Toolemera Blog

Today's Old Book: Wood Carving, Joseph Phillips. 1896

I've got a bit too much in the way of books. For the past six months, I've been weeding out what I don't want (upwards of 40 shopping bags full of books so far) in favor of what I either want to hang on to or simply drool over. Ever wonder where those spots on book covers come from? Bibliophiles such as I have a bad habit of drooling on our books.

Because I have so much time on my hands (not), when I add something to my LibraryThing listing, which can also be found as part of GalootThing, I'll try to add a comment or two on the blog. The two are interconnected: adding a comment on the blog forces me to add content to Librarything. I crack my own whip (a figure of speech only, not a real life practice). Don't you hate it when writers use all those parentheses?

The Peachey Sharpening System

Jeff Peachey doesn't know it yet, but I'm about to advertise his bookbinders sharpening system to woodworkers. You think woodworkers demand a sharp edge? Take a look at what Jeff makes for bookbinders in the way of cutting tools and a sharpening system. We're talking sharp here.

Imagine you're about to cut into an x-years old, mucho expensive and irreplaceable book. You want a cutting tool that will not leave a knick, a gouge, even a hint of it's passing. You want it to cut where you direct, to the depth you direct and only what you intend to cut. That means sharp. 

Hence, the Peachey Sharpening System. Not one to limit himself to bookbinding, Jeff invents bookbinding tools and equipment, teaches classes in bookbinding, is an historian of bookbinding and I guess lives and breathes bookbinding.

Mechanic's Companion

The proof has been proofed and the Books-In-Print forms completed. Thus, it's that time, once again, to introduce a 'new' old book:

Even better yet, a sample to wett your appetite, low res of course but a sample none-the-less, in pdf format of Peter Nicholson's The Mechanic's Companion, 1850:  Download MechCompSample.

The specs on the book are as follows: (yes, too many colons, but what can I do?)

8.5x5.5x1; 450 pages; trade softcover; $25.95 at full retail, something that Amazon never does but over which I have little control so I have to live with the 800 lb. gorilla in the Amazon suit.

What's next for books - digital, print, stores, libraries

From Digital Book World 2011: David "Skip" Pritchard of Ingram

What's next for books?

Are Ebooks Dead?

till next, Gary

 

 

The Christiansen Bench Makers Themselves

John Christiansen sent along two photographs that are, perhaps, more interesting than the Christiansen workbenches themselves. For those of you have not been reading this blog since before the flood, and shame on you, John is a descendent of the Christiansen family of workbench and tool chest fame. You can catch up on this unfolding history here and here and also here.

Image 1: "The group shot is the crew at the Christiansen factory in Chicago taken around 1903.  Carl is 2nd from  left front row and John , his son, is seated next to him in the middle."

Image 2: "The large outdoor photo is a company picnic in 1916.  They continued making shop and lab furniture until around 1940."

And a worthy bit of information on Christiansen workbenches: "Some of the later benches had cast iron head and tail vises replacing the maple.  These vises were made by Abernathy Vise , a company purchased by  Carl Christiansen.  So if your bench has an Abernathy Vise you can be sure that the bench is made by Christiansen."

Lastly, a note from John which makes it all worthwhile to all those workbench fanatics out there: "I enjoy your blog and it makes me feel good to know that these benches are still being used and appreciated. Best Regards, John Christiansen"

Next up: Mechanic's Companion Proof is on it's way.