Wilton Encyclopedia's

Decorating By leily Updated 23 Jul 2005 , 6:15am by SquirrellyCakes

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leily Posted 21 Jul 2005 , 10:36pm
post #1 of 16

Does anyone know what these are going for now? I have seen them on ebay in quite a range. Any where from $10 to $50. Are there more sought after ones? Does anyone have these? Which ones do you recommend getting? I have never actually seen them and was wondering if they would be a good investment.

Thanks
Leily

15 replies
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AgentCakeBaker Posted 21 Jul 2005 , 11:32pm
post #2 of 16

I don't have any of them but I heard that they are very popular. My Wilton class instructor told us we should invest in them. I haven't tried yet b/c everyone is after those books.

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peg818 Posted 22 Jul 2005 , 12:03am
post #3 of 16

They are very informative, but the pictures are very dated. Worth what they are going for?? I don't know if i would pay $50plus for one, but i do think new i paid $30 a piece for them.

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leily Posted 22 Jul 2005 , 12:04am
post #4 of 16

thanks for your quick responses. I have been watching them and think I will start to invest in them, a little at a time of course.

Thanks again.

Leily

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Annendean Posted 22 Jul 2005 , 1:56am
post #5 of 16

Hi,

I am very new to cake decorating and my instructor recommended encyclopedia number 1 and number 3 (she said she seldom used number 2 and only buy it if you can get it at a good price). Both books are full of helpful information such as how to use each tip, how to make flowers, different types of borders, and much more. The photos are clear and I have been very pleased with both books. I paid $50.00 for book one and $30 for book 3; I feel the books were worth every penny.

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SquirrellyCakes Posted 22 Jul 2005 , 1:21pm
post #6 of 16

I have the three, I found the price varies a lot on all of them. I bought one from E-bay and the others from used book sites like Abe's. The pattern books that go with each book are really a must have and these are hard to get. They are not generally sold with the books but separately. They are folders with patterns for some of the cakes in the books. There is one for each of the three volumes. Now these can get really pricey and a lot of people are selling photocopies of the patterns, not the originals. You can only find the pattern books on E-bay, the used book dealers do not have them.
Volume Three, the use of Tubes is the most popular as it is really useful and will show you how to use just a few tips to achieve all different designs.
I agree that the pictures can be dated looking, but many of the designs are still being used today. In my mind they are still the best books available with "How To" details. I have learned how to do many things from these books, without courses, so I am sold on them!
The prices you pay should reflect the condition of the books.
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes

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Sugar Posted 22 Jul 2005 , 1:30pm
post #7 of 16

It seems like a lot of money for information you could find elsewhere. Or even online, for free. I'll eather go here or to another website to look for information. I just got a few books at the library that I'm thumbing through nightly.

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SquirrellyCakes Posted 22 Jul 2005 , 1:52pm
post #8 of 16

That is one way of looking at it too!
I just found that having the information available to be in three books, was very useful. Also, much of the advice that I give, instructions and such, was and is from these books.
For the most part, I do not find that you can get the step-by-step instructions that these books provide.
In the U.S.A., Wilton was always at the forefront in the cake decorating field. Many of the finest decorators started off with the Wilton courses and branched out on their own. Many of the designs and ideas are from these books. I keep seeing "New Designs" that were actually taken from these books.
Many folks are writing books today or claiming design ideas as their own when they were actually taken from these books. Many of the current Yearbook designs are also from designs in these books.
Each of these books are over 300 pages in length and are encyclopedia sized. Folks are paying $25 to $40 dollars for books like the "Whimsical Bakehouse..." and Cake Mix Doctor etc. These books are nowhere near the length and do not have the details of the encyclopedias, at least not in my view.
The books detail figure piping, sugarpaste modelling, Royal Icing decorations, various flowers in various icings, structures such as houses - just about anything you can think of and more. There are recipes, information on chocolate modelling.
For me, these are the best investment I have made in this hobby. I cannot tell you how many tutorials I see on these cake sites where the information was taken from these books.
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes

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jjandascog Posted 22 Jul 2005 , 6:22pm
post #9 of 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by SquirrellyCakes

