Miniature bookbinding equipment
The equipment offered below was originally developed for everyday use here at Tony Firman Bookbinding, where it is used to produce the books published by Plum Park Press and Moon Pear Publishing. The equipment is based on traditional European bookbinding equipment, but made in a size suitable for working on miniature books. The small size makes the equipment easy to use, and to store when not in use. All the equipment is hand-made from solid maple, and finished with a clear water-based varnish.
NOTE: Pieces are usually made to order, so please contact me to place an order, and to get an estimated delivery date and shipping charge.
A punching cradle is used to hold the folded sheets of paper that make up a signature while they are punched through the fold with an awl. This greatly simplifies sewing the sheets together.
Punching cradle 5-7/8" (150 mm) by 4-1/4" (108 mm) by 2-1/4" (58 mm).
Awl 4-3/4" (120 mm) long by 3/8" (9 mm) diameter.
$50.
Punching cradle and awl
Sewing frame
A sewing frame is used to sew together the sheets of paper that make up each signature, and at the same time to sew the signatures together.
Sewing frame 7-1/8" (180 mm) by 4-1/2" (115 mm) by 6-1/2" (165 mm).
$100.
Nipping press
A nipping press is used for various operations where something just glued-up has to be "nipped" to keep it from warping while it is damp. A major application is pressing a completed book immediately after the bookblock has been cased in until all the glue has dried. For this application the press includes a pair of edged press boards, plus a pair of "tins" (actually non-staining aluminum). A pair of large press boards is also included for pressing cases.
Nipping press 6" (150 mm) by 4-3/4" (120 mm) by about 7" (175 mm). Tins 3-1/2" (90 mm) square. Small press boards with edges 3-1/2" (90 mm) square. Large press boards 3-1/2 x 7" (90 x 180 mm).
$200.
Cutting/finishing press with press base
This is a two-sided press. One side functions as a finishing press (shown in the photo above); it is used for various operations on the spine of a bookblock (gluing-up, applying crash and headbands), or on the spine of a bound book (applying a label or tooling). The other side functions as a cutting press (shown in the photo below); it is used with a plough to trim the edges of a bookblock. The press comes with a base to hold up the press when it is used.
Cutting/finishing press 7-1/8" (180 mm) by 6-1/2" (165 mm) by 1-5/8" (40 mm). Press base 8-1/4" (210 mm) by 4-5/8" (120 mm) by 2-7/8" (75 mm).
$175.
Plough
The plough is used in conjunction with a cutting press; it is used to trim the edges of a bookblock. (The photograph shows the plough on the cutting press and base.)
Plough 6" (150 mm) by 5" (75 mm) by 2" (50 mm).
$100.
