Spring has arrived at Hilton Gate! 

As I sit here preparing to write this, the beautiful smells of buttercup, roses, and lavender are wafting in through the windows. Spring has arrived!

For over a half-century our property has been titled "Hilton Gate". We are only the third owners in that time. But the main portion of the house is over 130 years old, "post & beam" construction. It used to be the fancy 'carriage house' for the 19th century mansion on the corner, which is now the attorneys office.
This Spring has been filled with an array of wonderful events, which include a few really exciting announcements that will be released later this year.

The Gutenberg bindings are progressing quite well. After each set is polished, photographed and sent off, I have to wonder what amazing journeys they will have. What travels they'll have, what people will embrace them, how many eyes will behold them. If that sounds romanticized, then good, because that's exactly what this project deserves. There has never been a bookbinding project of such magnificent proportions. Minnie & I are reminded of this every day, and the responsibility that comes with it to make each set the very finest that we can. In a fax letter from Bernard Middleton on January 21, 2010, he kindly said,  "I can see you have done a very good job on the binding of the facsimiles...You are remarkably productive." These words, from the man who extended so much knowledge to me, and whom I have emulated in my career, are a reward in themselves to me.

Here following are some new photo's that Minnie has taken. They're of the 'braided end-banding' work. And following them, is a lovely photo of one of Minnie's HUNDREDS of beautiful, fragrant roses! The one pictured here stems from a 50 year old bush, and has a fresh, strong citrus-y fragrance.

Minnie & I wish you all a grand Memorial Day, and as always, we appreciate hearing from you, and also knowing that you are so very pleased with BBWS/Hoffmann leathers and products is VERY rewarding to us.

God Bless, and God Bless America!

Michael & Minnie Chrisman

One would think it'd be a sin to 'pierce a hole' in something like this.

The beginning of my 48th German Braided End-Band! I think Minnie has a celebration planned for my 50th!

Never mind the iPhone in the background....that's how you're all reaching me!

With God, All things are possible!

Showing the definition that is achieved by use of the "Special Formula" Alum-Tawed Pigskin from BBWS.

This is one of our "Hilton Gate Reds". From a row of rose bushes over 50 years old!

        

NOTICE:  The gentleman to whom BBWS sold 65% of Hoole Machine & Engraving Works has ceased operations (without our consent, AND WITHOUT BUYING OUR 35%!) and has dubiously supposedly set up a new entity called "Pierpont Works, LLC." PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE PURCHASE OF ANY "HOOLE" PROPERTY FROM THAT PERSON, MR. SMITH, MAY BE AGAINST THE LAW, AND RATHER THAN PURCHASE, PLEASE INFORM BOOKBINDERS WORKSHOP IMMEDIATELY!!! ADDITIONALLY, PLEASE ALERT US IF MR. SMITH AT "HOOLE" IN UTAH HAS NOT FULFILLED ANY OBLIGATIONS TO YOU, AND IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED ANY BOOKBINDING TOOLS FROM HIM.

We'll keep the same "Hoole" posting below, as we have for over a year now, until this situation is resolved.

WHAT A SORROWFUL SITUATION MR. SMITH HAS CREATED!

________________________________________________________

HOOLE MACHINE & ENGRAVING WORKS, INC.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT

BBWS is very happy to announce to the world that the 177 year old firm of HOOLE MACHINE & ENGRAVING WORKS is in FULL production of the finest brass bookbinders tools in the world. Hoole is the oldest continually operating bookbinders tool maker world-wide, and boasts of the finest quality and reasonable pricing available.

Below are only a few examples of Hoole's impeccable quality. See their website for much more (  www.hooleworks.com  ) and contact them for more information....

THESE ARE THE FINEST AND MOST REASONABLY PRICED TOOLS IN THE WORLD!

www.hooleworks.com

        

Wow, what a GREAT Summer and Fall its been at Bookbinders Workshop!

