HINTS ON REPAIRING BOOKS 



How an Amateur Can Easily Keep HiV 

 Volumes, Old and New, in the Best o; 

 Condition 



fS, H. % In T. P.'s Weeklyl 

 Having taken up book-binding a 

 hobby, and remembering my former n 

 or less futile attemps at '■mending 

 books, I feel that there may be m 

 booklovers who would be glad of a few 

 hints as to the right way to set to work 

 when a book and its cover show signs 

 of Darting company, or the "plates" e 



to* 



Imple repairs as c 

 without any elabo 



T ha\ 



biiiflii 

 story; 

 as a hobby, an> 

 further infonna 

 To take the 

 everyone knows 

 trations on spec 

 the text) have f 

 ing loose, espe 

 glazed paper, as 



pasted. These plates ought always to 

 be "guarded," us it is termed, i. e.. prop- 

 erly included in the sewing of the book, 

 but this is seldom done now except in 

 expensive books, the pasting-on method 

 being tiuicker: 



As prevention Is better than cure, I 

 will first describe how a new book should 

 be treated in order to prevent the plates 

 from coming out. Bend back the plate 

 carefully up to the point where it is 

 pasted on, look to see that the crease 

 is straight, then c.-ease It gently with 

 the thumb-nail. The effect of this will 

 be that In turning the leaves of the 

 book the plate will frll back naturally 

 instead of dragging the leaf with it, 

 Which so often causes It to come loose. 

 To refasten plates which have come 

 loose, take three or four at a time, lay 

 them face downwards on a piece of 

 waste paper, with the edges to be pasted 

 away from you. Let the bottom one 

 project nearly one-quarter of an inch 

 beyond the next, and sc on. so that each 

 has a strip of that width exposed. 



Lay a straight piece of waste paper on 

 the top of the last one; now by pasting all 



Ins 



r they should be "broken back" as 

 over. • ' 



II now take the case of a book 

 vholly or partiully out of its cover. 

 1 apply to ordinary cloth-cased 

 t to leather bindings, which de- 

 re expert treatment.) This often 

 vhen the book itself is sound, and 

 ■equlre re-sewing ; a description of 

 the sewing process must be reserved for a 



consulted. The book must first be entirely 

 omoved from the cover, by slitting lip the 

 limsy canvas stuff which will probably he 

 howing at the joint, but being unrefnl not 

 o cut the tapes (if any) on which the book 

 s sewn: these must be simply lifted sway 

 rom the board. Now all the lining of can- 

 as and paper must be removed from the 

 back. This will often peel off quite easily ; 

 if it gives trouble the book should bo put in 

 the press, the back well aamped with water 

 • thin paste, and the lining scraped off 

 Ith a paper knife. Next tear off the old 

 :nd papers" — the single sheets, sometimes 

 colored, which originally formed one piece 

 with tile sheet pasted down On the board. 

 Take two folded she.eti) of whit" or colored 

 paper the size of the book or slightly larger 

 (they can be trimmed down afterwards), 

 paste litem at the back as described for 

 pasting 



rubbing down with a toothbrush handle. 



Sheets of note paper make very good end 

 papers for small hooks. 



Now take a piece of strong calico, or 

 hollatld, such as curtains ai'B made of, large 

 enough to cover the back and project about 

 one inch on each side ; glue the back of the 

 book, and attach the calico, rubbing down 

 with the toothbrush handle. Take a piece 

 of brown or other stout paper, cut It to the 

 width of the back, glue the back again over 

 the calico, put on the paper and rub down 

 as before. When dry, trim off the calico 

 and paper at the head and tail of the book, 

 and this part of the work is finished. 



Now the cover must be soen to. First 

 remove all the canvas remaining on tho 

 boards, also the paper lining from the 

 back, unless this is qultj good. Take 

 si fresh strip of paper, glue the back 

 of the cover and attach the paper, pass- 

 ing it under the turnover of the cloth a 

 head and tail. If the cloth is torn at the 

 hack, a piece of calico may bo put on 

 instead of this paper, extending ovp.r the 

 boards for one-half inch or so; rub It 

 well down at tho edges of the boards. 

