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Title: The Boy Craftsman
Practical and Profitable Ideas for a Boy's Leisure Hours
Author: A. Neely Hall
Illustrator: Norman P. Hall
Release Date: May 5, 2013 [EBook #42650]
Language: English
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[Illustration: Front Cover.]
THE BOY CRAFTSMAN
HANDICRAFT BOOKS BY A. NEELY HALL
_8vo. Cloth. Illustrated with hundreds of photographs and working
drawings by the author and Norman P. Hall_
THE BOY CRAFTSMAN HANDICRAFT FOR HANDY BOYS (_Revised Edition_)
THE HANDY BOY (_Revised Edition_)
HOME-MADE TOYS FOR GIRLS AND BOYS
HANDICRAFT FOR HANDY GIRLS
CARPENTRY AND MECHANICS FOR BOYS
HOME-MADE GAMES AND GAME EQUIPMENT (_Revised Edition_)
OUTDOOR BOY CRAFTSMEN
BIG BOOK OF BOYS' HOBBIES
LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD COMPANY BOSTON NEW YORK
[Illustration: A BOY'S WORKSHOP.]
THE BOY CRAFTSMAN
Practical and Profitable Ideas for a Boy's Leisure Hours
BY A. Neely Hall
With more than four hundred illustrations by the author and Norman P.
Hall
[Illustration: Page Decoration.]
BOSTON
LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.
COPYRIGHT, 1905, BY LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD COMPANY.
Published, August, 1905.
_All rights reserved._
THE BOY CRAFTSMAN.
Norwood Press
J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith Co.
Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.
Work hard--Play hard.
--THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
NOTE TO THE READER
The boy of to-day is ever on the lookout for new ideas which can be
adopted for his work and recreation, schemes which are practical and
which are thoroughly up-to-date. They must be helpful in suggesting ways
of earning money, as well as entertaining, for what boy of the present
day does not feel the need of such suggestions to aid him in raising the
funds necessary to carry on his work?
In none of the books published on boy's handicraft has the question
entered into consideration as to how he is to obtain the means with
which to buy such materials and apparatus as the work requires. A boy
should not expect to draw upon his father's purse for everything his
fancy desires. It is important that he learn to earn his spending money,
for in doing so he becomes independent and more careful as to how he
invests it. Having had the experience of working, the average boy learns
to so appreciate the value of hard-earned money that it is pretty
certain he will spend it only for something with which he can earn more
or which will prove useful to him in his work and play.
"The Boy Craftsman" has been undertaken with a view of helping boys with
their problems of earning money, as well as furnishing recreative and
entertaining work, and to this end the first portion has been devoted to
suggestions for the carrying on of a number of small business
enterprises, and the second and third parts to outdoor and indoor
pastimes for all seasons of the year.
In "Profitable Pastimes" a boy will find work that will make easy the
matter of earning money with which to buy such materials as he needs to
carry out the suggestions offered in the book, while the practical
knowledge acquired and the handiness developed in pursuing the several
lines of work is certain to be helpful to him in later years.
The tools and apparatus used are such as a boy of average ability can
procure with a little hustling, and can be purchased singly, or two or
three at a time, as his money permits. The materials at hand can be used
in thousands of different ways, and in preparing the chapters this has
been taken into consideration, these odds and ends being utilized
whenever it has been possible to do so.
Carpenter work is something with which every boy must familiarize
himself to a certain extent in order to do anything in the line of
construction, so the fitting up of a workshop and the proper handling of
tools have been described in the first two chapters, in view of making
it a simple matter to perform the work embodied in the rest of the book.
Technical terms and phrases have been eliminated from the text as far as
possible, and where it has been deemed necessary to include them, to
describe certain operations for which a boy should know the proper terms
or expressions, they have generally been explained in the first chapter
in which they occur. To simplify the matter of referring to the
definitions of these, they have been arranged alphabetically in Chapter
XXIX.
Some of the material contained in this book was originally written by
the author in the form of magazine articles for _The American Boy_ and
_The Boys' World_, and thanks are due the publishers, The Sprague
Publishing Company and The David C. Cook Publishing Company, for
permission to reprint it. This material has been revised and enlarged
upon, and is presented with new and additional illustrations.
The author is always glad to hear from his young readers, and to be of
assistance to them in answering any questions they wish to ask regarding
their work.
A. N. H.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,
May 31, 1905.
CONTENTS
[Illustration: Boy 'Fixing' Clock with a Hammer.]
PART I
_PROFITABLE PASTIMES_
CHAPTER I
PAGE
A BOY'S WORKSHOP 3
Value of a Knowledge of Carpenter Work--Location of Shop--A Solid
Work-bench--The Vise--Bench-stops--Carpenter's Horses--A
Bench-hook--A Mitre-box--A Sand-paper Block--A Strop--A Plumb--
Purchasing Tools--Tool-cabinets--Racks for Tools--A Carpenter's
Carrying-box--A Nail-box--Receptacles for Supplies--Workshop
Clothes--Care of Oily Rags and Waste.
CHAPTER II
THE PROPER HANDLING OF TOOLS 20
Care of Tools--The Cross-cut Saw and Rip-saw--Sawing--The
Back-saw, Compass-saw, and Gig-saw--Kerfs--The Jack-plane,
Fore-plane, and Smoothing-plane--Planing--Testing Work--The
Firmer-chisel--Paring--The Framing-chisel-Chamfering and Bevelling
--The Gouge--The Draw-knife--Boring--An Automatic-drill--
Hatchet and Hammer--Driving Nails--Withdrawing Nails--Toe-nailing
--Blind-nailing--Clinching--The Nail-set--Nails--Screw-driver
for Bit-stock--Screws--The Countersink.
SHARPENING TOOLS 37
Grinding Chisels, Gouges, Draw-knives, Knives and Hatchets--The
Washita Oil-stone--Whetting--Stropping--Sharpening Saws.
LAYING OUT WORK 42
Use of the Try-square--Gauging with Rule and Pencil--A Marking-gauge
--A Mitred Try-square--The Bevel--To Divide a Board.
CHAPTER III
THE BOY ABOUT THE HOUSE 47
Opportunities for Work--Outfit for Jobbing--The Hinge-lock--
Clothes-line Reel--A Broom and Dust-pan Rack--The Fly-killer--An
Ash-sifter--A Bread-board--A Plate-rack
CHAPTER IV
SUGGESTIONS FOR A BOY'S ROOM 57
Simple and Inexpensive Furnishings--What the Room should Contain--A
Cosey-corner--Pennants--Small Posters--Picture-frames--A
Writing-desk--Another Style of Desk--An Ink-stand and Pen-tray--A
Couch--A Window-seat--A Curio-cabinet--Book-shelves--A
Blacking-case--A Towel-rack.
CHAPTER V
HOW TO MAKE A DOLL-HOUSE 71
Store Doll-houses--Profit from making Doll-houses--The Materials
Required--The Base--The Floors--Partitions and Walls--Stairways
--Balustrades--Front and Rear Steps--The Gambrel Roof--The
Gable-ends--The Doors and Windows--Outside Trimmings--Casters--
The Chimneys--A Mantel and Fire-place--Andirons--The Interior
Woodwork--Painting the House.
CHAPTER VI
ANOTHER DOLL-HOUSE AND A STABLE 91
Packing-cases and Other Material--The Floor Plans--The Partitions
and Walls--The Elevator-shaft--The Windows--The Roof--The
Chimney--An Elevator--The Gable-ends--The Stairway--A Balustrade
--Other Details.
HOW TO MAKE THE STABLE 100
Dimensions of Stable--The First Story--The Roof--The Gable-ends--
The Stall Partitions and Feed-troughs--Windows--Ladder to Hay-loft
--Feed-hoist--The Drop-front--A Stable Door--Painting.
CHAPTER VII
FURNISHING THE DOLL-HOUSE 105
The Walls and Ceiling--Hardwood Floors--Carpets and Rugs--
Window-shades and Curtains--Portieres--Pictures--A Cosey-corner--
Buying Furnishings.
CHAPTER VIII
DOLL-FURNITURE 109
Metal Furniture--Miniature Mission Furniture--Material--Drawing
the Patterns--The Chairs--The Settee--Tables--A Side-board--A
Mirror--The Grandfather's Clock--Kitchen Furniture--The Beds--
The Dresser--A Wash-stand--Finishing.
OTHER CIGAR-BOX FURNITURE 122
A Folding-bed--The Dresser--A Wardrobe.
CHAPTER IX
A BOY'S PRINTING-SHOP 126
Location of Printing-shop--Equipment--Selection of Type--
Type-cases--A Rack for Type-cases--A Composing-stick--A
Composing-rule--Justifying--A Home-made Galley--"Pieing"--Proofs
--The Imposing-stone--The Chase--Furniture--Locking-up a Form--
Distribution--The Tympan--Overlaying--Underlaying--Gauge-pins--
Inking the Press--Care of Rollers--Neatness--Receptacles for
Materials--Care of Waste Paper and Oily Rags.
CHAPTER X
AMATEUR JOURNALISM 142
A Collection of Amateur Papers--Amateur Press Associations--Some
Methods of Printing Papers--Examples of Amateur Papers--The
Character of a Paper--Naming--The Frequency of Publication--The
Size of Page--A Stereotyped Heading--The Choice of Type--A Cover
--Binding--Advertisements--The Advertisers' Dummy--Second-class
Matter.
CHAPTER XI
A BOY'S DARK-ROOM 153
Profit in Photography--The Necessary Equipment--The Bedroom as a
Dark-room--The Bath-room as a Dark-room--Another Scheme for a
Dark-room--A Work-table--Running Water--A Water-tank--A Sink--
A Washing-box--A Drying-rack--Another Scheme for a Drying-rack--A
Cabinet--A Ruby-light--A Home-made Lantern--A Plate-lifter--
Classifying and Preserving Negatives--Manila Envelopes--A
Negative-case.
CHAPTER XII
A WINTER ENTERPRISE 169
An Opportunity for Making Money--A Snow Plough--A Scraper--A Snow
Shovel.
PART II
_OUTDOOR PASTIMES_
CHAPTER XIII
A BACK-YARD CLUB-HOUSE 175
How Some Boys Built a Club-house--A Mysterious Letter--Drawing the
Plan of a Club-house--The Material--Fishing Studs--Staking out the
Building--The Studs--Boarding up the Sides--The Roof--The Floor
--A Window-sash--A Batten Door--Wooden Latch--Calking up Cracks.
CHAPTER XIV
HOW TO BUILD A LOG-CABIN 186
The Pioneer Cabin--The Cabin of To-day--Selection of a Site--
Design and Size--The Material--Staking out the Cabin--The
Lock-joint--The Sills--Construction of Roof--Ridge Boards--A Log
Chimney and Fire-place--Calking--A Mud Floor--The Windows--The
Cabin Door--Wooden Hinges--Wooden Latch--The Latch-string--A
Mantel-shelf--Provision Cupboard--Rustic Seats--Bunks--A
Camp-table--A Few Pointers about Camping--Utensils--Other
Necessities--Provisions.
CHAPTER XV
HOW TO BUILD A CANVAS CANOE 201
Canoeing as a Sport--Popularity of Canvas Canoes--Materials--The
Bow and Stern Pieces--The Keelson--The Mould--Putting the
Framework Together--The Gunwales--The Ribbands--The Deck Beams--
The Ridge Pieces--The Deck Braces--The Cockpit--The Canvas
Covering--The Deck--Painting--The Cockpit Coaming--The Keel--
The Bilge-keels--Outside Gunwales--A Seat--How to mend Punctures
--A Single Paddle.
CHAPTER XVI
HOME-MADE TRAPS 218
Trapping as a Pastime--The City Boy and his Country Cousin--The
Figure-four Trap--A Box Trap--The Dead Fall--The Sieve Trap--The
Coop Trap--A Rabbit Snare--A Twitch-up--The Professional Trapper
--Wolves and Coyotes--Story of a Trapped Indian.
CHAPTER XVII
TOY GUNS, TARGETS, AND BOWS AND ARROWS 229
Ancient War Engines--New Idea for a Cross-bow--Shingle Arrows--A
Toy Pistol--Cardboard Bullets--A Shot-gun--An Elastic Sling--A
Boy's Barrel-hoop Target--A Simpler Target--How Points are Scored--
The Bow and Arrow--Length of Bow--The Bow-string--The Arrow-shafts
--Preparing Arrow-heads--Feathering--A Quiver--Proper Position
for Shooting with Bow--The Indian's Bow--How his Arrows were made
and Feathered--The Preparation of his Arrow-heads.
CHAPTER XVIII
AN OUTDOOR GYMNASIUM 243
Location for Gymnasium--A Horizontal Bar--Tumbling Mat--Parallel
Bars--The Punching-bag Platform--A Pair of Jump Standards--A
Vaulting Pole--A Spring-board--Hurdles--A Running Track--Method
of Starting for Short Sprints--Mark for Broad Jumping--An Athletic
Club--Athletic Meets.
CHAPTER XIX
A BACK-YARD CIRCUS 255
The Ancient Roman Circus--The Circus of To-day--How Several Boys
gave a Circus--Preparing the Yard for a Circus--Making the Ring--
Good Circus Seats--A Tent--Decorating the Tent--A Ticket Office--
A Turnstile--The Side Show--Cages for Side Show--Animated Animals
--The Elephant--The Giraffe--The Two-legged Wild Horse--The Wild
Man of Borneo--A Monkey's Make-up--The Ring Master--The Clown's
Suit--The Attendants--Ideas for a Performance--A Slapper--
Looping the Hoop on a Giraffe--A Chariot--Parades--The Advertising
Signs.
CHAPTER XX
SUGGESTIONS FOR FOURTH OF JULY 272
The First Fourth of July Celebration--Pyrotechnics Costly
and Dangerous to Make--The Making of Harmless and Inexpensive
Fireworks--A Fire-cracker Cannon--To fire the Cannon--A
Fire-cracker Mortar--Mimic Battles with Paper Soldiers--Another
Toy Cannon--To fire the Cannon--Firing Fireworks from
Kites--Firing a Pack of Fire-crackers from a Kite--Shooting
Nigger-chasers--Japanese Lanterns hung from Kite-strings--A
Shooting-torch--A Final Set-piece.
CHAPTER XXI
HALLOWEEN 281
Ancient Superstitions and Origin of Halloween--A Magazine
Bean-blower--A New Style of Tick-tack--A Clockwork Tick-tack--
The Goblin-man--The Disappearing Rope.
CHAPTER XXII
A BACK-YARD TOBOGGAN-SLIDE 291
One Advantage of a Small Slide--Location--Length--The Platform--
Framework--Railing around Platform--A Ladder--Making a Swift
Slide--A Home-made Sled--The Runners--Reënforcing the Runners.
PART III
_INDOOR PASTIMES_
CHAPTER XXIII
A MINIATURE THEATRE 303
An Interesting Entertainment--A Picture-frame Proscenium--The
Stage Framework--The Gridiron--The Stage Floor--The Drop-curtain--
Lighting the Theatre--The Footlights--Floodlights--Colored Lights
--Spotlights--Admission Tickets and Programmes.
CHAPTER XXIV
SCENERY, PROPERTIES, AND MECHANICAL EFFECTS 311
Materials for Scenery--An Ocean Scene--Additional Waves--Frames
for Drops--A Mid-ocean Scene--A Seashore Scene--A Field Scene--
The Trees--A Blockhouse Scene--Pine Boughs for Trees and Shrubbery
--Moss for Mounds and Hills--Rustic Bridges--A Pond or Lake--A
Street Scene--An Interior--A War Drama--Paper Soldiers--Scheme
for Marching Soldiers--Separate Standards--A Jointed Figure--Stage
Properties--Tents--An Indian Teepee--Battleships--Trains and
Wagons--Mechanical Effects--Thunder--Rain--Wind--Lightning--
The Roar of Cannon.
CHAPTER XXV
MAKING A TOY RAILWAY 331
The Trolley-line--Supports for Trolley-line--Power for Operating
Railway--Tracks--The Cars--A Gondola Car--A Street Car--Other
Cars--Operation of Railway--A Station.
CHAPTER XXVI
CLOCKWORK AUTOMOBILES 343
Procuring a Set of Clockworks--An Automobile Touring-car--The
Frame--Preparation of Clockworks--The Belt--Testing the Machine--
The Cardboard Sides--Wheels--Mud-guards--Lamps--The Steering-wheel
--A Horn--The Brake--The Chauffeur--Painting the Machine--An
Automobile Delivery Wagon--The Cardboard Sides--The Wheels--Other
Portions--Painting the Wagon--A Clockwork Railway.
CHAPTER XXVII
WORK TO DO WITH A KNIFE 356
How Boots were Marked in a Penitentiary--A Home-made Fountain Pen--
The Magic Pin-wheel--To Operate the Pin-wheel--A Wooden Chain and
Rattle--The Chain--The Rattle--Finishing the Chain and Rattle.
CHAPTER XXVIII
CORK TOYS 363
Materials Required--Cork Animals--A Pig--A Horse--The Elephant
--The Giraffe--A Porcupine--Other Animals--The Korka-bird--A
Duck--Canoes--Small Sail-boats--Cork Furniture--A Chair--The
Sofa--A Small Tabouret--A Toy Log-cabin.