Sorry its been so long since the last post. This Summer & Fall have been absolutely wonderful for BBWS and for our official kick-off here on Long Island, NY. There are so many things to update you on. First, Tim Yancey and myself have co-authored a new (large!) pictorial history book: The Lost Gutenbergs, The Discovery of 128 Unbound Original Cooper Square Gutenberg Bibles. The book gives a great historical overview of this rare, first American Facsimile of the Gutenberg Bible, complete with over 80 full color photo's. The book is a hard [flat] back with full color case, and beautiful full color wrap dust jacket. It's FOLIO size at 9.0" X 12.0" inches. An awesome book! It can be purchased on our Lost Gutenbergs website.


The Cover of Our New Book!

Bookbinders Workshop, Inc. continues to grow at a fabulous rate. The customer base has increased dramatically each year for the last four, and our Exclusive global agency/distributorship for Franz Hoffmann Fine Leathers of Stuttgart, Germany has pretty much taken the trade by storm. There is NO doubt, we have The World's Finest Leather!

Bookbinders Workshop, Inc. is also very proud to welcome aboard, as new authorized dealers, two wonderful, established companies;  University Products, Inc. (Mass., USA), and F. J. Ratchford, LTD. (Cheshire, England / United Kingdom). University Products will be showcasing our line of fine  bookbinding instructional DVD's and our world-renowned Old Master Leather Conditioner. F. J. Ratchford, LTD. has begun representing our line of Franz Hoffmann Fine Leathers, DVD's, and Old Master Leather Conditioner. BBWS has authorized Ratchford's to represent the full line of Hoffmann Leathers and BBWS products throughout all of the United Kingdom! While BBWS continues to sell directly, we have added these dealers for your convenience!

We have just weathered a pounding 20+ inches of fresh snow here on the Island, so I got some much needed exercise with the snow shovel over the weekend! I did the horse-shoe driveway, side driveway, and the sidewalk....and then enjoyed a much deserved hot cocoa!

Well, Christmas-tide is upon us once more, and Minnie & I (and all of us at BBWS) wish you & yours a very peaceful, joyous, restful season that is full of countless wishes and dreams that 2010 will bring true for you!

In Peace, and thankfulness for your continued interest,

Michael & Minnie Chrisman
Bookbinders Workshop, Inc.
P.O. Box 55
Garden City, New York  11530
(347) 556-7133
Long Island, New York

        

Greetings Everyone!

I've been getting emails asking for an update on how I'm getting along on binding the Gutenberg Bibles.

Things have been going along very smoothly. Spacing out the various tasks to limit "wear and tear" on the joints and muscles! That might sound odd, but to bind a single volume of the bibles requires over 250 individual steps. The ones that have the ability to cause the most 'trouble', physically, are the wooden boards, the leather paring, the brass work, and the tooling. All of these demand so much from the elbows and fingers, and there is SO much of it to do, that I need to be mindful of spacing these tasks out appropriately, and blending in other work. The sewing is probably the most cathartic of all the tasks, but the derrière does become quite tired, as it takes many hours to sew a single volume in the packed-herringbone style on four stations of double cords.

The Lost Gutenbergs website is now up, and in short order the full suite of pages will be up as well. Here's a link the Home Page:

http://www.LostGutenbergs.com

As most everybody knows, BBWS has grown tremendously in the fine bookbinding leather business, by our global exclusive agency with Franz Hoffmann Fine Leathers, Stuttgart, Germany. I've used Hoffmann's leathers since the late 1980's, and have never found a more beautiful and "precious" line of leathers for bookbinding and conservation. The name just hasn't received that much attention because Johann Dargel (the owner for 54 years, until he sold it in 2007) never had a selling agent, anywhere. Only the office on Schwabstrasse! Hoffmann's is 85 years old!!

Back to Gutenbergs for a moment...

Many fellow binders have asked me how I achieved such a high degree of authentic color tone and 'retracted' look to the pigskin, as well as the clasps and catches. These are things that I will be discussing at a future lecture/demonstration in New York City later this year. I'll keep you posted on the venue.

I will say, however, that the initial help I received in aging alum-tawed pigskin came directly from Bernard C. Middleton. On my first visit to his home and bindery in the mid- '90's, he had just completed a small folio in this style. I had already been working with alum-tawed pigskin (and aging it to an 'acceptable' standard) for years, but Bernard's help clarified some points.

