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News No 33, Winter 1998
BAPH - AUTUMN MEETING
Saturday, 14 November, 1998 at The Institute of Historical Research
Alan Witt's
Whatman: A Microcosm of Industrial History
ranged from the familiar Springfield Mill at Maidstone, Kent, being the largest hand-made paper mill in the world during the 19th and early 20th centuries, to machine papermaking and the modern additional developments in filtration, gas chromatography, particularly specialist medical products.
Reporting on the International Association of Paper Historians' Congress' visits in Portugal, Alan Crocker mentioned especially the use of pine, eucalyptus, sawmill chips and waste paper for making Kraft Board by Portucel, also the production of Kraft pulp from bleached eucalyptus by Sorpocel. Moths eating paper and books in archives is a serious problem in Portugal.
Harry Dagnall showed examples of cast-hardened dies for watermarks, to be sewn onto dandy rolls.
Alan Crocker brought
Papermaking as a Cottage Industry
by K B Joshi (4th edition 1947), produced by the Institute of All India Village Tourist Industries Association.
Barney Butter spoke of the now tourist attraction, Wookey Hole Paper Mill, where hand-making of paper is demonstrated, based on cotton lintus, hemp and shredded denim, and the urgent need for ideas to ensure the mill is not lost.
Jean Stirk gave some insights into the lives of paper makers, in and away from the workplace.
The history of Dartford Paper Mill (south of the church on the River Darenth) was depicted by Allan Prior, from Spilman's introduction of papermaking there, through its period under J & E Hall, to being the London Paper Mill then taken over by A E Reed.
Experienced Bibliographer Needed
Norman Armes, who compiled the British Bibliography of Paper History & Watermark Studies , No.3 - 1995, No.4 - 1996, No.5 - 1997 (due out in Quarterly No.27), is no longer able to work on this project. Would any member interested in taking on this important annual listing please contact
Peter Bower.
Electro-type Plates: Green Son & Waite
Volunteers still needed to help record 5000 electro-type plates, this involves printing images, extracting details of images from ledgers and organising and computerising the resulting material. More information from
Alan Crocker.
FLOOD DISASTER - DUSZNIKI
The important historical paper mill and paper museum in Duszniki Zdroj (Bad Reinerz) Poland was hit by flood disaster during ther night of 22-23 July 1998. Violent storms flooded the production workshops and printshop, leaving silt to first floor level and destroying all the paper stocks. Income from the the sale of Duszniki handmade paper covers 40% of maintenance costs so the mill and museum's continuance is severly endangered. The International Association of Paper Historians is urging donations to help with reconstruction. BAPH members are encouraged to contribute whatever can be managed.
BAPH has made a small donation and ?57 was raised by an impromptu raffle among the ex-members of Arjo-Wiggins Corporate Engineering Division, now defunct.
Please pay donations, marked Duszniki, into an IPH postal account: Germany or EC - Frankfurt 12.616.604; Switzerland - Basel 40.31.640.0
INFORMATION SOUGHT
The objectives of the BAPH include acting as a forum for exchange of information and ideas as well as disseminating material relevant to paper history. To fulfill these objectives, requests for information will be published in the NEWS on the understanding that enquirers will share the results. Please inform the editor of the NEWS of any information so acquired for publication.
Mark Kirwans research project is on the Life and Work of Carl EKMAN (1852-1904), particularly with respect to his invention of the sulphite process for wood pulp based on magnesium bisulphite.
His main mill at Northfleet, Kent, was known as The Ekman Pulp and Paper Mill Ltd. Pulping ceased in 1904, partly because it proved cheaper to make pulp in Scandinavia, but also as a result of a court case for pollution brought by a cement company. The mill carried on making paper until 1929 when the company was wound up. The site was taken over and became the New Northfleet Mill.
Ekman installed his process in Dieppe (mill name unknown), and also in Italy. Possibly other mills, perhaps one at Ilford, Essex.
Contact M J Kirwan.
Can anyone locate a copy of Mills on the River Dour, author unknown?. Apparently mention is made in the book of Luke EVANS, paper maker, "the best in the area" (c.1825-1846). Luke worked at River Mill, near Dover, Kent, and by 1840 was recorded as River parish clerk.
Radford EVANS, son of Thomas baptised 1836 at River, became a paper maker and, with six employees, started the River Co-operative Society. Radford EVANS became foreman of a paper mill (unnamed) near Maidstone by 1889.
If anyone can locate the book, name the mill near Maidstone, or add any details about these men and their origins, please contact
Mr Roger Webb.
JAMES CROPPER & Co. Ltd., of Kendal, Cumbria.
Mark Cropper is presently writing the history of this company, and is keen to hear of any relevant material from any period, including watermarks. Individuals and topics for which information particularly sought:-
Cowan Head Mill paper makers - Thomas and James ASHBURNER (1750-1794); M BRANTHWAITE (1794-1830's); Cornelius NICHOLSON (in partnership with others, watermark HNF ); James Cropper's partners (1853- ): George MCCORQUODALE, railway printer and his Oakenholt paper mill; William BLACKLOCK, partner of George BRADSHAW, railway printer.
Surat and Jute usage in 19th century paper mills; evidence of correspondence between Croppers and other paper mills.
Contact Mark Cropper.
A new member Ashley Teape, is researching the history of Henry Teape & Son, Printers, Tower Hill, London, and would welcome further suggestions for sources.
Henry Teape apprenticed to John March, printer and neighbour (1779-1786). He eventually partnered John March's son in that business; on his partner's death, Henry Teape took over the printing business, later joined by his own son, Tobiah Teape. Known 'Teape' imprints 1790-1862.
In 1819 Henry Teape became partner in stationers later known as Wiggins, Teape & Co., Aldgate, London, separate from printers and eventually part of papermaking company of Arjo Wiggins Appleton.
Ashley Teape descends from Tobiah, and has written of Wiggins Teape's 18th century origins in Leadenhall Street, London, and of his family's partnerships in the firm. He is a Friend of the National Printing Heritage Trust.
Contact Ashley Teape.
Paper Mill, Paper Maker and Paper Information
Jane Hurst noted that several references to paper, paper mills and to paper makers in other counties had been deposited in Norfolk County Record Office. If any members find such 'stray' information please note references for publication in BAPH NEWS.
For example: Tax Stamp from a wrapper of a packet of newspaper. First Class Paper, Mill No.23 (Standon, Bedfordshire?) charged 11th July 1832 by Mr William Maunder (officer) (BOL 6/9 742x7). Two others are illustrated below.
Kent Mills
Roger Webb, with the help of Janet Adamson, Heritage Officer, Folkstone Library, Kent, located research notes on Kent Mills compiled by the late Peter Davies. The Templeman Library of the University of Kent at Canterbury have produced an outline catalogue of his notes and boxes of information, but no detailed work has yet been possible as much is still unsorted. |
News 33, Winter 1998
