1lilithcat
As the newly-appointed admin of this group, I'd like to welcome all old and new members and lurkers.
The group has toddled along quite nicely, as we've tried to be a place for questions to be asked and answered, and ideas and resources shared.
A tip: if you are looking for tools, equipment, bindery suggestions, etc., it's a good idea to say where you located.
If you'd like to introduce yourself in this thread, please feel free to do so, but don't feel obligated.
As for me, many years ago I took a beginning bookbinding class at Chicago's Newberry Library, and that was that. Hooked! Although I haven't done much binding lately, and many of the resources we used to have in Chicago no longer exist, I still keep up with things through membership in the Guild of Book Workers.
The group has toddled along quite nicely, as we've tried to be a place for questions to be asked and answered, and ideas and resources shared.
A tip: if you are looking for tools, equipment, bindery suggestions, etc., it's a good idea to say where you located.
If you'd like to introduce yourself in this thread, please feel free to do so, but don't feel obligated.
As for me, many years ago I took a beginning bookbinding class at Chicago's Newberry Library, and that was that. Hooked! Although I haven't done much binding lately, and many of the resources we used to have in Chicago no longer exist, I still keep up with things through membership in the Guild of Book Workers.
2Crypto-Willobie
(lurk lurk lurk)
3kdweber
>1 lilithcat: Thank you for taking on the admin job
4aspirit
Thanks, lilithcat.
I'ma lurker an opinionated watcher. My primary interests are in removing affixed materials from ex-library books and maintaining books in my home collections.
I'm
5Glacierman
>1 lilithcat: Thanks for taking on the admin job.
My bookbinding experience is entirely self-acquired. My "teachers" were the books written by just about everybody: Cockerell, Philip Smith, Eric Burdett, Aldren Watson, Arthur Johnson, Edith Diehl, Arthur Lewis, etc. I started with Watson's book, and moved on from there.
If you don't mind, here is one of the bindings I've done over the years. The book is a recent edition of the Book of Common Prayer. It was bound with a hollow tube back. I used a black morocco-grained leather composite (very hard to work with) for the cover. The bands are purely decorative. The two-color head-band is hand-sewn and I added several marker ribbons. The end sheets are crushed velvet, which matches that used on the cover. The gem on the front cover is a garnet. The sterling setting and the gem were originally a pin that my wife let me use for the book.
My bookbinding experience is entirely self-acquired. My "teachers" were the books written by just about everybody: Cockerell, Philip Smith, Eric Burdett, Aldren Watson, Arthur Johnson, Edith Diehl, Arthur Lewis, etc. I started with Watson's book, and moved on from there.
If you don't mind, here is one of the bindings I've done over the years. The book is a recent edition of the Book of Common Prayer. It was bound with a hollow tube back. I used a black morocco-grained leather composite (very hard to work with) for the cover. The bands are purely decorative. The two-color head-band is hand-sewn and I added several marker ribbons. The end sheets are crushed velvet, which matches that used on the cover. The gem on the front cover is a garnet. The sterling setting and the gem were originally a pin that my wife let me use for the book.
6LolaWalser
>5 Glacierman:
Very impressive! I boggle at the bands--punching them (in? out?) looks like a hard job. Must be a special pleasure to handle a book like that.
Very impressive! I boggle at the bands--punching them (in? out?) looks like a hard job. Must be a special pleasure to handle a book like that.
7maisiedotes
>5 Glacierman: Stunning! Did bands formerly serve a purpose?
Self-intro: I'm just at the beginning of my journey. I'm doing little repair jobs, mostly on not-so-costly books. In a few years, I'll look back at these early efforts—and probably cringe.
Self-intro: I'm just at the beginning of my journey. I'm doing little repair jobs, mostly on not-so-costly books. In a few years, I'll look back at these early efforts—and probably cringe.
8lilithcat
>7 maisiedotes:
Did bands formerly serve a purpose?
They did, and in some fine bindings still do.
The text block would be sewn onto the bands, which would then be laced into the boards, for a nice, sturdy binding.
Like this:
Did bands formerly serve a purpose?
They did, and in some fine bindings still do.
The text block would be sewn onto the bands, which would then be laced into the boards, for a nice, sturdy binding.
Like this:
9maisiedotes
>8 lilithcat: Wow, thanks for the picture. I've never seen anything like it.
10Glacierman
>8 lilithcat: Excellent cut-away illustration, wooden boards and all. Thanks!
11Glacierman
>6 LolaWalser: In this particular case, the bands are not structural, only decorative. They were made from thin pieces of leather glued together in layers to the desired thickness, then cut into strips which were trimmed to the desired length, tapered at the ends and then glued onto the spine. The cover leather was then formed over them. The results were precisely what I wanted.
12LolaWalser
>8 lilithcat:
yes, thanks, very informative, all is clear now!
>11 Glacierman:
Got it. Wonderful piece of craft, must be so satisfying to handle such a gorgeous book knowing it's your own handiwork.
yes, thanks, very informative, all is clear now!
>11 Glacierman:
Got it. Wonderful piece of craft, must be so satisfying to handle such a gorgeous book knowing it's your own handiwork.
13Glacierman
>12 LolaWalser: ". . . must be so satisfying to handle such a gorgeous book knowing it's your own handiwork."
Yes, it is. That one in particular. The bands are spaced just the width of my fingers so that carrying it has a wonderful feel. Gives me the warm fuzzies.
Yes, it is. That one in particular. The bands are spaced just the width of my fingers so that carrying it has a wonderful feel. Gives me the warm fuzzies.