Our NEW BBWS WEBSITE is nearing it's debut, so the .com address will soon begin taking directly to the commercial BBWS PRODUCTS website, instead of re-directing folks to this blog. There'll be a link on bookbinders.com to this blog.

I'll try to get another update posted here soon!

Here's a few new photo's for you to enjoy.

Thanks to SO MANY of you around the world for taking such a great interest in BBWS and The Lost Gutenbergs! We're humbled by it all.

Michael & Minnie



Our now famous "BBWS Gryphon".




Another photograph of our "German Braided End-bands."

        

PHOTO BY DENNIS MECHAM, COPYRIGHT 2008.
Michael LeRoy Chrisman with "The First Five Gutenberg's"

In the over 15,000 visitors (and literally countless wonderful comments) we've had to this blog just since January '09, a great many folks have asked me where I studied bookbinding, and many have asked more about my life and experiences, etc. So I thought it might be a good idea to post here a short background sketch of myself, and my career.

- Born 1963, Homer, Ohio (Burlington Township / Licking County).
- Authored the First published history of Burlington Township in 1979. Second Edition/1981.
- Received gift of the Holwick Historical Ohio Photographs Collection, 1980.
- Began text-book study in bookbinding in 1980 to repair books from my grandfathers collection, who was a Justice. My first text-book was: Rebinding & Repairing Books By Hand, by David Muir.
- Founded the Homer, Ohio Historical Society 1981. Served as President  from 1981 to 1989.
- Presented with the Henry Howe Family Award by the Granville, Ohio Historical Society, 1981.
- Conducted lengthy historical research on Ohio Indian Tribes and their hieroglyphics, and Ohio Grist Mills, as well as continued research in local and personal family histories, 1981-1987.
- Joined the Old Order Amish Church in NE Ohio, 1987.
- Took up bookbinding  as a full-time profession, 1987. But also doubled one year as an Amish School Teacher.
- I have worked full-time as a bookbinder/book restorer ever since.
- In 1981, I acquired and began to study, in great depth, The Restoration of Leather Bindings, by Bernard C. Middleton.
- In 1994, I made my first journey to England to visit Mr. Middleton in London, England. Following is a run-down of only a small portion of that experience;

  Between 1994 and 1999 I was fortunate to receive some very kind and personal teaching, guidance and mentoring from Mr. Bernard C. Middleton, MBE, FSA, London, England. The personal (one-on-one) teaching was received both at his home in London, and mine in Ohio.
  On one particular teaching session at Bernard's home in 1996, he demonstrated for me the following;
- His (period-style) re-backing and spine label technique on a mid-18th century Philadelphia printing of Barclay's Apology.
- His (period-style) outer hinge repair technique on Offenbarung Johannis, Stuttgart, 1857. (This book is in my personal collection).
- His (period-style) Full Gilt Back on Essai Sur L'Origine De La Gravure, Paris, 1808. (This book is in my personal collection). NOTE: Bernard & I actually re-backed this book prior to he doing the full-gilt-back. It was originally a smooth spine, so false bands were pasted onto the back, creating spine compartments, then the new lather applied. It wasn't until after the gilt work was all done that we noticed the book had been re-backed and tooled UPSIDE DOWN! All I can say is, I wasn't the one who pasted on the false bands! I received the book in the mail from Bernard a few weeks later. It takes a proud place in my personal library, where it has now been for 13 years!
  Also on this same visit a very important and honorable gentleman called on Mr. Middleton. This was Lord Robert Crawford, The Right Honorable 29th Earl of Crawford, of Balcarres Castle, Scotland. I was humbled that Bernard liked my period-style reverse calf binding on a 1777 printing of Taylor & Skinners Maps of Ireland so well that (standing in his den) he picked it up and handed it to Lord Crawford. He was equally pleased, and invited me to visit him at Balcarres Castle on my next trip to England, and when I did that the following year, I was astounded by the beauty as Lord Crawford gave me a tour of their home...Balcarres (a 16th century Scottish castle). Balcarres is also home of the largest private library in all Scotland, The Bibliotech Lindsiana. I have a photograph of myself in the library with one of his original Nuremberg Chronicles. It was a time I will never forget! Lord Crawford was Lord Chamberlain to the Queen Mother, and also Britain's Minister of Defense during the cold war. Here's a fabulous link to more information about Earl Crawford: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Lindsay,_29th_Earl_of_Crawford

