Advice needed from bookbinders

I'm writing a little story in which one of the characters is producing limited runs of letterpress poetry books and other custom orders. In the name of accuracy, can anyone give me suggestions about specifications regarding the equipment used, i.e. manufacturer, size, binding tools and equipment. I'm envisioning that these books are sewn, have fine bindings and tipped in prints. I'm trying to be as realistic as possible, because you know what I'd be in for if I get it wrong. Thanks for any ideas.

Poetry books, letterpress or not, tend to be rather small in terms of numbers of pages. A binding format that works well with shorter works is sometimes called Japanese binding. Here is one of many pages on the topic. I think it might be a good candidate. There are, of course, videos as well.

DesignSponge.com/2013/03/bookbinding-101-japanese-four-hold-binding.html

James

Thank you!

Some things needed - not a complete list!

Equipment:

Guillotine
Book press
finishing press
sewing frame
plough

Tools:

bone folders
paper knives
needles
linen tapes
linen thread
silk for headbands
awls
glue brushes

Here are a couple of websites that sell bookbinding equipment. Should give you plenty to be going on with.

John Neal: http://www.johnnealbooks.com/prod_detail_list/bookbinding-supplies
Talas: http://www.talasonline.com/tools-and-equipment

And just because they're cute, some equipment for making miniature books: http://www.tonyfirmanbookbinding.com/Miniature-bookbinding-equipment.html

Wonderful! Makes me want to go into the printing business.

Not exactly related, but best beloved did just find an antique bookpress for my birthday. :)
It's got a little rust, but will get some love and attention this weekend.

Oh, lovely! A used bookstore that had been in my neighborhood had one, and I wanted to buy it, but they said a) it wasn't for sale, and b) if it were, there was a waiting list. ;-)

Back with another question. Is there a technical term for a book that’s made in an odd shape. For instance I’ve seen a book cut in the shape of a guitar, another in the shape of a fan. They usually are shaped to resemble the topic. If you were tasked witH creating such a book what term would you use?

>8 varielle:

Oh, interesting question! I don't know that there is one specifically for oddly-shaped books, but they might fall under "artists' books".

>8 varielle: At first, I had misread what you were asking about and thought it was this kind of folding book art:


Instead, I think you're looking for 'non-rectangular books' or die-cut 'shape books'.

Yes, die-cut is it.