The papermakers candidly and with flavor discuss the personalities of the mill, their work ethic, apprenticeship years, skill development, and knowledge of the hand papermaking craft. They describe the day-to-day activities in the mill and the workers' attention to detail to make the highest-quality paper. The book begins with a history of the Tuckenhay Mill, in business from 1829 to 1970, and details the various ownerships and products they manufactured including handmade and mould-made paper and pulp they supplied to other mills. Accompanying this section are numerous historical photos showing the workers at their tasks. In the following chapter "Why the Interviews Were Made," Peter Thomas demonstrates sleuthing at its finest. Eager to learn the papermaker's shake, he acts on a series of events that finally place Donna and Peter in England and in touch with retired Tuckenhay papermakers. Upon reflection Peter notes: "After returning home, reading my travel diary from the trip, I realized those retired mill workers had knowledge, information, and skills that modern, revival hand papermakers would benefit from learning. And no one I knew of had ever documented the life and work of early twentieth-century papermakers…. It was just too recent to seem like history. Soon they would be dead and their knowledge irretrievable." (page 17) Each of the eight interviews begins with a biographical introduction Each of the eight interviews begins with a biographical introduction of the person and a lineage of individual family members who of the person and a lineage of individual family members who worked in the mill. Since it was common to follow older relatives into worked in the mill. Since it was common to follow older relatives into the workforce, general labor and apprentice jobs, for some, became the workforce, general labor and apprentice jobs, for some, became the only option for employment and advancement. This opportunity, the only option for employment and advancement. This opportunity, coupled with the need to help their families financially, focused many coupled with the need to help their families financially, focused many young people into learning well the various parts of the trade. While young people into learning well the various parts of the trade. While some aspired to work the vat either as vatman, coucher, or layer, all some aspired to work the vat either as vatman, coucher, or layer, all learned multiple skills and were used wherever they were needed. learned multiple skills and were used wherever they were needed. Vivid descriptions are given of the rag boiling and bleaching process; Vivid descriptions are given of the rag boiling and bleaching process; operating the various washing and beating engines; the workers at operating the various washing and beating engines; the workers at the vat; and details of the goings on in the drying, sizing, and finishing the vat; and details of the goings on in the drying, sizing, and finishing rooms. The interviewees reveal many tricks of the trade and offer rooms. The interviewees reveal many tricks of the trade and offer matter-of-fact explanations based on many years' experience making matter-of-fact explanations based on many years' experience making a wide range of paper. a wide range of paper. Interviewees describe the extraordinary senses some had to make Interviewees describe the extraordinary senses some had to make the paper right. Highlights include the rag sorters knowing the qualities the paper right. Highlights include the rag sorters knowing the qualities of fibers by touch; the beater man observing the fiber length of his of fibers by touch; the beater man observing the fiber length of his stuff by pouring it between two bowls before sending it down to the stuff by pouring it between two bowls before sending it down to the vats; and the vatman regulating the pulp and water flow into the vat vats; and the vatman regulating the pulp and water flow into the vat adjusting sheet weight and pulp movement from the hog, feeling the adjusting sheet weight and pulp movement from the hog, feeling the temperature of the water to drain the pulp efficiently, and then knowing temperature of the water to drain the pulp efficiently, and then knowing what shake was needed for the paper being made. Also described what shake was needed for the paper being made. Also described are the workers passing sheets through the drum dryer, keeping an are the workers passing sheets through the drum dryer, keeping an eye on the heat setting and drum speed which they determined from eye on the heat setting and drum speed which they determined from knowing the amount of water left in the paper and the additional finishing knowing the amount of water left in the paper and the additional finishing processes it would undergo. And then there is the paper finisher processes it would undergo. And then there is the paper finisher rasping the edges of a pack of paper, guillotine cut and clamped rasping the edges of a pack of paper, guillotine cut and clamped tight, making a simulated deckle edge on the sheets. All of these jobs tight, making a simulated deckle edge on the sheets. All of these jobs were subject to the critique and suggestions from others in the mill; were subject to the critique and suggestions from others in the mill; everyone recognized that the quality of their work was dependent on everyone