CHAPTER XXIX
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS AND PHRASES 371
INDEX 385
LIST OF HALF-TONE ILLUSTRATIONS
(In addition to more than four hundred text illustrations.)
PART I
A Boy's Workshop _Frontispiece_
OPPOSITE PAGE
Treatment of a Boy's Room 58
Fig. 64.--A Colonial Doll-house 78
Fig. 96.--Another Style of Doll-house} 90
Fig. 97.--Interior View of Doll-house}
An Amateur's Outfit 128
A Group of Amateur Papers 142
Fig. 168.--A Handy Dark-room} 154
Fig. 172.--A Washing-box and Drying-rack}
PART II
In Camp for the Summer 175
A Boys' Log-cabin 188
Two Simple Cabins 198
Caught at Last 226
The Back-yard Circus 268
PART III
A Miniature Theatre 303
Fig. 330.--A Field Scene } 316
Fig. 338.--A Blockhouse Scene}
Fig. 339.--A Street Scene 320
Fig. 375.--The Car completed} 344
Fig. 376.--The Framework }
[Illustration: Boys at the Bank.]
[Illustration: Page Decoration.]
PART I
Profitable Pastimes
CHAPTER I
A BOY'S WORKSHOP
[Illustration: Boy with Box-kite and Boy at Work-bench.]
Carpenter work should be encouraged in a boy from the time he first
becomes interested in it, for besides being something with which to keep
him busy, the experience gained by its practice will be useful to him
all his life, no matter what branch of industry he may follow later on.
When a boy has learned the proper care and use of tools, and is able to
turn out neatly executed work, he will find the occupation a profitable
one, there being an unlimited number of things he can make in his shop.
Doll-houses for girl relatives, toys for brothers and cousins, and
articles for the household, such as are described in following chapters,
are a few of the many things he can construct. Many of these are salable
articles, besides being suitable for birthday and Christmas gifts, and
should bring a neat sum of money to the young carpenter.
A knowledge of carpenter work also develops in a boy a handiness for
devising and putting together articles and apparatus for his own use.
A boy should really have a shop where he can keep his tools and
unfinished work with no danger of them being disturbed, and where he
need not be afraid of littering the floor with shavings or of making too
much noise.
=The Workshop= may be fitted up by the boy himself, and a suitable place
can probably be found in the basement, barn, or woodshed. Here a corner
large enough to contain a work-bench, carpenter's horses, and
tool-cabinets, besides plenty of room to work in, should be partitioned
off, and a window that will admit a good supply of light made in one
side of the room, if one has not already been provided.
[Illustration: FIG. 1.--End View of Work-bench.]
=A Solid Work-bench=, six feet long, thirty inches wide, and thirty-two
inches high, should be constructed beneath the window. It is a good idea
to build this on to the wall if possible, as it is easier to make a
solid bench by doing so, and the firmer it is, the better.
First cut a two-by-four four feet long, and spike it to the wall below
the window, twenty-eight inches above the floor. Then saw two pieces of
two-by-four, twenty-eight inches long, for the legs, and two pieces,
thirty inches long, for crosspieces. Spike the crosspieces on to the
legs and on to the piece nailed to the wall, as shown in Fig. 1. Cut
three ten-inch planks, six feet long, and spike them to the crosspieces
so that they project twelve inches over the ends, but are flush with the
framework in front. Then cut a ten-inch board, six feet long, for an
apron, and, after cutting the ends as shown in Fig. 4, nail it across
the front of the bench.
[Illustration: FIG. 2.--Iron Bench-screw.]
[Illustration: FIG. 3.--Wooden Bench-screw.]
For fifty cents a fifteen-inch iron or wooden bench-screw, similar to
those in Figs. 2 and 3, can be purchased at a hardware store, and the
rest of
=The Vise= is simple to make. Figures 1, 4, and 5 show the details for
this.
Take a board thirty inches long by six inches wide for the jaw, and bore
a hole a little larger than the screw, six inches from one end. Bore
another hole the same size through the apron and table-leg, six inches
below the bench-top (see _A_ in Figs. 4 and 5). The portion of the iron
screw marked _B_ in Fig. 2 should be set into the hole bored in the
bench-leg and screwed at _E_ (Fig. 1), while the portion _D_ is to be
screwed to the jaw. If a wooden screw is used, the portion _C_ in the
drawing (Fig. 3) is nailed to the inside of the bench-leg.
[Illustration: FIG. 4. FIG. 5.
Details of Bench-vise.]
In order to guide the bottom of the jaw, an arrangement similar to _F_
in Fig. 5 should be made. Make a mortise two inches long by one inch
wide near the bottom of the bench-leg and cut a strip of wood fifteen
inches long to fit loosely in it. Then shut the vise and mark upon the
inside of the jaw the place where the mortise comes in the leg. Nail
one end of the fifteen-inch strip to the jaw at this point, being
careful to get it in such a position that the other end will slide into
the mortise. Bore several holes in the strip and cut a peg to fit in
them. The jaw can now be kept parallel with the side of the bench by
adjusting the peg, which is very necessary in order to have the vise
grip a piece of work squarely.
When you have a long board to work upon, it cannot be held steady by the
vise alone. One end should be placed in the vise and the other rested
upon a peg stuck in a hole bored in the side of the bench. For boards of
different lengths, several holes should be bored, as shown in the
illustration of the finished bench (see frontispiece), and a movable peg
cut to fit in them.
=A Bench-stop= of some sort fastened to the top of the bench will be
found useful to push work against while planing it, when it is not
convenient to use the vise. Figures 6, 7, and 8 show the forms of stops
most commonly used by carpenters. Of these the metal stop shown in Fig.
6 is the most satisfactory, as it can be adjusted to different heights.
It costs but little and is easily put in place. A mortise is made in the
top of the bench to receive the lower portion of the stop, and the plate
_A_ is set flush with the bench-top and held in place with screws driven
into the holes in the corners. The centre of this plate (_B_) is
detached from the rest and mounted upon a small post, which can be
adjusted to the desired height by giving the screw at _C_ a few turns
with the screw-driver. The teeth in the edge of _B_ help to hold the
work in position.
[Illustration: FIG. 6. FIG. 7. FIG. 8.
Some Forms of Bench-stops.]
One of the simplest forms of stops is shown in Fig. 7. It consists of
two screws placed in the top of the bench, which can be raised or
lowered with the screw-driver to the height you desire.
The stop shown in Fig. 8 is made out of a block of wood with a "bird's
mouth" cut in one side. It should be nailed to one end of the bench in
such a position that the end of the work can be placed in the "bird's
mouth."
While most of your work will be done on the bench, and a good portion of
sawing done with the wood in the vise, large pieces, especially long
boards, are generally sawn while placed across horses.
=Two Carpenter's Horses= will be required. A good scheme for these is
shown in Fig. 9. The top is made out of a piece of two-by-four with
bevelled mortises cut in two sides of each end as in Fig. 10. These
mortises are made to receive the legs, and the angle of the bevel will
of course determine the angle at which the legs will spread. Cut the
legs out of four-inch boards, and bevel the lower ends to make them set
solidly upon the floor. Nail the legs firmly in place and brace them
with two boards cut and fitted in place, as in the illustration. When
the pieces have been nailed together, plane off the tops of the legs to
make them flush with the top of the horse, and trim the lower ends if
they require it until the horse is solid.
[Illustration: FIG. 9.]
[Illustration: FIG. 10.]
Boring, paring, and nailing on the bench will soon make the surface
uneven, unless something is placed beneath the work during such
operations. You should therefore make and use
=A Bench-hook=, such as shown in Fig. 11. A good size is ten by twelve
inches, but it may be made larger or smaller if desired. Nail a strip
along one edge of the under face and another strip along the opposite
edge of the upper face. The latter strip should have three kerfs cut in
it as shown in the drawing, one at right angles and the other two at
forty-five degrees. These may be laid off with a try-square, as shown in
Figs. 38 and 39 (Chapter II), or with the bevel, as shown in Fig. 42. Be
careful to keep the saw on the line and in a perfectly perpendicular
position in making these kerfs. The upper strip on the bench-hook serves
the purpose of a stop, and the kerfs make it possible to use the
bench-hook for mitring with the back-saw. Further description of the
uses of this handy article will be found in the following chapter.
[Illustration: FIG. 11.--A Bench-hook.]
[Illustration: FIG. 12.--A Mitre-box.]
You will need
=A Mitre-box= for cutting mitres in large work, and this may be made as
shown in Fig. 12. Cut two pieces of seven-eighths inch maple, or other
hard wood, twenty inches long by six inches wide, and one piece twenty
inches long by four inches wide. Nail the six-inch pieces to the edges
of the four-inch piece as shown in the drawing, after which you are
ready to cut the mitres. These should be laid out similar to those on
the bench-hook, by means of the mitred try-square or the bevel. With the
blade of the try-square or bevel extending across the top edges of the
side-pieces, mark off forty-five degree lines at _A_ and _B_, and a
ninety degree line at _C_, after which square the lines down both inner
and outer face of the side-pieces. When the lines have been accurately
drawn, it is a simple matter to make the kerfs, if you have had any
practice in sawing and can keep to a line.
No matter how skilful a carpenter is with his tools, he generally
depends upon his mitre-box in making mitres, for not only accuracy is
obtained by its use, but time is also saved. In using one be careful not
to let the saw cut into the sides of the kerfs, or the box will soon be
rendered useless for making accurate mitres.
[Illustration: FIG. 13.--Sand-paper Block.]
Before putting the finish upon a piece of work, the wood should be
thoroughly sand-papered. In many cases certain portions cannot be
reached by the hand, and so
=A Sand-paper Block= similar to Fig. 13 should be made. Cut a block of
wood five inches long, two and one-half inches wide, and seven-eighths
of an inch thick. Then place it in the vise, and bevel one end and round
the other as shown in the drawing. An inch and one-half from each end
cut "rabbets" one inch wide across the block, and make two blocks to fit
them. When this has been done, cut a strip of sand-paper two and
one-half inches wide and stretch it around the block, holding it in
place by driving the small blocks into the rabbets. You will find this
sand-paper block very handy, as some portion of it can be got into
almost every corner you will ever have occasion to sand-paper. The paper
may be quickly replaced with a fresh piece when worn out.
=A Strop= for putting keen edges on tools may be made out of a block of
wood, with a piece of shoe-leather, or section of an old razor-strop,
glued to one side of it.
=A Plumb=, similar to Fig. 14, is a handy article to have for outdoor
work, such as erecting posts in perpendicular positions. You will have
need of it in putting up such buildings as the back-yard club-house, the
log-cabin, and the erection of apparatus for the outdoor gymnasium, the
construction of which will be found in following chapters.
It consists of a stick, the sides of which have been planed up true and
parallel, with a notch in one end and a cord with a weight attached
fastened to the other end. The notch should be cut in the exact centre
of the end of the stick, and the nail placed in the other end directly
in line with the centre of the notch. An iron nut, or some such weight,
should be attached to the lower end of the cord.
By placing this stick at the side of an object, you can determine
whether or not it is plumb by the position of the string, which should
hang in the centre of the notch when the object is plumb. The length of
the stick may be made to suit the size of the work it is to be used
upon. Four or five feet is a good length for ordinary outside work.
[Illustration: FIG. 14.]
=In purchasing Tools= for your workshop it is not advisable to buy them
in chests, for they are almost always made of cheap material, and poor
tools are of no use to the boy who intends to do good work. It is a much
better plan to buy a few tools at a time, getting a good quality of
steel, and to gradually increase your outfit as your money permits. Then
if you really want a chest you can make it yourself. A hatchet, hammer,
saw, plane, chisel, jack-knife, bit and bit-stock, screw-driver, and
square are the principal tools you will require, and need be all you
have to start out with. Others may be got as you have need of them, and
may be selected from the following list, which includes probably all the
tools a boy would ever have occasion to use.
=LIST OF TOOLS FROM WHICH TO MAKE YOUR SELECTIONS=
1 14-inch Jack-plane.
1 18-inch Fore-plane.
1 9-inch Smoothing-plane.
1 22-inch Rip-saw.
1 20-inch Cross-cut saw.
1 12-inch Back-saw.
1 12-inch Compass-saw.
1 Gig-or Bracket-saw.
1 Ratchet Brace.
5 Auger-bits, 1/4-inch, 3/8-inch, 1/2-inch, 3/4-inch, and 1-inch.
1 Expansive-bit.
Several Gimlet Bits.
1 Screw-driver Bit.
1 Countersink.
1 Brad-awl.
2 Hand Gimlets.
1 Automatic-drill.
4 Chisels, 1/4-inch, 1/2-inch, 3/4-inch, and 1-inch.
2 Gouges, 3/8-inch and 3/4-inch.
1 Draw-knife.
1 Jack-knife.
1 Hatchet.
1 Hammer.
1 Tack Hammer.
1 Mallet.
2 Nail-sets (large and small).
1 Hand Screw-driver.
1 Wood Rasp.
1 Metal File.
1 Pair Cutting Nippers.
1 Pair Pincers.
1 Grind-stone.
1 Oil-stone and oil-can.
1 Strop.
1 2-foot Folding Rule.
1 Large Steel Square.
1 7-inch Try-square.
1 Bevel.
1 Marking-gauge.
1 Compass.
The proper care and handling of these tools is fully described and
illustrated in the following chapter. These directions should be
carefully read before you attempt to use the tools, especially the edge
tools.
=A Cabinet= will be found much better for an outfit of tools than a
tool-chest, as it can be more easily got at than a chest, where it is
necessary to lift several trays before you can reach a tool which has
been put in the bottom.
[Illustration: FIG. 15.--Tool-cabinet.]
The cabinet shown in Fig. 15 is made out of a box about three feet long,
two feet wide, and nine inches deep. Make a door from the box-cover,
fastening the boards together by means of two battens placed at the top
and bottom (see illustration). Nail a cleat on each side of the cabinet
six inches from the bottom, and make a shelf to fit upon them.
=Racks for Bits and Chisels= should be made similar to Fig. 16, and
fastened side by side to the inside of the cabinet.
Cut a strip of wood about the size of the battens, and make two slots in
it, one for the end of the saw to fit in and the other for the blade of
the try-square (see Fig. 15). This strip is fastened to the cabinet door
a few inches above the bottom batten.
[Illustration: FIG. 16.--Bit and Chisel Racks.]
Hang up the other tools on brass hooks.
After completing the cabinet, paint it inside and out, and fasten either
a hook or lock to the door.
When this cabinet becomes too small for your increase in tools, you can
keep those you use the most in it, and make
=Another Cabinet= for the special and less used tools. Either screw the
cabinets to the wall or support them upon brackets.
=Racks= may be made for any tools you wish to hang on the wall. A piece
of grooved siding nailed above the bench will do nicely for the large
square.
When you do outside work you will want something in which to carry such
tools as will be required to complete the job.
[Illustration: FIG. 17.--A Carpenter's Carrying-box.]
=A Carpenter's Carrying-box= should be made. Such a box is shown in Fig.
17. The box should be about twenty-seven inches long to accommodate the
saws, and it would be well to make the width eight inches and the height
sixteen inches. First prepare the end-pieces, making them six by sixteen
inches and rounding the tops with the compass-saw, as shown in the
illustration. Then cut a board twenty-five inches long by six inches
wide for the bottom and nail the end-pieces to the ends of it. Make the
side-pieces twenty-seven by eight inches, and nail them to the
end-pieces and to the edges of the bottom board. The handle consists of
a broom-stick fitted into holes bored near the tops of the end-pieces.
This box should be used for tools only, and not have nails, screws, and
bolts mixed up with them, for these supplies should be kept in a special
=Nail-box=, with compartments for the different sizes of nails, screws,
hooks, screw-eyes, hinges, etc. One of the best kinds of boxes for this
purpose is a knife-box such as can be bought for ten or fifteen cents.
This is divided in two and has a handle attached (see Fig. 18). The two
compartments should be sub-divided into smaller boxes, either with
pieces of cigar-boxes, or with pieces of tin bent at the ends and
fastened to the sides of the box, as shown in the illustration.
[Illustration: FIG. 18.--Nail-box.]
=Supplies= of nails, brads, etc., should be kept in cans and cigar-boxes
of different sizes, and it is a good idea to letter these receptacles
that you may be able to put your hands upon what you want without having
to hunt for it.
=Shelves= will be handy to keep paint-cans and these boxes on.
=Workshop Clothes=.--Old clothes should be worn in the shop, as
carpenter work is rather hard upon them, especially the trousers. Better
than these is a pair of overalls and perhaps a jumper. They are easy to
work in and wear better than anything else.
=A Few Hooks= should be placed on the wall for hats and coats, and for
your working clothes, if you change them in the shop before and after
work.
To prevent your tools from being carried off, and your work from being
disturbed, it is advisable to have a lock upon the door and keep your
shop locked up when you are away.
To avoid danger of fire, keep combustible articles, such as oily waste
and rags, in covered tin cans, and do not allow shavings and rubbish to
accumulate.