  Before returning to America, Bernard presented me with the gift of probably his most famous period-style Cambridge binding ever, the one that is illustrated in the back of Restoration book, Kennet's Antiquities of Rome (a 17th century book). On the inside front fly-leaf he wrote: For Leroy, from Bernard, June 1996. Bernard made great "kippers and bread" for lunch.
  I am also very fortunate to have a huge archive of written correspondence (primarily fax communications) wherein Bernard made many notes regarding my book, The Restoration of Cloth Bindings (1996. To be published).
  The experience of life thus far has been amazing! However, the best thing that has ever happened to me is my wonderful wife, Chongmin (Minnie). There's a picture of her & I on this BLOG under the "Lost Gutenbergs" category. She has been my rock. The way she cares for me and our home and business is super-human! I thank God for her every day of my life.
  As I'm writing all of this I'm ever more aware just how much there is to write. So very much! Therefore, I'll add more later, as well as some photo's of work that I have done over the years, and many other unique photo's of interest.

I'LL OUTLINE MY WORK AT THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS (1999-2000), AND OTHER INTERESTING TIDBITS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

Michael

        

Here is yet another collection of photo's of my bindings on our BBWS "Lost Gutenberg's".

I hope you enjoy them!

Michael.



PHOTO BY ELLIOTT YANCEY, 2009
This is the {already famous} BBWS reproduction 15th century brass boss. Each two volume set has 20 of these hand turned bosses. They are aged with a special solution. They measure 1-3/4 inch in diameter by 7/8th inch tall. Each boss is attached with a solid brass machine screw from the inside cover. These bosses begin their life as shiny as crystal, and then I age them with a three step process. Notice the [harmless] residue at the points where the different design elements meet. The style is derived from known original 15th century examples.







PHOTO BY MICHAEL L. CHRISMAN
Here is a demanding stack of Lost Gutenbergs in varying stages of binding. Notice the light reflecting on the blind tooling in the middle of the stack.







PHOTO BY ELLIOTT YANCEY, 2009
A close-up of some recent blind tooling on the alum-tawed pigskin leather. I age the leather much the same way as Bernard Middleton taught me fifteen years ago, giving it a genuine antique patina. I have deviated only slightly from his recipe, but in a way that I believe creates an even greater authentic look.







PHOTO BY ELLIOTT YANCEY, 2009

Here's a photo of a bottom back cover board of a G.B. Volume II. Notice the harmless {new} residue around the elements of the brass bosses. Our {new} BBWS Alum-Tawed Pigskin is a joy to work with, and there is no other alum-tawed pigskin in the world that even comes close to the BBWS quality.






PHOTO BY ELLIOTT YANCEY, 2009

I have been making brass clasps and catches now since 1987. My Pennsylvania German-Dutch Book Clasps have been sold in the past by Shepherds in England, and throughout Europe. These Lost Gutenberg clasps and catches are some of the most rewarding I've ever done!



         
PHOTO BY THOMAS SCHMIDT, STUTTGART, DE 2007               PHOTO BY THOMAS SCHMIDT, STUTTGART, DE 2007




PHOTO BY THOMAS SCHMIDT, STUTTGART, DE, 2007

The three photo's above are of some friends at FRANZ HOFFMANN FINE LEATHERS, STUTTGART, GERMANY. They depict three (of the many) stages in making our BBWS ALUM-TAWED PIGSKIN.





PHOTO BY CHONGMIN CHRISMAN, 2008

Here is a photo of a Lost Gutenberg Bible end-cap with it's German-Primary End-band and the alum-tawed pigskin tab (cut flush with the top of German Primary), now ready to receive the German Braided Endband.





