Help Any ideas on how to frame a Bible so that....

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MarkyW

MarkyW

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
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Aug 7, 2005
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Nanticoke, PA
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WOLFrames Picture Framing
I got a call from a guy who wants to frame his wife's grandmother's Bible. No problem.

He would like it framed so that it's open. No problem.

He would like to occasionally access the Bible so that he can change the page it's open to. Now that's a little problem.

I need to figure out how to make it so that whether he wants go from a page in Genesis to a page in Revelation, it will still hold the pages nice and flat and not obstruct any writing, and also that it will be something that will be easy for him to do.

My first choice would be to make an acrylic display case to put on the coffee table, which takes care of the problem of holding the pages open. But he did mention framing it to hang on the wall, so he may not go for the display case idea.

Any ideas out there?
 
Jim Miller has several methods which he describes in his book on object moutning.

A frame with a magnetic catch or hinges which opens from the front like a cabinet would do the trick.
 
Framar is right. And I think that an extra deep Mylar "book mount" would meet your needs. It would also help to mount it at about a 15 degree angle so that gravity works in your favor. It would still have to be handled more carefully by the customer, but it would work.

Another option is to put it in a deep object box with a lecturn shelf built into the back. I am not sure what angle it would need to be, but a quick check at your favorite church with a protractor would tell you.

The customer would need to be warned that the bible could be damaged if it were jarred off the shelf.

And finally, it is possible to mount a nearly horizontal display case to the wall if table space is at a premium.
 
Please try to persuade him to go with the tabletop display case. If it were displayed vertically, open, there would be a tremendous amount of stress on the spine and the whole inside of the book could start to tear away from the cover and spine. A slight incline would help, but it would still be stressed.

Order a BOOK CRADLE to gently support the bible open with as little stress as possible.

To keep the bible open to the desired page you can cut a couple wide strips (maybe 1/2" or so) to wrap around the open pages. Velcro on the ends would keep them closed and still let your customer undo them to turn pages. Something along the lines of THIS.

Build a nice base out of just about any frame, make a floor with fabric mat. Then a UV-filtering box made of acrylic or Museum Glass (see Jim Miller's article in the current PFM) and you're good to go.
 
MarkyW said:
I need to figure out how to make it so that whether he wants go from a page in Genesis to a page in Revelation, it will still hold the pages...
Click to expand...

Just frame a copy of this album cover:
31XYq6eToUL._SL500_AA300_.jpg


Seriously, though, I would second Dave's suggestion of a display case with dust cover, to maximize access and minimize strain on the book.
:cool: Rick
 
Minimizing strain on the book is a good argument to use when I give the display case option.

Making a frame that opens isn't a problem, figuring what to use to hold the pages open while being easy for the customer to use is. I had thought of using mylar strips with velcro (or possibly elastic on the hidden back side). I wasn't sure if that would be the best idea, but maybe it is.

Thanks for the ideas so far.
 
It could be disastrous to have the Bible open in a frame and be able to turn pages.

There will be no support on the pages and in a short time it will begin to distort the pages and cause damage to it. I think the pages will gradually tear themselves off the binding!

Ask the customer if they have a magic wand that you could borrow!
 
Books

Closed books can last for a thousand years, given the pristine state of books that are 500 years old, today, but a book left open can degrade in short order. If the client wants to display the book, it is least harmful to put it in an acrylic vitrine, in a cradle with straps that will hold the pages down and which can be easily manipulated to encourage frequent turning of the pages. Since the book will change shape, as its opening changes, a support pillow might give better support than a rigid cracle.



Hugh
 
MarkyW said:
I got a call from a guy who wants to frame his wife's grandmother's Bible. No problem.

He would like it framed so that it's open. No problem.

He would like to occasionally access the Bible so that he can change the page it's open to. Now that's a little problem.

I need to figure out how to make it so that whether he wants go from a page in Genesis to a page in Revelation, it will still hold the pages nice and flat and not obstruct any writing, and also that it will be something that will be easy for him to do.