That is one way of looking at it too!
I just found that having the information available to be in three books, was very useful. Also, much of the advice that I give, instructions and such, was and is from these books.
For the most part, I do not find that you can get the step-by-step instructions that these books provide.
In the U.S.A., Wilton was always at the forefront in the cake decorating field. Many of the finest decorators started off with the Wilton courses and branched out on their own. Many of the designs and ideas are from these books. I keep seeing "New Designs" that were actually taken from these books.
Many folks are writing books today or claiming design ideas as their own when they were actually taken from these books. Many of the current Yearbook designs are also from designs in these books.
Each of these books are over 300 pages in length and are encyclopedia sized. Folks are paying $25 to $40 dollars for books like the "Whimsical Bakehouse..." and Cake Mix Doctor etc. These books are nowhere near the length and do not have the details of the encyclopedias, at least not in my view.
The books detail figure piping, sugarpaste modelling, Royal Icing decorations, various flowers in various icings, structures such as houses - just about anything you can think of and more. There are recipes, information on chocolate modelling.
For me, these are the best investment I have made in this hobby. I cannot tell you how many tutorials I see on these cake sites where the information was taken from these books.
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes





Could you tell me the titles of these books, please? I would like to look for them but it is much easier if you know the exact titles...

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Sugar Posted 22 Jul 2005 , 6:43pm
post #10 of 16

Well now I want them too! icon_lol.gif

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leily Posted 22 Jul 2005 , 9:32pm
post #11 of 16

SquirrellyCakes, Thanks for all that helpful advice. Would you be able to post the years these books were published? I have searched on ebay and some people use the words Encyclopedia loosely. I want to make sure I don't bid on one thing and it end up being another. I appreciate all your information!

Leily

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MichelleG Posted 23 Jul 2005 , 12:18am
post #12 of 16

I'm with you there, I would like all the information I can get , so I can go looking for copies for me. Thank you

SquirrellyCakes are you a school teacher? You write beautifully and in a lot of detail

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marilyn Posted 23 Jul 2005 , 12:46am
post #13 of 16

I have all three of them also. I bought them from Kitchen krafts about 5 yrs ago for about $30 each. I just looked for them and I guess they are not selling them anymore. They are a big help when trying to learn new flowers. The new yearbooks are having less flowers each year but you can find about any flower in those. They also show different methods like royal icing, gumpaste, etc. Theres alot you can learn in those books. Marilyn

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leily Posted 23 Jul 2005 , 4:39am
post #14 of 16

*doing the happy dance*

I found Encyclopedia Vol. 3 on Ebay as a Buy it Now for $10.00 and $2.99 S&H!!! So I found it for $13.00 Yeah!! I am so excited, I can't wait to get it and look through it.

I appreciate everyones opinions on the books. Now I have to keep my eye out for the other two volumes.

Thanks again icon_biggrin.gif

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SquirrellyCakes Posted 23 Jul 2005 , 5:27am
post #15 of 16

Haha, I like the comment about being a school teacher, but no, as much as I would be very proud to call that profession my own, I am not one of that highly respected calling!
I tend to write a lot in detail, I can see you all rolling on the floor laughing, haha! The funny thing is every so often I try to shorten posts and folks always ask for more detail So I am becoming convinced that there may well be a lot of people like me that like steps and a lot of detail. Either that or they are humouring me, haha!
Well, there were various editions published of the three volumes, so when an edition or publication was sold out, sometimes another newer edition was printed. Unless you are an avid book collector looking for a volume from the original printings, it doesn't really matter. However this does influence the price. As with all books, with collectors they are looking for first editions, not second and thirds.
The titles:
the Wilton Way of Cake Decorating
Volume One
A Complete Encyclopedia
Edited By Eugene T. And Marilynn C. Sullivan
Published in 1974
Library of Congress Catalog Number 74-13330
International Standard Book Number 0-912696-04-4
Printed and Bound In Italy by Campi Editore, Foligno
Original Price U.S. $25
I have a second edition. These books are only available in hardcover The hardcover is red. There is a paperjacket with pictures of cakes on these books. If the paperjacket is missing or damaged the book is worth less and this should be reflected in the price.
There are pattern books available for all three volumes. The colour of the folder the patterns are in should be red for the first volume.
the Wilton Way Pattern Book
All The Patterns Needed For Cakes And Other Decorated Confections In
The Wilton Way of Cake Decorating - Volume One The print colour on the pages should match the folder colour, for example for book One the print should be red. If it is black, you are getting a photocopy.