CHAPTER II
THE PROPER HANDLING OF TOOLS
[Illustration: Boy at Grind-stone and Boy with Bit-stock.]
Before using a tool be sure you understand the proper handling of it,
for there is probably nothing more easily injured than an edge tool in a
sharpened condition. An inexperienced person is very apt to dull or nick
a tool by striking its edge against nails or by using it for purposes
other than what it was made for. For this reason a carpenter is very apt
to refuse a boy, or any amateur for that matter, the use of his tools,
and he is right in doing so. Just imagine the amount of work it makes
for him to put the tools in shape after they have been returned in all
sorts of conditions. A little rubbing on the oil-stone, with an
occasional grinding, is all his tools require when he is using them, but
to remove nicks made by his young friends wastes too much of his
valuable time.
A good rule to observe, boys, is never to lend tools to any of your
friends, for though they may be as careful in handling them as you are,
the chances are they will not be. You had better be a little "grouchy"
in this respect, than to have tools which are unfit to do good work
with.
The following directions, together with the illustrations, should make
the handling of your tools perfectly clear, and you will find among
these a number of hints as to the care of tools that should be carefully
adhered to in order that you may keep them in good condition.
=Saws.=--A boy can get along with two saws, a cross-cut saw for general
use and a compass-saw for finer work, such as circular sawing, and
cutting thin wood where a large saw would be too coarse and apt to split
the work. But you will often have need of a rip-saw, back-saw, and
bracket-saw. They were therefore included in the list of tools on page
14, and you can add them to your outfit as your money permits.
=The Cross-cut Saw= is, of course, intended for cutting across the
grain, while the rip-saw is for cutting with the grain, or ripping. The
former saw can be used for rip-sawing, but the operation is much slower,
and when you have much of it to do, as in ripping a six-foot board, for
instance, you will find the work tedious.
=The Rip-saw= is not fit for cross-cutting, as it leaves the cut fibres
in a very rough condition.
The difference in these two saws lies in the shape of their teeth. This
can be seen by picking them up and examining their cutting edges. You
will find the teeth are bent out of line, the first to the right side
and the next to the left. This is known as the "set" of the teeth, and
the quality of your work will depend largely upon the care with which
the teeth have been sharpened and set. At first you may confuse these
two saws, but if you will notice that the teeth of the cross-cut saw
come to sharp points and are bevelled on the sides, while those of the
rip-saw are not sharpened on the sides, and instead of being pointed on
the ends are chisel-shaped (see Figs. 19 and 20), you will have little
trouble in distinguishing them.
[Illustration: FIG. 19.--Teeth of Cross-cut Saw.]
[Illustration: FIG. 20.--Teeth of Rip Saw.]
[Illustration: FIG. 21.--Position for Sawing.
FIG. 22.]
=Sawing.=--Small pieces may be sawn while held in the vise, but, as a
rule, large work is placed across a couple of horses. It is generally
the most convenient way. Grasp the saw in the right hand, and take the
position shown in Fig. 21, with the left knee upon the work to hold it
in place, and the left hand at the edge of the board. The thumb should
be pressed against the saw-blade to guide it until the cut has been well
started, as shown in Fig. 22. Without the aid of the thumb the saw is
liable to slip off the mark and make an ugly cut in the wood. First use
a few short strokes until the saw has started to cut. Then use a long,
steady stroke, putting all of the pressure upon the down stroke. Be
careful to keep the saw to the line and in a perpendicular position, so
that the cut will be square on all sides. If it starts to run away from
the line, a slight twist of the blade will return it.
When a board has been sawn nearly in two, remove the weight of your knee
from it, and hold the board with the left hand to prevent it from
splitting off.
[Illustration: FIG. 23.--Position for using the Back-saw.]
Fig. 23 shows the correct position for using
=The Back-saw=, which is intended for more delicate work than the larger
saw, such as can be sawn on the bench-hook or in the mitre-box. It makes
a finer cut, its teeth being smaller and more closely set.
The blades of
=The Compass-and Gig-saws= are small and narrow, the former being used
for circular cutting, as the name would imply, while the latter is
employed in cutting very thin wood and in making delicate curves. The
blades of these saws, especially the latter, are easily broken, and must
be handled with care. The teeth are arranged so as to cut with and
against the grain.
The slot made by removing the fibre of the wood in sawing is known as
=A Kerf=. The term is used a good deal in carpenter work, so it is well
to know its meaning.
The carpenter of to-day is generally supplied with all manner of
planes,--rabbeting-planes, beading-planes, circular-planes, ploughs,
etc.,--besides the more commonly used jack-plane, fore-plane, and
smoothing-plane. Each of these planes has a special form of work to do,
but ordinarily a boy will have occasion to use but the last three named,
and many get along with but a jack-and a smoothing-plane.
=The Jack-plane= is the plane you will first need to remove the rough
surface of undressed lumber, and also to reduce quickly the thickness of
wood. The cutting edge of the blade is ground so as to gouge the wood,
removing thick shavings, but leaving ridges and hollows which must
afterward be removed by a fore-plane or smoothing-plane. There is one
trouble in using the smoothing-plane for this operation, however, and
that lies in the danger of it following the hollows formed by the
jack-plane, making a smooth but uneven surface.
=The Fore-plane=, on the other hand, has a long enough stock to prevent
the blade from cutting the lower portions until the high portions have
been removed. Although a fore-plane can be used alone for smoothing
large work, it is more convenient to finish up with
=The Smoothing-plane=.
The Stanley iron plane, shown in Fig. 24, is a great improvement over
the old-style wooden ones, and is the most popular plane used to-day. It
is more easily handled, as its iron is quickly put in place and
adjusted. The illustration gives the names of the various parts. The
cap (_B_) is screwed to the plane-iron (_A_), and both are held in the
stock (_F_) by means of the clamp on the end of the wedge (_C_). The
thumb-screw (_D_) regulates the degrees of fineness of the plane-iron,
while the lever (_E_), which moves from side to side, straightens the
position of the iron. The base of the stock is known as the sole, or
face.
[Illustration: FIG. 24.--Stanley Iron Plane.
_A._ Plane-iron. _B._ Plane-iron Cap. _C._ Wedge or Clamp. _D._
Adjusting Screw. _E._ Adjusting Lever. _F._ Stock.]
The Bailey plane is somewhat similar to the Stanley, the upper portion
being of iron with screw adjustment, but the base being of wood. Its
cost is much less than that of the entire iron plane, and you will
probably find it as satisfactory if you do not care to spend the
additional amount for the Stanley plane.
=For Planing=, take the position shown in Fig. 25, with the left foot a
little in advance of the right, the right hand grasping the handle of
the plane and the left holding the knob on the fore part of the stock.
Use a long, steady sweep, and bear with equal pressure from the
beginning of a stroke to the end, to avoid the hollows that are so
easily made by taking shavings of different thicknesses. Do not drag the
plane-iron over the work in returning it for another stroke, as it will
dull its edge.
You will often come across wood with a crooked grain, which runs
diagonally through the piece, terminating at the surface. There is a
right way and a wrong way in planing this, just as there are two ways of
stroking a cat's back, one smoothing the surface, while the other
roughens it. When you find a piece of wood with this kind of uncertain
grain, you will probably have to change the direction of your planing a
number of times before finishing the surface, in order to plane with the
grain.
[Illustration: FIG. 25.--Take this Position for Planing.]
In planing end-wood, you will have trouble in preventing the corners of
the piece from splitting off unless it is placed in the vise in front of
another block of wood, the planing being done toward the block. Or one
corner may be chamfered with the chisel, as shown in Fig. 29.
=Testing Work.=--It is necessary to test work frequently while planing,
in order to locate the high places and avoid taking off too much on the
low places. This may be done by squinting one eye and holding the board
on a level with the other eye, so that you can look down the length of
it as in sighting a gun. The uneven places show up very plainly in this
way.
Work is also tested by means of the try-square. Place the handle of the
square against the edge of the work with the blade of the square
extending across the planed surface, and move it the length of the
board. Any irregularities in the surface will show themselves as the
blade passes over them. In planing up a block of wood, plane up one side
and, after proving it to be true, use it for the "tried edge," testing
the other sides with the handle of the square pressed against its
surface.
There are a number of forms of
=Chisels=, but the only two classes you will probably ever be in need of
are the firmer-and framing-chisels. The former are intended for hand use
only, while the latter are used for heavier work, such as mortising,
where it becomes necessary to use the mallet.
=In Using a Firmer-chisel=, the work should be placed in the vise or be
otherwise held in position, that both hands may be kept upon the tool,
the right hand grasping the upper end of the handle and doing the
pushing, while the left hand holds the lower part of the handle and acts
as a guide in working it.
=Paring= with the chisel consists in trimming a piece of wood to a given
line. It is an operation very often resorted to in finishing the end of
a piece of work instead of planing, and in trimming up a curved edge
such as is shown in Fig. 26. Here the line _AB_ represents the line of
the finished end of a piece of work. The board is first placed in a vise
and the wood removed to about one-quarter inch of _AB_ with a
compass-saw, following the curve of the line as nearly as possible. Then
lay the piece upon the bench-hook (Fig. 11, Chap. I), and pare to the
line with the chisel, as shown in Fig. 26.
[Illustration: FIGS. 26 AND 27.--Paring.]
The chisel is often used to pare down the surface of a piece of work to
a given line, as shown in Fig. 27.
=The Framing-chisel= should be held in the left hand, and the blows
dealt upon the handle with the mallet in the right hand. In handling the
framing-chisel the bevel of the blade should be toward the work, which
is just the opposite from that shown in Figs. 26 and 27. Unless this is
done the chisel will not cut down squarely but will cut in under, as it
cannot be guided as easily as the firmer-chisel can, with both hands to
hold it.
=Chamfering and Bevelling= are somewhat similar operations. They consist
in cutting the edges of a piece of wood, as shown in Figs. 28 and 29.
[Illustration: FIG. 28.--Bevel.]
[Illustration: FIG. 29.--Chamfering.]
The corner of a block of wood is very often chamfered, when planing
end-wood, to prevent the wood from splintering. It can only be done, of
course, before the adjoining side has been planed up, that a square
corner can be obtained again when the work is finished.
=The Gouge= is a chisel with a curved section, its use being for cutting
grooves and curvatures in a piece of work where the chisel cannot be
employed.
=A Draw-knife= is very handy for quickly reducing the size of material
and in rounding sticks. The blade is drawn toward you instead of being
pushed as in the case of a plane or chisel.
=Boring.=--Probably the only trouble you will have with the bit and
bit-stock will be in holding the brace in a perfectly vertical position
so as to bore a straight hole.
The centre of the hole should first be located upon the work. Then,
after selecting the right size of bit and securing it in the clutches of
the bit-stock, grasp the handle of the stock with the right hand and
place the left hand on the top knob. Set the point of the bit against
the work and bore steadily until the point appears upon the opposite
side. The bit should then be withdrawn and the rest of the hole bored
from the other side. This prevents the fibre around the hole from
splintering off, as it is likely to do when a hole is bored all the way
through from one side. To bore a hole in a piece of work held in the
vise, clamp a waste piece of wood in the vise with it, and bore straight
through the work into the waste piece.
When boring hard wood or using large bits increased pressure is
necessary to operate the brace and at the same time steady the bit. This
can be obtained by allowing the chest to bear upon the top knob.
Holes two inches or more in diameter do not require a bit that size, for
smaller holes can be bored and these trimmed to the required opening
with a chisel or with the keyhole-saw. Whatever style of bit-stock you
buy, get one with a fair length of arm, as a good leverage cannot be
obtained with a short one.
=An Automatic-drill= is a handy tool to have in the shop, although not a
necessity. You have probably seen carpenters use it in drilling holes in
hard wood, before driving in finishing nails or screws. It beats the awl
and gimlet for speed, and is a tool which can be used in places where
neither of these could be operated. The handle of the tool contains a
number of sizes of drills.
This tool must be used with care, as the drills snap off very easily
when the tool is handled roughly or twisted from side to side while
boring a hole.
=The Hatchet= is an indispensable tool, for it can be used for a good
deal of your rough work, such as splitting and paring. It requires
practice to handle one successfully, however. A misplaced blow will
sometimes ruin your work, either by cutting into it or striking grain
which runs off into the portion to be finished. With straight grained
wood it is not so difficult to pare to a line with the hatchet. The wood
should be removed to within less than an eighth of an inch of the line,
as the work must be dressed up afterward with the plane.
It is well to have
=A Hammer= with a fairly heavy head for large work, and a lighter one
with which to drive small nails.
=Driving Nails.=--The nail should first be held in position with the
thumb and first two fingers, and given a few light raps with the hammer
to start it. Then remove the fingers, and drive the nail home with
steady blows, being careful to hit the head squarely so it will not
bend.
Although a bent nail can be driven home with the proper stroke, it is
generally easier and quicker to withdraw it and either hammer it out
straight or use another.
A pair of pincers are handy for
=Withdrawing Nails=, especially nails whose heads are too small to be
gripped with a claw hammer; but for removing large nails a stronger
leverage is necessary. This can be obtained as shown in Fig. 30. The
head of the nail is gripped in the claw of the hammer and a block of
wood placed beneath the head. The handle of the hammer is then pulled
toward you, as shown in the illustration. The block, besides increasing
the leverage, prevents the hammer-head from injuring the surface of your
work, and makes it possible to withdraw the nail in a fairly straight
condition.
[Illustration: FIG. 30.--Withdrawing Nails.]
[Illustration: FIG. 31.--Toe-nailing.]
=Toe-nailing= consists in driving nails diagonally into a piece of wood.
It is used in fastening the ends of uprights, as shown in Fig. 31, where
the nails cannot be driven in any other way, and also where there is
danger of a board springing. You will often find it convenient to use
this form of nailing when the nails are too long to be driven straight
into the work.
=Blind-nailing= is a form of toe-nailing used on tongue and grooved
boards in which the heads of the nails are concealed below the surface,
as shown in Fig. 32.
[Illustration: FIG. 32.--Blind-nailing.]
=Clinching.=--When nails come through a piece of wood their ends should
be clinched. This is done by having some one hold a hard surface, such
as the head or blade of a hatchet, against the under side of the work,
or by laying the hatchet down and resting the work upon it, while you
drive the nail. The point of the nail will bend over when it strikes the
hard surface and sink into the wood. This is the best method to use in
fastening boards together with battens, in rough work, as the clinched
nails act as rivets, preventing any possibility of the boards pulling
apart.
Do not drive the head of a nail into a finished surface with the hammer,
as you are likely to mar the wood in doing so. Leave this--the "setting"
of the nails--until the piece of work has been put together. Then go
over it and drive the heads below the surface with
=The Nail-set=, holding the tool as shown in Fig. 33. The holes made by
the heads should be filled up with putty before the finish is put upon
the wood.
Before driving nails into hard wood, holes should be made with the
brad-awl or drill, to prevent them from splitting the wood, and to make
it easier to drive them in without bending. The holes should be a trifle
smaller than the nails. Always drill a hole before driving a nail into
thin wood or near the edge of a piece.
A nail can be driven more easily if its point is rubbed over a piece of
soap. This is something you should remember to do when nailing hard
wood.
=Nails.=--Iron, galvanized-iron, wire, and copper nails are
manufactured, but of these the wire nail is the most commonly used for
all kinds of work, it being more easily handled, not so liable to snap
off, and there being less danger of splitting your work with it than
with the iron nails.
[Illustration: FIG. 33.--Setting Nails.]
You will notice the iron nails have two smooth sides and two rough ones.
In using these it is necessary to drive them with the smooth sides
parallel with the grain, otherwise they are sure to split the work.
Nails are classified according to their shape and gauge. The only kinds
you will probably ever have occasion to use are the Common, or nail for
all ordinary work; the Finishing-nail, with the small head used on
finish work; and the Brad, or small-sized finishing-nail. You can buy
these by calling for the length you require, but it is more businesslike
to use the standard terms by which all carpenters know them.
The following table gives these terms, together with the length in
inches:--
2-Penny Nails (1 inch long).
3 " " (1-1/4 inches long).
4 " " (1-1/2 " " ).
5 " " (1-3/4 " " ).
6 " " (2 " " ).
7 " " (2-1/4 " " ).
8 " " (2-1/2 " " ).
9 " " (2-3/4 " " ).
10 " " (3 " " ).
12 " " (3-1/4 " " ).
16 " " (3-1/2 " " ).
20 " " (4 " " ).
30 " " (4-1/2 " " ).
40 " " (5 " " ).
50 " " (5-1/2 " " ).
60 " " (6 " " ).
All nails longer than three and a half inches (20d to 60d inclusive) are
known as spikes.
It is desirable to have
=A Screw-driver= which will set in the clutches of your bit-stock,
besides the ordinary kind, for it is more quickly operated, and screws
can be driven in hard wood easier on account of the greater amount of
leverage you get with it.
Holes should be drilled in hard wood before driving screws into it.
