The Cutters' Practical Guide (1898)/Part 1/Preface
Author's Preface
IT is with some degree of pleasure I look upon this, the first Part of "The Cutters' Practical Guide to the Cutting and Making every kind of garment;" for while I have done my utmost to make the work as complete as possible, so as to be of greatest service to the cutter in daily practice, the publishers have brought it out in a style and finish which not only maintains their reputation, but excels, I think, any previous effort.
It has been my aim to place before my fellow craftsmen illustrations, diagrams and descriptive letterpress of current styles, with the safest and best systems (according to my judgment) of the present day for producing them. In doing so I have had very material help from some of the best specialist cutters in London; so that the special garments introduced in this work must be of great service to the cutter, as these give more trouble than the everyday class of orders.
It will be noticed I have made a few alterations in the Trouser System, chiefly to simplify and, if possible, make it plainer, and thus in my opinion improve it, although the principles are the same as in the "Federation Prize Essay." Thus, it will be seen, my endeavour has been to produce a work of real practical utility - one which would be a genuine help to the cutter amidst the worries of a peculiar and trying profession. In doing so I have left controversial subjects almost, if not entirely, out of the work.
If in this I have succeeded, and so placed the means of self help within the reach of many, who, struggling amidst doubt and anxiety, are all the more eagerly seeking for light in the study of their profession, I shall be simply rewarded.
THE AUTHOR
Publishers' Preface
TO THE
THIRD EDITION
THE confidence with which this work was first introduced has been well justified by the result—a very large edition having been disposed of. Very rarely, if ever has a work so comprehensive been published in connection with the art of cutting. For though nominally a work on Juvenille Cutting, it embraces nearly every garment made by tailors.
Besides systems for and treatises on Trousers and Vests, systems for Morning Coats and Dress Coats, it also deals with Military Garments, Liveries and other garments, all worked out by a system which has now become well nigh universally popular, a special feature of the work being its beautifully engraved illustrations and diagrams. We have had very many indications that the work is highly appreciated by all who have procured it, and many testimonies might be recorded if that were necessary. This Third Edition has been prepared in all its original completeness. With such a work in their possession neither the inexperienced student nor the cutter in full practice should feel any difficulty in producing any of the garments treated and illustrated in this work.
THE JOHN WILLAMSON COMPANY, LIMITED.