IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOKBINDING
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Nichol, of Edinburgh, Scotland, Book
seller, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOKBINDING."
Scaled the 28th June 1858, and dated the 7th May 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Nichol at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 7th May 1853.
I. JAMES NICHOL, of Edinburgh, Scotland, Bookseller, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOK-
BINDING" to be as follows:
My Invention has reference to the two processes or operations
known by the names of "rounding" and "backing," and consists in
the adaptation and use of the following instruments or machines for
the purpose.
These instruments or machines consist essentially in certain mecha-
nism, by means of which a bar or bars of suitable form may be made
to operate upon the back of the book in such a manuer às to admit of

page_text: the requisite adjustment by hand of the back of the book to the
operation, and also of the due regulation of the pressure exerted by the
bar or bars.
In the process or operation of "rounding," the single bar is made to
operate upon each side of the back of the book alternately, or two bars
held together by springs are made to act simultaneously upon the back
of the book, and effect the "rounding " at a single operation.
When a single bar is used for the purpose, it is suspended, by means
of side links and cross bars, from a "shaft or axis suitably mounted in
the standards of the machine, which shaft or axis operates as a fulcrum
for the actuating lever or levers worked by hand, steam, or other
power, and also for the frame or lever formed by the aforesaid side
links and cross bars.
When two bars are used they are suspended by means of iwo arms,
which together form a strong spring, the two arms with the bars being
kept together by another spring. And in the process or operation of
"backing," the bar is made to operate by pressure upon the back of the
book. For this purpose there is fixed in the upper part of the machine
an adjusting screw and spring, as in ordinary lever presses, by tucans of
which screw the bar may be adjusted to its requisite position. There is s
also a lever worked by hand, steam, or other power, by means of which
the bar, after its adjustment by the screw, is made to press upon the
back of the book, which is held tightly between jaws underneath
the bar.
This operation of "backing" may also be performed by bringing the s
book up against a fixed bar, as well as by bringing down the bar upon
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Nichol in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 7th November 1858.
A TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JAMES NICHOLE of Edinburgh, Scotland, Bookseller, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by,Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and fifty-three, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Nichol, Her special license
that I, the said James. Nichol, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said James Nichol, my executors
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter .during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the. Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BOOKBINDING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said James Nichol, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and scal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next.and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Nichol, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings here-
uinto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):
.My Invention of "Improvements in Bookbinding" is applicable to
the two processes or operations known. by the names of "rounding".
and "backing," and consists.in the adaptation and application to such
purposes of a bar or bars of suitable form, which may be made to
operate upon the back of the book by means of suitable leverage or
mechanism applied to the bar or bars, the book to be operated upon
being held in its position, or placed there by hand, or the book may, by
suitable leverage or mechanism, be brought against a, fixed or moveable
bar or bars for the purpose.

page_text: In order, however, that my Invention may be fully understood I
will proceed to describe by the aid of the accompanying Drawings a
mode by which it may be readily carried into effect.
Figure 1, represents an adaptation of a concave bar to the purpose of
"rounding." a, is a table on which the book b, to be operated upon,
may be placed; the table may be adjusted to the thickness of the book
by excentrics, as shown by dotted lines; c, is a concave bar fixed on a
centre at c*, at the end of the table, which is made to operate upon
the back of the book by means of the leverage at d. The book b, is
to be held firmly on the table a, and the bar brought to bear upon the
back of the book by drawing down the lever d', thereby putting in
motion the lever d, and causing the end of the same at ², to act upon
the upper part of the bar c, and thereby moving it upon its centre at c*
in such a manner as to bring the concave surface of the bar against
the back of the book, and effect the required "rounding" along one
side of it. The book is then turned over, and the same operation is
repeated on the other side, by which the rounding process is con-
pleted two bars may be used for this process, by which both sides may
he rounded at one time.
Figure 2, represents an adaptation of bars combined with others
parts, which together constitute a "backing" machine. A, A, is the
frame of the machine; B, a shaft, on which is keyed or otherwise fixed
a- crank C, to which is connected a rod or link D, connected to other
rods or links E, E, united by a pin joint at F. These rods or links E,
are jointed to the bent arms G, crossing each other and turning on a
common centre or pivot at H. Within these arms are slots I, in which
the bars for operating upon the back of the book are placed, the
bars being raised or lowered (when brought into suitable position) by
means of the lever J. Connected with the crank shaft B, is a lever K,
by means of which the shaft may be turned. L, L., are the checks or
jaws between which the book is held in order to be operated upon;
M, is a book placed between them; N, N, represent in section the
situation of the bars at the time when the arms G, are brought together.
These cheeks or jaws may be opened and closed by means of a right

page_text: and left handed screw at each end; put in motion by a hand wheel, as
at. P, acting on two pinions on the end of the screws.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-On the book being
fixed between the checks I, the shaft B, is turned by the lever K, a
sufficient distance to bring the crank C, into its lowest position, thereby
drawing down the rods or links D, and E, and with them the ends of
the bent arins G; the consequence of which will be that the other ends
of the arms G, will be raised or brought together, so as to bring the
bars N, into the position shewn in the Figure. The bars N, are then
brought down upon the back of the book by means of the lever J.
The lever K, is then moved back, so as to raise the lower end of the
crank C, and through the rods or links D, and E, to open the arms G,
by depressing their upper ends, and thereby working the bars N, over
the back of the book, through arcs from the centre of the same, and
causing the "backing" joint or groove to be formed as shown at m.
Figure 8, represents an adaptation of a bar with a convex surface to
the purpose of forming the backs of paper books. e, c, is the frame of
the machine; is a concave socket corresponding with the size of the
back required; g, is a bar with a convex surface fitting the concave
socket f, such bar being elevated or depressed by the lever h.
The back when prepared is placed over the socket f; the bar is then
brought down upon it, so as to give it the required form. The sides of
the back beyond the socket are then turned over on the upper surface
of the bar by means of a hollow bar similar to that shewn at c
Figure 1, and worked by means of a lever, as in the ordinary copying
machine. My Invention, as herein described, is also applicable to other
processes in bookbinding, such as case-making, finishing, &c.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that
I do not mean or intend to confine myself to the precise forms and
arrangements shewn and described, nor to the movement of the bar or
bars against the book held in a fixed position, as the bar or bars may
be fixed, and the book moved against them, but I prefer the mode of
operation described. What, however, I claim as of my Invention is
the adaptation and application of a bar or bars with suitable mechanism

page_text: to effect the "rounding" and "backing" processes, by causing the bar
or bars to work over the back of the book as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Nichol, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
JAS. (L.S.) NICHOL
Witness, WILLIAM ORB.