=Screws= are made with round and flat heads. The round-headed screw is a
finishing screw, and its head is left exposed on the surface of the
wood; but the flat-headed screw should be countersunk, that is, sunk
below the surface. To do this you must drill a hole before driving in
the screw with
=The Countersink=, which is a drill made to fit in the bit-stock, and
bores a hole the shape and depth of the screw-head.
SHARPENING TOOLS
Be sure you understand the process of sharpening tools before you
undertake to use the oil-and grind-stones.
All tools are not sharpened alike, and you will need to know the
different ways in order to get their cutting edges the right shape to
serve their different purposes.
=Grinding= is the most difficult part of the work, and most boys have
trouble with it. One fault lies in using the grind-stone too frequently,
grinding the edge of a tool when it requires only a little rubbing upon
the oil-stone to put it in shape, and thus wearing down the tool
unnecessarily. Again, by not keeping the stone sufficiently wet, the
heat produced by the friction takes the temper out of the steel, making
it soft and useless until retempered.
If you have a stone with a crank arrangement, it will be necessary to
have some one turn it while you control the tool. The stone should be
turned toward the grinder and the tools held upward so the stone grinds
against the edge instead of from it. Move the tools sideways across the
stone so as to wear it down evenly and help prevent the formation of
ridges in the stone, which are very easily produced.
[Illustration: FIG. 34.--Grinding the Chisel.]
Figure 34 shows the position to take in grinding
=Chisels=. Hold the handle of the tool in the right hand and rest the
palm of the left hand upon its blade. Then lower the edge upon the stone
until the bevel strikes it flatly, and bear down upon the blade with
your left hand. Continue the grinding until the bright line of the dull
edge has disappeared and an invisible edge has been obtained. Stop when
this point is reached or the edge will become feathery and break off,
necessitating regrinding. Grind upon the bevelled edge only, and hold
the tool in the same relative position, to prevent the bevel from
becoming rounded. The angle of the bevel should be about twenty-five
degrees. To keep this angle the same, it is desirable to have a rest,
consisting of a board nailed to the frame of the stone, upon which to
support the handle of the chisel.
=Gouges and Draw-knives= are ground similarly, the former being rocked
from side to side, in order to grind the curved bevel uniformly.
=Plane-irons= are held with both hands, as shown in Fig. 35, and ground
the same, except that the corners of the smoothing-and fore-plane irons
are slightly rounded, while the edge of the jack-plane iron is a little
higher at the corners than in the centre, to give it the qualities for
removing thick shavings. It is more difficult to keep the line between
the bevel and upper part of the iron straight than in grinding chisels,
on account of the wider blade.
[Illustration: FIG. 35.--Grinding the Plane-iron.]
=Knives and Hatchets= are ground upon both sides of the blade.
Of course, the edge of a tool is left in a very rough condition by the
grind-stone, and must be rubbed up on an oil-stone before it is fit to
cut with.
There are many makes of whetstones, many good ones and many worthless
ones. Above all things, don't buy a cheap one, for it will be impossible
to obtain keen edges upon it.
One of the best stones upon the market is
=The Washita Oil-stone=, a Kansas stone of medium hardness, free from
grit and lumps, and of good quality through and through.
[Illustration: FIG. 36.--Whetting a Plane-iron.
FIG. 37.]
In rubbing up a plane-iron, grasp the end between the thumb and fingers
of the right hand and place the palm of the left hand across the iron to
bring the necessary pressure upon it (see Fig. 36).
Instead of holding the blade on the stone at the angle of the bevel, tip
it to an angle of about thirty-five degrees, or ten degrees more than
that of the bevel. With it held in this position, rub it back and forth
upon the stone with a rotary motion, making a second narrow bevel along
the edge of the tool (see Fig. 37). Be careful to keep the blade in the
same position, to prevent the bevels from becoming rounded. By exerting
a steady upward pressure against the end of the tool with the right
hand, and an equal downward pressure in the centre of the blade with the
left hand, this is easily accomplished.
The rough edge which appears on the back of the blade is removed by
rubbing the flat side of the iron over the stone a few times. Care must
be taken to keep the iron perfectly flat or a bevel will be formed.
=A Strop=, consisting of a piece of leather fastened to a block of wood
as described in the foregoing chapter, should be used after the
oil-stone, to put a fine edge upon the tool. The tool is stropped in the
same way as a razor is done.
=Saws= require sharpening but once in a great while if proper care is
taken of them. When they do become dull, or need to be set, it is
advisable for you to pay an experienced person to do the work rather
than attempt it yourself.
LAYING OUT WORK
A two-foot carpenter's folding rule should generally be used in laying
off measurements and a sharp-pointed pencil or brad-awl to locate the
points. To connect the points it is necessary to have a straight-edge--a
steel framing-square (Fig. 42) for large boards and a small try-square
(Fig. 38) for smaller pieces--and a pencil or knife.
[Illustration: FIGS. 38-39.]
A pencil may be used in connecting points upon rough work, but for
greater accuracy a knife should be used, as it makes a thinner and
cleaner-cut line. In making knife lines, the square must be held very
firmly, to prevent it from slipping and allowing the knife to run out of
its course.
To draw lines across a board at right angles to one edge (which should
be the straight or "tried edge" of the board) with the steel-square,
place one arm of the square parallel with the tried edge and mark along
the other arm. To perform the same operation with the try-square, place
the handle against the tried edge, as shown in Fig. 38.
Oftentimes it becomes necessary to draw a line parallel to the tried
edge. This may be done roughly with the rule and pencil, as shown in
Fig. 40. Grasp the rule in the left hand, with the first finger touching
the tried edge of the board, and hold the pencil point against the end
of the rule with the right hand. Keeping this position, with a steady
hold on the rule and pencil, move your hands along the board. The result
will be a line parallel to the tried edge.
[Illustration: FIG. 40.--Gauging with Rule and Pencil.]
At first you may have trouble in making a straight line, but with
practice you will be able to hold the rule and pencil steadily.
For particular work, where it is necessary to get a perfectly straight
and parallel line,
=A Marking-gauge= should be used. This is nothing more than the above
principles combined in a tool. It consists of a graduated shaft, or
rule, with a small needle or spur in one end, which slides through a
mortise made in a block of wood known as the head.
[Illustration: FIG. 41.--Using the Marking-gauge.]
To operate the gauge, set the adjustable head at the required division
on the shaft, and then grasp the head and shaft with the fingers of the
right hand, as shown in Fig. 41. Place the outer face of the head
against the tried edge of your work, and then, pressing the spur into
the wood, move the gauge along the board, at the same time keeping the
face of the head firmly against the edge of the board. The gauge is much
more convenient than the other method of drawing parallel lines, for you
can repeat the measurement as often as you wish, having once adjusted
the head, without having to lay it off again.
=A Try-square= with a mitred handle costs but little more than the
ordinary make, and is much handier, inasmuch as it can be employed in
making mitres, by placing the bevelled end against the side of the work
instead of the straight side (see Figs. 38 and 39).
[Illustration: FIG. 42.]
=The Bevel= is in reality a try-square which can be adjusted to any
desired angle. To set it at an angle of forty-five degrees, place it on
the steel-square, as shown in Fig. 42, with the handle against the inner
edge of one arm of the square and the blade resting on both arms. Move
the blade until it strikes equal distances on the arms (this is shown at
four inches in the drawing) and tighten the screw while it is in this
position. Other angles may be drawn out upon a piece of wood and the
bevel adjusted to them so these angles can be laid off upon other
pieces. You will find the bevel handy for reproducing angles. However,
if you are supplied with a mitred try-square you can easily dispense
with it for ordinary work.
There will be times when you wish
=To Divide a Board= into a number of equal parts, which may be found to
be fractions of an inch that cannot be easily laid off with the rule in
the ordinary way. It can be accomplished with a pair of compasses, but
until you become practised in their use, it will take some little time
in setting them, dividing, resetting, and redividing, until the exact
divisor is obtained. A much quicker method is that performed with the
rule, as shown in Fig. 43.
Suppose you wish to divide a board four and three-quarters inches long
into five equal parts. Place your rule across the board, as shown in the
illustration, one end at one edge and the "five-inch" division at the
opposite edge. Mark off the five divisions and then square the lines
across the board at these points with the try-square. This will give you
the required five equal parts.
[Illustration: FIG. 43.--Dividing a Board Equally.]
In the same way longer boards may be divided up by using two-and
three-inch divisions on the rule instead of one-inch, and smaller pieces
by using half-and quarter-inch divisions.
CHAPTER III
THE BOY ABOUT THE HOUSE
[Illustration: Boy with Carrying-box, Mother in Kitchen.]
There are generally repairs of some kind to be made about the
house--such as mending screens, renewing window-ropes, repairing wooden
walks, patching fences, etc.--which a boy can do, besides many ingenious
articles for the house which he can make in his workshop. Ideas for
labor-saving devices which cannot be bought upon the market present
themselves now and then, and if there is a boy in the neighborhood to
carry them out, the housekeeper will be only too glad to pay him for
doing the work.
For general jobbing you will require a carpenter's carrying-box (Fig.
17, Chap. I) in which to carry your tools, and a nail-box (Fig. 18) for
nails, screws, hinges, and such hardware as you will need upon the job.
With these you will have a complete outfit.
A few suggestions as to what you can do and what you can make are
described and illustrated in this chapter, and should give you plenty of
material to work upon when you open up your carpenter-shop. Besides
these ideas, you will find most of the articles in the following chapter
suitable for the house and pieces of furniture for which it will be easy
to secure orders.
=The Hinge-lock=, in Fig. 44, is one of the most serviceable
window-locks that can be had, for it can be so placed as to allow the
window to be opened a few inches for ventilation, and at the same time
prevent further opening.
The hinge is screwed to the upper sash-frame several inches above the
centre sash-bar, according to the distance the window is to be opened
(see illustration).
It will be seen that when the hinge is opened, as in the drawing,
neither sash can be opened past the hinge; but when the hinge is folded
flat it will not interfere with the opening of either sash.
[Illustration: FIG. 44.--The Hinge Window Lock.]
This lock would probably be more extensively used if people knew how
simple and satisfactory it is. As the hinges cost but a few cents a
pair, and are put on very quickly, a boy should realize a fair sum of
money in a short time supplying these locks.
=A Clothes-line Reel=, such as shown in Fig. 45, is an article no
housekeeper should be without. Its use does away with twisted, tangled,
and knotted clothes-lines.
As they require but little material, and the cost of that amounts to
almost nothing, the manufacture of these time-saving devices, for the
neighbors, should prove profitable.
[Illustration: FIG. 45.--A Clothes-line Reel.]
The reel consists of two strips of wood sixteen inches long by three
inches wide for the sides, and two pieces of broom-handles sixteen
inches long for the horizontal rods (see Fig. 45). Five inches from
each end of the side-pieces, bore a hole the size of the broom-handle.
With the pieces thus prepared it is a simple matter to fit them
together, as in the illustration, placing the broom-handles in the holes
bored for them, and fastening them so the side-pieces are nine inches
apart and a handle five inches long projects on either side. It is
probably needless to say that the ends of the broom-sticks are held in
the hands when operating the reel.
[Illustration: FIG. 46.--Broom and Dust-pan Rack.]
=A Broom and Dust-pan Rack= is a handy article for the kitchen or
broom-closet, and can be made as shown in Fig. 46.
A rack to hold a large and small broom, dust-pan, and brush, should
measure three feet long, three inches wide, and be made out of a
seven-eighths-inch board. Bevel the edges and place four brass hooks in
the front, as shown in the drawing, from which to hang the broom,
dust-pan, etc.
Brooms should always be dampened and put away, handle down, according to
the advice of an old broom-maker, who claims that by so doing the straws
are kept from becoming brittle and the broom lasts much longer. The
brooms should therefore have screw-eyes placed in the handle, just above
the tin binding, to hang upon the hooks, as shown in the illustration.
The rack should be screwed to the wall.
[Illustration: FIG. 47.--A Fly-killer.]
Fly-papers and poisons are deadly enemies to the house-fly, but none are
as effectual or as quick acting as
=The Fly-killer=, shown in Fig. 47. This simple device consists of a
piece of screen-wire, about four by five inches, stuck into a slot made
in the end of a stick, and fastened in place with tacks driven through
the end of the handle and clinched upon the under side.
If possible, cut the wire with a selvage along the front edge, and trim
the roughness from the other edges to prevent scratching.
The fly-killer is hung up by a screw-eye placed in the end of the
handle.
[Illustration: FIG. 48.--An Ash-sifter.]
With the fly-killer a person can strike at a fly with almost a certainty
of killing it. As the screen-wire is not easily seen by the fly, and the
mesh allows the air to pass through, there is nothing to alarm him.
These little things are quickly made, and when you show your customer
how effective they are, you will find no trouble in disposing of them.
=An Ash-sifter= that is dust-proof and very satisfactory is shown in
Fig. 48. It is made out of a packing-case about three feet long,
eighteen inches wide, and twenty-four inches deep.
Set the box upon two-by-four stilts in the shed or yard (braced as shown
in the illustration), in such a position that the bottom of the box will
be on a level with the top of the alley ash-box. Then cut an opening
through the shed wall and end of the box, as shown at _AB_, for the
removal of ashes. Two strips are nailed to the sides of the box (seven
inches below the top) for tracks for the sifter to run upon, and below
this, at _C_, a board slide is placed to dump the ashes, which shake
through the sifter, out of the opening in the end of the box into the
ash-box. Nail one half of the cover to the top of the box and hinge the
other half to it.
[Illustration: FIG. 49.--The Sifter.]
Make the sifter eighteen inches square by six inches deep, using
six-inch boards for the frame and one-third or one-half inch wire-mesh
for the bottom (see Fig. 49) Fasten four trunk-casters, such as are
shown in Fig. 50, to the bottom of the frame, and fit a broom-stick in
one side for a handle. A slot must be cut in the end of the box for the
handle to fit in.
[Illustration: FIG. 50.
Trunk-caster.]
=A Bread-board= may be made out of a seven-eighths inch maple board
about ten by eighteen inches, with the surface planed perfectly smooth
and the edges bevelled or rounded. A hole should be bored near one edge,
so it may be hung up in the pantry.
The dining-room is not complete without
=A Plate-rack= for the display of pretty pieces of china. Figures 51 and
52 show the details for the construction of a rack of three shelves, and
in size three feet long and two feet ten inches high. Although the
design is very simple in outline, it is such as will make a pleasing
piece of furniture when neatly carried out.
[Illustration: FIG. 51.--A Plate-rack.]
Prepare the two side-pieces the shape and size shown in Fig. 52, and cut
the shelves two feet ten inches long by the widths given in the drawing
(Fig. 52). One groove should be made in shelf _A_ and two in shelves _B_
and _C_, for the edges of plates to stand in. These grooves are cut
with a chisel, and should be made V-shaped as shown. Narrow strips of
wood may be nailed along the shelves as substitutes for the grooves if
you wish, but the work required to plane up the strips will amount to
about as much, and they do not present as neat an appearance.
[Illustration: FIG. 52.]
Having cut out the shelves and side-pieces, you are ready to put the
rack together. For this purpose you should use finishing-nails so their
heads will not make very large holes in the surface of the wood. Fasten
the bottom shelf (_C_) between the side-pieces seven inches above the
bottom, the middle shelf (_B_) ten inches above that, and the top shelf
(_A_) nine inches above the middle shelf. The inner edges of the shelves
should be fastened flush with the edges of the sides. In the bottom
shelf place a row of brass hooks for cups to hang upon.
It is necessary to fasten three strips two inches wide between the sides
in the back of the rack (as shown in the drawing) for the tops of the
plates to rest against. Two holes should be bored in the top strip, by
which to hang the rack on nails or hooks fastened in the wall.
After completing the carpenter-work, finish the rack with a stain which
will harmonize with the color scheme of the room in which it is to hang.
CHAPTER IV
SUGGESTIONS FOR A BOY'S ROOM
[Illustration: Boy Reading, Boy Writing.]
It is far better for a boy to spend his evenings in the house than out
upon the street. He need not be without his friends there, for if he has
an attractive room, with books to read, games to play, and puzzles to
solve, the boys of the neighborhood will soon find it out and be only
too glad to have a chance to visit him, knowing they will be sure of
finding plenty of things to interest them.
The simpler the furnishings of a boy's room are the better. Plain and
substantial furniture which will stand perhaps a little rougher usage
than that in other rooms of the house, and handy places for storing away
his traps, are what are needed.
The room should be his den where he can keep what he pleases, and
arrange the fittings to suit his individual tastes. Shelves for his
books and magazines, a cabinet for various collections, boxes for
miscellaneous articles, and a desk at which he can study and keep his
accounts, are a few of the things the room should contain. These pieces
can easily be constructed in the workshop, by following the directions
given in this chapter.
On the opposite page is shown a scheme for a boy's room suggestive of
his sports, games, and handicraft, and while everything is simple and
inexpensive in the furnishings, it makes a room that will strike the
fancy of the average boy.
Nothing appears more attractive than
=A Cosey-corner=, such as shown in the illustration, and it is a simple
matter to fit one up. A home-made couch, box, or seat of some sort
should be constructed to set in the corner, a shelf fastened to one wall
a foot or more above it, and several shelves hung on the adjoining wall,
as shown in the drawing.
