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?

3 comments

3 Comments

bettywilson2mo ago

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

derek_ramirez1mo ago

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

the_cora2mo ago

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