Log In
Members
Home
Add Reply
Add Topic
Online
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all!
I have a September 1, 1882 Winchester catalog that has loose front and back pages. Otherwise, it’s in remarkably good condition for such an old catalog. If possible and within reason, I would like some conservator help to re-attach those pages.
Does anyone know of a trustworthy antique document/book conservator?
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
Offline
Hi Bill
I can’t recommend a conservator. I was just looking at the cover. I’m guessing that you are aware there was an Arthur W. Hooper who was WRACo Treasuer and VP I believe, and probably other things. He’s in a pic we used in the 1895 book, page 37.
And I forgot to write: Neat catalog!
Is this the standard consumer catalog, or one of the large-size desk catalogs provided to dealers?
Bill I keep track of these catalogs. Who published this catalog?
| Van Kleeck, Clark & Co. Printers 233 Broadway N.Y were doing the printing around this time frame. |
Thanks for all the information, folks! This catalog 8 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches. On the back page there is another note that says “Return to A.W. Hooper.” Back page is also stamped Winchester Repeating Arms Company in all capital letters. The stamped letters are very weak, especially the “repeating arms” part.
A note on the bottom of the inside cover page says: Electrotyped and Printed by Rand, Avery, & Co., Boston.
I probably should not be touching the paper without wearing gloves. Oil in the skin and all that. For now, I put the catalog in one of the those plastic document protectors.
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
Bill, I will try to check, but there was a rebinding company in Jacksonville, IL, up to a few years ago. The libraries would send popular and deteriorating books to them to be rebound. All hand work, and now the libraries seem to be unloading their stocks of books and going to electronic media. While your catalog is not a sewn spine like they specialized in, perhaps they would still know how to properly restore or at least conserve the catalog. After I have queried some I will post what I know or don’t know.
Tim
Bill and others that MAY be interested. I found a number of rebinding or binding and publishing companies in Jacksonville, IL. Apparently a hotbed in the industry. The one (I think) that used to be used by our local library to rebind books is Perma Bound at 1-800-657-6581. Email at perma-bound.com. Naturally they are closed at the present. May I suggest you at least call next week and see what they may advise? I do think their concentration is on more books that are hard bound vs. the soft bound/stapled or whatever catalog. They may either have an idea for whom to contact in the industry or may have an idea they could use. There are at least four companies advertised in Jacksonville, but it also sounds as if they are often the same folks doing the work? Does this help you any? Tim PS. Its an accident that I know and RECALL anything in this arena. Our museum does not try to have its falling apart, old books salvaged as its not worth it financially. The paper is often an acid processed paper and it will age and fall apart eventually under the best of circumstances.
Mr. Hooper’s concern that someone might abscond with his catalog seems curious, because you’d think any other employee working in his office would have access to all the catalogs they wanted. Are there personal notes or other info written inside that he might have worried about loosing?
The kind of plastic wrapper that wraps around like a dust jacket would allow it to be handled without damage & prevent loose pages from going anywhere; they come in different sizes & different styles. I’ve bought mine from the Highsmith Co., a library supply co.
I can tell you for sure that professional conservation is not going to be cheap.
There are no other notes written in the catalog. Using Google, I did find a couple of references to A.W. Hooper at Winchester. He apparently answered letters from the public regarding the products, so perhaps that is why he wanted a catalog on his desk.
Here is a letter he wrote to someone inquiring about getting a .30 caliber single shot musket with a heavy barrel. He mentions to the correspondent that they must go through Simmons to place their order.
Here is the link that has additional information
https://wcudigitalcollection.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16232coll8/id/2199/
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
Bill Hockett said
Here is a letter he wrote to someone inquiring about getting a .30 caliber single shot musket with a heavy barrel. He mentions to the correspondent that they must go through Simmons to place their order.
That correspondent is now known as the “Father” of Great Smoky Mts. N. P. , & a pioneering cultural anthropologist. His inquiry seems rather peculiar, but he was a respected sportsman & gunwriter during his lifetime.
For 50 yrs, a framed Simmons poster has hung on the wall in my house, the “Sleeping Setter.”
Bill Hockett said
A note on the bottom of the inside cover page says: Electrotyped and Printed by Rand, Avery, & Co., Boston.
Thank you. I’ll put that info in my notes. I was looking at that catalog in the Wards Auction too. All I got were some 45-55 Benet primed cartridges to go with my Hotchkiss carbine.
What I find especially interesting from what I have learned from this thread is that A.W Hooper personally answered letters from customers making inquiries. Can you imagine a vice president or equivalent today personally answering queries from customers? I suppose it’s possible he didn’t write the letter but he did sign it.
I have wanted to add an 1880’s catalog to my 1873 and 1876 rifle collection for years. It’s even sweeter that this one belonged to a Winchester executive.
Thank you all for a making this a most enjoyable thread.
Happy new year to all.
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
1 Guest(s)
