The standing press is used not only for the final pressing of a book, but also during the operation of cleaning off the spine and to press the backing shoulders out of the sections of a book pulled for rebinding.
It is not known for certain if standing presses existed in binderies before the end of the 15th century; however, as the use of paper in bookmaking had become more widespread by this time, resulting in increased production of books, the importance of a large press capable of simultaneously pressing a number of books may have become apparent. In addition, a heavy press was needed because the paper of that time was bulky and spongy as compared with parchment. The form of the early standing press, with its single screw and descending platen, changed very little until the introduction of the hydraulic press. See also:BOOMER PRESS ;BUILDING-IN MACHINE ;FRENCH STANDING PRESS ;REMOVABLE PRESS .
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