The Society's Journal

The front cover of the current issue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          Hi, friends!

There is only one problem with the magazine and it is this; we are afraid that the only way you can get your hands on a copy of The Marquetarian is by becoming a member of the Marquetry Society! it is an exclusive publication after all - and how about this for a recommendation: around 99% of the readers of the Marquetarian keep every issue they have ever received, they never throw them away! how many magazines can you say that about?

So then, let's take a look and see what's in the Summer issue of the Marquetarian.
Quentin Smith advises us on the method of producing virtually invisible joins when merging two veneers along the grain. This joining method works surprisingly well, and does, as it "says on the jar" actually produce a join between two pieces of veneer that you will find extremely difficult to detect.
Bob Dilkes tells us about an alternative method of gluing the picture to the base board without needing to resort to the use of a press.
Some of the upper echelons of the society may well, indeed frown upon laying pictures without the help of a press, but it has to be admitted that Bob's methods do work - and for those without the benefits of a press, this is a very usable method indeed.
Bob then goes on to describe how to make a simple vacuum press by the utilisation of a "Space Bag" (used generally for the storage of winter bedding, etc) and a normal domestic vacuum cleaner! Your editorial team collectively bets that there are going to be a lot of Marquetarian readers who are going to be making themselves one of these vacuum presses in the near future!
We have some selected articles from the very early years of the Marquetarian reproduced in this issue. One of these articles deals with the subject of "Cauls". Cauls are not really spoke of much these days. Improved glues and the ubiquitous vacuum press (as mentioned above) has largely superceded the requirements for the moulded caul, but, nonetheless, for certain specific purposes, a caul is the ideal tool in certain circumstances.
Although the Marquetry Society now consists of many, many groups and members in all four corners of this world, it started its initial group formation in a rather humbler way than things appear today.
In 1954 Noel Malyn (one of the original six founders of the society) wrote an article on the "Formation of the District Groups" for issue number 2 of the Marquetarian. This article provides fascinating reading on the formation, in particular, of the London Group itself. It is very educational for the marquetry historians among you.
As an aside to Noel's article, it is worth noting that the whole of issue 2 will be appearing on this web site to coincide with the publication of the autumn issue of the Marquetarian.
A full index for the last ten year's issues of the Marquetarian are included in this issue to help you navigate your way through the last forty or so issues.
And, then again, don't forget 'Readers Letters' 'Chairman's Chatter' 'Independents Corner' and much, much more.
So, as is always the case, we have yet another excellent issue for your perusal!.