Purchase several yards of a dark shade of green denim, and enclose the
corner with three strips (see illustration). The upper strip is
stretched across the corner at the ceiling, and the other two attached
to its ends and allowed to hang to the floor. It is a good idea to make
also a dado of the same material within the corner from the baseboard to
the under side of the shelves.
=Pennants= representative of the various colleges can be made out of
cheese-cloth, and a string of these hung across the corner at the
ceiling will produce a pretty effect.
The walls of the room may be brightened with
=Small Posters=, which it is an easy matter to obtain nowadays, and
small pictures mounted upon colored mats and fastened behind glass by
means of passe-partout paper are always attractive.
[Illustration: TREATMENT OF A BOY'S ROOM.]
=Picture-frames= can be made out of narrow moulding, the corners of
which have been mitred in the mitre-box to make them join neatly.
A frame which has proven satisfactory for small posters and pictures not
requiring glass is one made out of common laths. The ends of the laths
are not mitred as is usually the case in making frames, but are fastened
together with what is known as a "butt-joint"; that is, the ends of each
piece are set against the ends of the adjoining pieces. The simplest way
of fastening them together is by means of small strips of wood nailed
across the corners on the back of the frame.
Although this frame might be expected to have a clumsy appearance, it
has not, and when thoroughly sand-papered and finished with a dull green
stain is very pretty.
[Illustration: FIG. 53.--A Writing-desk.]
=The Writing-desk= shown in Fig. 53 is constructed out of a box, and
makes a pretty piece of furniture when completed.
Procure a box as free from defects as possible, and with fairly wide
boards, so there will be but few cracks. The cover should be in not more
than two pieces, as it forms the drop-front of the desk, and it would
be difficult to fasten more together. The boards must be fastened with
"dowels" and cleats on the edges, as shown in Fig. 54, as cleats upon
the inside of the drop would be in the way.
[Illustration: FIG. 54.]
Dowelling consists in boring holes along the edge of each board and
fitting pegs in them. Of course the holes must be bored in exactly the
same relative positions in each piece so that the end and sides of the
boards will be flush with each other when the pegs have been put in
place. To get the holes correctly bored, place the boards together in
the vise with two edges flush and uppermost, and square lines six inches
apart across the edges, after which locate the centres of the holes on
these lines. Be careful to bore the holes straight, and make them a
little longer than the pegs. Cut the pegs out of hard wood and make them
large enough to fit tightly in the holes.
The pegs as well as the two edges of the boards should be smeared with
glue before being put together. Then, after driving in the dowels, clamp
the pieces together and lay them aside until the glue has thoroughly
dried. In order to make a neat joint between the two boards, it is very
necessary to have the two edges planed perfectly true and square.
While the boards of the drop-front are drying, you can prepare the
inside of the box. A boy's desk should be supplied with plenty of
pigeon-holes and drawers. They are as necessary as pockets are in his
clothes. Split-up cigar-boxes may be used for these divisions, and, by
making the upper ones of the right size, cigar-boxes may be fitted in
them for drawers. The paper should be removed from the boxes as
described in Chapter VIII. Fasten small silk-spools to the front of the
drawers for knobs.
When the dowelled pieces have dried, nail a small moulding around the
two end edges and one side edge, mitring the ends so as to fit together
as shown at _A_ (Fig. 54).
The drop-front should be hinged to the box with two hinges placed on the
inside, as shown in Fig. 53, and brass chains attached to screw-eyes
screwed into it and the inside of the box.
For the top of the box, purchase a moulding a little larger than that
used around the edges of the drop-front and mitre it at the corners, as
shown in the illustration.
Before putting any finish upon the desk, sand-paper the wood, set the
nails with a nail-set, and fill all holes and cracks with putty. A
couple of coats of white enamel applied to the outside will produce a
very pretty effect, and the inside may be finished with linseed oil,
which makes a beautiful finish for the cigar-boxes.
The desk should be supported on two iron brackets (enamelled to match
the desk), screwed to the wall and under side of the desk.
In Fig. 55 will be found
=Another Style of Desk=, which, though not as simple to make, may be
preferred to the first design.
[Illustration: FIG. 55.--Another Style of Desk.]
Cut two boards fifteen inches long by twelve inches wide for the sides,
and taper each from twelve inches at one end to eight inches at the
other end. Cut a board twelve by thirty inches for the bottom and
another eight by thirty for the top, and nail them to the end pieces,
after which saw the boards for the back and drop-front. Dowel and glue
the drop-front boards together, nail a moulding around three edges, and
hinge the piece to the desk, as in the case of the other design.
Partition off the inside of the desk as shown in the illustration, and
nail a moulding around the top. Finish the wood in the manner described
for the other desk.
=An Ink-stand and Pen-tray=, suitable for your desk, can be made out of
a cigar-box, as shown in Fig. 56. Slope the edges with your jack-knife
and cut several notches in them for pens and pencils to fit in. The wood
should then be sand-papered and oiled.
[Illustration: FIG. 56.--Ink-stand and Pen-tray.]
=A Couch= for the cosey-corner of your room can be made out of two boxes
about three feet long, two feet wide, and eighteen inches deep.
[Illustration: FIG. 57.--A Couch.]
Remove one side of each box and nail the covers on, after which place
the two boxes end to end and fasten them together with strips nailed
across them at _A_, _B_, and _C_ (Fig. 57). An incline about eighteen
inches long should be fastened to one end, as shown in the drawing. The
inside of the boxes may be partitioned off and used for storing away
magazines and pamphlets.
[Illustration: FIG. 58.--A Window-seat.]
For the covering of the couch procure several yards of cretonne, some
cotton batting or an old quilt to pad the top, a box of
upholstering-tacks, and several dozen brass-headed tacks. After
spreading the padding over the couch, cut a piece of cretonne large
enough to cover it and tack it to the edge of the boxes, using the
upholstering-tacks for the purpose. Make a valance of the same material,
gathering the cretonne so as to form a heading at the top, and tack it
around the box. Then place the brass tacks along the top of the valance
about two inches apart.
If a couch is too large for your room you can make
=A Window-seat=, such as is shown in Fig. 58. Cut the arms the shape
shown in the illustration and fasten them to the ends of the box. Batten
the boards forming the box-cover on the under side. Then tack cretonne
on to the cover, arms, and outside of the box, placing padding
underneath the cretonne to make it soft, and line the inside of the box
with some dainty colored goods. When this has been done, hinge the cover
to the box with large fancy brass hinges.
The appearance of the seat will be greatly improved by placing brass
tacks along the edges of the arms and seat, about two inches apart. The
inside of the box will make a handy receptacle for clothes and linen.
[Illustration: FIG. 59.--A Curio-cabinet.]
For those interested in making collections of stamps, coins, stones,
insects, etc.,
=A Curio-cabinet=, similar to Fig. 59, will make it possible to keep all
specimens arranged in order, each set of curios occupying a shelf by
itself.
Such a cabinet should be made of bass or whitewood, as these can
generally be obtained in greater widths, are cheaper, and less defective
than other material. If you make your cabinet five feet high, two feet
wide (inside measurement), and twelve inches deep, purchase twelve-inch
boards, as these make it possible to have the sides in one piece and the
back in two, a great advantage, as there will then be but one crack, and
that up through the centre of the back.
After cutting the side-pieces the correct length, finish their edges as
in the drawing. Then cut nine boards two feet long for the shelves,
which are to be placed six inches apart.
Commencing at the top of each side-piece, lay off the thickness of a
shelf, which will be about seven-eighths of an inch, and square the
lines across the boards; then lay off the next shelf six inches below,
and so on down to the bottom. Cut along these lines to a depth of
three-eighths of an inch with a saw, and remove the wood between with a
chisel. When all the grooves have been cut, slip the shelves into them
one by one, and nail them to the side-pieces. After fastening the
shelves, cut the two twelve-inch boards for the back and nail them in
place.
While it is customary to put sash-doors on cabinets, this will be too
difficult a job for you to attempt. A very pretty and inexpensive door
may be made as in the illustration. Make a frame out of two-inch strips
to fit the opening, and stretch some green denim over it, tacking it to
the inside of the frame. The ends of the strips forming the frame should
be mitred and either nailed together or fastened with dowels and glue,
as described in the construction of the desk (see Fig. 54). Hinge the
frame to the cabinet.
To finish the cabinet, rub it down with sand-paper, set the nails with a
nail-set, and putty up all holes, after which stain the wood green, a
shade darker than the denim panel in the front.
Although the shelves may be simply stained, they will be much nicer for
holding curios if covered with felt.
It might be well to suggest that you number each curio, and make a
catalogue of these, together with the names and any data you have
concerning them. The catalogue may be hung on a hook upon the inside of
the door, where it can always be found.
A pretty set of
=Book-shelves= to hang upon the wall can be made with three boards
twenty-four inches long by eight inches wide, four dozen spools all of
the same size, and two pieces of rope about four feet long and small
enough to fit in the holes of the spools. By saving the empty spools
from your mother's work-basket, and having your friends save their
spools for you, it will not be very long until you have the required
number. Spools upon which number thirty-six cotton thread comes are of
the best length.
Bore holes in the four corners of each board. Then, beginning with the
board which is to form the bottom shelf, pass the ropes down through the
holes on one side, across under the shelf, and up through the holes on
the opposite side. String six spools on each rope and put the ropes
through the holes in the next shelf; then string six more spools on each
rope and run the ropes through the next or top shelf. Tie the ropes
together about a foot above the top shelf, fringing the ends to form
tassels. Figure 60 shows the shelves completed.
[Illustration: FIG. 60.--Spool Book-shelves.]
=A Blacking-case= made similar to Fig. 61 is a handy article for a boy
to have in his room. As the friction from a rag rubbed over the shoe
produces a finer polish than a brush when polishing paste is used, the
box is provided with an arrangement by which a rag can be rubbed over
the shoe without much effort (see illustration).
[Illustration: FIG. 61.--A Blacking-case.]
Procure a box about the size of a soap or cracker-box, and fasten a
board in it for a foot-rest, as shown at _A_ in the drawing. On each
side of this place a piece of a broom-handle a little shorter than the
inside width of the box, and pivot them at the ends with wire nails
driven through the sides of the box, as shown in the illustration.
Gimlet holes should be made in the sides of the box so the nails will
fit loosely in them. Procure a strip of canton-flannel twenty-four
inches long by six inches wide, and, after sewing two brass rings to
each end, pass the cloth under the rollers and over the foot-rest, as
shown in the illustration.
The lower part of the box will hold your boxes of blacking and the
brushes. To have access to this, a board should be removed from the side
of the box and hinged as at _B_ and _C_ in the illustration. Place a
button-catch just above it to keep it shut. Fasten together the boards
forming the box-cover with battens, and hinge them to the end of the
box. The outside of the case will be improved greatly if covered with
denim.
After applying the paste to the shoe, the foot should be slipped under
the cloth which passes over the foot-rest. Two fingers of each hand
should then be placed in the rings and the cloth pulled back and forth
over the rollers until the shoe is polished.
[Illustration: FIG. 62.--A Towel-rack.]
=A Towel-rack=, such as is shown in Fig. 62, is made in four pieces,--a
board about eighteen inches long for the back, two arms six inches long,
and a piece of broom-handle eighteen inches long. After cutting out the
arms the shape shown in Fig. 63, bore a hole large enough for a
broom-handle to fit in each. Bevel the edges of the eighteen-inch board,
and then nail it to the arms, driving the nails through this piece into
the arms. Fit the piece of broom-handle into the holes bored for them,
and trim off the ends so that about one inch projects beyond the face of
each arm.
[Illustration: FIG. 63.]
Sand-paper the wood, and either paint or varnish it. Attach screw-eyes
to the top of the back board and hang the rack by these to hooks placed
in the wall.
CHAPTER V
HOW TO MAKE A DOLL-HOUSE
[Illustration: Boy Presenting Doll-house to his Sisters]
The average store doll-house is made of thin wood, which is full of
defects and likely to warp, besides being put together in such a flimsy
manner as to soon fall apart. The majority of these are imported houses,
designed and planned in foreign styles, the exteriors being covered with
clumsy ornament and gaudily painted, while the interiors are very poorly
planned and proportioned. Americanized doll-houses are seldom seen in
the market, and the few there are will generally be found very
expensive.
There is probably nothing more interesting for a boy to make than a
doll-house. It is like building your own house on a small scale, the
details and proportions having to be just as carefully worked out to
make a good-appearing house. Try the construction of a house for one of
your girl relatives and see how much she will appreciate it. Then having
completed one and learned the many little tricks there are in doing this
work, you will find it quicker and easier to turn out others to sell.
Neatly made houses are always salable, and it should be an easy matter
for you to make arrangements with a toy dealer in your town, to place
some of your work in his store to sell on commission.
The doll-house designed and detailed in this chapter is easily
constructed and
=The Materials Required= do not amount to very much. Boards ten inches
wide and one-half inch thick are preferable for the general
construction, with a few four-inch boards one inch thick for the base
and a few other details. Basswood probably will be found the easiest
wood to work with, as it is soft, straight-grained, and free from knots.
Packing-cases may be used to advantage when they are of the right size,
but they are generally made of a cheap grade of pine, full of knots and
other defects that make it difficult to do a good job.
Cigar-boxes make the nicest material for the interior finish, and a
number of all sizes should be procured for this purpose. Prepare the
boxes for use as described in Chapter VIII.
Fourpenny nails should be purchased for the rough carpenter work, and
brads and glue for attaching finishing-strips and all light wood. Paints
and other material are specified as required.
As shown on the plans (Figs. 65, 66, and 67), the house described in
this chapter is of three floors, containing nine rooms, and is in size,
thirty inches wide, twenty inches deep, and three feet high.
[Illustration: FIGS. 65-70.--Plans of Doll-house and Patterns for the
Partitions.]
=The Base=, or false basement, should be made first. It consists of two
four-by-one inch boards thirty inches long and two twenty inches long,
with the ends mitred and fastened together in the form of a frame.
Upon this
=Lay the First Floor=, allowing but one-half inch of the boards to bear
on the frame on all sides. Then lay off the first-floor plan (Fig. 65)
upon this floor with a pencil and square, locating the partitions by
means of the dimensions given on the plan.
=Make the Partitions= _A_, _B_, and _C_, the shape and size shown in
Fig. 68, and nail them to the places marked out for them on the floor.
=The Stairs= from first to second floors (Fig. 71) should now be
constructed as described later under the head of "Stairways," as it
would be difficult to set them in place after the walls are up.
=Make the Front and Rear Walls= twenty-nine inches wide and twenty
inches high, and nail them to the edges of the floor. The outside
surface of the walls should now be in line with the base. Leave the
cutting of the windows until the rest of the house has been put
together. The walls may be prevented from spreading by means of
temporary braces nailed across the tops.
=Lay the Second Floor=, cutting a three by ten inch stair opening in the
place indicated on the plan (Fig. 66), and fasten the boards to the
front and rear walls. Draw upon this the second-floor plan, and
=Cut Out Partitions= _D_, _E_, _F_, and _G_, as shown in Fig. 69.
[Illustration: FIG. 71.--Details of Inside Stairs.]
After nailing these partitions to the places marked out for them, and
building in the stairs,
=Lay the Third Floor= (Fig. 67), cutting a three by seven inch stair
opening, and fastening the boards in place as you did those of the
second floor.
=Stairways.=--While each stairway should be built before the floor above
is laid, in order that the work can more easily be done, they have been
left for description here, that they might be spoken of in a general
way. In Figs. 71, 72, 73, 74, and 75 will be found complete details for
these.
The first things to prepare are
=The Stair Stringers=, or supports for the steps (treads and risers).
Cut from a piece of cardboard what is known as
=The Pitch-board=, the pattern by which to lay out the steps (Fig. 73).
Then draw a line lengthwise upon a thin strip of wood (_AB_ in Fig. 72),
and lay off the pitch-board on this as shown in Fig. 72--sixteen times
for the first to second story stairs and fifteen times for the second to
third story stairs. Draw the line _DE_ parallel to _AB_, and the lines
_CD_ and _EF_ as shown. Then cut out the stringer along the lines
_CDEF_, being careful in doing so not to split off the corners. Prepare
two stringers for each flight of stairs.
=The Treads and Risers= should be cut as shown in Fig. 74, and the
=Newel-posts and Hand-rails= as shown in Fig. 75. Make a small groove in
the bottom of the hand-rail as shown in the drawing. Toothpicks are of
just the right size for
[Illustration: FIGS. 72-75.--Details of Inside Stairs.]
=The Balusters.=--As brads are likely to split the thin cigar-box wood,
the staircases should be put together with glue. First fasten the
stringers in place, cutting a slot in the edge of the floors for the
tops to set in, as shown in Fig. 71. Then glue on the treads and risers,
and cut the bottom of the newel-post to fit over the second step. The
lower end of the toothpick balusters are set into slits cut with a knife
in the treads, and the upper ends fit in the groove cut in the
hand-rail.
