bristol

Bristol is a category of stiff, heavy papers, typically measuring 0.15 mm or more in thickness. These papers are manufactured using various combinations of chemical wood pulp. The pulp is processed to a medium consistency and usually well-sized to resist moisture penetration. Bristol papers are increasingly utilized for punch cards in tabulating and sorting machines.1

Paper, in general, is a matted or felted sheet made from cellulose fibers suspended in water and formed on a wire screen. Its origins trace back to ancient China around 105 CE, with the oldest known fragment dating to the 2nd century BCE. The invention of the printing press significantly increased paper demand, and by the 19th century, wood pulp largely replaced rags as the primary fiber source.2