Practical Bookbinding

Finis

the more elaborate finishing in gold is not done in the ordinary bindery, but is confined to the a

s teach finishing in a comparatively short time-usually in a few months-only the ground-work can thus be acquired, for it

om such an institution to work under strange conditions, where they have to struggle along with unfamiliar and perhaps unsuitable and antiquated tools, bad light, and other drawbacks, it is not to be wondered at if they-at the outset, at least-do not answer all expectations. Similar inconveniences have less effe

the rule, and even to-day the fillet, although improved in make, still retains its place as a suitable tool for the decoration of leather backs and sides. Speaking generally, blind tooling is not sufficiently appreciated by finishers, especially in shops doing much hand tooling; to many it is almos

n the work of finishing, a few pre

eculiarity and beauty consist in its rendering the tooling on the leather in a darker tone. Blind tooling may be executed upon leathers of any colo

evious to tooling. As it is well that the whole surface to be tooled should retain

he fillets, which may be single, double, or tri

out should be damped with a suitable brush. The instant the moisture has been absorbed by the leather, the tool should be applied. There should be no hissing, as the tool should be only lukewarm f

74-Simple l

roll it is passed over a we

iently damped; if darker at another place from the beginning, then that part was too damp. Success

care, complete success is assu

roll a little hotter, at the same time rubbing the roll well with the greased cloth. If there had been unevenness in the depth of

ally good impression. In order to secure a good impression from a die it is necessary to apply it promptly, and press without hesitating as to where to begin. To ensure all parts of the tool being well impressed, its surface is slightly curved lengthwise, and according to this curve the die must be rocked to and fro whilst impressing. If too much time is wasted before the die is applied the impression will turn out lighter. By a

ss wealthy just as it was 300 years ago, for in such a style of decoration the utmost

calf extra to

inding with simpl

t for tooling upon the back the so-called fillets are generally used, which likewise are used only for lines or patterns. Besides, certain kinds of ornaments are here printed with dies-the rows of letters with the type-holder in which these are set. All these tools are heated over a flame-best ove

le gold tool

the boards, especially on paper-covered boards; t

sharp folder, picked out with glair, and the go

-Tooled

d clean) and slightly greased roll is lightly passed over it so that the strip of gold adheres to the

gold rag), and only the printed line is

oling done in the Düss

uld hiss a little when tested. Goat-skin requires a heat almost sufficient to produce hissing, whilst hissing would indicate too hot a tool for use on morocco, and all sheep-skins will bear only moderate heat. If the roll was too hot, the gold would have no brilliance, and if too cold, would appear b

binding by Osw

true diagonal corner; one corner being made for the beginning and the other for the end. Of course it is impossible to print long lines with only one revolution of the roll. The roll is run along the line from starting point until near the end, lifted off, and again placed on the spot just quitted, a little behind the starting point of the roll, so that this part d

l motive done in the Düs

heated roll; but in using wider rolls it is better to lay the gol

d once more tooled. The beginner generally finds that the gold does not stick at

, yet we know of a number of cases where white of egg alone is insufficient to fulfil this purpose-not, indeed, because it is unsuitable, but because

ought to rub it down on the raw side with best olive oil; it will thus receive a substitute for the lost natural fatty matter and become more supple. This oiling,

ze, no matter whether it be made from vellum, gelatine, or glue. It must not, h

ed in a sort of glue-pot. This sizing must be used very thin and should not be quite cold. In using o

unpolished calf-but here there is a real necessity for it. In this case it is liberally laid on in large sweeps with a sponge-not new, and fr

bout 10 grammes of tragacanth to 1/4 litre water are soaked in a vessel, and after swelling it is well stirr

zing will be found suff

sizing, particularly silk and velvet. The latter is no longer fini

is used; it is to be had either white or yellow,

temperature of the tools used upon the various material

hissing when tested; medium, i.e., just on the border of hissing; hot, slightly hissing. In the following grou

leather (without previous sizi

size, white of egg): medium h

ut sizing, white of

hed morocco (glue size-painte

l (without sizing, wh

as it is thereby rendered less liable to finger marks. In the very best shops there is still another method. The leather is washed

be finished in gold it is washed with alum solution and, for gol

on by means of a powder-box, over which is str

ientious finisher will always avoid it. It may be excused when a name has to be printed on a Prayer-book or similar article in a hurry, or when an ar

e many changes of temperature, as the latter greatly affects this material. Its brig

tools must be done slowly, and with hot tools quickly

h fern motive done in the D

shape. Nearly all beginners are unreasonably afraid to use the gouge. Any one able to use the roll properly will have little difficulty with the gouges. A genuine technical difficulty does ari

gouges are chosen according to the design, so that the tools placed thereon cover the outlined design exactly, an

and to print the curve sloping instead of

joinings cannot be concealed; they may be used for making

e gold toolin

er again until the whole is perfect an

by continuous rocking of the hand to right and left, as they are fond of doing when lettering with a type-holder. This practice is fundamentally wrong. Work finis

e consists of a line close to the edge of the board and also one close to the end paper and a connecting line at the corner; such an edge is previously

d for squares. Tools

Two designs in g

used for a run on of any length without a break. For smaller margins and cheap work the rolls are frequently run over each other. This saves time but it does not produce a nice effect, as the design is blurred at the point of crossing. It is better to lay the gold leaf on one side and to remove it exactly at the corner and then tool; the side next to it is now treated in exactly the same way, giving special attention to the removal of the leaf at the corner. The design is thus made to join together at the corners without crossing, be

e simple backs. T, d, B =

this work the volume is placed in a little wooden press which finds a place

holder with c

curately upon a strip of cardboard. Blind lines are made upon cloth before the latter has become quite dry; in other cases tool the first impression hot and vigorously, pick out the impression with white of egg, and then tool with lukewarm fillets. In making lines, the fill

er for printing. The type-holder, with the letters, must never be placed over the heating stove, for in Germany letters made of lead are still most generally used, and these would melt very quickly if

the following general r

es from the same

r) type use Gothic letters; for books print

uld be set either in lower

tin in a title a

used in the titles of books, not even at the end;

line is always made u

our backs tooled in the Dü

e and choice of types, the f

tch-words) should be made prom

ks tooled in Carlsru

ecorated insides done in the

d, or, &c.) is placed between the lines, the more effective

d not come together; long and shor

in type a little smaller t

, and 101-Four ri

e is selected and arranged so that it rises in

best title tells what the book is in very few wor

h half-calf

m which the spaces can be measured. The best guide is the eye. The distance between the lines should be equ

nes must come a little closer than when a line having long downstrokes (poppy, Ganges, &c.) comes over one having long upstrokes. In this respect the b

with the title panel enclosed within a square with only a fine double line at the head and tail and also a fine line close to the head is perhaps t

line pieces for the work. It is easier to print straight with the roll than with the line pieces, which require sk

(pp. 149, 150, 151) as well as a few richly tooled half-calf bindi

nd 104-Tool

he surface. Fillets and rolls are generally used for this work, being worked on the cap as seen in the illustrations, and always directed towards a cen

ations give suggestions

107-Tooling on the

uted in the Düsseldo

along the straight edge. The line is drawn away from the worker, that is, contrary to the way one would draw a line with a lead pencil. Lines are drawn

ect them from injury. For trade purposes this is

protect book. Fig

re either pasted together

ver. Fig. 112-Co

. They are always pasted, covered with a dark pressed paper; and the edge at t

would be cut from stout paper, generally calf-leather

joint at each side; this part is, therefore, covered with cloth, which extend