Clasp
Restoration for Family Bible |
Documenting
a commission for Bible clasp construction/restoration. |
This
brass clasp is a type commmonly found on old Bibles and albums. They
were machine made, stamped out by the hundreds, I imagine. It tmight
be possible to make a reasonable facsimile of the original clasp through
the process of photoetching. But, unless done in a production run,
it would not be cost effective. In
this particular case, I proposed to replicate the basic shape, create
a complimentary shape for the hasp, and patina the new brass parts
to match the color of the existing part, and attach the clasp to
the boards. |
Making
the Clasp and Hasp
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Bible
as received.(above)
Textblock is wrapped.
Endpapers are not pasted down.
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(1)
I
made a rubbing of the existing clasp to use as a pattern for the
new one.
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(2)
Next, I cut out the pattern, compared it to the original,and
made any corrections necessary.
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(3) Comparing the thickness of the clasp
to brass stock to determine which gauge would work best for the
new clasp part.
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(4)
Pattern is glued to metal of the right thickness, and the
pattern is sawed out with a jewelers saw
.
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(5)
The clasp was formed to fit over the fore edge of the book. Tubes
for the hinge were soldered to the clasp piece.Parts were tested
for proper fit.
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(6)
The tube was soldered to the hasp.The rod for the rivet was fitted.
Final adjustments were made before riveting the hasp and clasp
together.
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(7)
Clasp fitted together to check hinge action
.
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(8)
Textblock is wrapped, but clasp was tested unwrapped to
confirm fit. |
(9)
Completed, patinaed clasp. |
(10)
Checking the color match. |
Attaching
Clasp
The new clasp must be
fastened to the board using a new hole, as the old hole has become
too large.The hole remaining from the previous clasp attachment
was filled with a piece of a hardwood toothpick (...otherwise
know as the conservation toothpick... ) glued in with PVA.
The boards were very thick. Trying to hammer a pin
through the board without a guide hole would risk damaging the board,
so a very small guide hole (much smaller than the pin) was drilled
through to minimize stress in order to make it easier to hammer
the pin. |
(11)
Since these boards were pasteboard, a little brass plate, a small
circle of brass with a center hole, is used as an anchor for the
rivet on the inside of the board. A recess was trimmed out for the
plate and the pin was riveted. Paper was used to fill in any gaps,
then sanded down flush with the board, so as to not interfere with
the pastedown. |
(12)
Only one rivet was used, since there is a lip on the front of the
clasp which secures the clasp onto the fore edge. |
The
completed clasp on the book. (Textblock is shown wrapped for
protection.)
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