As a part of working on a special project for the upcoming Memphis Paper Money show, I stumbled onto a bindery firm that has been in the same family for three generations. H.V. Chapman & Sons owns and still operates much of the old hand-operated equipment they've had since the 1940s, with some of the equipment itself dating back to the 1900s. One of the things they also do is restore, repair or replace bindings on individual antique books.

What impressed me is that Stan Chapman, the owner, told me that they have a three-month backlog of individual books to repair and that they do not do any advertising or promotion. Apparently people who are aware of their skills pass their name along word-of-mouth. After working with him on my little project, I can clearly understand why folks don't mind it taking several months to get their book repaired, as indeed they have a lot of pride in their work.

There certainly may be other companies that repair book bindings. But if any E-Sylum readers are in need of a service such as this, you might contact this firm as well to see if they can help you. Their information is on the following web site, where they also have an interesting video.