New Boy, there were 2 types of sewing machines: one used for sewing Bibles (free sheet) and the other for the hard back books. I think John Adams was Bindery overseer at the time, and after you left Sydlik was the anointed brother they put in charge. I don't remember his title. You could not have said it better, those Smythe machines were torture devices and would have broken "Cool Hand Luke" himself and time stood still working on them: "break your backs" when fliping those signatures on the saddle or you could get a jam and break needles. And don't forget to -hit that glue bar! The end sheet gluer was engineered inhouse and took a couple of brothers to run it -if I recall. Don't forget card cutters. Did you work on 3/5 or on Building 2? After you left, I remember Smyth machines on 2/7 and bindery lines on 2/8. Long time ago. Hard to remember. I also remember Bibles and Aid Books being sewn on 3/5.
..But those lines on the 5th floor are as you describe; the monotony was hard to endure Just the thought of working there was sobering. -Spaced out but no chance of faking out. But the cream of all jobs in the bindery was bindery maintenance, fixing and servicing the bindery machines because it didn't involve production.