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by Joseph W. Zaehnsdorf
Published in London 1897
Book Binding Wire Equipment
book, it requires great judgment to keep down the swelling of
the book to the proper amount necessary to form a good
backing groove and no more. In order to do this, the sheets
must from time to time be gently tapped down with a piece of
wood or a heavy folding-stick, and great care must be
observed to avoid drawing the fastening of the kettle stitch
too tight, or the head and tail of the book will be thinner than
the middle; this fault once committed has no remedy. If the
sections are very thin, or in half sheets, they may, if the book
is very thick, be sewn "two sheets on." The needle is passed
from the kettle stitch to the first band of the first sheet and
out, then another sheet is placed on the top, and the needle
inserted at the first band and brought out at band No. 2, the
needle is again inserted in the first sheet and in at the second
band and out at No. 3, thus treating the two sections as one;
in this way it is obvious that only half as much thread will be in
the back.
heads cut, it will be necessary to open
each sheet carefully up to the back before
it is placed on the press, otherwise the
centre may not be caught, and two or more
leaves will be detached after the book is
bound. The first and last sections of every
book should be overcast for strength.
With regard to books that are composed of
single leaves, they are treated of in
Chapter III. They are to be overcast, and
each section treated as a section of an
ordinary book, the only difference being,
that a strong lining of paper should be
given to the back before covering, so that
it cannot "throw up".
When a book is sewn, it is taken from the
sewing press by slackening the screws
which tighten the beam, so that the cord
may be easily detached from the keys and
lay cords. The cord may be left at its full
length until the end papers are about to be
put on, when it must be reduced to about
three inches.
Brehmer's patent wire book and pamphlet
sewing machine is an introduction well
adapted to the use of the stationer, where
thick and hand-made paper will bear such
a method. It will not, in my opinion, ever be
found eligible for library or standard books.
Its high price will debar it from the trade
generally: but it is to be feared that a
sufficient number of really good books may
be sewn with it to cause embarrassment to
the first-rate
books with wire. The novelty of this machine is, that the book is sewn with wire instead of thread. The machine is fed
with wire from spools by small steel rollers, which at each revolution supply exactly the length of wire required
to form little staples with two legs. Of these stapes, the machine makes at every revolution as many as are required
for each sheet of the book that is being sewn - generally two or three, or more, as necessary. These wires or
staples are forced through the sections from the inside of the folds; and as the tapes are stretched, and held by
clasps exactly opposite to each staple-forming and inserting apparatus, the legs of each staple penetrate the tapes,
and project through them to a sufficient distance to allow of their being bent inwards towards each other, and
pressed firmly against the tapes. With pamphlets, copy-books, catalogues, etc., not tape is used, the staples
themselves being sufficient. About two thousand pamphlets or sheets can be sewn in one hour.
Another machine, and I believe the latest, is the "Smythe." The sewer sits in front of the machine and places the
sheets, one at a time, on radial arms which project from a vertical rod. These arms rotate, rise, and adjust the
sheets, so as to bring them in their proper position under the curved needles. As each arm rises, small holes are
pierced, by means of punches in the sheets, from the inside, to facilitate the entrance and egress of
the needles. The loopers then receive a lateral movement to tighten the stitch, and this movement is made
adjustable, in order that books may be sewn tight or loose, as required. About 20,000 sheets can be sewn in a day,
and no previous sawing is required. Thread is used with this machine.
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