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by Joseph W. Zaehnsdorf
3rd Edition Published in London 1897
bed, a heating box, heated by means of red-hot irons, two side
pillars to guide the box in a true line, and attached to it a screw
connected at the top with a bar or arm, having at each
extremity an iron ball. The block, having been fixed to a plate
at the bottom of the heated box, the side of the book was laid
down on the bed, and by swinging the arm round the block
descended upon the book. The arm was then swung back, and
the next book put into place. It will be seen that this incurred a
great loss of time.
The next improvement consisted in having a press that only
moved a quarter circle, with almost instantaneous action; and
another improvement connected with the bed was, that by
means of screws and gauges, when the block was once set, a
boy or an inexperienced hand might with ease finish off
hundreds of copies, all with equal pressure. By referring to the
woodcut opposite, the press and its action will be seen and
working. It can be adjusted to any amount of pressure, as it is regulated by the bed underneath.
The next step in progress was the introduction of printing in different colours upon the cloth, and intermixing them
with gold. Messrs. Hopinsou and Cope’s machines may be mentioned. They are made to be driven by steam, and will
print and emboss from 500 to 600 covers per hour, and are heated by steam or gas. The inking apparatus is placed
at the back of the press, so that while the workman is placing another cover, the ink roller, by automatic action, inks
the block ready for the next impression. The inking or printing of the covers is done without heat, so, to avoid loss of
time, an arrangement is made that the heating box can be cooled immediately by a steam of water passed through it.
Messrs. Kampe and Co. have just brought out a blocking machine, which they claim to be superior to any in the trade.
It will block at the rate of 700 to 800 covers per hour. The pressure is obtained by one of the most powerful of
mechanical appliances, and it can be adjusted to block either paper or leather.
The tools required for blocking are called blocks or stamps. These may be composed of very small pieces, or may be of
one block cut to the size of the book. In any case, the block has to be fastened to the moveable plate at the bottom
of the heating box. To block the plate at the bottom of the heating box. To block the sides of a book, take a stout
piece of paper and glue it upon a moveable plate. Then take the book, and having set the blocks upon the side in
exact position, place the side or board upon which are placed the blocks upon the bed of the blocking press, leaving
the volume hanging down in front of the press. The bed is now to be fixed, so that the centre of the board is exactly
under and in the centre of the heating box. When quite true, the sides and back gauges are fixed by screws. Pull the
lever so that a slight pressure upon the plate be given: release the press, and take out the book and examine if all be
correct. Some of the blocks may require a small piece of paper as a pad, so as to increase the pressure, others to be
shifted a little. Now glue the back of the stamps and replace them in their respective places.
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