The Quarterly No. 49 – January 2004
1853 Negotiation Between the Master Paper Makers and the Original Society of Papermakers – Jean Stirk
One hundred and fifty years ago on 8th March, 1853 representatives of the paper makers' trade union – the Original Society of Papermakers (the OSP, also known as the Legal Paper Makers) – met representatives of the Master Paper Makers of Kent (MPM) at the Bell Hotel in Maidstone. On 8th March, 2003 an edited version of the report of those negotiations, that was partly verbatim, partly in the third person, was re-enacted at a BAPH day conference in London. This version has been kept true to
he matter and manner of speaking.
14 pages, illustrated
British Watermarks: The Papers of Wells Cathedral MS1 – Brian Luker
Results of the watermark examination of this fourteenth century book containing papal rulings on church governance, with table of results and transmitted light illustrations of the watermarks. See also The Quarterly No 36, October 2000 for related article.
5 pages, table, illustrated
A Papermaker's Sample Box
Recently up for auction was a wooden box containing six glass jars with samples of rag, rag half stuff, wood half stuff, wood pulp, mixed pulp and esparto half stuff. Also in the box were four full sheet paper samples and a 1896 copy of 'The Firm of John Dickinson'.
1 page, illustrated
Matthias Koops' Petition: The Act – Alan Crocker
Further information concerning Matthias Koops' petition concerning patents he had been granted for methods of making paper from straw, wood and other materials. The Report on his petition was reprinted and discussed in The Quarterly No 43, July 2003.
2 pages
The Last Conqueror at Buckland Mill, Dover – Peter Bower
Probably Buckland Mills greatest claim to fame is having produced Conqueror paper for 112 years. First produced at the mill in 1888, production came to an end in the summer of 2000 with the closure of the mill. Production of Conqueror paper was transferred to Stoneywood Mill in Scotland.
5 pages, illustrated, tipped in paper samples
Belgium Conference 2002
The Smith and Meynier Paper Mill in Croatia – Russell Jones
History of this mill from its establishment in 1821 up to the 150th anniversary in 1971. During the nineteenth century the mill produced a variety of papers, but during the twentieth century production was concentrated into tissue and cigarette papers. descriptions of the papers and watermarks are contained in four appendices. The mill was laid down in around 2000.
6 pages, illustrated, appendices
Manchester Conference 1998
An Indian Christmas Card – Phil Crockett
Discovered by chance, this unused Christmas card contains not only a description of how the paper was made but also an illustration of 'A Typical Village Paper Mill'. The paper the card is made from is described and comments by Richard Hills on the papermaking process described on the card.
2 pages, illustrated
Thomas Gainsborough's Papers – Peter Bower
Discussion and examination of the papers used by Thomas Gainsborough, who had an understanding of how particular paper surfaces work with different media. His working life coincided with the consolidation of the 'fine' paper industry in Britain. A period when some paper makers, newly confident in their understanding of the processes involved, concentrated their efforts on producing the finest papers they could, utilising all they and their predecessors had learnt over years of experiment.
11 pages, illustrated
Book Review
Gelatine Sizing of paper and its impact on the degradation of cellulose during Aging: A Study using size-exclusion chromatography. Anne-Laurence Dupont
Recommended Reading
The Paper Conservator Vol 27, The Journal of the Institute of Paper Conservation. Edited by Jane Eagan.
Shelleyan Writing Materials in the Bodleian Library: A Catalogue of Formats, Papers and Watermarks. BC Barker-Benfield.
Arab Paper. Joseph von Karabacek.
Paper Before Print: The History and Impact of Paper in the Islamic World. Jonathan M Bloom.
Barkcloth: Aspects of Preparation, Use, Deterioration, Conservation and Display. Edited by Margot M Wright.
Effects of Light on Materials in Collections. Terry T Schaeffer.
Colour Science in the Examination of Museum Objects: Non Destructive Procedures. Ruth Johnson-Feller.
The Quarterly No. 50 – April 2004
Matthias Koops' Historical Account – Alan Crocker
A thorough examination of Historical account of the substances which have been used to describe events, and to convey ideas, from the earliest date, to the invention of paper, by Matthias Koops and published in two editions in 1800 and 1801. These were printed on some of the first commercially made straw, wood and recycled papers. To date 100 copies of the book have been located, 43 first editions and 57 second editions, the article discusses in depth the papers used in the printing of the
books, as well as the author and printers used.
12 pages, illustrated, tables
Belgium Conference 2002
A Short Introduction to the History of Papermaking in Wallonia – Alphonse
Radermecker
Wallonia, or the Walloon Region, is according to a Belgian law of 1993 the French speaking entity within the Federal Kingdom of Belgium. To date a complete and comprehensive history of papermaking in Wallonia has not been published. In this article the author sketches how papermaking started, and how it has developed until the present day in this region.
