122 
ItERAMIC STUDIO 
of the book to be corrected. Even professionals often have 
to try several times before the book is in the right position, 
when the press may be screwed up. 
Backing is a wrist movement, literally "down and out," 
as shown in the same illustration. First beat the edges 
over to form the joints, then take out the book and see if 
the two joints are exactly alike and the two ends rounded 
equally, if not, and they are very likely not to be, correct 
the fault by hammering it again. 
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The joints being well started, screw up the press as 
tightly as possible, and begin the backing, striking with 
steady pressure all along the back, so that the sections slant 
slightly toward the joint on each side. Keep at it till the 
back is smooth and hard, and leave it to dry over night. 
The skill and speed of a good backer, and the peculiar twist 
of the wrist holding the hammer, come only by practice. 
While the book is drying the boards may be prepared. 
Books sewed on tape should have double boards, between 
which the ends of the tape are glued. One of these should 
be of rather thin English mill board, the other of common 
straw board. A large piece of each, twice the width of the 
cover, with at least an inch margin all around, should be 
used, that is, if the book is 5 x 7 inches — twice that size 
would be 10x7 and an inch margin all around would make 
12x9 inches. Square the board using a steel try square 
and a sharp knife . Draw a line along the long side of the 
board (see Illus. No. 10, sketch B marked V V) and a line 
down the center, marked middle line. On each side of the 
middle line, two inches from it, draw, with a compass , lines as 
marked in same sketch. 
Cut a strip of paper four inches wide and as long as the 
board and lay it on the space formed by the two inch lines 
each side of the middle line — on either side of this paper 
cover the board quickly with glue, and lay the other board 
over, and put in press. The paper prevents the glue from 
getting into the space to be occupied by the tapes. The 
boards should be left in the press over night, The measure- 
ments for the sides of the book should allow one eighth of 
an inch margin, from the joint, and at the top and bottom. 
If the sheet is 5 x 7 inches, one eighth at the top and one- 
eighth at the bottom gives one fourth to be added to the 
length, and one eighth in front, making the boards 5 J x -]\. 
The boards should be cut along the line marked in the middle 
of the mill board, and the two pieces folded together along 
this line, mill board in, and stuck together with a streak of 
paste, then put in the press a few minutes. 
The press used for cutting mill board is expensive, hence 
not included in this outfit, so our boards must be taken to 
a bindery to be cut. The straight edges with the two inch 
spaces must be used as the basis of measurement. Give the 
binder the exact dimensions you wish the boards to be. The 
boards being cut, all the edges should be sand-papered, 
and are then ready to attach to the book. First paste the 
tapes down to the waste end-paper. Then on each end of 
this, measure one inch from the joint and connect these 
points with a line. Cut along this, and' there remains a 
flap one inch wide which can be fitted between the two 
thicknesses of the cover board. Take out the slip of paper 
which was between the mill board and the straw board and 
put glue in the space. Put in the flap, mill board being 
outside. Push the board very carefully into position, one 
eighth inch from the joint — forming a "French joint" — 
and see that it is parallel the whole length, and that the 
top and bottom margins are equal, and parallel with the 
edges of the book. This is called "setting the square." 
In a book sewed on tapes it must be done when the covers 
are put on. Study the drawings well (Illus. No. 10, sketch 
"C. Putting on boards.) 
Take a tin, covered with clean paper, a little larger 
than the size of the board, and press it well up to the joint, 
inside the cover. Put on the other cover and put a tin in it. 
Also put a tin outside each cover and put the book in press, 
being very careful that the book is not thrown "out of 
square" in doing this. 
(To be continued) 
CERAMIC OOLP CO.'S 
Superior 
Working 
GOLD 
RICHEST AND PUREST GOLD ON THE MARKET 
UNEQUALLED FOR BELLEEK 
REQUIRING BUT ONE FIRING 
Sample Sent Postpaid on Receipt of 25 cents 
Ask Your Dealer for It — Take No Other 
CERAMIC GOLD CO. 
Box 129, Station W, Brooklyn, N. V. 