=The Balustrades= around the stair openings on the second and third
floors are made in the same way (see Fig. 71). As finished floors are to
be laid in the halls, as described later, it will be well at this point
to fasten a strip from a cigar-box around the stair openings, upon which
to fasten the newels and in which to stick the ends of the balusters.
The drawings give every detail and measurement necessary for the making
of these stairs, and everything will work out correctly if the
directions are closely followed.
[Illustration: FIG. 76.--The Front Steps.]
[Illustration: FIG. 64. A COLONIAL DOLL-HOUSE.]
=The Front Steps= are made as shown in Fig. 76. Cut out two balustrades
the shape and size shown in the drawing. Then prepare two stringers of
five steps, cutting them exactly the same as for the other stairs, and
glue them to the inner faces of the balustrades. The treads and risers
are the same as for the other stairs, except that they are four
inches in length. Cut the top platform two and one-half inches wide.
=The Rear Steps= may be built similar to the front, or may be made
simpler by leaving off the risers and balustrade.
=The Ends of the House= should measure twenty inches square. Fasten the
boards together with battens at top and bottom, and hinge them to the
rear wall (see plans and Fig. 64). Small hooks on the ends of the house
will make it possible to fasten them shut.
[Illustration: FIG. 77.--Make Gable-ends like This.]
The roof is what is known as
=The Gambrel or Octagonal Roof=, and consists of two eight and two nine
inch boards thirty-four inches long. Before fastening these in place, it
will be necessary to make
=The Gable-ends=, which are cut out as shown in Fig. 77. Make the
partition between the nursery and ball-room (_H_) in the same way, with
a door cut in it, as shown in Fig. 70.
Fasten the partition and gable-ends in place, after which nail the roof
boards _B_ and _C_ (Fig. 70) to the top, allowing them to project over
each gable. The lower boards _A_ and _D_ should be hinged to these, so
they may be raised to get at the upper story. The edges of the boards
must be bevelled in order to make perfect joints.
When the work has proceeded thus far, cut
=The Door and Window Openings= in the places indicated upon the plans
and Fig. 64, first boring holes in the four corners of each window and
door space; and then connecting them with a compass-saw. With the
exception of the front and rear door, and the windows in the basement
and gable-ends, make all openings three by five inches, and two inches
above the floor. The casement window openings in the gable-ends are to
be four by five inches and extend to the floor. Cut three-by-seven-inch
openings for the doors, and make the basement window openings two by
three inches.
Figs. 78, 79, 80, 81, and 82 show the construction of
[Illustration: FIGS. 78-82.--Details of Dormer Windows.]
=The Dormer Windows.= These are made from cigar-boxes. For the three
dormers, you will require six pieces the shape of _A_ for the sides,
three of _B_ for the gable-ends, and six of _C_ for the roof (see Figs.
80, 81, and 82). With the different parts cut out, it is a simple matter
to fasten them together on the roof, by means of glue and small brads.
The glass is bound to the ends of the side-pieces at _D_ and _E_ with
strips of linen, as shown in Figs. 78 and 79, and the gable-end sets on
the top edge. The dormers should be placed directly over the lower
windows and in line with the front wall (see Fig. 79).
Old four-by-five camera plates may be used for
=The Window Glass=, by cutting them down to the required
dimensions--three by five inches for the first and second stories, and
two by three inches for the dormer and basement windows. Four-by-five
plates are the right size for the casement windows.
As the basement is to represent stone, there will be no finish around
the openings, and the glass will have to be held in place with cigar-box
strips on the inside and putty on the outside, as shown in Figs. 83 and
84.
The glass should be fastened in the first and second story windows by
means of putty and strips of cigar-boxes (see Figs. 85, 86, and 87). We
will make the inside and outside trim the same to simplify matters; so
cut two sets of strips for each window, making them the shape and size
shown in Figs. 85 and 87. Fasten the outside strips in place first, then
slip the ends of the glass into the centre of the wall and nail on the
inside strips. Fill in the spaces between the glass and strips with
putty to hold the glass firmly in place.
=The Casement Windows= (Fig. 88) are made similarly, with the addition
of a quarter of an inch strip of a cigar-box glued up the centre of the
glass, to give the appearance of double windows hinged to swing in.
[Illustration: FIGS. 83-91.--Details of Windows.]
Narrow strips of paper glued to the glass, as shown in Figs. 78, 83,
85, and 88, will produce the effect of
=Divided Glass= and upper and lower sash.
=The Door Trim= (Figs. 89, 90, and 91) is put in place the same as the
window trim, but instead of placing the door in the centre of the wall,
it should be set flush with the inside trim (see _K_, _L_, and _M_ in
plan, Fig. 90), and is hinged by means of a linen strip glued to the
edge of the door _M_ and strip _L_. The door-jambs are cased with strips
_I_ and _J_.
The rear door may be made simpler than this by using a plain strip for a
cap.
=Make the Door= out of a piece of cigar-box.
The drawings give all the necessary measurements for door and window
strips, and you will find it a simple matter to cut them out with a
sharp knife.
After putting the trim upon all of the windows and the doors, cut a
number of strips of wood an eighth of an inch thick and half an inch
wide for
=Outside Trimmings=, and nail them to each corner of the house, around
the edges of each gable-end, and around the top of the basement.
Purchase some narrow moulding for the cornice and nail it to the edges
of the roof boards, being careful to make neat mitres at the corners.
The house can more easily be moved about if mounted upon
=Casters.= To put these on, cut four pieces of two-by-four about three
inches long, fasten a caster to each, and nail one block inside each
corner of the foundation frame.
[Illustration: FIG. 92.--Construction of Chimneys.]
The exterior of the house is now complete with the exception of
=The Chimneys.= These should be made up of four pieces, two of which
should have bird's-mouth cuts made in the end, as shown in Fig. 92, to
make the chimney fit over the top ridge of the roof. The side edges of
the pieces should be mitred and fitted together. Nail a strip of wood,
half an inch wide, around the tops of the chimneys for caps. You will
find it easier to
=Paint the Chimneys= before fastening them to the roof. Make the
brickwork red and the caps white, and with a small brush and ruler
stripe off the mortar joints. When the paint has thoroughly dried, nail
the chimneys on to the ridge of the roof in line with the front windows
(see illustration of completed house).
You will want
=A Mantel and Fire-place= in the living-room of the house, and it had
better be built in at this point. Figure 93 shows about the simplest
form of mantel you can make, and one that presents a very neat
appearance. It is made out of cigar-box strips painted to represent
brick, with stone hearth and mantel-shelf. It measures seven inches
wide, four and five-eighths inches from the base to the top of the
shelf, and has a fire-place opening four inches wide and two and
one-half inches high.
[Illustration: FIG. 93.--The Living-room Mantel.]
[Illustration: FIG. 94.--Construction of Mantel.]
Figure 94 shows the patterns for the cutting of the various pieces
required to make up the mantel. _A_, the front piece, has an opening cut
in it for the fire-place, as shown in the drawing. Cut two strips similar
to _B_ for the ends of the mantel, one the size of _C_ for the back of
the fire-place, two of _D_ for the sides of the fire-place, and one of
_E_ for the mantel-shelf. These pieces, with the exception of _E_,
should be painted red, and striped off, when dry, with white paint to
represent brick. It will be much easier to do the painting before
fastening the pieces in their proper places. First divide the length and
breadth of the pieces into about the number of spaces shown in Fig. 93
with a lead pencil. Then with a small brush, and straight-edge for a
guide, trace over the pencil lines with white lead. Be careful in
striping the brick to get the courses the same upon each piece so they
will correspond when the pieces are put together.
=The Hearth= is made out of a strip seven inches long by two inches
wide. Upon this the mantel should be put together with the pieces
prepared. Figure 93 shows the location of each piece, and with the aid
of glue and some small brads it will be a simple matter to complete the
mantel. The edges of the strips had best be mitred to make neat joints.
Paint the hearth and mantel-shelf white.
The mantel should be fastened to the centre of partition _B_ in the
living-room (see plan, Fig. 65).
=Andirons= should, of course, accompany the fire-place. These may be
made as shown in Fig. 95. They consist of two pieces of cigar-boxes cut
the shape of _A_ and _B_ (_A_ an inch and one-half by an inch and
one-quarter, and _B_ an inch and one-half long), with the end of _B_
glued in a slot cut in the lower part of _A_. The feet and the top of
_A_ and the foot of _B_ are small brass-headed upholstering-tacks driven
into the wood, which give the andirons a trim appearance. Paint the
strips black.
Set the andirons upon the hearth with the ends projecting into the
fire-place, and pile several nicely shaped twigs upon them for logs.
=The Interior Woodwork= remains to be put on. Cigar-boxes make excellent
imitation hardwood floors, for the halls, the ball-room, and nursery.
Select as large pieces as possible, and fit them on the floors with
close joints. Nail them down with small brads.
[Illustration: FIG. 95.--Andiron.]
Make the door casings from the same material, cutting the strips the
shape and size of those used for the outside doors (Fig. 89). It is not
advisable to hang inside doors, as they are easily broken off, and
seldom work satisfactorily.
A chair-rail should be made in the dining-room of quarter-inch strips
fastened to the walls three inches above the floor.
Make baseboards in each room out of three-quarter inch strips, and
picture mouldings out of strips an eighth of an inch wide.
After completing the carpenter work of the house
=Set all Nail-heads= with your nail-set, putty these holes and all
others resulting from cracks and defects, and sand-paper the rough
surfaces. If the woodwork is to be finished in its natural color, by
varnishing or oiling its surface, color the putty to match the wood.
=Paint the House= a cream color, with white trimmings and a green roof,
using yellow-ochre and white lead (mixed) for the walls; white lead for
the trimmings, balustrade of front steps, chimney-caps, and striping of
brickwork; dark olive green for the roof, and treads and risers of the
front steps; and lamp-black for striping the stonework of the basement.
The painting of the chimneys and fire-place has been described.
Paint the front door on both sides with white enamel or white lead, with
the exception of a panel in the centre, which should be oiled as shown
in Fig. 89. This will give the appearance of a white enamelled door with
a mahogany panel set in it.
[Illustration: FIG. 96. Another Style of Doll-House.]
[Illustration: FIG. 97. Interior View of Doll-House.]
CHAPTER VI
ANOTHER DOLL-HOUSE AND A STABLE
[Illustration: Boys Making Doll-house.]
Photographs of another style of doll-house are shown in Figs. 96 and 97.
This house was built by the author for a little relative some ten years
ago, and is still in perfect condition, as the photographs show.
=Packing-cases= were used for its construction, with cut-up cigar-boxes
for window-casings, door-jambs, finished floors, etc., and small
mouldings for the outside trimmings.
The inside arrangement and the general construction of the house is so
nearly like the design in the preceding chapter, that most of the
details and the mode of construction may be followed in building it. If
boxes are used, the dimensions will have to be figured out to suit,
unless the boxes are pulled apart and the boards cut to the sizes shown
in the illustrations of this chapter.
=The Floor Plans=, which will be found in Figs. 98, 99, and 100, give
the sizes of the rooms, and the patterns for the making of
=The Partitions= are shown in Figs. 101 and 102. In cutting out the
second-floor partitions (Fig. 102), mitre one edge of _E_ and _F_ to
allow for the bedroom door opening, shown upon the plan, and mitre the
edges of _G_ to fit between them above the door. The mitring is shown
in the drawings (Fig. 102).
Besides cutting a stair opening in the second floor, make an opening
three by five inches in the second and third floors for
=The Elevator-shaft=. Care must be taken to have these openings exactly
over one another. Make the opening in the second floor six by eight
inches in the place indicated upon the plan. This will allow for the
elevator shaft and stairway. No stairway has been built to the third
story, as the elevator serves the purpose, and one would take up too
much of the ball-room space.
=The Side Walls= should measure nineteen inches wide by twenty-four
inches high, and the other two walls thirty inches wide by twenty-four
inches high. That portion of
=The Rear Wall= enclosing the kitchen and bath-room is hinged to open
(see Fig. 98), and
=The Front Wall= is made in two sections, each hinged to a strip of wood
an inch and one-half wide nailed to the two edges of the house, as shown
in Fig. 96.
=The Windows= are four by five inches, so four-by-five camera plates can
be used for the glass.
[Illustration: FIGS. 98-102.--Plans of Doll-house and Patterns for
Partitions.]
=The Roof= had best be made in two sections, each measuring twenty-eight
inches long by twenty-four inches wide. Fasten the boards together with
battens on the under side and, after mitring the upper edge of each,
nail them to the house so that the ridge is fifteen inches above the
third floor. Then nail a board nineteen inches long by ten inches wide
in the peak of the roof (_D_ in Fig. 104), and a narrow strip three
inches from each side wall (_K_ and _L_ in Fig. 100). These cut off the
triangular shape of the ball-room and give it a better appearance.
=The Chimney= is made the same as those for the other house, with the
exception of the cap, which is built up of strips of cigar-boxes to
represent corbelled brick (see Fig. 103). These strips should be
three-sixteenths of an inch wide, and fastened in place by means of
small brads.
[Illustration: FIG. 103.]
=An Elevator= is something which is found in but few doll-houses. It was
built in this house, thinking it might please the young mistress, and
proved such a success that the scheme has been worked out carefully in
Figs. 104, 105, 106, 107, and 108, that you may include it in the house
you build.
[Illustration: FIGS. 104-108.--Details of the Elevator.]
The cutting of the elevator-shaft has already been described. For
material, procure two small pulleys, such as are shown in Fig. 106, four
feet of brass chain, six feet of No. 12 wire, half a dozen
double-pointed tacks or very small screw-eyes, a short piece of lead
pipe, and a cigar-box. Make
=The Car= out of the cigar-box, cutting it down to two and one-quarter
inches wide, three and three-quarters inches deep, and seven inches high
(see Fig. 107). Place two of the double-pointed tacks or screw-eyes in
each side of the car for the guide-wires to run through and another in
the centre of the top from which to attach the brass chain.
=The Guide-wires= are made of very heavy wire that will not easily bend.
Cut two of a length to reach from the first floor to the ball-room
ceiling, and after running them through the tacks in the sides of the
car, stick their ends into small holes bored at _E_, _F_, _G_, and _H_
(Fig. 104). The upper holes should be bored through the ball-room
ceiling, while the lower ones need be bored but part way through the
first floor. Care must be taken to have these holes in the correct
position, so the elevator will run up and down upon the wires without
striking the sides of the shaft. The easiest way of fastening the wires
in place is to run the upper ends through the holes, until the lower
ends can be set into their sockets, and then drive two double-pointed
tacks over the top of each wire, as shown at _E_ and _F_ in Fig. 104.
Now run the elevator up to the top of the shaft, and mark upon the
ceiling where the screw-eye in the top of the car strikes. At this point
bore a hole through the ceiling and two inches back of it bore another
hole, through which to run the weight-chain. When this has been done,
cut a short block of wood to fit the peak of the roof and
=Screw the Pulleys= to it two inches apart (Fig. 105). Fit the block in
the peak of the roof, centring the front pulley over the top of the car
as nearly as possible, and drive a couple of nails through the roof
boards into it to hold it in place temporarily. Then
=Attach the Chain= to the tack in the top of the car, slip a piece of
lead pipe about an inch long over the chain, allowing it to set on the
top of the car to make the latter heavier (Fig. 107), and run the chain
up through the first hole in the ceiling, over the pulleys, and down
through the second hole. To the end of the chain attach a piece of lead
pipe for
=The Elevator-weight= (see Fig. 108).--This should be just heavy enough
to make a perfect balance between it and the car, which can be obtained
by whittling off the end of the pipe until the weight of the two is the
same. Make the chain of sufficient length so the weight will rest upon
the first floor when the car is at the third floor. You can now tell
whether or not the pulleys are in the right positions. When they have
been adjusted properly, nail the block firmly in place.
=The Gable-ends.=--The front gable-end consists of four pieces (_A_,
_B_, _C_, and _D_, in Fig. 109), the dimensions for the cutting of which
are given in the illustration. After preparing these, nail _A_, _B_, and
_C_ in their proper positions in the gable of the roof, and trim the
edges of _D_, if they need be, to fit between. To prevent the movable
section from pushing in too far, it will be necessary to nail a narrow
strip of wood to the roof and third floor just inside of it. The rear
gable is made in one piece, and is fastened in place permanently.
[Illustration: FIG. 109.--The Front Gable-end.]
The movable gable and all hinged portions should have
=Spring-catches= with which to shut up and lock the house (see the
illustrations).
=The Stairway= is shown in Fig. 104, and the details for its
construction will be found in Figs. 110, 111, 112, 113. This stairway is
made in two parts, with a platform between. Cut a block of wood the
shape and size shown in Fig. 110 for the platform, with notches at _A_
and _B_ for the tops of the lower stringers to fit in. Then
=Prepare Two Stringers= of thirteen risers similar to Fig. 111 and two
stringers of five risers similar to Fig. 112, laying them off as
described in the preceding chapter by means of a pitch-board similar to
Fig. 113. After cutting out these pieces, fasten the tops of the lower
stringers in the notches _A_ and _B_ in the platform, and nail the
platform in its proper position in the corner of the hall. When this has
been done, nail the bottoms of the upper stringers (_E_ in Fig. 112) to
the sides of the platform at _C_ and _D_, and set the tops in notches
cut in the edge of the second floor.
