Christmas and New Year Closure

Please note that we close for the holidays at lunchtime on Friday, 24th December, with last shipments being made on Wednesday, 22nd December. We re-open in the new year on the 5th January.

May we take this opportunity of wishing you our compliments of the season and our very best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year.

William McLean is Leaving

After 29 years with J. Hewit & Sons, William McLean will be leaving us at the end of this year in order to pursue other interests. William has given the Company many years of dedicated and loyal service since he joined us in 1975. During his tenure, he has managed calf production and sales, company administration and has implemented the company's I.T. policy and infrastructure. We wish him every success for the future.

Leather Paring Machine

The P&S Leather Paring Machine is based on the tried and tested Brockman design. It is simple to set up and operate. The leather is pulled between the anvil and fixed blade. By raising the anvil, thin cuts can be taken until the required thickness is achieved. It is an invaluable tool for quickly preparing inlays, onlays, labels and thin leather pieces for repairs or half and quarter bindings. The machine has a large throat area to accommodate the pared leather when preparing larger pieces for full leather bindings. The anvil can also be adjusted to produce a feathered edge if required. The Machine is sold with a pack of blades.

The first batch of Paring Machines is being manufactured and will be ready for despatch at the beginning of January. You can place your order now for one of the new Machines.

Prices:
Paring Machine - £228.00
Spare Blades - £2.10 per pack of 10

The Paring Machine and Spare Blades may be ordered online by clicking here

(subject to shipping charges and VAT where applicable)

Basic Bookbinding

By A.W. Lewis. Re-published by Dover - Paperback from the 1952 Edition. 144 pages, 261 black & white illustrations. 13.5cm x 20.5cm

Starting from basic principles and assuming no previous experience, this modern exposition of the elements of bookbinding enables both the beginner and the expert to apply the latest and most simplified techniques to rebinding old favourites and binding many new paperback books.

A complete list of all necessary materials, including a guide to the proper selection of tools, paper, glue, boards, cloth and leather covering fabrics and lettering inks and pigments, introduces the subject. In surprisingly easy stages, you are shown how to collate a book, sew it, back it, trim it, make boards and attach them to the book. Step-by-step instructions and hundreds of photographs and diagrams of equipment and key operations reduce the process to essentials.

Individual chapters are devoted to single-sectioned, multi-sectioned and case-bound books, hollow-backed and library style binding, the use of end papers and the most practical methods of lettering the finished book. The author includes a valuable appendix which summaries the precise steps followed in each operation in convenient tabular form.

This elementary text is simple enough for the beginner yet contains new material of interest to the expert. Basic Bookbinding avoids intricate techniques and elaborate equipment. Mr. Lewis, twice first prize-winner in national competition, presents the Subject with the clarity born of many years of experience in teaching bookbinding.

Only £6.95

This book may be ordered Online - Click Here

(subject to shipping charges where applicable)

Hand Bookbinding, A Manual of Instruction

By Aldren A. Watson. Published by Dover - Paperback 160 pages, 273 black & white illustrations.

Before the advent of modern mass-production methods, books were bound by hand to remarkably high standards of quality. Beautiful and durable, they appealed to book lovers who appreciated not only a book's content but also the quality and craftsmanship of its binding.

Unfortunately, the introduction of machine-binding methods, while making books widely available at reasonable prices, also largely curtailed the art and craft of making fine books by hand.

This expert guide offers a solution. In its pages, craftspeople can learn the traditional methods of bookbinding and produce high-quality hand-bound books themselves. Thorough, detailed instructions, with over 270 helpful illustrations by the author, cover materials, tools and equipment (including making your own); fundamental procedures and technical methods; rebinding an old book; making a slipcase and other essentials. Also included are well illustrated, step-by-step directions for eight binding projects: dust jacket; blank book, single signature; folio; blank book, four signatures; manuscript binding; music binding and two more.

Clearly written and easy to follow, this manual will be indispensable to anyone wishing to create high-quality handcrafted bindings themselves; it will also serve as a valuable reference for students and professionals in publishing and its allied trades.

