There is no occasion to wait for the book to be advanced as far as the backing before the workman sees to his boards; but he should take advantage of the period of drying to prepare them, to look out the proper thickness of the board, and to line them with paper either on one side or on both.
There are now so many kinds of mill-boards made that a few words about them may not be out of place. The best boards are made of old rope, and cost about £30 per ton. The various mills make each a different quality, the prices ranging down to £14 per ton; about this price the straw boards may be said to commence, they going as low as £7, and even less.
A new board has lately appeared called leather board; it is exceedingly hard and durable. I made several experiments with this board, but up to the present have not succeeded in getting it to lay flat on the book.
Boards are made to the various sizes in sheets varying from pott (17-1/4 × 14-1/4 inches) to double elephant (40 × 28 inches). The thickness is known as 6_d._, 7_d._, 8_d._; 8x, or eightpenny one cross; 8xx, eightpenny two cross; X for tenpenny. Here is a list in full of all the boards likely to be used:—|52|
KEY TO TABLE. A=“inches.”; B=“Dozens in a Bundle.”; C=“Weight Per Bundle, lb.”
DESCRIPTION. SIZE. 6d. 7d. 8d. 8x. 8xx. X. A B C B C B C B C B C B C
Pott 17-1/4 ×14-1/4 6 28 6 40 5 48 5 56 4 60 3 58
Foolscap 18-1/2 ×14-1/2 6 32 6 44 5 50 5 58 4 62 3 58
Crown 20 ×16-1/4 6 36 6 50 5 62 5 72 4 74 3 72
Small Half Royal 20-1/4 ×13 6 30 6 44 5 50 5 60 4 62 3 58
Large Half Royal 21 ×14 6 30 6 48 5 60 5 62 4 70 3 72
Short 21 ×17 6 38 6 55 5 70 5 78 4 78 3 78
Sm. Half Imperial 22-1/4 ×15 6 36 6 50 5 64 4 70 3 62 2 60
Half Imperial 23-1/2 ×16-1/2 6 40 6 60 5 66 4 70 3 66 2 64
Mdle. or Sm.Demy 22-1/2 ×18-1/2 6 45 6 60 5 66 4 74 3 72 2 66
Large Middle or Large Demy 23-3/4 ×18-1/2 6 48 6 68 5 66 4 76 3 74 2 60
Large or Medium 24 ×19 6 48 6 70 5 65 4 76 3 74 2 60
Small Royal 25-1/2 ×19-1/2 6 52 6 78 5 78 4 84 3 84 2 68
Large Royal 26-3/4 ×20-3/4 6 52 6 78 4 68 3 76 2 68 2 86
Extra Royal 28-1/2 ×21-1/2 6 56 6 82 4 74 3 80 2 74 2 92
Imperial 32 ×22-1/2 6 72 4 72 3 72 2 72 2 96 2 120
Having chosen the board, it is necessary to cut it up to the size wanted. If the book is 8vo., the board is cut into eight pieces; if 4to., into four; using a demy board for a demy book, or a royal for a royal book. To cut up the board, first mark up, as a guide for the mill-board shears. These are very large shears, in shape somewhat like an enlarged tin shears. To use the shears, screw up one arm in the laying press, hold the board by the left hand, using the right to work the upper arm, the left hand meanwhile guiding the board. Some little tact is required |53| to cut heavy boards. It will be found that it is necessary to press the lower arm away with the thigh, and bring the upper arm towards the operator whilst cutting.