The annexed engravings represent a new system of binding books,
for which a number of important advantages are claimed. It obviates
stitching, allows of each leaf being firmly secured, and hence is
especially well suited for single-leaved books. It admits of plates
and maps being bound in their proper places instead of being pasted
in, and renders the book much stronger and more durable. The inventor
claims a saving of 40 to 75 per cent of the time required for
stitching, and of 50 per cent of the time needed in ordinary rebinding
work.
[Illustration: Bookbinding Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4]
The mode of operation is as follows: On receiving the sheets, the
binder folds them and places them in consecutive order, according to
the printer's signature. The front and bottom edges of the book are
then trimmed so as to obtain two straight sides; and the backs of the
sheets are cut off, transforming them into single leaves. Horizontal
lines are now marked with pencil across the back of the book for the
saw cuts; and a diagonal line, A, B, Fig. 2, is drawn to serve as a
guide in replacing the leaves in their proper places. A thin coat of
glue is next applied to the back; and when this is dry, the book is
divided into sections of from four to eight leaves (without counting
them) entirely disregarding the printer's signatures, but placing the
sheets in their original order. The binder places the first section
removed at his right hand, the next at his left, and so on, forming
two piles. Each pile is then straightened, and in the back of each, a
little below the transverse lines, are made bevel cuts with the saw.
Said cuts are 1/8 inch in length, inclined at an angle of
45 deg., and so placed that one half their length is above and the other
half below the marked line. When one pile of sheets is thus sawn, the
other pile is similarly treated; but the corresponding cuts are made
at relatively opposite angles. This will be understood from Fig. 1, in
which C represents the edge of the right hand pile, for example, and D
that of the left hand pile.
The sections of each pile are now returned in their regular order,
according to the printer's signatures. Should a section have been
misplaced, the diagonal line, being thus broken, will show the fact.
It will be seen, however, that this arrangement involves the alternate
use of sheets from each pile, so that, when all are put together, the
beveled cuts will cross or form dovetails, as shown in Fig. 3. Half
inch strips of white paper muslin, E, Fig. 4, are next pasted around
the back edges of the first and last sections. This is done to
strengthen the hold of the twines in the back of the book, said
sections necessarily bearing the whole strain of the covers. The twine
used corresponds in size to the holes made by the coincidence of the
beveled saw cuts. This twine is passed through the holes by means of a
blunt darning needle. The back of the book is shown in Fig. 2; and in
Fig. 4 the twines are represented as passed. Nothing further remains
to be done but to paste in the fly-leaves and lining, and finish the
book in the usual manner.
It is evident that this a very much stronger method of securing the
leaves than that in which the twine is simply laid and glued in a
straight cut. Each leaf is independently fastened; and the thread is
prevented from cutting through, as is commonly the case when the book
has been used to any great extent. Books can be bound to open more or
less as desired; and in rebinding, instead of taking the book apart
and cutting threads, a thin shaving is sliced off the back, and the
leaves are treated in the manner already described.
Patented March 20, 1877, by Mr. Florenz E. Schmitz. For further
information, address Messrs. Schmitz and Slosson, box 1180,
Middletown, Orange county, N. Y.
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