Rainy Day Project or The Corona Cure

I've got a copy of The Hardy Boys The Disappearing Floor that is in need of repair. I put off doing anything with it, with the intent of turning it into a repair project to put up on YouTube. Given shutdowns with the coronavirus, I feel like I have the time at hand to start working on it.

I have begun some preparatory work on the book in anticipation of repairing it. The text block had partially separated from the covers, and were only connected by the mesh backing on the text block, the crash (if memory serves me correctly). This fabric wraps over the text block and is what actually connects it to the cover of the book beneath the end papers. The mesh was fraying and the text block was pulling away from the covers. I used my x-acto blade to cut through the threads and separate it entirely.

My thinking is that I will need to replace the connecting tape to resecure the text block to the covers. The simple fix would be to use bookbinding tape to wrap the block and PVA to adhere it to the endpapers. Unfortunately, the text block itself shows signs of further separation. As the photo on the left shows, the pages are coming apart from each other even though they are still secure to the binding crash. It is clear that the fabric is very brittle and cracking as well as pulling apart, and the binding glue on the original is also brittle.

My first order of repair will be to remove as much of this original adhesive and fabric as I can, then apply new PVA to the text block once it is secure in my binding jig. When it is time to connect the text block to the covers, I will use binding tape to further strengthen the spine of the text block. This tape can be used to bind the text block to the underside of the endpaper, and with PVA to the covers themselves.

One concern with the covers, and frankly one of the reasons I've delayed starting this repair before, is some damage to the cover itself, particularly on the shoulders connecting the spine to the front and back cover. I had thought at one point to try removing the actual paper cover from the boards and replacing the boards with new cardboard. I still think that would be the best option, but I fear it is still beyond my ability. I will save that level of repair for another day.


As you can see in the two pictures at the right, the shoulder connecting to the front cover of the book is badly torn, even through the cover itself. Also, the end paper for the back cover has been separated. I'm not sure if the end papers were originally a larger sheet of paper, folded and affixed to the text block, then glued onto the covers, or if they were individual sheets glued together with the text block.

I think using a larger size end paper and folding it would give a better look and be more secure, but I think the other option is the one used. It is difficult to tell on some of these older books, since the glue fails, the mesh frays and tears, and the constant handling causes the joins between the end papers to crease and crack as well. I think the best option will be to separate both endpapers, clean the adhesive and attach them to the text block itself.

As for the damaged spine, I think I will find some index weight card stock and add a strip or two to the interior of the spine in order to reinforce it. Hopefully, this will also allow the paper of the cover to be straightened and by gluing it to the reinforced spine, should conceal the worst of the cut running down the shoulder. Another option would be to use book tape to secure the inside of the paper cover, then reinforce the spine. This is probably the better option. It will require lifting the end papers from the boards first. Actually, it may not even help, now that I think it over. The boards will still be attached to the paper cover, and short of replacing them, I won't be able to reinforce the paper itself. I''ll have to make a judgement call on this when I'm repairing it in actuality, based on what I find before me.

I will begin working on this later in the week, and post updates on my progress. I need to be sure to take photos as I go, in addition to filming the repair, in order to show the work as it progresses and how the repair comes out in the end.