PHOTO BY ELLIOTT YANCEY, 2009

Herringbone, packed-sewn volume of a Lost Gutenberg Bible.

        

BBWS IS VERY PROUD TO  BE THE EXCLUSIVE WORLD-WIDE DISTRIBUTOR FOR FRANZ HOFFMANN FINE LEATHERS - STUTTGART, GERMANY. HOFFMANN'S IS NOW CELEBRATING  OUR 84TH YEAR IN SUPPLYING "THE WORLDS FINEST LEATHERS."

HAVE A LOOK THROUGH THE AWESOME HOFFMANN'S WEBSITE (  WWW.FEINLEDER-HOFFMANN.COM  ) WHERE YOU'LL FIND THE WORLDS LARGEST SELECTION OF FINE BOOKBINDING LEATHERS, VELLUMS, PARCHMENTS, ETC.

STAY TUNED FOR A BRAND NEW AMAZING PRODUCT COMING FROM HOFFMANN'S & BBWS SOON! SOMETHING LIKE THE WORLD HAS NEVER SEEN!


http://www.feinleder-hoffmann.com/


CALL US WITH ANY QUESTIONS, OR TO REQUEST OUR 30+ PAGE SAMPLE BOOK, WHICH IS $50.00 AND REFUNDED ON YOUR FIRST ORDER OF $500 OR MORE LEATHER.

(347) 556-7133
M-F, 8-5 EDT

        

MICHAEL L. CHRISMAN (Left), TIM YANCEY (Right).
Photo taken by Elliott Yancey, in the 'Great Room' of the Chrisman's Long Island, NY Home.

Over the last 20+ years I have had a number of students. Most of which have continued in the art of bookbinding. But few have been what I would also call a close friend. A true friend that cares is an extreme rarity in life.

The above photo is of myself with just such a friend, who happens to also be one of the finest students I've ever had, Tim Yancey, of Atlanta, Georgia. Tim & I first met in the summer of 2005 after he had taken a class at the American Academy of Bookbinding in Colorado. His only exposure to me prior to studying with me was my first bookbinding video, BOOK RESTORATION FOR BEGINNERS, VOL I (Walnut Creek, Ohio, 1996).  A video that still remains on the market today. Tim & I joined forces in creating Bookbinders Workshop in 2006, [then] a Limited Liability Corporation in Salt Lake City, Utah. We also purchased Hoole Machine & Engraving Works (Est. 1832, NY, NY), which we later sold, with my wife and I retaining thirty-five percent ownership of the Hoole Company. Today, Bookbinders Workshop, Inc. is a New York State Corporation based in Long Island, New York.

In Spring 2007 Tim & I embarked on our wonderful "Lost Gutenbergs" project, which is described throughout this blog. The "Lost Gutenbergs" project is an equal monetary investment for both of us, but one that I know we're both happy to be involved in. Though there are many miles between Long Island and Atlanta, I'm grateful that Tim gets up here to Long Island to work with me a few days every three or four months.

Tim's lengthy experience in the corporate world and finance has been, and remains, an unwavering asset to all of our business interests. His passion for "real" bookbinding, and the embodiment of this in our "Lost Gutenbergs" project has been tireless. All through the development of each aspect, Tim and I have shared what I believe to be the most astounding experience in the entire history of bookbinding.

Many of the first bindings I restored very many years ago were wooden board bindings within the Amish and Mennonite communities of Ohio & Pennsylvania. I am thankful to God for having taught me the mysteries of this ancient style. In the course developing the wooden boards, hand shaping the profiles, and all the other aspects of these bindings, I draw on that experience daily. Tim often remarks that he believes that God has prepared me my entire life for this Lost Gutenbergs project. I didn't immediately think so, but now I must admit, I believe its true.

I often reflect on the time I spent studying with Bernard Middleton in London, England, and the times he spent teaching me at my bindery [then] in Ohio. Though my study under Bernard was not a part or full time "position", it consisted of years of helpful correspondence, visits to each others binderies, etc. All in a one-on-one situation. I have a desire (and I believe a responsibility) to teach the mysteries I've received from God (and from Bernard) in art and craft of bookbinding.

