Book Conservation
The printers’ handbook of trade recipes…, London: The Chiswick Press, 1891.(pp. 270-271)
Since it is preservation week, I thought I would do my part by passing along some preservation information from 1891. It might be difficult for me to give up the delightful habit of toasting a book over the fire, and sitting on it, but I will try. At least for this week.
Added 15 March 2016: A newer version of this fixture: https://jeffpeachey.com/2016/03/15/improved-book-fixture/
A jig guides a tool, whereas a fixture supports the workpiece – in this case is a bound book. Increasingly, much of a book conservator’s work involves working in-situ without disbinding a textblock. This fixture safely and securely supports the parts of the book not being worked on while treating pages. The idea for this fixture was originally developed by Raymond Jordan, Senior Book Conservator at Trinity College, Dublin (for an image of his version in use, see Preservation and Conservation in Small Libraries, ed. Hadgraft and Swift, 1994), with additional improvements by Chela Metzger, Conservator of Library Collections at Winterthur Museum, Delaware.
Many conservators construct impromptu assemblages, but this fixture professionally, safely, and securely holds printed books and manuscripts, even those with heavy wood boards, bosses and other furniture. It supports the text-block and board, so that the spine and sewing structure is not stressed while work is done on the pages; repairing tears, media consolidation, flattening dogeared corners, dry cleaning, etc…. It can also be used to support the text-block when flattening warped or distorted vellum bindings. Text-block are rarely planar: working in-situ enables the conservator to repair tears that conform to the natural undulations of a particular place, on a particular page. The hinged bar allows the pages to be quickly turned, yet is braced so it cannot fall down onto the page. Perfect for books with fragile sewing, brittle pages, or any time gentle, secure support is needed when working on bound items. It simplifies and speeds up the treatment process when many pages of a text-block need attention.
The bed size is 12 x 17 inches, a heavy anti-tipping 1.5” thick, and the maximum supplied thickness books is 6 inches. Fits octavo through folio books. If a thicker book is encountered, extension pieces can be purchased for a nominal charge. This support can be used with oversize books with slight modifications, instructions included. Adjustable arm levers allow a full range of clamping angles, no tools necessary. The front page bar is hinged to allow quick page turns. The uprights hinge from 0 degrees (parallel to the bed) to 180 degrees. Constructed out of aircraft grade plywood with a 1.5” thick base to resist tipping, polypropylene and clear anodized 6105-T5 aluminum. Custom sizes available.
In-situ Book Conservation Fixture $750.00
Chela Metzger recently found this very cool Victorian reading stand during a conservation project and agreed to guest blog about it. It is almost robotic in its complexity. There is a link to other trade catalogs digitized by the Winterthur near the bottom of this post and they can be browsed by keyword. Chela is Conservator of Library Collections, Winterthur Museum, Delaware. Recently, she published a review of Julia Miller’s ‘Books Speak Plain’ in Bonefolder Extras.
Courtesy, The Winterthur Library: Printed Book and Periodical Collection
In honor of the long lineage of reading “devices” meant to make everything about reading easier and better, I would like to showcase the late 19th century Holloway reading stand and dictionary table. As the trade catalog’s longer title notes, this reading stand has a “dictionary holder, book rest, lamp stand and writing table”.
Courtesy, The Winterthur Library: Printed Book and Periodical Collection
The reading stand company notes that scholars and writers will find the stands of “great convenience”. While I doubt the stand could handle one of the truly behemoth unabridged single volume dictionaries found in the US by 1914.
Courtesy, The Winterthur Library: Printed Book and Periodical Collection
Courtesy, The Winterthur Library: Printed Book and Periodical Collection
I do think the reading stand would adapt well to the laptop environment, and could hold food, drink and a favorite novel at the same time. And, I suppose, a reasonably sized dictionary as well. One reading stand adapted to a reader reclining on a couch is mentioned as a useful tool for the invalid, and for those who like to read while resting. The catalog notes : “Readers and thinkers are not lazy people. Anything that will conserve their physical strength is useful.” Cleary a pre-diet/exercise world statement. And pre carpel-tunnel symdrome.
Courtesy, The Winterthur Library: Printed Book and Periodical Collection
Finally, one option is to include a gold bronze chess board with your reading stand. Note that the chess board can also support a dictionary if needed. Clearly our generation is not the first to multi-task.
I came across this wonderful catalog as part of the conservation work for the Winterthur Library’s ongoing Internet Archive project to digitize our extraordinary trade catalog collection. For a glimpse at an ongoing digitization of trade catalogs at the Winterthur library, please see:
<http://www.archive.org/details/winterthurlibrary>
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NK2265 H74 TC Winterthur Library, Winterthur Delaware
Holloway Co. (Cuyahoga, Ohio)
The Holloway reading stand and dictionary holder: combining a dictionary holder, book rest, lamp stand and writing table
Variant title: Century Dictionary case: made expressly for holding the six volumes of the New Century Dictionary
Buffalo, N.Y.: The Company, [ca. 1892] (Buffalo: Press of Gies & Co.)
Thanks Chela! Email: cmetzger[at]winterthur[dot]org
Peachey Conservation 
