No 60, October 2006

The Quarterly No 60, October 2006

Cirencester Conference 2005

The Women Workers of John Dickinson & Co Ltd - Michael Stanyon

This study explores the role of women within the paper industry of the Gade valley in Hertfordshire. Since 1809 the principal manufacturing company has been John Dickinson's, both as paper makers and as manufacturing stationers. The period covered is from the closing years of the eighteenth century through to the end of the second World War, during which Apsley Mill alone grew from a small mill into a factory employing around five thousand people.

8 pages, illustrated, tables

Paper from Bamboo: Improved Preparatory Treatment of the Fibre

Short article reprinted from The World's Paper Trade Review 1911 detailing an improved method of treating bamboo preparatory to making it into pulp for paper-making purposes patented by Mr Samuel Milne of Edinburgh.

3 pages, illustrated

"For the Better Supply of the Paper Mills in General": George White's Handbill - Peter Bower

A short account of the examination of a handbill left by the dealer with householders to notify them that he would call back later to collect whatever they could collect together for him. Any information on George White or other rag men would be welcome. Editor

2 pages, illustrated

Reminiscences about Kemsley Mill - John Parker

Notes of the recollections of the author when a new graduated Chemical Engineer at Kemsley Mill, north Kent between 1952 and 1960. He covers a wide range of the activities of a paper mill including employees, techniques, supplies and production processes.

4 pages

New Rag Cutting Machines: Nuttall's Patent

Illustration and description of the operation of Nuttall's Rag Cutting Machine as detailed in The World's Paper Trade Review, 1888

2 pages, illustrated

A Visit to Turkey Mill - Mick Fuller

Account of a press visit to Turkey Mill, in about 1930 it is believed, shown here in its entirety. An undated reprint in Hollingworth Paper was used for the article, but the original report was quoted as having been published in an unspecified edition of The Bookseller & Stationery Trade Journal.

2 pages, illustrated

Sketches of Mill Life: Changing the Cylinder Felt - John M Scrymgeough

Reprinted from The World's Paper Trade Review, 1909, to compliment the current series of reminiscences. It illustrates, in a humorous way, the trials and tribulations that can occur during paper manufacture, and the dangers involved in heavy maintenance procedures.

1 page

Mark Lander: New Zealand Papermaker Extraordinaire - Christine Harrison

The account of the authors meeting with this extraordinary artist. He has taken home papermaking to the ultimate degree including designing and building his own papermaking machinery. He also gathers local materials to make and colour the paper with. The article has to be read to appreciat the innovation and enthusiasm.

4 pages, illustrated

History of Paper Test Instruments Part 4: Surface Finish Testers - Daven Chamberlain

To date in this series the surface of paper has only been investigated from the viewpoint of liquid absorption. This article focuses on instrumentation used to quantify three largely independent properties of the surface, its roughness (or smoothness); glare (or gloss) and its slipperiness (or frictional properties).

13 pages, illustrated

Book Reviews  

The Grinnell Hawaiian Missionary Stamps: the investigation of the Grinnell Hawaiian Missionaries by the Expert Committee of Royal Philatelic Society London. Patrick Pearson
Papermaking and the Art of Watercolour in Eighteenth-Century Britain: Paul Sandby and the Whatman Paper Mill. Theresa Fairbanks Harris and Scott Wilcox, with essays and contributions by Stephen Daniels, Michael Fuller and Maureen Green.
The Lost Mills: A History of Papermaking in County Durham. Jean V Stirk

An Interview with Mr Bryan Donkin Jun. Some Facts not Generally Known Concerning the History of the Fourdrinier Machine

Reproduced in edited format from The Paper Trade Review, Vol 10, 1888.

2 pages, illustrated

The Cannock Chase Foundry and Engine Works: Machines for Paper Bag Making

Paper conversion is a most important aspect of the paper industry. For many paper grades it is their sole reason for being manufactured. This article has been edited from that presented in The Paper Maker and British Paper Trade Journal, 1896 and describes two new machines, both made in Britain, for producing bags. The editors would be interested in any similar articles.

2 pages, illustrated

A Japanese Papermaker on Cheap Labour. Some Original Notes by an Eminent Japanese Official, Connected with the Japan Government Mills and Printing Offices

Poor wages are always a source of injustice and discontent. This article from The Paper Trade Review, Vol 10, 1888 compares labour costs from various countries. The article is motivated by overtly political sentiments at times but is nevertheless it is an interesting example of social history.

2 pages

Various Papermaking Machines

Encyclopaedias and other books often illustrate the machinery and equipment used in the manufacture of paper. The images shown come from prints from a print dealer who had broken up the books they had come from. Papermaking machinery is such a limited market that you would think that the dealer would realise that anyone wanting such a print might actually want the text that goes with it. We have no idea what books these images have come from. The only clue on one of the prints is the printed text: "Plate XXXVII Paper and Paperboard Machines. See page 1624" If anyone can identify the works from which these images came or knows about any of the individual machines, please contact the editor.

1 page, illustrated 

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Last modified: May 05, 2008