7 pages, illustrated, tables
Yet more Heath Robinson
Another illustration by W Heath Robinson relating to the making of paper, this time an advertisement for the papermill engineers, Vickery's Ltd. A 1954 letterhead from Vickery's was illustrated in The Quarterly No 27. This is the sixth example of W Heath Robinson's papermaking illustrations we have published, previous examples are in The Quarterly No 42; The Quarterly No 44 and The Quarterly No 48. If anybody knows of any more please contact the Association.
1 page, illustrated
Bath Conference 1999
The History of St Anne's Board Mill Co Ltd (Bristol) – Brian Attwood
St Anne's Board Mill Co Ltd was located on the south bank of the river Avon in a small valley in the district of Brislington/St Anne's in south east Bristol. The mill was established in 1912 and by the early 1930's it was running four machines. By the 1970's the annual output had reached 160,000 to 170,000 tons, yet due to economical and political conditions it was fated to close in 1980.
3 pages, illustrated
French Paper in English Books – John Bidwell
English printers depended on imported paper until the late seventeenth century, when the government began to encourage manufacturing ventures by granting monopolies, raising tariffs, and boycotting the nation's economic enemies. Until this time French mills dominated the market, supplying more than the other exporting countries combined. The author provides an in depth study of the imports of paper and the development of the home industry in the seventeenth century.
7 pages
"Very Good for Jam and Poetry" – Oscar Wilde & Vegetable Parchment – Philip Harris
One can always fall back on vegetable parchment for a cover; it is rather nice really and is very good for jam and poetry.
If not Oscar Wilde's wittiest aphorism, certainly this is the wittiest remark ever made about vegetable parchment. And it brilliantly encapsulates in a tiny compass the full spectrum of is uses, and brevity is the soul of wit … But who would have expected Oscar Wilde to write of this substance, or for that matter to be aware of its existence? And what was its significance?
2 pages
Notes on Inaccuracies in Shorter's Paper Mills and Paper Makers – Daven Chamberlain
This article is based on the authors experiences of using Alfred Shorter's magnum opus on early English papermaking. He is researching Thorney Mill, Iver, Buckinghamshire and naturally considered this book an obvious starting place. However, in the course of the research he observed a large number of errors and omissions, which are discussed in the article.
2 pages
Bath Conference 1999
Turner's use of Papers and Boards as Supports for Oil Sketches – Peter
Bower
Turner rarely sketched in oils on paper or board, but the few groups of works surviving in the Bequest are important in many ways to our understanding of his working methods. His use of boards of any sort was relatively rare and confined to a few specific uses. Aside from his explorations into working in oil on paper-based supports rather than canvas or panel his use of boards is mostly concentrated on studies for vignettes and a few small watercolours and some pencil sketches. The author provides a categorised descriptive list of the different paper based supports used by Turner for works in oils as papers, pasteboards and millboards.
12 pages, illustrated
Two Sale Notices
In response to the request in The Quarterly No 48 a notice from the Belfast Commercial Chronicle has been sent in. The notice lists equipment and other material including the Drying Loft Windows from Mr Richard Wolfenden's of Lambeg. The paper is watermarked B W & Co, if any reader can shed light on either Richard Wolfenden or BW & Co please contact us.
1 page
The Quarterly No. 51 – July 2004
The Origin & Ownership of Delane, Magnay & Co., Papermakers of Taverham, Norfolk – Joseph Mason
The firm of Delane, Magnay and Company that operated Taverham Mill for 38 years from 1846 until 1884 was, during the whole of that period, a major supplier of newsprint to The Times. The story of this papermaking firm is closely linked to the history of that newspaper, and to the two families who dominated it: the Walters and the Delanes.
9 pages, illustrated
Charles Dickens visits a Dartford Paper Mill – Colin Cohen
Contains the text of an article which was the lead item in Household Words, a weekly journal: conducted by Charles Dickens on 31 August 1850 and ran to two and a half pages, the first of which is largely an early history of papermaking and of Dartford. The author surmises that the mill mentioned could be Phoenix Mill but has his reservations.
4 pages, illustrated
Refining Engines – Their History and Utility
Reprint of an article which first appeared in The Paper Trade Review, Vol.13, 28 February 1890, which was a very early attempt to chart the history of what is now very basic machinery: the Refiner. The Editors would appreciate any further articles on this, or any other subject, related to mill machinery.
Summary
Wye Conference 2001
A Life with Paper: WJ (Dard) Hunter 1883-1966 – Barry Watson
Short account of the life and work of William Joseph Hunter and his lifelong involvement with papermaking. He published many books including Papermaking by Hand in America and established the Dard Hunter Museum at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge.
