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Couching a Sheet
This photo shows the mould being positioned on the felt so that the new sheet will lie directly on the top of the one below which has been covered by a felt.

The new "sheet" is being transferred onto the felt.Notice also that the coucher is standing in such a way as to position his upper body weight over the mould.

The new "sheet" has been couched onto the felt.The mould should be "rolled" left to right in a smooth but firm fashion.If this action is not done correctly then characteristic faults can occur in the sheet.

An engraving depicting Rene de Reaumur (1683 - 1757) an eminent French naturalist and physicist gazing at a wasp's nest.After studying wasps and the way in which they built their nests using masticated woody fibres,he concluded that wood fibre may be a suitable papermaking fibre.

This beater roll is on display at Wookey Hole Mill.Note the width between the bars which indicate that cutting the fibres during beating was not a priority!The central divider is called the midfeather.

This photo taken at Wookey Hole Mill (UK)shows a traditional couching stand. This provides support for the coucher as he leans over to couch each sheet.

This is a mould maker's weaving loom used to weave the laid covers for a LAID handmade papermould.When ordering a new mould not only the size of sheet required should be specified but the spacing of the laid & chain lines,the thickness of the deckle & the appropriate guage of wire for the watermark..if required.

This loom is over 100 years old & is still in use today.All the covers of Griffen Mill's laid moulds started life on this machine which is owned by Edwin Amies,Mouldmakers.