TRIMMING.
Is the book to have a gilt top? marbled or gilt edges? or is it to be
left uncut? These questions must be settled before anything further is
done. If the book is to be uncut or have a gilt top, the rough edges
should be taken away with a very sharp knife or shears: this process is
called “trimming.”
The book having been knocked up straight, is laid on a piece of wood
planed smooth and kept for this purpose, called a “trimming board.” It
is then compassed from the back, a straight edge laid to the compass
holes, and the foredge cut with a very sharp knife. If the knife is
not |42| sharp the paper will yield to the slight pressure required
and will not be cut. It is therefore absolutely necessary that a good
edge be given to the blade, and, if possible, to keep a special knife
for the purpose. Such knives, called trimming knives, are sold, the
probable cost being about two shillings. They have a very broad blade.
The object of trimming is to make the edges true; the amount taken off
must be only the rough and dirty edges, the book being thus left as
large as possible.
The French put their books in the press between boards and rasp the
edges, but this method has not only the disadvantage of showing all the
marks of the rasp, but also of leaving a roughness which catches and
retains the dust in proportion to the soft or hard qualities of the
paper.
[Illustration: Cardboard Machine used for trimming.]
Another method is to put the book into the cutting press, and cut the
overplus off with a plough, having a circular knife, called a “round
plough.” This is used when a number of books are being done together. I
prefer to use the straight edge and knife for the foredge and tail, and
to cut the top when the book is in boards.
It is, however, not necessary to go to the expense of a round plough,
it is only advisable to have one when “plough trimming” is of daily
occurrence; an ordinary plough knife, ground to a circular edge, will
answer in most cases.
Another excellent plan is to set the gauge of the |43| mill-board
machine, or a _card-cutting machine_, and to cut or trim each section,
foredge and tail, by the machine knife. In a large number of books this
plan is to be recommended; the whole is cut more even and in less time;
trimming by this method must, however, be done before sewing. This
method is also adopted by some French houses.
Before leaving the subject of trimming, I will insert a few lines
from that well-known paper the “Athenæum,” as to how a book should
be trimmed; and so much do I agree with its writer, that I have the
quotation, in large type, hung up in my shop as a constant caution and
instruction to the workmen:—
(_No. 2138, Oct. 17th, 1868._)
“Mr. EDITOR,—If you think that the ‘Athenæum’ is read or seen by any
members of that class of ruthless binders, who delight in destroying
the appearance of every pamphlet and book that comes into their hands,
by trimming or ploughing its edges to the quick (and almost always
crookedly), I beg you to insert this appeal to the monsters I have
named, to desist from their barbarous practices, to learn to reverence
the margin of a book, and never to take from it a hair’s breadth more
than is absolutely needful. The brutality with which the fair margins
of one’s loved volumes are treated by these mangling wretches with
their awful plough knives is shocking to behold. The curses of book
lovers are daily heaped on their backs, but they go on running-a-muck,
heedless of remonstrance, remorseless, ever sacrificing fresh victims.
Had we a paternal government, one might hope for due punishment of
some of these offenders: one at least might be ploughed up the back,
another up the front, as an example and a terror to the trade; but as
this wholesome correction cannot unhappily be administered, will you
give expression to the indignation of one amongst a million sufferers
for years from these |44| trimmers’ savageries, and let them know
what feelings their reckless cruelty awakens in many breasts? One of
the largest houses in London has just sent me home fifty copies of an
essay, intended as a present for a friend. They have been trimmed, and
been ruined. Would that I could have the trimming of their trimmer’s
hair and ears; also his nose! I don’t think his best friend would know
him when I had done with him.
“But, Sir, we live in a philanthropic age, and are bound to forgive
our enemies and try to reform the worst criminals. I therefore propose
a practical measure to win these book trimmers from their enormities;
namely, that fifty at least of your readers, who care for book
margins, should subscribe a guinea each for a challenge cup, to be
competed for yearly, and held by that firm which, on producing copies
of all books and pamphlets trimmed by it during the year, shall be
adjudged to have disfigured them least. I ask you, Sir, if you will
receive subscriptions for this challenge cup? If you will, I shall be
glad to send you mine.
“M. A.
“P.S.—Any one who will cut out this letter, and get it pasted up in
any binder’s or printer’s trimming room, will confer a favour on the
writer.”
A very good trimming machine has been invented by Messrs. Richmond and
Co., of Kirby Street, Hatton Garden. The bed rises and falls, with the
books upon it, instead of the knife descending upon the work, as in
the cutting machines; and the gauges are so arranged, that the foredge
of one pile of books, and the tails of another, can be cut at one
operation, and it is guaranteed by the makers that the knife will leave
a clean and perfectly trimmed edge.
|45|