The Quarterly No. 29 – January 1999
>Papier Mache Manufacture – WC Aitken
A reprint of an article from The Birmingham & Midland Hardware District Journal of 1866, accompanied by illustrations from The Art Journal Illustrated Catalogue of the International Exhibition, published by James Virtue, London 1862.
The article covers the history of the development of the papier mache industry in Birmingham, England, technical improvements and its uses in the manufacture of household goods and furniture during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
5 pages, illustrated
Splitting Banknotes
A short article, taken from The Papermaker and British Paper Trade Journal of October 1st 1935, detailing an incident at the office of the News of the World where the practise of splitting banknotes was demonstrated.
1 page
The Origins of Modern Paper – Richard Hills
A detailed account of the origins and development of papermaking by hand from AD105 to the eighteenth century.
4 pages, illustrated
A Moving Problem
The transportation of MG cylinders using traction engines in the 1890's.
1 page, illustrated
British Watermarks: A Paper Sample from the British Empire Exhibition of 1924 – Daven Chamberlain
A detailed analysis of a paper sample produced on the pilot machine at the Exhibition, found in the archives at Arjo Wiggins. This is a follow up article to Papermaking at the British Empire Exhibition 1924: Information from the Worlds Paper Trade Review in The Quarterly No 26 April 1998.
1 page, illustrated
British Paper Mills: Snodland Mill, Kent, part 2 – Michael Fuller
The continued story (in three parts) of the comprehensive history of this mill from its first
mention in the Domesday book to present day activities.
7 pages, illustrated, maps
Book Reviews
Examination of the Ink & Paper of the Commonwealth of Australia Postage Stamp King George V 1d Red. G. S. Hosking.
Chinese Paper Offerings. Roderick Cave.
Berberine and Huangbo: Ancient Colourants and Dyes. Peter J. Gibbs and Kenneth R. Seddon.
The International Paper Trade. Tom Bolton.
The Book of Fine Paper: A Worldwide Guide to Contemporary Papers for Art, Design and Decoration. Silvie Turner.
IPC Conference Papers London 1997. Edited by Jane Eagan.
The Paper Conservator 22. Edited by Alan Donnithorne.
An Album of Sixty-Four Leaves of Coloured Paper of the 1820's – Peter Bower
A report of the examination of an album containing four different samples of coloured wove papers (dark brown, flecked blue-green, pale buff-brown and deep "salmon" red).
3 pages, illustrated
The Quarterly No. 30 – June 1999
British Watermarks: De La Rue's Paper and Watermarks – Harry Dagnall
The discussion of an album containing examples of watermark bits used by the stationery printer, De La Rue c1880-90. His experiments with letter-press printing resulted in the award, in 1853, of a contract to print stamps for the Board of Inland Revenue, this developed into the security printing side of the business. Details are given of the suppliers of paper and machinery and the strict quality control.
7 pages, illustrated
A Paper House for Growing Melons
References to the use of paper in the garden 1751-57, taken from Garden Kalender 1751-1773 by Gilbert White, Scholar Press edition.
1 page
Paper Conservation in India – Anna Wise
An account of the authors research trip to India funded by a travelling scholarship from the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Papermakers. Details of current conservation techniques are
given, and of the problems in obtaining suitable quality materials at an affordable price. A visit was also made to the Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute, where experiments with different plant fibres are undertaken to determine their suitability for papermaking, including repair tissues.
4 pages, illustrated
A Trip to Capellades: Capellades Paper Mill and Museum, near Barcelona, Spain – Gillian Johnson-Flint
A description of the visit to this museum, which charts the history of papermaking in this Catalan region, (a short account is given in the article), and to the reconstructed eighteenth century
papermill in the cellars of the museum, where working demonstrations are given.
3 pages, illustrated
Manufacture of Artificial Parchment
Messrs. Herold & Gawalowski, of Bruun, make as follows, a strong, artificial parchment, impermeable in water, and capable of serving for the diaphragm in osmotic operations on solutions of impure sugar, &c. The woollen or cotton tissues are freed, by washing, from the foreign substances, such as gum, starch, &c., which may cover them. They are then placed in a bath slightly charged with paper-pulp; and to make this pulp penetrate more deeply, they are passed between two rollers, which slightly compress them. The principal operation consists of steeping the product for a few seconds in a bath of concentrated sulphuric acid, after which it undergoes a series of washings in water and ammoniacal liquor, until it has lost all trace of acid or base. It is then compressed between two steel rollers, dried between two others, covered with felt, and finally calendered, when they
are fit for use.
