BOARDING.
In large places, this is another distinct branch of the art, and consists of simply covering the book with coloured paper or other common substance. In small towns, it must necessarily be executed jointly with the other branches; but so ample and minute has been the detail of the various manipulations in a previous part of this work, that, in attempting a description of boarding, little can be said without repetition. This style, too, being the commonest mode of doing up books in this country, also places the subject, under any circumstances, in a position requiring but little remark. Previous, therefore, to speaking of the few processes that are peculiar to boarding, it will only be necessary to observe that the folding, pressing, sewing, backing, boarding, covering, and pasting down, are the same as for regularly-bound books. It remains, then, to add that the books will not require beating, and, for common boards, are never cut round the edges. The leaves are only dressed with the trimming-knife previous to rounding the back, so as to present as neat an appearance as possible, by removing every portion of the paper projecting over the general line. For greater strength to the back, a piece of paper must be pasted in the centre of the coloured paper previously to applying it on the volume. When covered and pasted down, the printed label must be fixed evenly on the back, and the book will be finished.
CLOTH-WORK.
In the year 1825 a great revolution in boarding was begun by the introduction of cloth covers in place of the drab-coloured paper previously in use. The late Archibald Leighton, of London, was the inventor; and Mr. Pickering was the first publisher who adopted it. The first cloth covers had printed labels; but very soon Mr. Leighton made the discovery that cloth could be stamped with gold very beautifully. Lord Byron's works (the edition in 17 volumes) were the first books to which gold-lettering on cloth was applied. Cloth-work is now done with full gilt sides and back and gilt edges; but, from the temporary character of this style, the question may arise whether it is not a useless expenditure of time and money to produce it. But, so long as the public remain unacquainted with its want of capability for use, and desire a mass of gold upon the sides,—so long, in fact, as there is a large class who desire books for mere show and not for use,—it will be the interest of publishers to gratify them by furnishing cloth-gilt work.
Expedition being so important in cloth-work, a machine has been introduced to facilitate the operation of sawing the backs, and it is now in general use for the purpose. The appended cut gives an accurate idea of the machine as manufactured by W. O. Hickok, Harrisburg, Pa.
For this and all other species of case-work (morocco is sometimes done in this manner) the lining-papers are inserted and pasted over so as to adhere to the end-paper, and the slips, having been cut short, are scraped or rubbed smooth. The volumes are then knocked up and touched on the back in one or two places with the glue-brush. They are then cut upon the fore-edge, by being placed between two boards, one of which is precisely the width that it is intended to cut the volumes; the boards and books are placed upon the laying-press, and the backs knocked evenly up; the whole is then placed in the laying-press, and cut with the plough. The back-board being wider than the front, the knife cuts against it. If the volumes are small, a number may be cut at the same time. This mode of cutting is called "steamboating." After the whole lot that the workman "has on" have been cut on the fronts, they are then placed between cutting-boards again, of the proper size, and knocked up on the head; they are then laid upon the press, with the runner or front-board up; the board is then moved about a quarter of an inch below the heads of the volumes as they are arranged in layers or piles. The workman will then grasp the boards firmly, so as not to allow the books to slip, and place them in the cutting-press, and, after screwing it up tightly with the press-pin, proceed to cut the heads in the same manner as the fronts. After this is done, unscrew the press partially, so as to allow the volumes to be turned without slipping in the tub; then, with one hand beneath the press, depress one end of the boards, while the other is elevated, until the whole is turned completely over, with the tails upward. The runner is adjusted even with the cheek of the press, the press is screwed up, and the volumes cut at the tail. If the edges are to be gilt, they are now prepared for that operation. Afterwards they are glued upon the backs and rounded, care being taken not to start the sheets or mark the gilding upon the fore-edge with the thumb. They are then backed in the same manner as bound books, except that they have larger joints. Care is requisite at the ends, or the blows of the hammer will crush the paper and thus give the gilding an unsightly appearance at the joints.
A machine has been invented for the purpose of backing books, and it appears to be growing in favour for cloth-work, and, in fact, for all work where expedition is a primary essential. It is the invention of Mr. Sanborn, of Portland, Maine. The annexed cut gives an idea of the general appearance of the machine.
