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Show I x The Couching Materia used by the Old Papermalkers N all probability felt of some kind was used a the material for couching paper upon, from th introduction of papermaking into Europe. It i not likely that the old craftsmen employe the woven wool cloth such as the makers of hand made paper use at present, but a more compac matted substance of hair or wool. The woven material used by modern papermalkers is called felt but this name is a misnomer as felt proper isa compressed mass and does not consist of warp and weft The Greeks manufactured felt as early as go B. C. which was before the arts of weaving an papermaking had been introduced to civilization Both the Greeks and Romans used matted felt fo caps, blankets, and a lining for helmets. This materfal being generally thicker than common cloth it presented a more effectual obstacle to missile weapons. Hence when the soldiers under Julius Caesa Diital imag © 2004 Marriot Libary, University of Utah. Al ighs reerved |