No 33, January 2000

No 33, January 2000

The Quarterly, No 33 - January 2000

The Bicentenary of the Papermachine - Richard Hills

An account of the development of the first large-scale machine for making paper by Nicholas Louis Robert. Detailed descriptions are given of each part of the machine with an account of how it would have worked and subsequent modifications by Gamble. With a brief history of attempts prior to Robert's machine and a description of how paper is made by hand as background to the development.

8 pages, illustrated

British Paper Mills: Beoley Paper Mill, Worcestershire - Valerie Goodbury

A history of this mill and its occupants from its first documented mention in 1650 to the cessation of the production of paper in 1951 and its final demise in 1986. For part of its life at least part of the mill was a needle mill and a brief account of the development of the packaging and paper for wrapping needles is included.

6 pages, illustrated, maps

British Paper Mills: Oak Leaves and Acorns, Success and failures at Five North Lancashire Paper Mills, part 3 - Mike Malley

Further evaluation of the success and failure at Catterall, Matshead, Oakenclough, Higher and Lower Primrose Paper Mills between 1860 to 1920 using the factors identified in Part 1, namely Size, Distance and Paper Produced. The discussion is then extended to include more details under the headings identified by the historians in Part 2, ending with a paragraph on the possible effects of the Quakers business practices.

7 pages, tables

Pole-finding Paper

Pole-finding paper used by electricians for distinguishing positive and negative poles consists of paper moistened with solution of pottasium iodide. The ends of the two wires are placed upon this paper half an inch of so apart, when a brown spot will indicate the positive pole. Or blotting paper is impregnated with a solution of phenolphthalein and while still moist is passed through a solution of sodium sulphate (20 %). The paper is then dried at a moderate heat and cut into suitable strips. When required for use, moisten the piece of paper and place the ends of the two wires upon it at a distance of about a quarter of an inch apart; a red spot on the strip indicates the negative pole.

Book reviews

Printing and Bookselling in Dublin 1670 - 1800: A Bibliographical Enquiry. James W Phillips.
16th Century Italian Ornament Prints in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Elizabeth Miller.
Architectural Photoreproductions: A Manual for Identification and Care. El?ore Kissell and Erin Vigneau.