OCR Text |
Show OLD~PAPERMAKIN 1 was the practice to place the vat against an outsid wall of the mill so the smoke from the pistolet o grate would not permeate the vat-house and soi the paper during the moulding process Another improvement in the equipment wa the "trepan." This was a platform or bridge whic was placed across the top of the vat, supporting "horn" against which the mould, with its deposi of pulp, was placed to drain. The bridge does no appear in the engraving by Boeclder from 1662, bu as it is shown in the wood-cut of 1658, it evident ly was in use at that time. The pistolet and trepan with drainage-horn, are well delineated i the seventeenth century engraving from the wor of De La Lande During the process of moulding the sheets o paper it was essential that the fibrous pulp be kep from settling to the bottom of the dipping vat. Originally this was accomplished by the action of pole in the hands of a workman. A slight improvement was later made by placing a wooden disc pierced with holes, on the end of the pole whic increased the effectiveness of the stirring process Suggestions for more efficient work came slowl in the early mills and each step, which now seem trivial, was no doubt welcomed as an ingenious invention by the old craftsmen The first method of supplying the pulp to th vat was by dipping direct from the storage chest Digital image© 2004 Mariot Libary, Universty o Uta. All right reserved |