Only £11.95

This book may be ordered Online - Click Here

(subject to shipping charges where applicable)

New Paring Machine

We know you have been waiting patiently - the latest news from the manufacturer is promising. The prototype machines have now been extensively tested and slight modifications have been undertaken. Production is due to start within the next few weeks and we hope to have the new machines available to sell to you by the end of October / early November. Full specifications, prices etc. will be published on our web site as soon as the information is to hand.

The Miniature Book Society

On the 3rd - 6th September, the MBS is holding its annual Conclave at the Hilton Hotel, Walcot Street, Bath, England BA1 5BJ,.

J. Hewit & Sons will be in attendance at the fair on Sunday. Further details may be found on the Society's web site by clicking here.

L - 4 - Leather - Bookbinding Forum
In association with J. Hewit & Sons Ltd
At the Royal Agricultural College Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Saturday And Sunday 4th and 5th September 2004

The Conference Centre
Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, Gloucestershire

• A full weekend of demonstrations viewed live and relayed onto large screen
• Attractive and accessible venue
• Residential or day booking
• J. Hewit and Sons will be in attendance to supply your needs
• Visit to college library to view its collection of rare antiquarian books
• Book surgery/forum- bring problem books for advice from panel of experts

Lester Capon – President of Designer Bookbinders will give a thorough, step-by-step demonstration of full leather covering from selecting skin, cutting out and paring right through to trimming out and laying down endpapers. He will later demonstrate leather joints and doublures

John Jameson – Cotswold Bookbinders, will demonstrate knife and tool sharpening, modification of a spokeshave for leather paring and will hopefully demonstrate the new leather paring machine. In a second demonstration he will show techniques of dying and staining leather mainly with aniline leather dyes and touch upon sprinkling, tree calf, polishing, leather dressing.

Stuart Brockman – A Fellow of Designer Bookbinders will give a demonstration of the traditional techniques and application of leather inlays and onlays and show some examples of his own use of these skills.

David Lanning – Sales Director of Hewit’s will give a presentation of leathers and a talk on the tanning of leather together with a virtual tour of the tannery with the aid of slides and video.

Booking Form

Name.............................................................................................................................
Address........................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
Phone/e-mail.................................................................................................................

Please indicate which you wish to book by circling clearly in ink -

DAY ATTENDANCE - includes morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea

SATURDAY 10AM – 9PM - £50.00

Optional Buffet/dinner served before the evening book surgery/forum. £15.50

SUNDAY 10AM - 5PM - £45


FULL WEEKEND RESIDENTIAL BOOKING - £130 Includes all meals, accommodation and complete event programe.

There are a maximum of 50 places, so book your place early by sending a deposit of £10.00 to:
Cotswold Bookbinders
Oak Tree House Ewen
Cirencester
Gloucestershire
GL7 6BT
Telephone: 01285 770458
E-mail: john@cotswoldbookbinders.co.uk

Balance to be paid by 15th August 2004.
Late payment will attract a £5 surcharge

Electric Finishing Stove

Utilising a standard 2-ring hot plate, P&S Engraving have produced a very practical and beautifully designed Finishing Stove that will provide for all your finishing requirements.

Specification:
Voltage - 230v AC - 50Hz
Large ring power consumption - 1500W - Thermostatically controlled
Small ring power consumption - 750W - Thermostatically controlled
Cast aluminium support ring, with adjustable brass/wooden legs and feet.

Will be available from stock at the end of May
Cost: £199.50

(Prices are subject to shipping and VAT @ 17.5% where applicable)

The Finishing Stove may be ordered online by clicking here

6-Drawer Type Cabinet

Now available from stock, hand crafted, 6-drawer type cabinets. Each drawer has 42 separate compartments. The cabinet has been designed to allow for a drawer to be removed and placed on top whilst being used.

