U.S. Congressional Serial Set What It Is and Its History: How the Serial Set is Bound

Step 1: Skids of Documents and Reports being held in loose signature form in holding area awaiting instructions for binding.

Step 1: Skids of Documents and Reports being held in loose signature form in holding area awaiting instructions for binding.

Step 2: 2 1/2 inches of publications (some with pasters) as sent to Bindery to be made into a "Dummy Volume"

Step 2: Same publications, roughly sewn and marked with all sorts of notes, made into "Dummy Volume."

Step 3:  Gathering and Collating loose signatures according to "Dummy volume"

Step 3: Gathering and Collating loose signatures according to "Dummy volume"

Step 4:  Spot checking Collation and "tipping in" single sheets to avoid loss prior to sewing.

Step 4:  Spot checking Collation and "tipping in" single sheets to avoid loss prior to sewing.

Step 4:  Spot checking Collation and "tipping in" single sheets to avoid loss prior to sewing.

Step 5: On the way to the Sewing Room

Step 6: Volumes being sewn together on oversewing machine.

Step 6: Volumes being sewn together on oversewing machine.

Step 6: Volumes being sewn together on oversewing machine.

Step 7:  Volumes being nipped, and endsheet folded over.

Step 7: Volumes being nipped, and endsheet folded over.

Step 8: Volumes being trimmed.

Step 9: Volumes being Rounded and Backed.

Step 9: Volumes being Rounded and Backed.

Step 9: Volumes being Rounded and Backed.

Step 10:  Volumes which have been lined and reinforced waiting to be cased-in.

Step 11: Stamping covering material for cases.

Step 12:  Inspecting the stamping.

Step 13: Inspecting the stamping.

Step 14:  Fitting Binders Board to covering material.

Step 15: Putting in Rope Heads.

Step 16:  Turning and fitting material over Binders Board.

Step 16:  Turning and fitting material over Binders Board.

Step 17 : Fitting case to volume.

Step 17:  Fitting case to volume.

Step 18:  Cased-in Volumes being placed between pressboards which have brass beaded edges.

Step 19:  Cased-in Volumes being placed between pressboards which have brass beaded edges.

Step 20: Finished Serial Set Volumes ready for distribution.

Step 20: Finished Serial Set Volumes ready for distribution.