Assessment/Disassembly/Endbands

In the first episode in this series, I assess this oversized family Bible for restoration, disassemble it (most of the work is already done for me), and clean and prep the original antique endbands for reuse on this leather bound volume.
This Bible was published by Holman & Co. in Philadelphia.
0:00 intro
0:07 assessment for treatment
3:00 hear the book :/
3:25 title page
4:11 disassembly
7:15 endband cleaning/prep
"Assessment/Disassembly/Endbands" is episode 1 in this series on oversized book repair.
Kathryn Wright is the owner/conservator of Southern Book & Paper Conservation, LLC, a private practice lab in Macon, Georgia: www.southernbnp.com/
🛠TOOLS & MATERIALS🛠
I am an eBay partner and therefore The Lab earns a commission on purchases made from the eBay links below (each time the link is clicked, there is a 24 hour commission window).
This commission expense is not passed to you - your price remains the same.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
ARCHIVAL STORAGE
4-flap enclosure: tinyurl.com/rvdjhss6 (Gaylord site)
Polyester L-sleeves for photos & documents: geni.us/mZbn (Amazon). If you have a water incident and these get wet, carefully cut the two sealed sides and remove the top piece of poly so the item can have a opportunity to dry - otherwise it will mold extensively in the plastic
Boxes, various sizes: geni.us/dmN3h (Amazon)
Folders, A4 and legal available: amzn.to/3gZgmqY (Amazon)
Cotton tying tape for weak or detached book boards and covers: geni.us/l5f5U (Amazon).
SMALL BENCH TOOLS
Teflon Bone Folder Set: geni.us/NmPNb (Amazon)
Gingher 8" shears: geni.us/d694 (Amazon)
Iris scissors: I have the curved pair. geni.us/dxmMWT (Amazon)
Olfa Silver knife with refill blades (Art Blade, 30 deg): allows for more precise cuts than the original Olfa Silver. geni.us/nXN5itG (Amazon)
Starrett 12" ruler: geni.us/dTZoy (Amazon)
Starrett 3" dividers: geni.us/Ec4A (Amazon)
Glue brushes: geni.us/WfLaVXX (Amazon)
EQUIPMENT
I got pretty much all of my equipment used on eBay, and I’ve been happy with everything.
Paper cutter (Kutrimmer): ebay.us/BkjrJk
Nipping press. My dimensions: 10”x13” bed/2.75” of daylight: ebay.us/LLT3KZ
Laying/finishing press: I actually prefer a machinist’s press (a 6” Kurt) ebay.us/PQnDZq
Traditional wooden finishing press: ebay.us/XYSMbk
Lectrojog: ebay.us/CDfyxd
Tormek SuperGrind 2000: ebay.us/zHt0Uc
MATERIALS & SUPPLIES
The go-to company for conservation supplies in the US is Talas: www.talasonline.com/.
If you’re a hobbyist bookbinder, book artist, and/or practicing by conserving discard books, I’ll include links below to Amazon, and other vendors who provide materials that are perfect for those pursuits.
Japanese long fiber paper from Hiromi Paper.
Tengujo: tinyurl.com/4yrepkx8
Senka-shi Thick: tinyurl.com/7za85uu2
Leather: www.pergamena.net/
Marbled and Decorative Papers: hollanders.com/
Book cloth: hollanders.com/search?q=cialux
Text and cover weight papers: I usually use Mohawk papers. www.thepapermillstore.com/
Smaller Mohawk sizes: geni.us/tvS8VM (Amazon)
PVA: geni.us/uc8J (Amazon)
Wheat Starch Paste: geni.us/Mcdq (Amazon)
Klucel-G leather consolidant: geni.us/CAswqOY (Amazon)
Isopropyl alcohol (99.9% pure): geni.us/Y2vKHbD (Amazon)
Methyl Cellulose: geni.us/xXw8 (Amazon)
Vulcanized Rubber Sponges: geni.us/WNcTDa
Methyl Cellulose: geni.us/xXw8 (Amazon)
Vulcanized Rubber Sponges: geni.us/WNcTDa
Channel topics:
antique book restoration, antique restoration, old book restoration, book restoration, antique book binding repair, old book binding repair, antique book repair, old book, old books, paper repair, antique paper repair, bookbinding, book binding, binding repair, book repair, repairing books, restoring books, repairing old books, restoring old books, antique manuscripts, manuscript, manuscripts, narrated, asmr video, asmr

[@mariobertora]

Is really worth all that work and money for an old Bible? As a family loom could have been store in a nice wooden box for future generations who will never open o read a single page of it. Such intense restoration is beneficial only to the Bridges Bibles or the rear Adultery Bibles.

[@diasdeinvierno8041]

It's worthy to me

[@sadepennbrook]

If it wasn’t your money and time used, why would the question itself even be worth asking?