6 pages
Joseph Pape's Papermakers
Two pictures showing the recto and verso of a page from the Journal of Poems and Pictures by Joseph Pape, housed at the National Maritime Museum. This was compiled by Joseph Pape of Dring House, York, at the end of the 18th century, and records through poems and pictures the various events he witnessed during his lifetime.
1 page, illustrated
The Marsden Family and Barnsley Paper Mills – Daven Chamberlain
Account of the involvement of three generations of one family, the Marsdens,in papermaking in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. They initiated, and finally closed, one mill, and expanded the other (main) mill in the town, until they were brought to bankruptcy and had to relinquish their control of the enterprise.
4 pages, illustrated, table, appendix
British Bibliography of Paper History and Watermark Studies No 11, 2003 – Andrew Honey
Listing of articles concerned with papermaking published in 2003, with addenda to Bibliography No 10, 2002.
2 pages
Papermaking Texts: Repulping Paper and Straw-paper – Alan Crocker
English translation of the article entitled 'On the repulping of paper with some notes on the project to make paper with straw.' This was first published in the Annals of Arts and Manufactures or Technological Specifications on Modern Discoveries concerning Arts, Manufactures, Agriculture and Commerce published in Messidor an IX (June/July 1801, see French Revolutionary Calendar for an explanation). The article was prompted in part by Matthias Koops' patent of 1800, see The Quarterly No 39, July 2001.
4 pages, illustrated
Index to The Quarterly Nos 41-44 – Terry Wells
The index is arranged in nine categories: Articles by author; Articles by title; Book reviews; General index; Illustrations; Papermakers; Paper mills; Tipped-in paper samples; Watermarks. The Watermarks index is further divided into those that are illustrated and those that are mentioned in the text.
17 pages
The Quarterly No. 52 – October 2004
Notes on the Early History of Wiggins Teape – Ashley Teape
A series of notes, produced in 1986 by the great-great-great grandson of the original Teape in the Wiggins Teape partnership, provides much useful information on the early history of the firm, particularly with regard to its origin. Painstaking research undertaken in a number of libraries and archives has completely altered the authorised history that has been presented as fact for over a century.
7 pages, illustrated, appendices
Bath Conference 1999
The History of Bathford Mill – Michael Tabb
There is a mill recorded at Bathford in the Domesday Book, but it is not until around 1809 that papermaking appears here. The history of the mill is traced through various owners and changes up until the date of the article. The mill adopted the name of Trevarno Mill in the eighteenth century and was retained well into the twentieth century.
7 pages, illustrated
Papermaking in Fiction – Peter Bower
Short article giving examples of novels set in papermaking backgrounds, mostly of the early twentieth century. A more detailed appraisal is given of one of the more recent examples – June Wyndham Davies' 'To the Ends of the Earth', published in 1996.
1 page, illustrated
The Turner Family and Chafford Mill No 389 – Sarah Tanner
Researching the firm of RT Tanner & Co, wholesale stationers and paper merchants, turned up a family connection to the Turners of Chafford Mill, Kent. This led the author to research the Turner family and their business at Chafford from the earliest known date of 1796 till financial problems forced them out of business in 1905.
3 pages, illustrated
The Development of Modern Photographic Papers – Colin Harris
From how the paper industry responded in the early days to the particular paper needs of photography, via the technical advancements of coated papers in the twentieth century, to responses to needs for papers for digital imaging.
4 pages, illustrated
Papermaking in the Manchester Region – Richard Hills
The area around Manchester developed into one of the most important papermaking regions of the country, second only to that of London. The region covered in this brief sketch is based roughly on a radius of fifteen miles around the centre of Manchester. It is bounded on the north and east by the Pennine hills but does not venture into the Ribble valley. The mills of the Dee estuary and North Wales are not covered either.
7 pages, illustrated
Davies' Notes on Chinese Arts and Inventions – transcribed by Sandy
Thompson
A short transcription taken from a late Georgian manuscript, republished in the Victorian era, about the Chinese, by the then Governor of Hong Kong. The extract is limited to only those parts dealing with printing, papermaking and ink manufacture.
3 pages
A Survey of the Time between the Making of Writing Paper and its Use – Peter Bower
An extract from ongoing research entitled 'A Century of Paper', performed in the Archives of The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Concentrating on correspondence for the most part dated and geographically located, the archive provides an almost unparalleled basis for identifying changes in papermaking practice and design, and in paper usage, over the period 1754-1851. Notes are given on 137 papers examined, with appendices giving papermakers, paper mills, watermarks and time between making and use of the papers.
17 pages, appendices