IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR BOOKBINDING
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent
Solicitors, at Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany, for the
Invention of.". IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR BOOKBINDING." A
communication from Carl Blumhardt, Mechanist, and Julius Votteler, Book-
binder, both of the City of Stuttgart, in the Kingdom of Wurtemberg..
Sealed the 6th August 1878, and dated the 7th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth, at the Office
the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th February 1878.
"
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at Frank-
fort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany. IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS
FOR BOOKBINDING." [A communication from Carl Blumhardt, Mechanist, and
Julius Votteler, Bookbinder, both of the City of Stuttgart, in the Kingdom of
Wurtemberg.]
The object of the said Invention is the substitution of machine for hand labour
for the purposes herein-after set forth, and comprises the three following machines
or apparatus, that is to say,
I. A machine for cutting or paring the edges of books, albums, and the like.
II. A machine for polishing and working off the edges of books, albums, and
similar articles.
III. A machine for polishing off gold, colour, and other edges of books, also
for producing machine and other patterns on the same.
"
In carrying the said Invention into practice I construct a machine for cutting or
paring the edges of books with a wheel or axle, either of metal, cut like a file, or of
wood, emery, or any convenient substance covered with a suitable rough coating;
this being placed in a suitable frame is made to rotate, and a book being drawn
across its upper surface will have its edge cut out in the same shape as the rounded
edge of the said wheel; the depth of this cut is regulated by a hand screw on an
Prins RJ1

page_text: upper box if thumbscrews provided are loosened, and the same thrown back, a
book passed along the side of the wheel will be cut perfectly straight.
It will be understood that any pattern can be introduced on the wheel, thus
ornamenting the book at will.
In place of the aforesaid wheel an axle may be used, and a book moved along
the same will then be hollowed out; if moved across then it will be cut flat.
The aforesaid improved apparatus for polishing and working the colour, gilt, or
the like, on the edges of books and other articles, comprises an axle which is driven
by any convenient mechanism, either rotating or in any other suitable manner, and
is provided with polishing stones of any number, shape, or size, set in india-rubber
lined holes, the arrangement of the stones in the said india-rubber lined holes is to
prevent the same from breaking. off....
In constructing a combined machine according to this Invention for polishing and
working upon the edges of books, albums, and like articles, for curved or flat edges
also to beautify the same, by the use of polishing stones or engraved wheels I fit
any number of polishing stones into an apparatus somewhat resembling the tool
holder of a planing or similar machine; the head piece so formed can be made to
revolve on its own axis, and at the same time to cross and recross any article placed
below it; the articles to be operated upon are given also a movement, but in a cross
direction to the said head piece.
It is to be well understood that I do not confine myself to a machine constructed
exactly as above described, as the same movements may be obtained by many
machines now known which only require fitting with polishing stones.
According to my said Invention every apparatus employed is constructed with
springs of steel, india-rubber, or any suitable material so as to cause the polishing
stones to be as yielding as possible.
I may also provide another form of stone holder to be applied as the one before
named, with the exception that it is not meant to rotate on its axis; this holder
consists of a fork-shaped piece of metal with a stem for fastening to the machine;
between the prongs of this fork is inserted the stone with a lining of india-
rubber to make the same work smoothly.
The form, size, and other conditions of the polishing stones used will depend on
the work to be done, and may therefore vary accordingly..-
In constructing engraved wheels for beautifying the edges of books, albums, and
the like, I provide an engraved wheel of hard metal, running freely in a fork-
shaped piece of metal with a stem; this stem is fastened to a suitable machine, and
either moved over the work to be done or it may be stationary, and the work moved
under it thus reproducing its pattern on the work.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frank Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th August:
1878.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at Frank-
fort-on-the-Maine, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS
FOR BOOKBINDING." A communication from Carl Blumhardt, Mechanist, and
Julius Votteler, Bookbinder, both of the City of Stuttgart, in the Kingdom of
Wurtemberg.
