Practical Bookbinding

the Bloc

impression on the leather or other material without the use of gold, whilst the othe

suitable selection and arrangement of the engraved blocks

be borne in mind that in an inscription or title the principal part (word or line) must be distinguished by larger or heavier type; furthermore, two lines of equal length must never appear in an inscription. Short words (the, and,

always fixed to the upper p

out the size of the article to be blocked, the blocks are arranged with the backs uppermost, the engraved face being next to the board. This board is fixed with wax exactly in the centre of the lower part of the press-the table. By "exactly in the centre" it is to be understood that the centre of the various blocks brought together

ard, or similar stuff, push in and press gently; the wrapper also may be waxed. After about five minutes, open the press to see whether all parts have stuck. Until this takes place the press must remain closed. If, however, all pieces are sticking fast, draw out the table and examine the imprint of each particular part to see whether

set-up blocks extend, the plate pushed in, and the press closed until the set-up blocks adhere to the upper plate. The lighter this first

-Blocki

nstruction of our modern blocking presses. For modern blocking w

ing plate-the so-called platen-wh

raw-out) plate and can be pulled out to the left. This plate is

her, and if the plate is in duplicate, four impressions can be ma

rners or hot irons used for heating the press; the latter

be blocked in the press so that it will

hich are adopted according to the kind of work in

e above and below the table but in such a way that they themselves are not touched by the plate. To prevent their falling off, a larger piece of cloth is pasted over them, always leaving the points visible. The surest preventive against falling off is to have screw-on gaug

h are finished after being once blocked on back or side which require no second impression may be adjusted with the angle gauge or blocks. Many make use of both

king two incisions about 2 cm. apart with the knife upon the turned-in edge at the place where it should

egister holes made with an awl. When pinning-on has to be done for blocking which has to be repeated very many times, the regis

nces used in b

tute for the thick layers of cardboard packing which make a fine impression impossible,

locking thin articles (backs of covers, &c.) and also for strengthening and equalising the resistance from below when working on heavier articles. Faults arisi

is wrappers or the thinnest board. After use they are kep

ilst the ornamental pieces may be arranged on the tables o

where very small type is used, unless special precautions are taken to prevent this. Here we will pass over the most important point in the ar

e recommended, because the letters do not admit of proper setting upon this gelatinous mass. Not only do the lines of letters require to be kept right by means of a strip of metal or metal line, they must be carefully adjusted after taking a light impression, especially when using a very small type. The first pull must be under so light a pressure that on a soft paper everything is distinctly

well as valuable covers, and one therefore tries to guard against it. Some take narrow strips of cloth and paste one round each line of type, othe

ed until all parts are thoroughly dry, for it is only then that we may feel assured that no parts can fall out. The drying may be hastened by opening the press about a quarter of an hour la

ed. It is necessary that the press should have been previously regulated to the thickness of the article being blocked, and to begin with a light pressure at first, as heavier pressure can be applied afterwards if required. Cloth requires sharper pressure

rticles which have become very dry. A good plan is to store them in a cellar the night before and to bring out only as many as can be finished i

s its splendid brown colour by being previously damped with boiled or distilled water to which a little spirit has been added. The impression on a damped ground is first made somewhat warmer and afterwards repeated when the press has coole

es, dissolved gelatine or blood serum is used almost exclusively. These liquids, which are applied with a sponge or, for fine work, with a brush, are called the "ground" or "sizing." Of dry adhesives, we know only the gilding powder, which

e finished without special sizing, and also surfaced papers and cardboard goods,

egg and one part vinegar; to every 1/2 litre 1 g. of powdered borax is added, the whole beaten to a froth and filtered. For coating-over, take one part white of egg, two parts water, and to every 1/2 litre add

blocking has to be done over colour on cloth. Yellow powder is softer and is apt to clog the finer cut tools; it

layer of fine gauze instead of a bottom. By tapping upon the box

powder is bought ready prepared-t

ver the whole surfaces and is laid on when lukewarm. Blood serum serves the same purpose. Ox blood is allowed to coagulate, and the hardened mass thus produced is placed over a cloth strainer, or hair sieve, and t

used only for sample cases and school books. Alloyed metal and aluminium (this is now commonly used instead

d rag. This must never be done to such a degree as to cause grease spots. Calf must not be thus treated with grease, but if the gold is not likely to stick at cer

n with a gilder's tip or a pad of cotton wool and transferred to the cover. The gilder's tips consist of square pieces of cardboard a little smaller than the

urface to be stamped, where it is pressed down with cotton wool, which should be surgical wool, as that kind is free from knots

d-knife, aided by a moistened finger-tip taking a corner, passed over the surface with the knife, brought to the required position with the hanging corner, and now the knife is taken away flat sideways

a black morocco goat-skin may stand a great heat, whilst on another day the same heat applied to similar stuff might burn it up. Clot

f egg (or gla

e of egg (or gl

of egg (or gla

of egg (or gla

ding powder sh

cardboards yellow s

light leathers s

white gilding po

ze, even for alloyed gold, but the covers must, however, be slightly moist. For this pu

board must be laid on the table and frequently changed, otherwise the impression will be defective. For ribbon

irmly enough on the bed to prevent its shifting, the block being affixed to the platen. Upon this first cardboard are laid the raised parts according to the height required, likewise cut out of stout cardboard, continuing to place a layer upon the other until a true negative of the block is obtained. Small and slightly raised ornamentation is not specially underlaid, using instead a piece o

ppers. The guide points must be made a little further apart on a

lish roller composition on a wooden pin, is used for colouring the blocks. The worker himself may cast these rollers in a well-greased mould. The roller composition is dissolved in water, and after being poured into the mould is allowed to stand a few hours to cool. The colour blocker keeps about th

-Colour

oller over it backwards and forwards. Both stone and roller must always be cleaned after use; perfect cleanliness must be carefully observed throughout. The stone is cleaned with petroleum, the

nd to suit the particular colour. Dammar varnish is suitable for light colours, and for darker colours amber varnish. Where great

tive must be added to every colour; a

locks have been secured to the plate, as th

een the impression in gold, and in this case it is generally

nt time the work is frequently produced requiring colours side by

n by the guide points pieces of vellum are firmly pasted, being already pierced for the guide points, these vellum additions being further secured by pasting over them a strip of paper or cloth. For every block to be used a similar board w

o the ground of the auxiliary matrix belonging to

surface, therefore it is wise with first-impression blocks, as well as larger colour plates, to

ception as they generall

made covers get half dry or, better,

brown, red, or colours containing much of these) are printed first; the cold tones (blue or others containing much blue) being afterwards laid on. White is al

ld be marked for reference, in the same way noting the proportion of the colours used in mixed colo

old upon red or yellow ochre, aluminium upon white, coloured bronze upon a suitable similar colour). Bronze is not printed upon col

omy to make a double working in bronze, the

ing powder, and with moderate heat. The colours, however, must previously be allowed to dry thoroughl

ng the colour on thickly but by properly mixing the colours, and often also by giving a second coat after the first surface has dried. Above al

ture as the room. In winter it is slightly warmed an hour

odges not easily communicated but wh

Stuck-on

ly used, but three little pieces of board are firmly glued to the table instead. The illustration (Fig. 67) will clear

e refixing in the event of their becoming loose, the gauge gen