Visited the Bookbinder's Museum in Chicago and noticed something

I was in Chicago last weekend and stopped by the Bookbinder's Museum on Erie Street. They had this old 19th century sewing frame on display that was way more basic than anything I use now. It got me thinking about how much the tools have changed even in the last 50 years. Has anyone else seen old equipment that made you appreciate modern stuff more?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_faith16d ago

I mean yeah, it's cool that they had to work a little harder back then, but idk if it's that deep. Those old frames did the job just fine for centuries, and honestly half the modern stuff I've used feels like it's made to break after a year. Maybe it's just me but I feel like we overhype how "hard" things were in the past.

cole3561mo ago

Wait, they still had a sewing frame from the 1800s just sitting out on display? That is wild. I've seen some ancient tools on job sites but nothing that old. It's crazy to think people were binding books with something that basic back then, no power or fancy clamps or anything. Makes you appreciate how fast and easy modern equipment is, even if it breaks down sometimes. You grab a tool from 50 years ago and it feels like a tank compared to now.

wells.karen1mo ago

Honestly, have you ever tried using one of those old sewing frames? I got to mess around with a replica once and it is way harder than it looks. Like, your hands cramp up after like ten minutes, and you gotta be so careful with the tension. Ngl, it really puts into perspective how much skill those old bookbinders had, doing it day in and day out with zero power tools. I feel like we take for granted how easy we have it now, even with all the modern headaches.