Max Marbles/Bookbinder

Love Victorian Cookbooks

max — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 19:47:09 +0000

This cookbook has so many pasted recipes and advertisements. Like the page above it fun to see the worn, food droplet favorite recipe pages throughout the book. Oh yea, and it needs restoring, too!

Portrait Civil War Lieutenant in Gilded Frame

max — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 21:23:49 +0000

This young officer was killed at the Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks or Fair Oaks Station, it took place on May 31 and June 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War.

The painting needs some relining of the edges, hole repair and cleaning. The gilded frame is a mess and needs cleaning and some recasting and gilding of plaster that is lost.

As the saying goes… “bird by bird…”

SOS: Bible Needs Assistance!

max — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 19:54:18 +0000

Wait till you see the “after” shot of this Bible.

As bad as this looks, for me, it is a welcome challenge. Just take it piece by piece, step by step, and this little guys gonna be all fine!

Scribe: Antiquity Theft in the Maya Ruins

max — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 19:50:19 +0000

Working on the cover design for “Scribe.”

Get ready for “Scribe.” The Glue Pot Press’ next book. Read this page turner about antiquity theft in the Maya ruins. Awaiting proofs and then the big release. Glue Pot Press (my baby) releases books from local and distant authors that need that last push in getting their books published.

Progeny: Gramma done good!

max — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 02:22:09 +0000

This Family Bible and its genealogy pages is about to be repaired. Read the inscription on the back.

Protected: Westy Pictures 1983 Air-cooled “Pumpkin”

max — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 00:18:19 +0000

1922 Iowa Baseball Team Photograph

max — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 03:01:36 +0000

This twenties photograph needs a little help. Since this “before” shot I have taken it out of the frame and scanned it at 600 dpi. Originally being pretty sharp the scan when blown up on a large monitor allows you to see significant detail in the image. I am going to clean, flatten and deacidify the picture. I also will spiffy-up the frame and remount the photo in bed of buffered board, etc.

Small Bible Rebound

max — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 02:54:04 +0000

This little Bible has just gotten worn out. The spine is an embrittled hide glue mess. After this picture was taken, I took the binding apart, made page repairs, sweated off the old glued spine and then locked it in the backing press where I rebuilt the spine with linen hinges and stout paper. Nuther day or two and this Bible will be ready for the next 100 years.

Baptism Certificate Repair

max — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 02:45:59 +0000

Baptism Certificate original form before restoration, flattening, cleaning, mending and deacidification. As of this post tape from the back has been removed, it’s been rehydrated and flattened between blotting paper weighted with heavy glass sheets. Tomorrow I will mend it by lining the back with an appropriate paper. Stay tuned for the final repair!

Kewpie Doll c. 1912

max — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 18:30:26 +0000

Kewpie doll with hurt arm and real dirty. Loved the add-on dress. There’s something about porcelain bisque firing, color and surface sheen that makes these so appealing.

It a fun time when a client brings in something different like this. Max Marbles/Fix-It.