[@mariobertora]

Ok so........I find a turd on the road. I take it home and I put it into a gold frame worth 1200.000 dollars. I invite you 4 dine and you complain to me that the turd smell terribly. And way I bother spending all those dollars for a piece of shit....... I will reply :"If wasn't your money and time I used to frame the turd, Why would the question itself even be worth asking?"@@sadepennbrook

[@optimus.slime.]

It’s obviously very important to the client and clearly the client is willing to pay money for this restoration.

[@mariobertora]

Fair enough .@@optimus.slime.

[@zditto]

Idk why, but "Books shouldn't make any noise when they open and close" really tickled me lol. Thank you for making these videos, I inherited my family bible that is from 1890, and I plan to restore it myself. So I very much appreciate seeing the process of a professional doing a similar job!

[@matthewrinehart2367]

ASMR... mike drop!

[@jlchips]

Jennie’s maiden name is Monroe. Her full name is *Virginia Elizabeth “Jennie” Monroe Thompson*

[@CarolynAnnFarmer]

I will be watching your videos. I have inherited about 6-7 family Bibles, one at least from 1860. I don't know that I would ever be able to restore them myself, but I'm going to study to see if there's anything I can do to bring them back to life correctly. Thank you for this video. I'll be watching more!

[@marybaughman7110]

The lighting and camera are wonderful. I echo what others have said about your commentary. Thank you for making this document.

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

Thank you for your kind words, Mary! I really appreciate them ☺️

[@bigjarn]

I'm rapairing an 1890 copy of the Whitehouse cook book watching this is informative

[@nackyvlogs2457]

Nice video and your voice is beautiful✨

[@dangeo9613]

Amazing work and craftsmanship. Thank you for in-depth explanations.

[@karenabrams8986]

I just inherited an 1881 Victorian Bible. I have to get this thing restored and the genealogy current in it. I don’t even believe anymore but this thing blows my socks off. The art inside it is incredible. Some of it very gruesome. I feel like I have been given the Necronomacon from Army of Darkness and it’s been hanging out in a daycare.

[@Ozark-nq9uu]

I have some excellent condition books from 1890 and 1910ish perspectively. the spines and inband are bad but beyond that the pages seem good.

[@rafaelgelpi5922]

Oh it's going to be a wonderful weekend!

[@J.G.H.]

Seeing this I was just thinking about the old family bible, and if my mother could have had it conserved years ago. Unfortunately it was/is in far, far rougher shape - last time I remember seeing it, it was actively disintegrating, the pages so brittle they were turning to dust. I'd love it if the marriages and deaths plates survived, though knowing my mother it might be gone by now.

[@martinthatsall1518]

Re: ENDBANDS. I suggest that these are easier to deal with with after being placed in an air-tight (ish) container with a slightly damp, not wet, sponge (not touching) for maybe an hour or two at most. The glue will hydrate (it's hydroscopic) and soften but the dyes will not bleed and disassembly is then very easy, quick and clean. After an hour or so the glue will have reset so action needs to be taken to ensure preservation of the curvature. The card inside will not have suffered at all. In fact it can be beneficial as the softened glue might auto-repair any cracks or splits without assistance other than a little mild pressure. Good, high quality video and workmanship. Looking forward to episode two.

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

Thanks for your kind words. I'm glad you're enjoying the videos! Humidification is certainly one way to tackle the removal!

[@franciscomartindelcampo6461]

New to your videos, I’ll be back for next one... love your narration, thanks for sharing your content

[@rafaelgelpi5922]

Check the previous (first) sequence, wonderful and thorough

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

Thank you for your kind note! I'm glad you're enjoying it! 🤓📚

[@robertphillips93]

I think your suspicions about the endbands on this book being used as mechanical textile support for the back and shoulders is spot on. I'd also suspect that about 1/4 pound of animal glue has shrunk, cracked, and crumbled off of the spine over the last 125 years. Many of those old bibles were sewn on jute cords, but there was no sign of that I could see. Would you consider hanging a volume like this onto a fabric or reinforced paper tube to add to it's practical longevity, even if it were archivally incorrect?

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

Robert, are you in the field? 😊 Ding, ding! Yes, this has very thin sawn in cords and they were the miniscule textblock to board attachment. In the next episodes, you'll see the removal of the rest of the ton of old animal glue, the addition of an overhanging linen lining, AND a paper tube so the original spine leather that I reattach doesn't get bent backwards and into multiple pieces. When planning treatments, I take many things into consideration including: not further damaging the original materials, restoring functionality, reversibility when necessary and then preferring reversible adhesives when possible, and that I would like for my repairs to cleanly come off for the next conservator decades from now. Hollow tubes are a common book conservation technique at this point. And yes, they are often practical! While not correct for the time period in terms of original construction, they aren't visible, they're reversible, and they solve many structural issues while supporting the original material.