Taken from the Journal of the Society of Arts, May 26, 1882.
British Paper Mills: Snodland Mill, Kent, part 3 – Michael Fuller
The final part of the comprehensive history of this mill from its first mention in the Domesday book to present day activities. Details are given in this section on the papermaking equipment and of the introduction of papermaking machines.
6 pages, illustrated
Book Reviews
Turner's Later Papers, A Study of the Manufacture, Selection and Use of his Drawing Papers, 1820-1851. Peter Bower.
Taxation of the Printed Word: The Introduction of Stamp Duty on Almanacs & Newspapers 1711 & 1712. H. Dagnall.
Some Old Newspapers – Richard Hills
The examination of seven newspapers dating from around the end of the eighteenth century. Details of mould constructions and paper sizes are given as well as an extract from The Sun, No. 2526, Saturday 25 October 1800 giving the account of a fire at the paper mill of Mr. Edward Pim, near the Head Weir in Exeter.
1 page
The Rise and Fall of Esparto Grass – Peter Bower
Short history of the use, and problems, of esparto grass in papermaking in Britain, from the earliest British Patent in 1839 to the present day.
3 pages, illustrated
The Quarterly No. 31 – August 1999
Hand-Made Papermaking in the 1850's – Major James N Gray
This Article is taken from the Papermakers Association – Technical Section Proceedings, volume 2, published in December 1921. It was entitled "The Old Hand-Made Paper Industry" and was presented by Major James N Gray to the Aberdeen Section of the Paper-Makers Association. The lecture was illustrated by miniature wooden models of the whole plant giving practical demonstrations of the manipulation of the stock. The article is based on the original lecture and gives a detailed
description of the operations of a hand-made paper-mill near Edinburgh where the author served his apprenticeship.
4 pages, illustrated
British Paper Mills: Oak Leaves and Acorns: Success and Failures at Five North Lancashire Paper Mills, part 1- Mike Malley
A dissertation written to examine the factors that could be seen to influence the developments taking place at Catterall, Matshead, Oakenclough, Higher and Lower Primrose Paper Mills between 1860 and 1920 and specifically to understand why Oakenclough alone survived the period, and to identify the causes of the others failure. Part 1 will attempt to set the scene of nineteenth century paper making and then to assess these five mills to account for success and failure in this industry.
6 pages, map, appendices
The Age of Paper
A short article on a lithographed cover for the sheet music for The Age of Paper, regularly
sung by the celebrated music hall artist, Mr Howard Paul, attired in a suit of paper. At least three versions of this cover are known, but unfortunately the whereabouts of a complete set of the sheet music with both words and music are unknown. If any reader knows of such a set, would they please contact the editor.
1 page, illustrated
Seeing Blue: An Investigation of the Deterioration in JMW Turner's Blue Drawing Papers – Calvin Winner
An investigation into the blue paper used extensively by Turner during the 1820's and 1830's. Among these a significant number have subsequently suffered deterioration. Why have they discoloured and faded? Did examples survive un-faded? Was this deterioration down to the manufacture or a result of poor housekeeping? Under examination it was found that a significant amount of blue fibres had survived un-faded and were obscured by brown discolouration. This article explores some of the decision making undertaken by Conservators in deciding how best to treat these works.
7 pages, illustrated (some colour)
British Bibliography of Paper History and Watermark Studies No 6, 1998 – Peter Bower
A listing of publications and articles published in 1998 relating to paper studies, also addenda to Bibliography No 4, 1996 (see The Quarterly No 23, July 1997), and to Bibliography No 5, 1997 (see The Quarterly No 27, July 1998).
3 pages
Irish Watermarks: Hibernia Marks – Peter Bower
The links between the histories of Irish and British papermaking are very strong but sadly The
Quarterly has published little on Irish papermaking history. This article on one aspect of Irish watermarking is being published in the hope that it might stimulate both research into an important
area of study and add to the small store of published material on Irish papermaking and watermarking.
