The Quarterly No. 17 – January 1996
British Watermarks: Forgeries of Whatman Marks – Peter Bower and Richard Hills
Western European papermakers have always used and appropriated each others marks. Sometimes this was because moulds had been lent for sub-contract orders, but makers also stole another makers mark because that mark had come to signify quality. This article covers some of the examples found by E. G. Loeber of forged 'Whatman' paper made on the continent in the first half of the nineteenth century.
4 pages, illustrated
British Paper Mills: Mill 364, Some Earlier History – Brian Luker
Notes on the history of St. Cuthbert's papermill in the parish of St. Cuthbert's, Somerset, from 1736-1786. There are two papermills, both in the same building, referred to in the documents consulted and details are given of the equipment installed in both.
2 pages
A Further Contribution to the Biography of John Gamble – Norman Cowell
Supplementary information to an earlier article by Norman Cowell, "John Gamble and the St. Neots Paper Mill", in The Quarterly, No 12. The information in the first article was taken almost entirely from a memorandum written by John Gamble himself, and details his connection with this Cambridgeshire mill. This article draws on parish, census and other official records to provide a fuller account of his life, including time in France and his association with the world's first food cannery.
5 pages, illustrated, map
Richard Hills, BAPH Chairman from 1989 to 1995 – Alan Crocker
Acknowledgement of the invaluable contributions of retiring Chairman, Richard Hills, in the foundation years of the BAPH, by the succeeding Chairman, Alan Crocker.
1 page
John Dickinson's Thread Paper – H. Dagnall
The history, use and technical details of the production of this security paper by John Dickinson at Nash Mill, Hertfordshire. The output was undoubtedly small, but there is probably more thread paper in existence than any other paper made by Dickinson at the same period. This article is intended to
complement Richard Hills' "The Cylinder Mould Machine", part 1 in The Quarterly, No 4, and part 2 in The Quarterly, No 5.
5 pages, illustrated
Miscellany: A Cure for Deafness?.
Paper has a multitude of uses and amongst Fanny Boscawen's letters is one, dated 23rd September 1790, where we find the following advice for the hard of hearing:
"Mr Cole says you must cut a bit of the coarsest brown paper, which you know is made of tar (or pitch) , hemp, etc, the shape of your ears, and cover each ear with it at night, wearing it under your nightcap, and persist in this a long time. He vows
it will cure your deafness."
Aspects of the Design and Contruction of the Ferranti Cable of 1890 – William
McNair
Michael Faraday had drawn attention to the good electrical insulating properties of dry paper as far back as 1836, however, it was not until 50 years later that proposals to use a paper insulated cable were put forward. This article gives details of the construction and use of the paper insulated Ferranti Trunk Main rated at 10,000 volts, used to transmit electricity from the generating station at Deptford to the Grovesnor Gallery in the West End of London.
2 pages, illustrated
Letter
A letter from John A. Lane of Holland with further information regarding the watermarks of the Prince of Wales Feathers.
The Vocabulary of Papermaking: Concerning the Derivation of the Words Potcher and Poacher.
Extracts from correspondence between the paper historian and watermark collector, Clayton Beadle, and Sir James Murray during the preparation of The Oxford New English Dictionary. First published in 1908/9 as an Appendix to volume 5 of Clayton Beadle's Chapters on Paper-making.
2 pages
Book Review
The Banker's Art: Studies in Paper Money. Edited by Virginia Hewitt.
The Quarterly No. 18 – April 1996
Advice From a Father to His Son – J S Lee
J. S. Lee
was manager of Hodgkinson's Wookey Hole Mill, Somerset, between 1870 and 1896. He was succeeded by his son Frank, who managed the mill from 1896 to 1916. The article is from Ms Notes which cover problem areas in the papermaking process which the elder Mr Lee evidently felt that his son would need to watch.
3 pages, illustrated
British Paper Mills: Standon Mill, Hertfordshire – Peter Bower
Standon Mill is situated on the River Rib near the village of Standon, about seven miles from Bishops Stortford. There has been evidence of a mill on the site since 1174. It operated as a
papermill from 1713 till 1855 and details of the papermakers recorded over this period are given. A little local history is also given, including references to Thomas Standon, the abolitionist, and Neapolitan baloonist, Vincent Lunardi.
3 pages, illustrated, map
Sliding Scales – Michael Fuller
An examination of the slide rules made specifically for the paper trade. Specifically, the article concentrates on Thomlinson's Equivalent Paper Slide Scale, used mainly for converting the weight per ream of one size of paper to that of a different sheet size and ream count.
2 pages, illustrated
Two Sample Books from Eynsford Mill, Kent. – Peter Bower
A detailed examination of two sample books from this mill, produced some twenty years apart and designed for two very different markets. The first, from c1900, contains handmade artists' watercolour papers, the second, from the 1920's, contains mouldmade banknote papers.
4 pages, illustrated
Turkey Mill, Summer Excursion, July 1882
A short account of the annual excursion of the employees of Turkey Mill to Ramsgate and Margate.
1 page
British Watermarks: E & G Bothwell/Clutha Mills' Watermark – H Dagnall
An account of the origin and tracing of this watermark from the first printing of Canadian postage stamps in 1868, to the Edinburgh firm of Andrew Whyte & Son Ltd., papermerchants and manufacturing stationers, who also had a warehouse in Bothwell Street, Glasgow.
2 pages, illustrated
Letter – Michael Fuller
A short musical work inspired by Turkey Mill, Maidstone, Kent, written by J T Warren in 1891. The wherabouts of the score are unknown, and, at present, nothing is known about J T Warren.
1 page
Book Reviews
Dunhuang and Turfan: Contents and Conservation of Ancient Documents from Central Asia. Edited by Susan Whitfield and Frances Wood.