My first choice would be to make an acrylic display case to put on the coffee table, which takes care of the problem of holding the pages open. But he did mention framing it to hang on the wall, so he may not go for the display case idea.

Any ideas out there?
Click to expand...
If the Bible is anything like most Bibles from years ago the cover is probably soft. No matter what, there would be no way to mount it upright without harming it. Your best option is the one FramerDave suggested with the book mount stand. The Mylar strips to hold the pages is also your best option. By putting Velcro at the end of the Mylar strips so the ends are wrapped and adhered to the underside of the stand, the strips would then be adjustable as needed.

If he wants to display it on the wall, build him a decorative shelf with a hinged glass or plexi cover that is at an angle with the ends of the shelf closed and the cover at a slant so that the top of the cover would be hinged to the wall and the bottom on the front of the shelf, so it could beopened like a boot locker.
 
Framar said:
Jim Miller has several methods which he describes in his book on object moutning.
Click to expand...

That guy might have a couple of good ideas, but nothing that would be suitable for this project. He would suggest caution in displaying an old bible. If you can't talk the customer into storing it closed, enclosed, and in the dark, then FramerDave's post #4 and Preservator's post #10 offer the best advice for display.

Mounting the bible open and hanging it vertically would be very stressful on the book, no matter how you do it. If it must be on the wall, make the 97+% UV filtering shadowbox deep enough that you can place the properly-cradled, open book on a pedestal that is almost horizontal.
 
If the customer is intent on hanging it on the wall then what about a wall mounted display case, not a frame or shadowbox per se?

The shelf could be deep enough to hold a book stand that could have a lip of a proper depth to provide the pages some support. Also being a glass enclosed shelf you could see the bible from the sides, not just through the glass front of a shadow box.

Sometimes when a customer asks for a frame or shadowbox what they really want is a piece of furniture, ie a glass sided cabinet for a tapestry or an enclosed, single book shelf.
 
Good information. It's basically what I was feeling, but I didn't have the words to explain why. Now I do.

I have the book "Framing Collectibles" from Columba Publishing, but it only shows framing a closed book. I'll have to look into Jim's book.

Thanks for all the help and information. :thumbsup: (Some of those websites are going to be bookmarked, if in the future I can remember that I have them bookmarked.)
 
MarkyW said:
...I have the book "Framing Collectibles" from Columba Publishing, but it only shows framing a closed book. I'll have to look into Jim's book...
Click to expand...

Jim would appreciate that. But just so you know, the suggestions in his book will not help you with the project at hand. Sorry.
:shutup:
 
If the Mylar strips for holding the book open were to prove a bit difficult to use, you could think about snake style weights, these are available in the USA from University Products http://www.universityproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=1229 or at least I think they are.

I have sold some to a university conservation library in the USA not so long ago, the person told me they could not source them locally !!!!!

Again I hope nobody minds a shameless plug for something I sell http://www.ote.ie/weights-snake-style-flexible :icon19:
 
If you will call or email me I will send you pictures of an idea we have done that will solve your problem.
Email: Lois@SuperiorAcrylic.com
 
Lois,
Why not show us all?
 
I thought I had already put my two cents worth in but can't find my reply. Anyway if you will give me a call I will sent pictures of a frame that can open. A table top display and book holder. We make 'um but I agree the book should be closed, except that the customer is always right, right?
 
Acrylic Queen said:
except that the customer is always right, right?
Click to expand...
Not always, but as someone else said, "the customer is always the customer!"

Oh yeah and "NO" is still a word in the English language, especially if education, logic, and persuasion don't work!
 
Interesting ideas, pillows seem to be the new thing as a generic form can be easily molded to fit a variety of shapes. They are easily made; in the Vancouver area the supplier for virgin styrofoam beads for filling is
Plasti-Fab
679 Aldford Avenue
Annacis Ind. Est.
Delta, B.C. V3M 5P5
Phone: (604) 526-2771
Fax: (604) 540-0608
 
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