TIL the average 19th century bookbinder used over 200 different hand tools

I was reading a history of the trade and saw that number in a museum catalog from Boston. Has anyone here tried making a period-accurate set, or is that just for specialists?

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bettywilson6mo ago

Two hundred tools sounds like a nightmare to keep track of.

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derek_ramirez5mo ago

My dad's shop has about 150 and it's pretty organized.

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the_cora6mo ago

Just imagine trying to find the right one in a hurry... you'd need a map for your own toolbox.

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