WINTHROP C. PEABODY

The books having been arranged and placed as described in the previous chapter, they are then ready for the important operation of sawing and sewing. The book or books are evenly "jogged" on the back to bring that surface perfectly flat, using care that, in doing this, the top register is not broken. Press boards are then placed outside, with the edges at the back about 1/2 in. from the back of the book. The book and containing boards are then placed in the laying press or, in the absence of this tool, in a vise or between cabinet makers' clamps tightly screwed up to prevent movement during the sawing of the sewing kerfs or slots on the back.

Before sawing the kerfs they should be spaced off and plainly marked with a pencil, using an ordinary carpenter's square so that they may be accurate. For

Position for Sewing.

all except the largest books, five cords will answer. Begin by marking with a pencil the place for the cut at the bead or top of the book, which should be about. 3/4 in. from the top edge when trimmed. The one at the tail, or bottom of the book, should be about 1 in. from the edge; then cuts about 3/4 in. inside of each of these two; then another at the center between the two al-ready made, and one each central between the center one and those at the ends, making seven in all. The two cuts nearest the ends are for the " kettle " stitches and do not have cords, so are made only deep enough to enable the sewing needle to be put through without difficulty. Kerfs are then sawed with a back-saw at the places marked, to a depth of about 1-16 in., varying slightly with the size of cord used in the sewing frame. With large, heavy books it may be necessary to enlarge the kerfs by canting the saw first to one side and then to the other, in this way getting a wider cut than would be made by the saw in a vertical position.

The next operation is that of sewing. A sewing frame of the kind described in the September, 1902 issue of Amateur Work, is threaded with cord, one for each kerf. These cords should be of the best quality hemp, and obtainable of dealers in cord and twine. At the same time get the sewing twine, which should be an unbleached linen twine, smooth and strong. The size will largely depend on the thickness of the signatures comprising the book being sewed; if the signatures are thick, as would be the case with Amateur Work, a strong, rather large twine should be Used, but for thin signatures of eight to twelve pages, a smaller one is best. A little experience and the examination of a well bound volume of a size similar to those in hand, will show the correct size to use.

Stitching with Five Cords.

The cords in the sewing frame are first tied at the lower ends to short, flat pieces of wood which span the opening through which the cords are brought up to the cross bar at the top. The npper ends are carried twice around the bar and tied with a slip knot, using care to have all of an even tension.

The back of the book is then placed against those cords, which are moved along until they are in the right place to fit into the kerfs. The cords are then tightened by turning the nuts under the cross bar, until the cords are sufficiently tight to prevent being moved from the proper places during stitching. It is desirable to place the cords as far to the right

Tying at the Ends.

of the frame as possible to give room for the arms in sewing. A strip of wood should also be placed in the opening in the table to prevent the cords from moving forward under the pressure of the book as the sewing proceeds. A pressing board is then laid upon the table with one edge flush against the cords.

The book is then laid upon the bench to the left of and near the sewing frame, with the fore edge to the front and title page at the top. The first signature is then lifted, turned over to face downward, and partly opened at the center by placing the first two fingers therein and pressing with the thumb to keep the leaves from slipping apart, and placed against the cords where the kerfs have been cut.

A needle, single threaded, with about a yard of the sewing twine is then put through the kerf at the left, taken by the left hand and put through the nearest kerf containing a cord and to the nearest side of the latter, and drawn out until only about three inches of twine extends from the first kerf. The needle is then returned through the same or second kerf, but on the other side of the cord, carried to the next kerf, out and around the cord there, and so on to the kerf containing the last cord. After being carried around this last cord it is brought out through the remaining kerf, drawn taut but not too tight, and another signature is then placed in position. The sewing is then repeated, but in the reverse direction, and upon reaching the (first) end kerf, is knotted to the projecting end just underneath. Another signature is then added, the sewing proceeds as with the first one; another sig-nature brings the sewing back to the starting kerf again. On reaching the end kerf of every signature after the second, the needle is passed between the two signatures immediately under it, knotted with a slip knot drawn tightly into place. This is done at each end. As sewing proceeds it will probably be necessary with all except very thin books, to occasionally press the signatures down with an ivory, so that the subsequent "backing " will not disclose loose stitching. A strong double knot is made with the end of the last signature and the end cut off, leaving enough to prevent untying. When one needleful has been used, an other length of twine is tied on, making the sewing twine practically one continuous length. When the sewing is completed the cords are cut off, leaving about two inches on either side.