[Illustration: FIGS. 110-113.--Details of Stairs.]
=The Treads and Risers= are made the same as in Fig. 74 (Chap. V),
except that the depth of the risers is increased to five-eighths of an
inch. Cut another platform from a cigar-box to fit over the rough one.
=Build a Balustrade= up the side of the stairs and around the elevator
enclosures, using the scheme shown in Chapter V (Figs. 71 and 75).
=All Other Details= not mentioned here will be the same as described in
Chapter V, including the painting and finishing of the house.
HOW TO MAKE THE STABLE
[Illustration: FIG. 114.--Exterior of Stable.]
The stable shown in Figs. 114 and 115, and in the background of Fig. 96,
will go nicely with the house described in this or the preceding
chapter. Its construction is very simple. The dimensions are twenty-four
inches wide, twelve inches deep, and twenty-two inches high, and the
barn contains five stalls on the ground floor and a hay-loft above.
[Illustration: FIG. 115.--Interior of Stable.]
To build the stable according to the drawings, a box ten by twelve by
twenty-four inches should be procured for
=The First Story=.--If you have a box of different proportions it will
be a simple matter to make such alterations in the details as it will
require.
=The Roof= is made in two sections, each fifteen by eighteen inches, and
is fastened to the top of the box so that the peak is twenty-two inches
above the bottom.
=The Gable-end= is made in four pieces, as shown in Fig. 116, _A_, _B_,
and _C_, to be nailed in place, and _D_ to be movable as in the case of
the doll-house. Make a three-by-five-inch window in the centre of _D_,
and fasten the glass in place with strips cut as described in Chapter V.
Strips should be nailed to the roof just inside of the movable section
to prevent the latter from setting in too far, and a spring catch
fastened to _C_ and _D_ as shown, to hold the movable section in place.
[Illustration: FIG. 116.--Front Gable-end.]
[Illustration: FIG. 117.--Stall Partitions.]
Figure 117 gives the patterns and measurements for
=The Stall Partitions=, four of which should be cut out and fastened to
the floor of the stable four inches apart, or so they will divide the
inside width into five equal stalls.
=The Feed-troughs= are made out of two strips of cigar-boxes fitted
between the stalls, as shown in Figs. 115 and 117, and are fastened in
place by means of brads and glue. Above the stalls cut
=Small Windows= an inch and one-half square in the rear wall. These are
the ventilating windows for the stalls, and may be left open.
[Illustration: FIG. 118.--Ladder to Hay-loft.]
Figure 118 shows the construction of
=A Ladder= to the hay-loft. This is made out of two sticks twelve inches
long, with strips of cigar-boxes two inches long glued to them half an
inch apart, as shown in the drawing. Cut away a section of the hay-loft
floor two inches square and stick the end of the ladder up through the
opening, fastening the uprights to the edge of the floor (see Fig. 118).
A stick about three inches long, with a very small pulley attached near
the end, should be fastened in the peak of the roof for a
=Feed-hoist= (see Fig. 114).
The first story has
=A Drop-front=, as shown in Figs. 114 and 115. This is made from the
box-cover. Fasten the boards together with battens placed upon the
inside, and hinge it to the bottom of the stable. Nail two cleats to the
under side of the floor (see Fig. 114) to lift it off the ground, just
enough to allow the front to drop without springing its hinges.
When the front is down it forms an incline upon which to run the horses
into the stable. For this reason it is not advisable to cut an opening
in it, but merely
=Represent a Stable Door= on the outside (see Fig. 114). This is done
with paint and a fine brush. First paint a green panel in the centre of
the front, and then mark off a couple of panels within this space with
black paint, and stripe them diagonally to represent beaded-boards.
With strips of wood half an inch wide make
=A Simple Trim= around the door, the sides of the stable, and around the
gable, as shown in the illustration.
When the carpenter work has been finished,
=Paint the Inside= of the stable white, and the outside the same colors
as used for the doll-houses (see description on page 90, Chap. V).
CHAPTER VII
FURNISHING THE DOLL-HOUSE
[Illustration: Boy Presenting Doll-house to his Sisters.]
With the carpenter work of a doll-house completed, the finishing of the
inside,--wall papering and painting,--and the selection of furniture for
the various rooms, remain to be done. This requires as much care as the
building of the house, and while any boy can do the work, the help of a
sister will perhaps simplify matters and give to the rooms a daintier
appearance.
=The Walls and Ceiling= of the kitchen and bath-room should be painted
with white lead or white enamel. For the other rooms select paper having
a small design, such as is to be found on most ceiling papers. If you
have ever watched the paper-hanger at work, you have noticed he puts on
the ceiling first, allowing the paper to run down the walls a little way
all around instead of trimming it off. Then he hangs the wall paper, and
if there is no border to cover the joints of the ceiling and wall papers
he carries the wall paper up to the ceiling. Use flour paste to stick on
the paper, and a cloth or photograph-print roller to smooth out the
wrinkles. The dining-room should have a wainscot of dark paper below the
chair-rail, and a paper with little or no figure upon it above.
=All Hardwood Floors=, the stairs, door and window casings, baseboards,
and picture mouldings should be varnished thoroughly or given several
coats of boiled linseed-oil.
All floors, with the exception of the kitchen, bath-room, and hardwood
floors, should be fitted with
=Carpets.=--If you do not happen to have suitable scraps on hand, they
can be procured at almost any furnishing store where they make up
carpets. Select pieces with as small patterns as possible. The floors of
the bath-room and kitchen should be covered with oilcloth.
=Rugs= for the hardwood floors may be made out of scraps of carpet.
=Window-shades= may be made for each window out of linen, and tacked to
the top casing so that the bottom of the curtain reaches just above the
centre of the opening. Each window should also have
=Lace Curtains= made out of scraps of lace. They should either be tacked
above the windows or hung upon poles made out of No. 12 wire, cut in
lengths to fit the windows. Screw small brass hooks into the top
window-casings for the poles to hang upon.
=Handsome Portieres= for the doorways can be made with beads and with
the small hollow straws sold for use in kindergartens. For the
=Bead Portieres=, cut threads as long as the height of the door and
string the beads upon them, alternating the colors in such a way as to
produce patterns. Then tie the strings together to a piece of wire the
width of the doorway, and fasten the wire in the opening. The
=Straw Portieres= are made similarly.
From magazine illustrations you can select
=Suitable Pictures= for each room, but if you are handy with brush and
pencil you may prefer to make the pictures yourself. These may be
mounted upon cardboard and have their edges bound with passe-partout
paper to give the effect of frames, or frames may be cut out of
cardboard and pasted to them. Hang the pictures to the picture moulding
with thread.
=A Cosey-corner= may be fitted up in the ball-room by fastening a strip
of a cigar-box in one corner an inch and one-half above the floor for
the seat, and hanging draperies on each side of it. Pillows may be made
for it out of scraps of silk stuffed with cotton.
A doll-house properly proportioned in every detail, including the
selection of its furniture, is pleasing to look at, and is to be desired
much more than some of the specimens to be found in the stores. These
very often have parlor chairs larger than the mantel, beds that either
fill two-thirds of the bedroom space or are so small they are hidden
from view by the chairs, and other furniture accordingly, all having
been selected without any thought as to size or fitness.
Care must be taken, in buying the furniture, to have the pieces suitable
to the rooms. It will no doubt require more time than to purchase the
first sets you come across, but when you have completed the selections,
the result will be a much better appearing doll-house.
By carefully searching the toy-shops you are almost certain of finding
what you want for the various rooms, as about everything imaginable in
furniture has been manufactured. Porcelain bath-tubs, wash-basins with
real faucets and running water, gilt furniture, chandeliers, and such
articles are tempting to buy. But it is rather expensive to fit up a
house in this way, for, though each piece may not amount to very much,
they count up very quickly.
The suggestions for the making of cigar-box furniture in the following
chapter, and the cork furniture in Chapter XXVIII, should give you
plenty of material for furniture and save you the expense of buying this
part of the furnishings for your house.
CHAPTER VIII
DOLL-FURNITURE
[Illustration]
The metal furniture which you can buy is very pretty when it is new, but
this new appearance does not last long after it has come into a
youngster's possession, for the pieces are very slender and delicate,
and thus easily broken.
Wooden furniture is the most durable kind, and plain and simple pieces
will generally outlast the fancy ones. The designs illustrated in this
chapter make very substantial pieces, as there are no spindle legs or
fancy arms to break off. They follow the lines of the mission furniture,
that simple style used in the early American mission schools, and which
is to-day being extensively made in handsome pieces for the furnishings
of modern homes. You will find the
=Miniature Mission Furniture=, illustrated and described in this
chapter, simple to make and something which is easy to sell, for there
is nothing like it at present upon the market.
Cigar-boxes furnish the nicest material for making this furniture, and
the various parts can be cut to the right shape and size with
=A Gig-or Scroll-saw.= Procure small brads and glue with which to fasten
the pieces together.
=To prepare the Cigar-boxes= for use, place them in a tub of boiling
water and let them remain there until the paper labels readily pull off.
Do not use a knife in removing the paper, as it is liable to roughen the
wood. The paper will come off by allowing it to soak long enough. When
the boxes are clean, set them in the sun to dry, after binding the
covers to the backs to prevent them from warping. Pull the boxes apart
when they are thoroughly dry, and throw out such pieces as have printing
upon them, for these would spoil the appearance of the furniture if
used.
[Illustration: FIGS. 119-126.--Patterns for Furniture.]
In order to simplify the matter of cutting the parts that make the
furniture, the curved pieces have been drawn out carefully on page 111,
so they can be laid off upon the strips of cigar-boxes without any
trouble, by the process of
=Enlarging by Squares.=--These drawings are shown one-quarter of their
full size (half their width and half their height). To enlarge them
procure a piece of cardboard nine by thirteen inches, or a little larger
than twice the size of the drawing each way, and divide it into squares
just twice the size of those on page 111. That will make sixteen squares
in the width of the cardboard and twenty-four in the length, each half
an inch square. In order to get the squares spaced equally, it is best
to lay off the points first with a ruler along the top, bottom, and two
sides of the sheet of cardboard, and then connect the points with the
ruler and a sharp lead-pencil. Then number the squares as in the
illustration, using the figures along the sides and letters across the
top and bottom of the sheet.
With the sheet of cardboard thus prepared it is a simple matter to
=Reproduce the Drawings= of Figs. 119 to 126 by locating the points of
the curves and corners of the pieces, as shown in the illustrations, in
corresponding positions in the squares on your cardboard sheet. The
curves may be drawn in by eye, after locating them with reference to
their surrounding squares, but the surest way of enlarging them
accurately is by laying off the points where the curve strikes each
horizontal and vertical line in the illustration, upon the enlarged
drawing. These points can then be connected with a curved line.
Make all of the lines heavy so they can be distinguished from your guide
lines, and after carefully going over the drawing, comparing it with
that on page 111 to see that no mistake has been made in locating the
points in enlarging, cut the various pieces apart. These give you
=The Patterns= with which to mark out the pieces on the wood.
We will first note the construction of
=The Chairs= shown in Figs. 127 and 128. These are four and one-half
inches high, two inches wide, and an inch and one-half deep. Cut the
back for the chair in Fig. 127 four and three-eighths inches high and an
inch and three-quarters wide, the sides by the pattern in Fig. 119, and
the seat an inch and one-quarter by an inch and three-quarters. With the
pieces cut out, fasten them together with brads and glue, placing the
seat between the arms and back so that it is an inch and one-half above
the base.
[Illustration: FIG. 127.
FIG. 128.
Chairs.]
Cut the back for the other chair (Fig. 128) four and one-half inches
high by two inches wide, the seat an inch and a quarter by an inch and
three-quarters, and the sides an inch and three-eighths wide by two and
one-half high. To get the curve in the bottom edge of the side-pieces,
use the pattern in Fig. 119.
[Illustration: FIG. 129.--A Settee.]
=The Settee= (Fig. 129) should have its sides cut by the pattern of Fig.
120. Make the back-piece three and three-quarters inches wide and three
and one-quarter inches high, and the seat three and three-quarters
inches by an inch and one-half. Fasten the seat against the back an inch
and one-half above the base.
[Illustration: FIG. 130.--A Table.]
=Tables= for the living-room, dining-room, bedroom, ball-room, and
nursery of a doll-house may be patterned after the designs of Figs. 130
and 131. These should be two and one-half inches high to be of proper
proportion for the chairs.
The pieces necessary to make Fig. 130 are a top two inches square, two
sides an inch and one-half wide by two and one-half inches high, and a
shelf an inch and one-quarter square. Fasten the pieces together as in
the illustration, placing the shelf between the side-pieces an inch from
the bottom.
[Illustration: FIG. 131.--Another Design.]
The other design (Fig. 131) will do nicely for
=A Dining-room Table=, or table for the centre of the living-room. The
top of this should be five inches long and three inches wide. Cut the
side-pieces by the pattern in Fig. 121 and, after fastening them to the
under side of the table-top four inches apart, brace them with a strip
three and three-quarters inches long by half an inch wide, as shown in
Fig. 131.
=A Side-board= similar to Fig. 132 should be made for the dining-room.
The pattern for the side pieces is shown in Fig. 122. After sawing these
out, cut a piece seven inches long by three inches wide for the back and
fasten the side-pieces to the edges of it. The location of the shelves
can be obtained best by referring to Fig. 132 and the pattern in Fig.
122. Cut the bottom shelf (_A_ in Fig. 132) three inches long by an inch
and one-quarter wide and fasten it to the side-pieces half an inch above
the base (line 24 on pattern, Fig. 122). Make shelf _B_ three by one
inches and place it at line 22. _C_ should be three and three-quarters
inches long by an inch and one-half wide, with a small notch cut near
each end with your knife, to make it fit over the side-pieces (see
illustration). Cut shelf _D_ three inches long by half an inch wide,
fastening it in place at line No. 17, _E_ three inches long by
seven-sixteenths of an inch wide, fastening it at line No. 15, and _F_
three inches long by three-eighths of an inch wide, fastening it at line
No. 13. The top shelf (_G_) is three and three-quarters inches long and
half an inch wide and is fastened to the tops of the side-pieces as
shown in the drawing.
[Illustration: FIG. 132.--A Side-board.]
The lower portion of the side-board is enclosed with two doors two
inches high by an inch and one-half wide. Small pieces of cloth may be
used for hinges, but it is better to use pins, running them through the
shelf above and below (_A_ and _C_, Fig. 132) into the doors. Stick the
pins near the edge of the doors and see that they are straight, so the
doors will open easily. A small mirror attached to the back between
shelves _C_ and _D_ will complete this piece of furniture.
[Illustration: FIG. 133.--A Mirror.]
=A Mirror= in a frame should be made for the living-room of the
doll-house. A neat and suitable design for one of these will be seen in
Fig. 133. For its construction cut two sides by means of the pattern in
Fig. 123, a piece five inches long by three inches wide for the back,
and a strip three inches long by three-eighths of an inch wide for a
shelf. Fasten the sides to the edges of the back-piece, and the shelf
between the sides about three-quarters of an inch above the base. Now
procure a mirror such as you can buy in a toy-shop for five or ten cents
(or a piece of a broken mirror cut down to the right size will do very
nicely), and attach it to the centre of the back.
=The Grandfather's Clock= (Fig. 134) makes an effective piece of
furniture for the hall or living-room, and is easily made. Figure 124
shows the pattern for the front of this clock. The back is made the
same, with the omission of the square opening cut in the front frame for
the clock-face. Cut a block of wood two by two by three-quarters inches
to fit between the frames at the top. After nailing the pieces together,
procure a face from a toy watch, and fasten it in the opening made for
it in the front frame. A button suspended by means of a piece of thread
from a tack placed in the bottom of the block forms the pendulum.
[Illustration: FIG. 134.
A Grandfather's Clock.]
It will be unnecessary to give any suggestions for
=Kitchen Furniture=, such as chairs and tables, for these can also be
made out of cigar-box wood along the same schemes illustrated in this
chapter, with perhaps a few modifications which will make them simpler.
[Illustration: FIG. 135.--A Bed.]
[Illustration: FIG. 136.--Another Design.]
Now for the making of some pieces of bedroom furniture. You will find in
Figs. 135 and 136 two designs that are easily carried out, one or both
of which may be used for
=The Beds= of a doll-house. To make Fig. 135, cut the head and foot by
means of the pattern in Fig. 125, and cut the two sides by means of the
pattern in Fig. 126. After preparing these pieces and fastening them
together as shown in the illustration (Fig. 135), cut a few strips a
quarter of an inch wide for slats and fasten them between the sides of
the bed. It is advisable to fasten these in place to prevent them from
being lost.
The side-pieces for the other bed (Fig. 136) are cut out with the same
pattern (Fig. 126). Make the head-and foot-pieces three by four and
one-half inches, cutting a piece two by an inch and one-quarter out of
the top of each as shown in the drawing (Fig. 136), and using the
pattern of the other bed for cutting the curve in the bottom edge. Nail
the pieces together in their proper places, after which cut some slats
and fasten them in the bottom.