Michael L. Chrisman
"The Gutenberg Binder", as someone recently addressed me.

        

Greetings!
Since January of this year, this blog has received many, many THOUSANDS of visitors. These are visitors that have roamed around the blog and enjoyed what's here. We've already received a multitude of comments as well, but time has just not allowed us answer them all. The few that we have posted here are very representative of the nice compliments we receive daily about my bindings on the Cooper-Square 1961 facsimile of the Gutenberg Bible, the first fac. of this great book in America, and only the second ever produced in the world. Minnie & I are very grateful for these comments, and that so many people recognize what a vast undertaking this is.

BOOKBINDERS WORKSHOP, INC and BBWS WORLDWIDE has not yet revived their website since relocating to Long Island, New York, but is in the process of doing so. For now, we ask our visitors who are looking for any of many great products (such as leathers, cloths, papers, threads, etc) to go to the HOME PAGE OF THIS BLOG and click on BBWS LEATHERS or BBWS INSTRUCTIONAL DVD'S, and so forth, UNDER THE CATEGORY ARCHIVES TAB. There you will find photo's of products, descriptions, and pricing.

We'll do our best to keep this blog interesting with bookbinding, book conservation, book restoration information, as well as other great BBWS products and services!

Subscribe to the BLOG at lower right, and stay tuned in!

Michael & Minnie
Bookbinders Workshop, Inc.
BBWS Worldwide
(347) 556-7133

        

        

1537 Binding on an edition of Euclides.                                       BBWS "Cathedral Calf/ Antique Ochre"

BBWS (TOGETHER WITH FRANZ HOFFMAN FINE LEATHERS, STUTTGART, GERMANY) HAS DEVELOPED THE FINEST LINE OF CALFSKIN LEATHERS EVER. THESE CALFSKINS ARE SUITABLE FOR RESTORATION / CONSERVATION, AND FINE BINDING. THEY ARE MAJESTIC IN THEIR LOOK, FEEL AND QUALITY. HENCE THE NAME "BBWS CATHEDRAL."  PICTURED ABOVE IS OUR "ANTIQUE OCHRE" SHADE. BBWS CATHEDRAL CALF IS ALSO STOCKED IN A TRUE MEDIUM BROWN, NATURAL, AND BORDEAUX. FIVE ADDITIONAL COLOURS ARE CURRENTLY BEING MADE FOR US.

PRICE: $21.00 PER SQUARE FOOT / AVG SKIN SIZE IS 15-18 SQUARE FEET.

BBWS GREATLY PRIDES ITSELF IN OFFERING THE "WORLDS FINEST LEATHERS" AND IS BULLISH ON THE STANCE THAT WE HAVE NO COMPETITION WHEN IT COMES TO THE QUALITY AND PRICE OF OUR FINE FRANZ HOFFMANN LEATHERS. THEY ARE MADE ACCORDING TO STRICT GERMAN STANDARDS, AND HAVE NO EQUAL. THEY ARE, QUITE SIMPLY, THE BEST.

HERE ARE THUMB-NAILS OF FOUR ADDITIONAL COLOURS OF

BBWS "CATHEDRAL CALF."

     
BBWS CATHEDRAL CALF/ Caramel Tan              BBWS CATHEDRAL CALF/ Bordeaux


 
BBWS CATHEDRAL CALF/ Natural                   

HERE ARE THE FIRST FOUR COLORS, AND SHOWING THE SIZE OF THE YEARLING CALVES, WHICH ARE 6 TO 7 MONTHS OLD. THESE SKINS ARE TYPICALLY THINNED TO 0.68MM THICKNESS / 1.2 OZ., BUT CAN BE ORDERED IN THICKNESSES ANYWHERE FROM 1.2OZ UP TO 1.5 OZ (0.80MM).

TO ORDER, CALL BBWS DIRECTLY AT:

(347) 556-7133, M-F 8AM-5PM / EST.