 Before doing this, however, the book 

 must be put In the ease to try Ut there 

 is room to allow for this lining without 

 making thf case too tight. Instead of 

 the calico, Whatman's banknote paper 

 mav be used, this being very thin and 

 strong, and exceedingly useful for mend- 

 ing. 



If the outer corners of the boards are 

 bent or bruised, put a little paste on 

 them and hammer them care'vlly into 

 shape on a rtone or fiatlron; when dry 

 they will be quite hard and stiff, 

 put th< 



Pressing Tins are plates which may he 

 cut out of the sides of a bisoult box; 

 about 10 In. by 7 in. will be a useful sir.i j 

 for ordinary books. 



Those who go in for sewing -win re . 

 quire a press, for illustrations of which I 

 as well as description of the sewing pro- 

 cess, I must refer them to the books I 

 mentioned below. 



The heavy cumbersome presses used I 

 in the trade cost about 7s.; a substitute I 

 may be made for a few pence as follow*': ( 



Instead of a screw upright make plain up- I 

 rights with a fixed crossbar of flat wood at I 

 the top. Procure at an ironmonger's three L 

 wire fence strainers, fitted with thumb > 

 screws. Make a slit in the top bar f or 1 

 these to work in. The cords for sewing I 

 can then he fastened to the hooks and F 

 tightened when In position. 



don't forget to 

 tip! (I once sa' 

 with gilt tooling- 

 side down.) See 



n to the cover, and 

 ; is the right w*y 

 eather-bound book 

 title, "tlnl8hed" up- 

 It is straight, with 

 equally all round; 

 ble, the turn back 

 end- 



tlie cover projecting eq 

 lay It down on the table 

 the upper hoard. Paste 

 paper, first putting a waste piece urn* 

 Math, to protect the book; lay the tapes 

 and calico joint on the pasted paper and 

 rub down: paste again over the calico. 

 Now see that the book has not shifted 

 from I'- proper position, then carefully 

 brine over the top board on to the pasted 

 paper and press down sllg'.tly. Lift ,t 

 again' with the paper attached; lay it on 

 tfie edge of the table so that the board 

 rests firmly on the table, a:-.d press w..-!l 

 down (not rub) with the palm of the 



'vou are content to wait, the book 



lis 



. sta 



until dr 



itho it 



" nres'sln's "tin being inserted, 

 sheets of the book will be cockled. The 

 other end-paper Is then treated In the 

 same way; when both are dry (or par 

 thillv so) the book should, if possible 

 be pressed, or put under a heavy weight 

 Pat pressing tins inside the boards and 

 wooden boards outside, leaving the back 

 .goosed, and screw up the press. 



Materials— The only special apparatus 

 rccuired is a P ress of some sort; evt ' n 

 thU may be dispensed with. The real 

 thing is a bookbinder's "laying press;" a 

 carpenter s vise would answer, or the 

 book may be screwed up between the 

 leaves of a dining table. 



Gllle _A glue pot is not an expensive 

 item- as a substitute, however, a jam pot 

 and a saucepan may be used. Break the 

 eaue into small pieces and soak it in 

 water overnight; it will then melt when 

 the water bolls. Add water to the glue 



* r necessary: it should be fairly thin. 



1 Paste'mav bo bought. "Stlckphast" la 

 5 bcst or may be made as follows: Mix 



* i ounces flour to a smooth paste, with a 



* little cold water; add a pint, a saltspoon- 

 9 ful of powdered alum, and one drachm 

 I essence of cloves. Boil ten minutes, con- 

 P stantly stirring, then pour into a stone 



jar. This will keep for a considerable 



f. ■ 'mMmm 



