IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOKBINDING
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BOOKBINDING." A communication from abroad by Azor Hoyt, of Brooklyn,
and Howard M. Hoyt, of New York, both in the United States of America.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John, Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1876.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,"
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOKBINDING." A communication from abroad
by Azor Hoyt, of Brooklyn, and Howard M. Hoyt, of New York, both in the
United States of America
The object of this Invention is the securing of greater durability in the binding
of books and other similar matter. It consists of a back (by preference curved)
of metal or other inflexible material, pressed on the back edges of the mattor to be
bound, and held in place by clamped edges bent inwards so as to overlap the ends
of curved pins which are inserted in and through the matter to be bound at such
distances from the edge of the back margin and in such numbers as the character
of the work may require. These pins thus inserted are in lieu of the sewing or
stitching ordinarily done in the process of bookbinding. They are curved for the
purpose of enabling the book to open well on its back margin, the curving of the
pins effecting the same result as is obtained by what is known as spring back
binding. After the matter to be bound is fastened together by means of these
curved pins, the back made of metal or other inflexible material is pressed on and
then with the side boards, as in ordinary book binding, covered with leather, paper,
muslin, or other suitable material, and finished by any of the ordinary methods.
The pins are composed of pieces of wire of curved form, with convex facing the
front margin and concave facing the back margin of the matter in process of
binding
.
The pins may be used in separate pieces, or they may be connected at the ends
by strips of wire. Strips of metal similarly formed may be used as a substitute for
the wire pin, but the wire pin as described is preferred.
The inflexible curve formed in the back margin of the book for the purpose as

page_text: described, may be formed otherwise than by the use of the pins, but the pins are
by preference employed.
The advantages of the Invention over any other method now in use arc,-
First. That the book is stronger and more durable. The back and the pins will
resist the severest use.
Second. The cost of production is less from the fact that less time is required
to manufacture by this method, and the process is so simple as to be easily per-
formed by unskilled labor.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
November 1870.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOKBINDING." A communication from abroad
by Azor Hoyt, of Brooklyn, and Howard M. Hoyt, of New York, both in the
United States of America.
The object of the said Invention is the securing of greater durability in the
binding of books and other similar matter. It consists of a back of metal or other
inflexible material pressed on the back edges of the matter to be bound, and held
in place by clamped edges overlapping the ends of curved pins which are inserted
in and through the matter to be bound, at such distances from the edge of the back
margin and in such numbers as the character of the work may require. These
pins thus inserted are in lieu of the sewing or stitching ordinarily employed in the
process of bookbinding. They are curved for the purpose of enabling the book to
open well on its back inargin, the curving of the pins effecting the same result as
is obtained by what is known as spring back binding. After the matter to be
bound is fastened together by means of these curved pins, the back, made of metal
or other inflexible material, is pressed on, and then with the side boards, as in
ordinary bookbinding covered with leather, paper, muslin, or other suitable
material, and finished by any of the ordinary methods.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings.
In the accompanying Drawing the shape and form of the back are shown in
Figure 1, the form of the pins is shown in Figures 2 and 3, and the two in combi-
nation in Figure 3. These pins thus inserted are composed of pieces of wire of
curved form, with the convex facing the front margin and the concave facing the
back margin of the matter in process of binding.
The pins may be used in separate pieces, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, or they
may be connected at the ends by strips of wire, as shown in Figure +.
Strips of metal similarly formed inay be used as a substitute for the wire pin,
but the wire pin as herein-before described is preferred. The pins thus described
are used in lieu of the sewing, or stitching, or fastening ordinarily employed in
the process of bookbinding.
The inflexible curve formed in the back margin of the book, for the purpose
herein-before described, may be formed otherwise than by the use of the pins, but
the pins are by preference employed.
The advantages of this Invention over any other method now in use are,-
First. That the book is stronger and more durable, as the back and the pins will
resist the severest use.
Secondly. The cost of production is less from the fact that less time is required
to manufacture by this method, and the process is so simple as to be easily per-
formed by unskilled labour.

page_text: Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Invention
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the-herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
First. A metal or inflexible book cover back, substantially as and for the
purpose herein-before described.
Second. A curved metallic backing for books, substantially as and for the purpose
herein-before described.
Third. In combination with a book cover, one or more curved pins for uniting
the leaves of the enclosed book whereby sewing or stitching is obviated, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Fourth. The combination of an inflexible book cover back with metallic strips
for securing the leaves, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Fifth. An inflexible back of metal or other material bent inwards at the edges,
as shown, in combination with curved pins adapted to be inserted through the
back margin of the matter to be bound, and projecting under the bent edges of the
back to hold it in place (Figure 3), as and for the purpose herein-before described,
to wit, to provide an economical and durable binding for books and other similar
matter.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, this.Third day of November, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (LS.)