An Improved Method of Binding Books.
Year: 1891

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 5th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Binding Books.
I, JOSEPH HENRY WORKMAN Manufacturer of 350 Dearborn Street, in the City
of Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois, one of the United States of America,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates to a new method of binding books so that when bound the
books may be opened at any particular place and the pages lie perfectly flat. This
object is of special importance in the case of blank books wherein accounts and
other memoranda are kept, in that it will permit the person using the book to get
at the innermost portions of each page and have a flat surface upon which to write
or make the desired memoranda. I am aware that this object has been long sought
for and it has in some measure been accomplished heretofore by various methods of
binding, and my invention therefore relates to the particular method herein
described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To illustrate my method reference is made to the drawing in which:
Figure 1 illustrates, in a vertical sectional view, a portion of a book bound by
my new method.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same.
In the drawing let A represent the leaves of the book which are grouped into
sections a of generally five or six sheets each. B is a web. to which the several
sections are secured, the side margins being extended and thus forming flaps 6 for
attachment to the lids of the book. C is the thread by which the several sections
are secured to the web B.
In practising my invention I first take a number of sections of leaves, place them
together so that the rear margins thereof which are to constitute the back of the
book shall be on a line. I clamp the leaves together and then apply a sizing 61
of glue or similar material to the edges or backs a¹ of the several sections a. I
permit this sizing to become dry. I then apply a sizing of glue or other suitable
material to the web B and allow this sizing to dry. I then sew each of the
Bections a to the web B by means of the thread C, applying the edges a¹ of each
section to the sized surface of the web. When each of the sections has been
severally thus secured to the web I place the pages thus bound together again in a
press and hold them tightly together and then apply water to the outer margin of the
web B for the purpose of slightly moistening the material of which the web is com-
posed and the sizing upon its under side and upon the adjacent edge or back section a.
While the web and rear edges of the pages are thus slightly moistened I beat the
edges, using preferably the ordinary stereotyper's brush, and continue this beating
until the sized edges of the sections and web firmly adhere to each other and the
web is securely set in place. After the sizing and the web have become thoroughly
dried and the several sections secured to the web by the sizing I remove the now

page_text: partially bound book from the press and finish it in the usual manner.
I am thus
enabled to sew the several sections a to the web, and then cause the several sections
to be united.to said web by sizing applied between the web and the edge of the leaf
sections a.
In stitching each of the sections to the web I prefer to use a single thread and t
loop it back and forth through the leaves of one section and the web almost the
entire length of the web. However, it will be sufficient to secure the section to the
web by stitches applied at several points, say at the top and bottom, or the top,
bottom and central portion, instead of throughout the entire length of the back.
1 prefer also to use glue as a sizing, but other adhesive substances, gum arabic 1
for example, may be used. I do not desire to limit myself to any particular
material out of which to make the web as different materials will necessarily be
used for the different weights of paper and in accordance with the different
uses to which the completed book will be put, thus in making the lighter books I
use light muslin, cheese cloth or the like, while in binding heavier books 1
employ canvas, leather or the like.
In moistening the web after the several sections have been sewed to it care
should be taken not to saturate the web or get it too wet. It will be sufficient to
simply dampen or moisten it, as the only purpose of applying moisture is to dampen
or moisten the sizing to such an extent as to cause it to readily adhere to the
adjacent web or paper sections.
It will be found that the beating on the backbone, as hereinbefore described, will
cause the web to fill in nicely the slight depressions caused by the rounded edges
of the several sections adjacent to the underside of said web and will also cause the
minimum amount of sizing to work into and fill said crevices, and also to
thoroughly unite the said rear edges of the sections to the said web. It will also
be observed that each section is separately secured by sewing to the web so that
the accidental or intentional severing of the thread of one section will not
dismember the entire book but will only affect the particular section. Even in
this case the sizing will hold the section in position during the application of a
reasonable amount of strain thereon. It will be found that a book made in the
manner herein described may be opened between any of its pages and lie perfectly
flat so that the extreme innermost edge of each page may be utilized to its fullest
extent.
I have stated that I apply sizing to the edges of the several sections of leaves
and also to that side of the web which is placed in contact with the said edges.
This is the preferable manner of applying the sizing, but, obviously, I do not limit
myself to this precise method. I may, for example, apply the sizing only to the
web, or only to the edges of the leaves, or, as stated, to both, the primary object
being to so place the sizing before sewing the several sections to the web that when
said sections are thus sewed the sizing will be in place between the web and said
sections.
I am aware that it is not new to sew the several sections of leaves separately to
the web, or to several narrow bands or straps. I am also aware that it is not new
to apply glue or other sizing to the backs of the leaf sections after the several
bands or straps have been sewed to the leaves, but in such cases no sizing is
placed under the band or strap, that is between the band or strap and the leaf
sections.
I am also aware that it is not new to severally sew the leaf sections to a web at
several points along the web, sever the web between the lines of stitches, lift up
the ends, apply glue to the back of the leaf sections and replace the severed ends of
the web. This is objectionable because expensive; because the several leaf
sections cannot be stitched to the web the entire length of the section as in
severing the web to apply the sizing the cut must be across the line of stitches;
and because the book will "draw" if the leaf sections are secured to the web in
one place by stitches and in another place by sizing.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1: The method of binding books wherein the leaves are secured to a backing
or web, which consists in first sizing one side of said web or the rear edges of the
leaf sections, or both, then sewing each section independently to said web, then
applying the sizing to unite thereby the said sections to the web, and then finishing
the book in the usual manner, substantially as described.
2: The method of binding books, which consists in first sizing the rear edges of
the several sections of leaves or pages, and also one side or surface of the web, then
sewing the several sections separately to said web with the sized edges adjacent to
the sized surface of the web, then beating said web and the rear edges of the
separate sections to cause the size to adhere to each, and finally shaping the back
and otherwise finishing the book in the usual manner, substantially as described.
3:-The method of binding a book wherein the leaf sections are separately
sewed to a suitable web, which consists in applying sizing to the web and to the
rear edges of the leaf sections, then sewing the said sections separately to the web
throughout the entire length of the section, moistening and applying the size to
unite the web and the edges of the sections and then finishing the book in the
usual manner.
Dated this 5th day of October 1801
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.