s 138 [Assembly 



The frame work and table of the Jfiiiishing machine resemble 

 those of the backer with one exception. The entire side posts of 

 the former are upright, whereas the upper pai-t of tlie frame of 

 Ihe latter has an inclination of about thirty-five degrees back- 

 ward. Instead of the jaws, as described in the backer, for hold- 

 ing the book, the finisher has an iron box, or book-holder, open 

 at the top, and enclosed by tlie bottom, two sides and two ends; 

 one side being movable. In this box the book is inserted at the 

 top, the front of the book resting on a false bottom placed inside, 

 of the thickness required to sustain the book in its proper eleva- 

 tion. When the book is inserted, the two sides are brought 

 together upon it by the screws whicli are turned by a crank and 

 suitable gearing, as is done in the case of the backer. 



This box is suspended in the same manner as are the jaws of 

 the backer. The embossing and gilding tools are held and ope- 

 rated in the same way as the roller in the other machine, the 

 tools being lieated by steam or hot irons in the head or tool- 

 holder. 



Both in backing and finishing by these machines, it is requisite 

 to raise and lower the jaws and box, in proportion to the thick- 

 ness of the book to be operated on ; so as to bring the centre of 

 the radius of the book to correspond to the centre of the journals 

 on whicli they are turned. The head or tool-liolder, must also 

 be raised or lowered by means of the screws at the top of the 

 frame, and the lifts between the head and the frame. 



The advantage of tliis method of finishing books, bound iu 

 leather, over that of the fiat pressure before they are covered, 

 consists in the following particulars. In the latter mode a case 

 is made for tlie cover, ami an open or loose back is the conse- 

 quence. A book thus bound is but faintly held together. Or 

 the leather must be put upon tlie book dry, with extra care, and 

 consequent loss of time, and accumulation of expense ; to pre- 

 .serve the embossing from being obliterated, or tlie gilding from 

 being defaced. Whereas, by the use of this new machine, the 

 books are forwarded iu tlie usual manner with tight backs, the 

 leather being firmly glued on the back. 