Cost: £110.50

(Prices are subject to shipping and VAT @ 17.5% where applicable)

The 6-Drawer Type Cabinet may be ordered online by clicking here

Annual Holidays

Tannery and Manufacturing
5th - 17th July 2004

Tannery, Manufacturing, Warehouse and Despatch
24th December 2004 - 5th January 2005
25th March 2005 - 2nd April 2005

Arlington Bookcloth

The 'Retro' look comes to bookcloth with a traditional cotton based cloth of classic construction. The natural acrylic coated surface which is water and dirt resistant, imparts a quality texture in all applications. Arlington can be used for covering all types of books and can also be applied to presentation boxes, stationery items and library re-binding work. It has an ideal surface for foil blocking. Arlington is available in a range of 12 shades on a roll size of 1080mm width x 50 metres length.

00 Tan	13 Charcoal	16 Maroon	21 Saphire Blue
24 Dark Brown	27 Forest Green	37 Red	38 Light Blue
39 Violet	40 Black	41 Dark Green	42 Burnt Orange

Prices:
0-49 metres - £3.90/metre
50+ metres - £2.79/metre

Arilngton may be ordered Online by clicking here

(Prices are subject to shipping and VAT @ 17.5% where applicable)

Millboard

Our new 'Dark Grey' quality dense Millboard is available on a sheet size of 800mm x 1080mm. It is available in the following substances:

1.00mm - £2.79/sheet
1.50mm - £4.26/sheet
2.00mm - £5.55/sheet
2.50mm - £7.20/sheet
3.20mm - £8.00/sheet

We can also supply this product in 25kg bundles, where there are approximately:

26 sheets of 1.00mm board/25kg bundle
17 sheets of 1.50mm board/25kg bundle
13 sheets of 2.00mm board/25kg bundle
10 sheets of 2.50mm board/25kg bundle
9 sheets of 3.20mm board/25kg bundle.

Millboard may be ordered Online by clicking here

There are substantial discounts for bundles. Please contact us for further details on shipping larger quantities.

Bangladeshi Vegetable Calf

We are very pleased to bring you this new leather as a cheaper alternative to our normal Bookcalf. It should be noted that there are several drawbacks over the Scandinavian Bookcalf that relate to the leather's original tannage. This leather is initially tanned using mimosa, or a similar non-lightfast material. Although we remove this original tannage as best we can from the skins and then re-tan using Tara or Sumac, the leather will never have the lightfastness or ageing properties normally expected from our Bookcalf.

Further information on the differences between the types of vegetable tannage please refer to our articles in Skin Deep "The Manufacture of Leather" parts 4 & 7 by clicking here.

In addition to the ageing and lightfastness issues, the skins are sourced from many different tanneries in Bangladesh therefore there will be some variation in colour within and between packs. This leather will be available in 4 colours, Antique Brown, (similar to Colour 1), Mid-Brown (similar to Repair Calf R4), Light Tan (similar to Repair Calf R6) and Natural (similar to fair). The leather will be available as sides (half skins) with an area of approximately 0.8 sq.M. and a substance of 0.8mm. Rectangular size approximately 80cms x 50cms. The BV Calf will be sold in run selection only, generally equivalent to grade II. Prices are as follows:

This new leather may be ordered Online - Click Here

(Prices are subject to shipping and VAT @ 17.5% where applicable)

Gift Vouchers

Would you like to buy a gift for a member of your family or friend, but are unsure what to buy them?

If so, we are now selling gift vouchers that may be redeemed against any of the products we sell. Vouchers are available in the following denominations: £1, £5, £10, £25 and £50.

Please note that the vouchers must be redeemed within two years of their purchase.

Vouchers may be ordered online by clicking here

Society of Bookbinders Journal 2003 - Volume 17

Only £18.00 + shipping

This new journal may be ordered Online - Click Here

(subject to shipping charges where applicable)

Spare Bits for Japanese Screw Punch

Spare bits for the Japanese Screw Punch are now available singly as well as in sets of seven pieces.

They may be ordered online by Clicking here

Knives

In addition to the two new knives we introduced in December, we are also pleased to bring you a new 'French' Style Carbon Steel Paring Knife, with a Beech Handle @ £8.84 each

These new items may be ordered from our online shop by clicking here

(subject to shipping and handling charges and VAT where applicable)