the Wilton Way of Cake Decorating
Volume Two
A Complete Encyclopedia
ISBN )-912696-11-7
I do not have a publication date for this.
Contributors To This Book
Norman Wilton
Michael Nitzsche
Amy Rohr
Manuel Lopez
Larry Olkiewicz
Published to honor Wilton's soon-to-be celebrated Golden Anniversary
Original Price U.S.$29.95
The hardcover is green and the dust jacket is green with pictures of cakes.
The pattern book is:
The Wilton Way Pattern Book
All The Patterns Needed For Cakes And Other Decorated Confections In the Wilton Way of Cake Decorating - Volume Two. The Folder is green and the print inside on the patterns and instructions should also be green.
Again if it is black, it is a photocopy.
The Wilton Way of Cake Decorating
Volume Three
The Uses Of Tubes Edited by Eugene T. and Marilynn C. Sullivan
Copywright 1979
ISBN 0-912696-16-8
Library of Congress Number 74-13330
Hardcover, brown with dustjacket with brown as background colour and cakes

Pattern Book - brown with brown print on patterns and instructions. Again if the print is black, it is a photocopy.
The Wilton Way
Volume Three
Pattern Book
All the patterns needed for cakes and decorated confections in
The Wilton Way Of Cake Decorating - Volume Three
Well, here I have never ever seen these books in the libraries. Haha, likely if I had, I would still have bought them because I prefer to have reference items handy.
I have never taken the Wilton courses, but I have learned a lot from these books in the three years that I have owned them. I suppose that I wish I had them many years ago.
There are only certain books I purchase, for example, I don't normally get the yearbooks or the patterns for them unless there are several cakes in the books that are of interest to me.
I suppose it has to do with how you learn and such. I learn a lot from seeing a picture, I can pretty well figure out how something is done once I see it. I am not one for copying other folks' cakes, so maybe this is why there isn't the appeal for me with the yearbooks and such books with other folks' cakes. I love to see other people's work, but I am not keen on copying them.
I have paid a fortune to get one of the pattern books, way more than what it cost me to purchase the encylopedias, but that particular pattern book was in high demand and the supplies of these are very limited. Which explains why folks are selling photocopies and passing them off as originals. It is actually illegal to do so, but where there is a dollar to be made, this doesn't stop them.
For many years folks have tried to get Wilton to put out new editions. Apparently to have the same quality of book reprinted would cost a fortune and this is why they are not doing so. These are Italian hardcover well bound books and this quality just isn't around anymore.
When you are looking into purchasing these books, what you need to know is the ISBN - which is the International Standard Book Number. This is a really easy way of identifying the book. It is used by dealers of used books. Abe's is a good reliable and reputable book dealer. There are other companies that deal in used books too but read up on the reputations of the dealers. They have rating systems for the condition of the books, the boundings, the dustjackets etc which will influence the price you will pay. On E-bay, you don't have these standards. So you may pay top dollar for a book with a missing dustjacket, a broken spine, missing pages, stains, molds etc.
You will pay more for an older edition or original first printing of these books also. However a reputable dealer will not charge a premium price for a first edition book if it is in really bad condition.
I was never able to find a used book dealer or broker that sold the pattern books. The pattern books were actually produced after the books were published and were sold separately. Some E-bay dealers will sell the book along with the pattern book but unless specifically stated, your purchase will not include the pattern book.
It has been my experience that though you can purchase the books from places like Chapters and such that deal in second hand books or used books, the quality of condition is not as rigourously graded and you are paying top dollar. That is just my opinion.
Hope that helps folks,
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes

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SquirrellyCakes Posted 23 Jul 2005 , 6:15am
post #16 of 16

Hhmn, you would think with the length of that post, I would have covered everything, haha, but I forgot to mention this. Be very careful to insure that the books or patterns are not missing any pages. Ask the dealer specifically, I know several folks that have purchased these books on E-bay only to find pages missing or patterns missing.
Hugs Squirrelly

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