[@robertphillips93]

@@SouthernBookAndPaper I'm retired after 20 plus years with a west coast Library Bookbinding company. Our customers rarely wanted full conservation methods and materials, but they valued maximum service-ability, so it's always an interesting comparison for me. Thanks for explaining the decision making process for us -- all other things being so equal these days, that is really what most clearly distinguishes one professional from another.

[@ronnierowe1174]

Awesome! Thank you and God bless you!

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

You are so welcome

[@tingootango4927]

Great video, yet again. Love the attention to details.

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@martijnwijnhoven627]

Wonderful videos. Please keep them coming

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

I'm glad you're enjoying them! Will do! ❤📚

[@avah4455]

It looks like Jennie’s last name is Maur. The last letter is the only confusing letter. But I believe it to be an r. I could be wrong, but I feel 85% confident as I write this.

[@bigjarn]

I had two of the same and kept one gave the other to an Aunt for records and ability to forward it to heirs Mine was restored by Mackey and Ashplund Foster Rhode Island, (now retired) looking forward to this process.

[@General_reader]

Restoration starts at 4:16

[@janice1406]

Hi loving this Ty for uploading . I have a similar bible 1800s with clasps I hope with your tutorial I would like to. Know if clasps should be removed ty

[@bigjarn]

I was going to ask the whetting question but answered it just as I was typing .!

[@durangodave]

it is a cool sound like and old scary movie when it opened even though its not supposed to do that. 😁

[@bigjarn]

nice three stone ring Mom had one like it !

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

Thanks! I asked the jeweler to pull only the rings that had never been returned with loose stones. It was my favorite out of the 5 toughest rings in the store. I'm really bad about throwing them out of round, which can spread the prongs. 13 years later, no loose stones (yet).

[@bigjarn]

@@SouthernBookAndPaper Good for you !

[@mollyrose4448]

Wow!

[@gruesometwosome6098]

Really looking forward to this project, thanks.

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@gruesometwosome6098]

@@SouthernBookAndPaper lf it's anything like your last project, it will be superb. Kind regards.

[@antikaplanet2970]

👏👏👏

[@Godismighty1968]

Thank you how much did u charge client u done great job u still do this

[@avelinaosborne32]

I was wondering that too. Not knowing what work was done id guess $200 to $500.

[@ymshao]

I have a KJV bible which is using paste down liner being glued to its French Morocco leather cover. Recently, I found the paste down liner is starting to go off. What is the best way to repair it?

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

Hello! That really depends on the type of paper that is used for the paste down, the original adhesive, and other factors. I often use PVA, but only on the correct type of paper. Otherwise the paper can become permanently wrinkled. You might want to talk to a local binder or conservator who can take a look in person.

[@SoggySandwich80]

I have a Bible about this size from 1790 hes together with a rubber band and I have no idea what do with it because It is in about this condition, if not worse. I have several 1600s-1800s books but non of them are that bad

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

Hey, you can measure and place it in an acid free and lignin free box. This will keep the parts together whether or not you have the book conserved/restored. I like Gaylord's boxes: www.amazon.com/stores/GaylordArchival/page/E8B1F257-749D-4107-8FCF-9FF1C3BA8005?ref_=ast_bln

[@magmasunburst9331]

Leather dressing through the years would have prevented all of those problems. That statement might not be completely true but it's more true for a lot of leather problems then is not.

[@richardkelly9156]

Hey 🤗😊 i made a storage box from an old bible and front cover was OK but i had to glue inside and its pushed it off more.. is it possible to glue it with a glue that will fold 180° 🙁 sea lemon channel does i good video on book glue binders but she says PVA im not shure about it

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

Hey RIchard, I use PVA for many cover repairs.

[@richardkelly9156]

@@SouthernBookAndPaper i broke the front off 😌 it needs to go 180degree though

[@channelsixtysix066]

As this is a mass-produced book, does that explain the lack of lining on the spine? Interesting terminology - the lining is also called either called the "super" or "crash" www.ferdinando.org.uk/book_binding.htm

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

Good question! I still usually see textile lining/super/crash/mull (or evidence that they existed) on mass produced books. I've only seen a few with no textile, and this one is certainly the largest so far.

[@channelsixtysix066]

@@SouthernBookAndPaper To me it looks half-done and poorly made. From a limited knowledge perspective.

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

@@channelsixtysix066 Yes, I agree. To me it looked quickly made - not just in its current state due to age.

[@bigjarn]

Far too long are you still in business? Watching this for more knowledge!

[@s.k.3891]

nothing worse than those brittle, acidic papers used in the late 19th century.