recognized that the quality of their work was dependent on everyone else. "Because of how we were trained," explained Joyce everyone else. "Because of how we were trained," explained Joyce Finn, "we couldn't relax our standards." (page 51) Finn, "we couldn't relax our standards." (page 51) One story I particularly enjoyed told of workers who wanted to try One story I particularly enjoyed told of workers who wanted to try their hand at making sheets during off times when a vat was down. their hand at making sheets during off times when a vat was down. They filled the vat with water and used a mould with a felt fitted under the deckle to practice their shake. The felt trapped the water on the They filled the vat with water and used a mould with a felt fitted under the deckle to practice their shake. The felt trapped the water on the mould surface so that they could monitor the evenness of the directional mould surface so that they could monitor the evenness of the directional waves, front to back and side to side. waves, front to back and side to side. The interviews also bring forward the relationships the workers The interviews also bring forward the relationships the workers had with each other that came from a close working environment. had with each other that came from a close working environment. These stories are mostly humorous, papermill folklore at its best, These stories are mostly humorous, papermill folklore at its best, including nicknames, papermaking slang, spelling errors, and afterhours including nicknames, papermaking slang, spelling errors, and afterhours merriment enlivened by beer. According to Tom Wakeman, vatmen merriment enlivened by beer. According to Tom Wakeman, vatmen were known as "water sifters," carpenters were "chippers." Ron were known as "water sifters," carpenters were "chippers." Ron Eden revealed that "special" was mill slang for wood pulp that was Eden revealed that "special" was mill slang for wood pulp that was used in supposedly all-rag sheets. Wakeman explained that "OT" was used in supposedly all-rag sheets. Wakeman explained that "OT" was used for hot pressed paper, the "H" curiously missing. "NOT" was used for hot pressed paper, the "H" curiously missing. "NOT" was used for not hot pressed.1 used for not hot pressed.1 While there is mention of the need some workers had to start their While there is mention of the need some workers had to start their day with a drink, the vat house sometimes finished their day with one. day with a drink, the vat house sometimes finished their day with one. ‘"An apprentice had to buy three gallons of beer during his apprenticeship: ‘"An apprentice had to buy three gallons of beer during his apprenticeship: when he pitched his first post, when he made his first post, and when he pitched his first post, when he made his first post, and when he came into his last year. And when he brought the beer up at when he came into his last year. And when he brought the beer up at the Mill, that was the end of that day's work because once his gallon the Mill, that was the end of that day's work because once his gallon came up, they kept sending the apprentices down for more, down to came up, they kept sending the apprentices down for more, down to the pub, to the ‘Malsters Arms.'" (Cyril Finn, page 41) That aside, the the pub, to the ‘Malsters Arms.'" (Cyril Finn, page 41) That aside, the interviews made clear that teamwork was needed to make the mill interviews made clear that teamwork was needed to make the mill run smoothly and for the paper to run its course under the watchful run smoothly and for the paper to run its course under the watchful eye of all. eye of all. Having worked as a production hand papermaker, I feel a kinship Having worked as a production hand papermaker, I feel a kinship to the Tuckenhay papermakers' sensitivity to make something with to the Tuckenhay papermakers' sensitivity to make something with delicate skill developed over time and with the guidance by those who delicate skill developed over time and with the guidance by those who have gone before, their work honed by making thousands upon thousands have gone before, their work honed by making thousands upon thousands of sheets. Peter and Donna Thomas's steadfast determination of sheets. Peter and Donna Thomas's steadfast determination to gather and record primary accounts is a testament to their commitment to gather and record primary accounts is a testament to their commitment and contribution to our craft. The Tuckenhay papermakers, in and contribution to our craft. The Tuckenhay papermakers, in their own words, make this book by The Legacy Press a lasting gift to their own words, make this book by The Legacy Press a lasting gift to anyone with an interest in hand papermaking or to those who may be anyone with an interest in hand papermaking or to those who may be so inclined to begin or further develop the craft. so inclined to begin or further develop the craft. ___________ ___________ notes notes 1. In Tom Wakeman's interview, the name of the Tuckenhay Mill mould maker is spelled 1. In Tom Wakeman's interview, the name of the Tuckenhay Mill mould maker is spelled "Aimes." I believe this is a misspelling. The mould maker is likely Edwin Amies and Son Ltd. "Aimes." I believe this is a misspelling. The mould maker is likely Edwin Amies and Son Ltd. in Maidstone, Kent. in Maidstone, Kent.
