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by Joseph W. Zaehnsdorf
Published in London 1897
There is no occasion to wait for the book to be advanced as far as the backing before the workman sees to his
boards; but he should take advantage of the period of drying to prepare them, to look out the proper thickness of
the board, and to line them with paper either on one side or on both.
There are now so many kinds of mill-boards made that a few words about them may not be out of place. The best
boards are made of old rope, and cost about £30 per ton. The various mills make each a different quality, the prices
ranging down to £14 per ton; about this price the straw boards may be said to commence, hey going as low as £7,
and even less.
A new board has lately appeared called leather board; it is exceeding hard and durable. I made several
experiments with this board, but up to the present have not succeeded in getting it to lay flat on the book.
Boards are made to the various sizes in sheets varying from pott (17 ¼ x 14 ¼ inches) to double elephant (40 x
28 inches). The thickness is known as 6d., 7d., 8d.; 8x, or eightpenny one cross; 8xx, eightpenny two cross; X for
tenpenny. Here is a list in full of all the boards likely to be used:--
eight pieces; if 4to., into four; using a demy board for a demy book, or a royal for a royal book. To cut up he board,
first mark up as a guide for the mill-board shears.
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