The object of this Invention is the substitution of machine work for hand labour.
for the purpose, herein-after set forth, and the said Invention comprises the three
following machines or apparatus, that is to say,-
I. A machine for cutting or paring the edges of books, albums, and the like.
.II. A machine for polishing and working off the edges of books, albums, and
similar articles.
III. A machine for polishing and working off gold, colour, and other edges of
books, also for producing machine and other patterns on the same...
The machine for cutting or paring the edges of books is shewn in longitudinal
section and plan in Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawing. This machine is provided, with
a wheel or axle, either of metal cut like a file, or of wood, emery, or any convenient
substance covered with a suitable rough coating; this wheel being placed in a
suitable frame made to rotate, and a book being drawn across its upper surface
will have its edge cut to the same shape as the rounded edge of the said wheel; the
depth of this cut is regulated by a hand screw on an upper box, Figures 1 and 2;
if the thumbscrews- are loosened and the same thrown back a book passed along
the side of the wheel will be cut perfectly straight.
It will be understood that any pattern can be introduced on the wheel, thus
ornamenting the book at will.
In place of the aforesaid wheel an axle may be used, and a book moved along
the same will then be hollowed out; if moved across the same it will be cut flat.
The aforesaid machine or apparatus for polishing and working off the edges of
books and other articles, that is to say, for polishing and finishing the colouring,
gilding, or other surface on the edges of books and other articles, is shewn in
Figure 3 It is driven by any convenient mechanism, either rotating or operating
in any other suitable manner, and is provided with polishing stones e of any number
shape, or size, set in india-rubber lined holes. The arrangement of the stones
in the said lined holes is adopted to prevent the breaking off of the same.
The aforesaid machine for polishing and working off the edges of books, albums,
and similar articles, is shewn in Figures 4 and 4ª. It will serve for curved or flat
edges to beautify the same by the use of polishing stones or engraved wheels. For
this purpose I fit any number of polishing stones e into an apparatus somewhat
resembling the tool holder of a planing or similar machine. The head piece so
formed can be made to revolve on its own axis, and at the same time to cross and
recross any article placed below it. The articles to be operated upon are given also
a movement, but in a direction transverse to that of the said head piece.
It is to be understood that I do not confine myself to a machine constructed
precisely as shewn in the Drawing, as the same movements may be obtained by
other machines after fitting the same with polishing stones, according to this
Invention, as above described. But any machine or apparatus so. employed must
be constructed or provided with springs of steel, india-rubber, or other suitable
material, to render the polishing stones yielding or elastic to the greatest prac-
ticable degree.
Figure 5 shews another form of stone holder to be applied in the same manner
as that above described, with the exception that it is not designed to rotate on its
axis. This holder consists of a fork-shaped piece of metal with a stem for fastening

page_text: it to the machine; between the prongs b of this fork-shaped piece is inserted the
stone c, with a lining of india-rubber a to make the same work smoothly.
The form, size, and other conditions of the polishing stones used may be varied
according to the work to be performed, and I do not confine myself to the precise
details shown in the Drawing.
An engraved wheel for beautifying the edges of books, albums, and the like is
shewn in Figure 6. It is constructed of hard metal and is fitted to run freely in a
fork-shaped piece of metal with a stem, this stem is fastened in a suitable machine,
and either moved over the work to be performed, or it may be stationary, and the
work moved under it thus reproducing its pattern on the work.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,—
Firstly. A wheel or axle of metal provided with teeth, or wood, or other_conve
nient material, with a rough coating of emery or the like for cutting the edges of
books and similar articles, as above set forth.
-Secondly. The arrangement or device for regulating the depth of cut, as above
set forth.
Thirdly. In a machine for polishing the edges of books and the like, a moveable
axle with polishing stones, projecting on all sides, as above set forth.
Fourthly. The elastic fitting or lining for the said stones, as above described.
Fifthly. In a combined machine, as described, the fork for polishing stones and
the ornamenting engraved roller, as above set forth:
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wirth, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
FRANK WIRTH. (L.S.)