The Paper Conservator Volume 19. Edited by Nancy Bell and Katherine Swift.
Lining and Backing: The Support of Paintings, Paper and Textiles. Edited by Andrew Durham.
The Wallpaper History Review 1995. Edited by Christine Woods.
A Hand Papermaker's Sourcebook. Sophie Dawson and Silvie Turner.
Fire-proof Paper and Printing – L Frobeen
A short article, believed to be from a trade journal c1880, detailing the use of asbestos fibres to make a paper which will apparently resist a white heat. Recipes are also given for two fire-proof inks.
1 page
Some Twentieth Century Ream Labels – Peter Bower
The art of the ream label is an area of paper historical research which has received little attention. The little work that has been done is generally concerned with the earlier examples. This article examines four twentieth century examples, illustrating some of the extraordinary range of styles and designs.
3 pages, illustrated
The Quarterly No. 19 – July 1996
The Papermaking Craigs – Jeremy Reece
A brief history of the Craigs, one of the main Scottish papermaking families in the nineteenth century. Through marriage they established connections with other Scottish papermaking families. Different generations of the family worked at or owned mills at various times in Perthshire, Fife,
Lanarkshire and Midlothian. The article covers a period from 1770 to the early twentieth century.
5 pages, illustrated
Scottish Mills as seen by Foreign Observers: The Travel Diaries of Joshua Gilpin, 1795, and Eric Svendenstierna, 1803 – A P Woolrich
Joshua Gilpin was the American papermaker who introduced the techniques of chemical bleaching and machine papermaking into the United States as a result of two study tours in Britain and Ireland in 1795-1801 and 1811-1814. He records visits to several papermills in the Edinburgh area and includes comprehensive descriptions of some of the buildings and processes with many sketches. Eric Svendenstierna was an official of Jernkonter the central organisation of the Swedish
Ironmasters Organisation. He visited Scotland in 1802-3 and gives a good description of the equipment and processes in a papermill near Edinburgh.
6 pages, illustrated
British Paper Mills: Scottish Paper Mills 1825-1995 – Richard L Hills
A listing of over 100 papermills and papermakers in Scotland, mainly by the numbers given to the mills by the Customs and Excise for collecting the duty on paper, but also includes several which set up business after the abolition of the duty in 1860/1. The lists have been compiled using publications and directories from the specific years of 1825, 1832, 1852, 1860, 1876, 1921, 1930, 1958, 1969 and 1995.
6 pages, illustrated
Digital Imaging of Watermarks – Ian Christie-Miller
This article gives notes of using the SOBER (Small Opening Book Examiner and Recorder) system, which permits digital records to be obtained not only from individual sheets of paper, but also from bound volumes. The device is currently under development but the practicality of the procedure has already
been established.
1 page, illustrated
British Bibliography of Paper History and Watermark Studies No. 3, 1995 – Norman
Armes
A listing of publications and articles relating to paper history and allied topics published in 1995.
2 pages
British Watermarks: Some Scottish Watermarks – Peter Bower
The earliest known Scottish papermakers are Mungo Russell and his son, Gideon, who worked Dalry Mill, near Edinburgh. Unfortunately they have not left any identifiable watermarks, indeed, little work has been done on identifying and cataloguing Scottish watermarks. It is hoped that this selection of a few watermarks (seven) may encourage someone to undertake such a
study.
4 pages, illustrated
The Quarterly No. 20 – October 1996
British Paper Mills: Little Barrington Paper Mill – Basil Harley & R.T.
Holmes
Little Barrington Mill was situated on the River Windrush, on the Gloucestershire/Oxfordshire border. Details of previous and subsequent uses are given as well as the history of the papermaking here from 1809 till its closure for this use in 1846.
6 pages, illustrated, plan
The Papers used by John Downman – Peter Bower
An identification of two probable sources for the Lightweight Wove Papers used by John Downman ARA (1750-1824) early in his career. This is not an exhaustive study of the paper used, but rather a record of work in progress, further work is planned in various archives. Details of paper from Hurcott Mill,
Worcestershire and Iping Mill, Sussex, and some details of continental sources.
9 pages, illustrated
British Watermarks: A Rapid and Economical Method of Recording Watermarks – Elizabeth Lynch, with Jason Revel
Details of a quick and cost effective method of using lithographic film to record watermarks, devised during conservation treatment of "The Duchess of Hamilton and Duchess of Northumberland", John Downman, 1786. With list of the materials and costs involved.
2 pages, illustrated
Miscellany: Hand Coating at Home Park Mill, Hertfordshire
An article, sent in by Barry Watson, which was originally published in Dickinson News in 1947 as part of a series on "Dickinson Craftsmen". The techniques for the production of coated paper and board are given, with special reference to the work of Dorothy Baldwin, illustrated left in
1947, probably the only hand-coater left in the country.
1 page, illustrated
Book Reviews
The Oxford Papers, Studies in British Paper History Volume 1. Edited by Peter Bower. Review by Nancy Bell.
A Consolidated Glossary of British Mill Terms. Edited by Tony Toward.
The Travel Diaries of Joshua Gilpin: Some Paper Mills in Kent, 1796 – A P Woolrich
An account of his journey through Kent visiting paper mills, with good descriptions of some of the machinery installed therein, with detailed accounts of production processes liberally illustrated with sketches. He also gives accounts of visits to mouldmakers, felters, etc. Mills visited include Old Turkey Mill, the mill of Clement Taylor and Edwards and Pine's Mill.
6 pages, illustrated
Picture Miscellany
View of the Machine House at Horton Kirby Paper Works, South Darenth, Kent, circa 1880. Wood engraving from a series produced for The Graphic Magazine. (Bower Collection)
1 page, illustrated