5 pages, illustrated
Trade Cards
Short article on a trade card issued by C Millbourn at the end of the nineteenth century and is perhaps the earliest example of an advertisement for the secure disposal of confidential papers by recycling. If anyone knows of early advertisements for the recycling of confidential or security papers, or other interesting trade cards, please contact the editor.
1 page, illustrated
The Quarterly No. 32 – December 1999
British Watermarks: BAPH Paper – Phil Crockett
The story behind the trials and tribulations of producing the specially watermarked paper to celebrate the first ten years of the BAPH. With details of the mould, electrotype, furnish and finish of the paper made at Wookey Hole paper mill.
Order form for purchases.
6 pages, illustrated, tipped in paper sample
Thomas Routledge and the Board of the Inland Revenue
The fight to lift the Duties payable on paper was long and hard and particularly towards the end sometimes verged on farce. Peter Ward has sent in some extracts from The Morning Star of Friday 18th 1859 that illustrate the difficulties some manufacturers were under and the general sense of frustration that both makers and users felt at the situation. This correspondence between Thomas Routledge, famous for his development of esparto grass as a raw material for papermaking, and the Inland Revenue is introduced by some editorial comment from The Morning Star and beautifully illustrates the difficulties of dealing with entrenched bureaucratic practices.
3 pages, illustrated
Flong – Harry Dagnall
The stereotyping paper or board, known as Flong, is a composite paper used for making the moulds for casting stereotypes of blocks or type in newspaper production. One of the main producers of Flong in Britain was, until 1987, Ford Mill at Little Chart in Kent. It appears, however, from this article that
some newspapers used to make up their own Flong rather than buy it in.
1 page
Letters
Letters in response to the articles The Rise and Fall of Esparto Grass in The Quarterly No. 30 and Irish Papermaking in The Quarterly No. 31.
2 pages, illustrated
In Memoriam: Judith Chantry (1943-1999)
Obituary of Judith Chantry, BAPH member, conservator at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, and Librarian to the Institute of Paper Conservation.
1 page
An Improvised Kettle for Out-of-doors – Morley Adams
A short article reprinted in it's entirety from The Boy's Book of the Open Air, c1930s, giving yet another illustration of the versatility of paper. With illustrated instructions.
2 pages, illustrated
Hints for Users of Compressed Fibre Calender Bowls
The text from a small book produced by David Bentley Ltd. who specialised in the production of compressed fibre calender bowls and, as the illustrations show, supplied all the main calender makers with their bowls. The booklet is undated but, judging from its design, probably dates from the mid 1950s.
3 pages,illustrated
British Paper Mills: Oak Leaves and Acorns: Success and Failures at Five North Lancashire Paper Mills, part 2 – Mike Malley
A dissertation written to examine the factors that could be seen to influence the developments taking place at Catterall, Matshead, Oakenclough, Higher and Lower Primrose Paper Mills between 1860 and 1920 and specifically to understand why Oakenclough alone survived the period, and to identify the causes of the others failure. Part 2 reviews a number of books which cover business and paper making
history, with the aim of discovering more appropriate factors to account for the developments taking place at these five mills.
5 pages, illustrated
Carbon Duplicating Paper
| Lard | 12lb |
| Japan wax | 21/2lb |
| Ivory black | 2lb |
| Prussian blue | 2lb |
Melt the lard and wax and grind in the black and blue pigments. While still hot, coat paper with the mixture by means of a sash-tool. After standing, wipe off the superflous colour.
Alternative recipes:-
| Soft paraffin | 21/4lb |
| Hard paraffin | 6 oz |
| Drop black (ground in turpentine) | 4 oz |
| Plumbago | 4 oz |
| Soft soap | 1 oz |
| Oil-soluble aniline black | 1/4 oz |
| Lard oil | 16 oz |
| Glycerin | 16 oz |
| Spirit | 8 oz |
| Plumbago | 4 oz |
| Oil-soluble violet | 1 oz |
Book Reviews
The Whatmans and Wove (Velin) Paper, its Invention and Development in the West. by John Balston. Website
Fine Papers at the Oxford University Press. by John Bidwell.
Boggs: A Comedy of Values. by Lawrence Weschler.