Vent: That older binder at the shop who showed me a different way

There was this guy, maybe 70 years old, who used to come into the shop where I worked in Portland like 8 years ago. He brought in this beat-up 19th century hymnal that was falling apart, and instead of just asking us to fix it, he sat down and showed me how he would have done it back in the day. He took a sharp scalpel and shaved the old glue off the spine in these thin, careful strips, telling me to "listen for the scrape" so I didn't cut the paper. That single interaction changed how I approach any restoration now, because he wasn't rushing or using fancy tools, just patience and a steady hand. I still think about that when I'm working on a tight deadline and want to cut corners. Has anyone else had a random encounter with an old pro that stuck with them for years, or is it just me?

2 comments

2 Comments

luna_jackson2817d ago

That hymn book story really hit me, especially the part about listening for the scrape. @emma_hart your clock fix with a toothpick and butter knife is exactly the kind of thing I mean. My grandpa used to adjust my bike brakes with just a worn down penny and a flathead screwdriver, and he'd say the feel of the tension was more important than any torque wrench. It's wild how those tiny moments from folks who learned their craft before everything got digitized just stick with you like glue.

emma_hart17d ago

That old hymn book story reminds me of a grandfather clock my neighbor fixed using just a toothpick and a butter knife.