemisphere" edition...

 

But the worst part is...I just told a friend that he was listed as a contributor in Volume 1 of the Observer's Guide. To see for himself, he tried to order Volume 1 & 2 but they were already out of Volume 2. Sure, he'll get to see himself in Volume 1, but the set will be broken. I wish now I had told him sooner!!

 

REGRETS: Those were the droids you were looking for.

[Michael Rapp]

I am in shock.  

 

I am so lucky to have gotten my copy of Uranometria earlier this year, which was delayed due to the aforementioned website and inventory processing issues.  

 

Willmann-Bell is one of those things you thought would be around forever. 

 

I never did pick up the Arp Atlas or Star Cluster like I always intended to. 

[AstroVPK]

AAS should take the publishing rights over! This would be perfect to add to S&T's list of publications. I can reach out to my old contacts at AAS and see if i can make a suggestion....

[RocketScientist]

Wow.  Just wow.

 

I am not surprised that the owner is retiring at 80, but I had always assumed that this was a family business that would pass to the next generation, be purchased by other employees, etc.  I never dreamed that it would stand or fall on a single owner/manager.

 

I suspect the books will be picked up and offered through another source, but I'm much less sure about the telescoping-making materials. ATMing, at least the mirror-making part, may have suddenly become more difficult.

Edited by RocketScientist, 28 October 2020 - 09:41 AM.

[desertstars]

I never did pick up the Arp Atlas or Star Cluster like I always intended to. 

I'm fortunate in that I picked up what I wanted over the years, so I won't have that sort of regret. However, I'm a big fan of Annals of the Deep Sky, and the thought of a lengthy delay - or worse - for subsequent volumes, depresses the hell out of me. 

[helpwanted]

be purchased by other employees...

 

I always thought this was just a husband & wife owned and run company

[tommy_nawratil]

oh my, how sad!

I met Perry at NEAF 2019 and he is just such a smart person, all the best for him and his wife (who wrote me the invoice).

How could works like DeepSkyAnnals come to life without? I hope they find a way.

 

Tommy

[catalogman]

AAS should take the publishing rights over! This would be perfect to add to S&T's list of publications.  <snip>

 

I think a better choice would be for WB to license the reprint rights to Dover Publications.

 

Unlike AAS, Dover specializes in reprints. (And they have had great success with other

astronomy titles, such as Burnham's.)

 

-- catalogman

[BwanaBob]

I think a better choice would be for WB to license the reprint rights to Dover Publications.

 

Unlike AAS, Dover specializes in reprints. (And they have had great success with other

astronomy titles, such as Burnham's.)

 

-- catalogman

Does Dover do hardcovers?  I wanted to get Night Sky Observers Guide Vols 3 and 4 to match 1 & 2.

[nohimn]

My habit of randomly checking WB for Annals vol. 8 lead me to this thread.

I called WB and he indicated there's already an interested party, so hopefully there's continuity there.

[FrenchStar]

My habit of randomly checking WB for Annals vol. 8 lead me to this thread.

I called WB and he indicated there's already an interested party, so hopefully there's continuity there.

 

Good to know!!!!