- About Bookbinding -
Bookbinding For Amateurs
The Various Tools and Appliances Required and Instructions for Their Effective Use by W.J.E. Crane 1888
Sewing Books Part 2
the kettle-stitch securing the whole. In all cases, the first two and the last two sections of every volume should be sewn all the way along, as shown at Fig. 40.
In large establishments it is common now to supersede the manual use of the tenon saw by the bookbinder's saw bench (Fig. 45). This machine, which is worked either by the foot or by steam power, is very useful. The saws (of which seven 3re supplied with the machine) are circular and small. They are arranged on the saw spindle by placing collars between them, so as to separate the saws as desired (Fig. 45). The washers will give a change for every quarter of an inch. Of course, this is only for new work. The top edges of the saws project through the slots in the plate, and the pile of books,
well knocked up, is gradually drawn across the plate, on which, of course, the backs rest. Price from £18 upwards.
When the first section of a book has a steel engraving pasted to it, or is otherwise composed of separate leaves pasted together, it cannot be sewn all along the middle of the section. It is, therefore, "overcast," by making a small hole through it on each side of each kerf (Fig. 47), and passing the needle and thread through up and down, and around the various cords and bands, so that when it is sewn the stitches on the top side lie as in Fig. 47. Before the next section is laid down a small piece of thick paste is taken on the end of the forefinger, and the section and stitches are well pasted up to the
dotted line (Fig. 47). The next section is then laid on, and this should be well pressed down on to the pasted section with the edge of the folder.
In all sewing every few sections should be pressed down with the folder, especially at each side of the cords.
When sewing two or more on, the folding-stick is also used to keep the middle of the lower section. When you lay the first section, A, on, and sew from a to b (Fig. 40), leave the folding-stick there, projecting from the end. Then section B is sewed on. Now, in order to take the second stitch in section A, from e to f (Fig. 40), all that is necessary is to find the folder, and then the middle of section A is known directly.