[Illustration: FIG. 137.--A Dresser.]
=The Dresser= (Fig. 137) is made somewhat similar to the side-board. Cut
the sides by the same pattern (Fig. 122) and fasten them to the edges of
the back-piece, which should be six and one-half inches high by three
inches wide. Cut shelf _A_ three by one and one-quarter inches, _B_ and
_C_ three by one and one-eighth, _D_ three by one and three-sixteenths,
and _E_ and _F_ one-half by one and one-quarter inches. Fasten shelf _A_
between the sides at line No. 24 (see Fig. 122), _B_ at line No. 23, _C_
at line No. 22, _D_ at line No. 21, and notch the ends of _E_ and _F_ to
fit over the side-pieces at line No. 20.
Drawers to fit the lower shelves of the dresser may be made out of small
strips of cigar-boxes or pieces of cardboard, glued together. A small
mirror fastened in the position shown in the drawing will complete the
work upon this piece of furniture.
[Illustration: FIG. 138.--A Wash-stand.]
=A Wash-stand= can be made for the bath-room and each of the bedrooms
similar to Fig. 138. The sides for this should be five inches high by an
inch and one-quarter wide, and the shelves one by three inches. Fasten
the lower shelf three-quarters of an inch above the base, and the top
shelf at a height of two and one-half inches. When the stand has been
put together, fit a round stick, about an eighth of an inch in diameter,
in holes made in the sides with a gimlet (see illustration). This forms
the towel-rack. Hang a small drapery over the lower portion of the
stand.
=Finishing.=--When the pieces of furniture have been completed, they
should be rubbed down with emery-paper to remove the rough edges, and
also any rough places that may have been caused by soaking the boxes in
water. Then give the wood several coats of linseed oil. This makes a
beautiful finish for this kind of wood.
If desired, the bedroom furniture may be painted with white enamel. The
little hearts may be painted upon the pieces as shown in the
illustration, with a small brush and red paint, or may be cut out of red
paper and glued to the wood.
OTHER CIGAR-BOX FURNITURE
[Illustration: FIG. 139.--A Doll's Folding-bed.]
In Figs. 139 and 142 will be found some pieces of furniture that are
simpler to make than that just described, and although they may not be
so pretty, they present a very good appearance when neatly made.
The author constructed many pieces of this furniture when a boy, and
found them suitable as presents, besides being something that was always
easy to sell.
The cost of making a set amounts to but a few cents, cigar-boxes being
the principal material.
They are also very quickly made, as the boxes require but little
cutting.
[Illustration: FIG. 141.--Foot.]
[Illustration: FIG. 140.--Folding-bed (open).]
For the construction of
=A Folding-bed=, such as is shown in Figs. 139 and 140, select two
cigar-boxes, one of which will fit inside the other. The smaller box
should be a little shorter than the inside opening of the larger box.
After removing the paper from each, place the smaller box inside the
larger one, as shown in Fig. 139, so that the bottom of the inner box is
flush with the edge of the outer box. Then drive a brad through both
boxes on each side, about three-quarters of an inch from the end as
shown at _A_ (Fig. 139). These brads should run through the outer box
into the bottom of the inner box, and should be driven in carefully so
as not to split the wood. The inner box should now fold down as shown in
Fig. 140, moving upon the brad pivots. Purchase a five or ten cent
mirror and fasten it to the front of the bed, after which cut two wooden
feet similar to Fig. 141 and glue the pegs on the ends of these in
gimlet holes made above the mirror. Finish the wood the same as
described for the other cigar-box furniture.
[Illustration: FIG. 142.--Dresser completed.]
=The Dresser= shown in Fig. 142 is made out of a box the same size as
the larger one used for the folding-bed. Saw the sides of the box in
half, crosswise, and remove the upper half and the end-piece. Then nail
the end across the tops of the remaining halves of the sides. When this
has been done, divide up the lower portion of the box into compartments
as shown in the drawing (Fig. 143). This should have a small drapery
hung over it. The upper portion of the dresser should have a mirror
attached to it, and some lace draped over the top and sides will add
greatly to its appearance.
[Illustration: FIG. 143.--A Doll's Dresser.]
All you will have to do in making
=A Wardrobe= will be to fasten some small hooks inside of a cigar-box,
attach the cover with a strip of linen--the same way it was attached
before you soaked it off--and hang a mirror on the front.
These pieces of furniture were designed for separate sets, and would not
do for doll-houses the size of those in the preceding chapters, unless
the boxes were cut down to smaller proportions.
CHAPTER IX
A BOY'S PRINTING-SHOP
[Illustration: Boys working at the Presses.]
Since the manufacture of printing-presses in small sizes, printing has
become so popular among boys that it is now hard to find a neighborhood
in which there is not a press.
Printing is one of the best methods of mastering spelling and
punctuation, and is thus a great help to a boy in his studies, besides
being a pleasant occupation at which he can earn money.
If you cannot afford a large press, be satisfied with a small one for
the time being at least. Get to work, learn to print neatly and
accurately, and when your friends find your work is of good quality,
they will gladly patronize you. Your profits should soon net you enough
with which to buy a larger press and increase your equipment.
After securing a press, it will be necessary to find a place in which to
keep and use it, where there will be a good light to work by and where
things are not likely to be disturbed. If you have a workshop, you may
be able to make room in it for your outfit.
[Illustration: FIG. 144.--A Boy's Printing-shop.]
When the author became the proud owner of a machine, he found it
convenient to keep it in his room with his type-cases and material
beneath the press-stand. But in the course of several years the
printing-shop required more space than the room afforded, and a new
office had to be secured. This was found in the woodshed, where a corner
was partitioned off, a double sashed window placed in the wall, and the
interior fitted up with a case-rack, imposing-table, stock-stand, and
all the necessities for an enlargement of business. Figure 144 shows the
arrangement of our shop a few years later, when it again became
necessary to increase our floor space by adding a "mezzanine" story
above, extending to the roof of the shed. This half-story was reached by
means of a ladder, as shown in the drawing.
The principal equipment of a boy's shop should consist of a number of
cases in which to keep the fonts of type; a rack in which these cases
can be kept and at which the typesetting can be done; a work-bench, one
end of which may be used for an imposing-table and the other for the
press to stand upon; and two cabinets, one for stock and the other for
ink, tools, and general supplies. The other materials required are: a
composing-stick, composing-rule, pair of tweezers, galley, leads, rules,
furniture, mitre-box, imposing-stone, quoins, shooting-stick, mallet,
planer, hand-roller, and gauge-pins, besides a can of ink, an oil-can, a
bottle of machine-oil for washing rollers, benzine for cleaning type,
and a good supply of rags.
[Illustration: AN AMATEUR'S OUTFIT.]
Small presses are usually accompanied by a few fonts of type, which
are sufficient for printing small business-cards, etc., but are of so
few letters as to make an ordinary job of printing impossible. With an
increase of capital,
=Type= should be the first addition to your outfit. In making selections
bear in mind the amount of money you have to spend, and buy only styles
which will go together nicely and which can be used for the greatest
variety of work. If possible, secure the advice of a printer in
purchasing, as by his experience he can tell what you will most require
better than you. You can probably obtain a specimen type-book from the
type foundry in your city from which to make your selections.
=Type-cases= divided into small compartments for the various letters and
characters, which can be bought for seventy-five cents or a dollar,
provide the only satisfactory means of keeping fonts. It is advisable to
spend the money for these neatly made boxes rather than attempt to make
them, for the work will amount to more than what you can buy them for.
Figures 145 and 146 show the upper and lower news-cases with the systems
of "laying" generally employed in printing establishments. It will be
seen that by this method the principal letters are grouped in the
central portions of the case where they are easily reached, while the
less important letters are scattered around the sides. The central boxes
of the lower case are also made larger than the others, "e" being
allotted the largest box as it is used more than any other letter in the
alphabet.
[Illustration: SCHEME FOR LAYING CASES.
FIG. 145.--Lower Case.
FIG. 146.--Upper Case.]
As the lettering of the spaces and quads in Fig. 145 may be confusing to
the beginner, it is perhaps well to explain that these are based upon
the "m" quads which present a square end, the "2m" and "3m" quads being
two and three "m" quads in width, and an "n" quad one-half an "m."
Likewise spaces are known by the fraction they represent of an "m" quad,
viz. "3m," "4m," "5m," and "8m" (more commonly known as hair-space).
[Illustration: FIG. 147.--The Yankee Job-case.]
The upper and lower cases provide for about every character included in
a complete font of type. For smaller fonts you will find the Yankee
job-case very convenient, the letters being arranged the same in the
lower portion, and the capitals being placed in the upper boxes (see
Fig. 147).
[Illustration: FIG. 148.--A Type-case Rack.]
It will be unnecessary to have
=A Rack for the Type-cases= until you have added several styles of type
to your outfit. Then you will find a rack such as is shown in Fig. 148
one of the best methods of keeping the type away from the dust and at
the same time in an accessible place.
This rack should be four feet in height, the width of a type-case, and
twenty-eight inches deep, which is large enough for twelve cases. It is
best made out of four-inch boards.
[Illustration: FIG. 149.]
Cut the uprights _A_ and _E_ three feet six inches long, and _B_ and _F_
four feet long. The top-pieces _C_ and _G_ should be cut similar to Fig.
149. First lay out these pieces on four-inch boards, using the
dimensions given on the drawing and being careful to get both pieces the
same. Having properly marked the pieces, they remain to be cut out with
the rip and cross-cut saws. Cut the bottom-pieces _D_ and _H_
twenty-eight inches long, and prepare twenty-two inch-strips of the
same length for cleats.
One of the most particular points to be looked after in making a rack of
this kind is the attaching of the cleats, for unless they are perfectly
horizontal and those on one side are on a level with those on the other
side, the cases will not slide in satisfactorily and will be continually
causing trouble. Plenty of space should also be left between the cleats
to prevent the cases from sticking by the cleats swelling or warping.
[Illustration: FIG. 150.]
In order to get the cleats in the right position, the heights should be
laid off on the uprights as shown in Fig. 150 and lines squared across
them. You will then have the same heights on each upright.
Having prepared the pieces above described, we are ready to put them
together. Lay uprights _A_ and _B_ upon the ground, twenty inches apart,
and with the lower ends on a line with one another. Then fasten board
_D_ to them as shown in Fig. 151, the upper edge being even with the
first divisions on the upright. Drive but one nail in each end of _D_
until the other end of the frame is fastened together. Strip _C_ should
be placed as shown in Fig. 151, so that the upper edge of one end is
even with the top of upright _A_, and the upper edge of the other end
three inches above the top of upright _B_. This gives the proper pitch
to the top of the rack. Then, after measuring the distance between
uprights _A_ and _B_ to see that it is no more or less than twenty
inches, nail _C_ firmly to them, after which drive several more nails
into the ends of _D_.
[Illustration: FIG. 151.]
When this has been done, fasten the cleats in place, so that the top of
each is even with the line squared across the uprights. This completes
the frame. The opposite frame is made similarly.
When both frames have been made, they should be fastened together by
means of the crosspieces shown in Fig. 148. Measure the width of your
cases, which varies somewhat with different makes, and set the frames
about half an inch farther apart than this width. Then cut the boards
_I_, _J_, _K_, and _L_ the correct length and nail them to the places
shown upon the drawing. Strips _M_ and _N_ should be fitted between _C_
and _G_ to help support the top.
The top of the rack is made to hold two cases at a time, the lower case
on the front part and the upper case back of it.
Cases should be kept out of the dust as much as possible, as dirt
accumulates in the boxes very quickly, and is hard to clean out. It is
therefore a good plan to tack cloth or heavy wrapping-paper to the back,
sides, and below the top of the rack, and provide a curtain to hang over
the front when the cases are not in use. When the boxes do become dirty,
the dust should be removed by means of a pair of bellows.
[Illustration: FIG. 152.--How to Hold the Composing-stick.]
In composing, or setting type,
=A Composing-stick= is necessary. This should be held in the left hand,
as shown in Fig. 152, while the right hand picks up the type one by one
and drops them into the stick, where the left thumb shoves them into
place. It will be seen by looking at the illustration that the type are
set upside down and read from left to right. This may seem awkward at
first, but with practice you will soon become accustomed to reading the
letters in this position.
=A Composing-rule=, similar to Fig. 153, should be cut out of a piece of
brass rule. In typesetting, the rule is first placed in the stick, and
the type then placed against it.
[Illustration: FIG. 153.--A Composing-rule.]
When a line has been set and there still remains a space too small for
another word, it is necessary to either place wider spaces between the
words to fill out the line, or reduce the space sufficiently to make it
possible to add the word. This operation, which is known as
=Justifying=, should be performed after each line has been set. Then
place a lead against the type, lift out the composing-rule from behind
the first line, and place it in front of the lead preparatory to setting
a new line.
[Illustration: FIG. 154.--A Home-made Galley.]
After composing a stick full of type, it should be emptied into
=A Galley.= Figure 154 shows a galley made of half-inch stuff. Cut the
pieces as shown, and fasten them together so the bottom-piece is tilted
sufficient to keep the lines from
"=Pieing="--or falling out of line--without tying them together.
Emptying a stick may prove difficult at first, but if the lines have
been properly justified and are gripped at the ends with the thumb and
first finger of each hand, there is but little danger of making pie. The
beginner will, however, doubtless pie his type a number of times, until
by experience he learns the proper handling of it.
=Proofs= are struck while the type is in the galley, by running an
ink-roller over the matter, then placing a damp sheet of paper on the
type and running a dry hand-roller over the paper. The print thus
obtained is known as the "first proof." It should be fully corrected by
means of proof-reader's marks, which can be found in the appendix of any
dictionary, after which the corrections should be made in the type and a
second proof struck off.
When the matter has been fully corrected, it should be placed upon
=The Imposing-stone=--a piece of marble or other flat stone set upon the
work table. After properly leading the type,
=The Chase=--an iron frame cast to hold the type for printing--should be
placed over it. The space between the type and chase should then be
filled out with
=Furniture=.--Metal furniture consists of hollow metal blocks of various
sizes, while wooden furniture comes in strips of different widths, which
may be cut up into the lengths required. Use a mitre-box similar to the
one described in Chapter I in cutting the wooden furniture.
=Locking-up a Form.=--The type is locked-up by means of iron wedges
known as "quoins." There are two forms of these, those driven together
by means of a "shooting-stick" and mallet, as shown in Fig. 155, and
those locked by means of an iron key, such as is shown in Fig. 156. The
latter kind is probably the most commonly used to-day. Before locking
the form, the type should be levelled with a planer, which is nothing
more than a block of hardwood with a smooth, even surface. The planer
should be set upon the type and given a few light raps on the top with
the hammer, until the face of the type is even. Then lock the form
securely, being careful to have as equal pressure as possible on all
sides, to prevent the type from springing. The form is then ready for
the press.
[Illustration: FIG. 155.--Locking-up a Form.]
[Illustration: FIG. 156.--Key and Quoins.]
=Distribution= consists in replacing the types in their respective boxes
after the form has been printed, and is no longer desired. The matter
should first be thoroughly washed, then unlocked. The distributer lifts
out several lines of the type, holding them in his left hand, with the
nicks uppermost and the letters facing him. One or more words are
picked from the top line with the right hand, and each letter is dropped
into its box, after which several more words are picked up and similarly
distributed.
A few pointers in regard to presswork may be helpful to the beginner.
=The Tympan=, or metal bed upon which the paper to be printed is placed,
should be padded well with paper to make a firm impression, the number
of sheets required depending upon the character of the form. These
sheets are held in place by means of the iron clamps which slip over the
ends of the tympan (see Fig. 160).
The first print struck off probably will be imperfect, that is, some
portions will be lighter than others, due to uneven impression. This is
overcome by what is known as
=Overlaying= the form. Make several impressions, including one on the
top tympan-sheet. Then cut out the light portions of a print and paste
them directly over the corresponding printing on the tympan-sheet (see
Fig. 160). Thin tissue-paper will be found good for building up portions
requiring but little increase in pressure.
=Underlaying= consists in pasting strips of paper to the back of type or
cuts which print unevenly, to make the low portions higher.
When the form prints satisfactorily, you must prepare the marginal
lines before running off the job. The margins can easily be marked off
upon the tympan-sheet, as you have the impression upon it for a guide
(see Fig. 160). When this has been done,
=Gauge-pins= of some sort should be stuck into the tympan-sheet along
the marginal lines as guides for placing the paper in the press for
printing. Two forms of these pins, which can be bought for twenty-five
or thirty cents a pair, are shown in Fig. 157. These pins must be so
placed that there will be no danger of them mashing the type.
[Illustration: FIG. 157.--Two Forms of Gauge-pins.]
[Illustration: FIGS. 158-161.--Home-made Gauges.]
There are several forms of home-made gauges which may be used, three of
which are shown in Figs. 158, 159, and 161. The first (Fig. 158)
consists of an ordinary pin bent into the shape shown. The second (Fig.
159) is made out of a strip of cardboard scored and bent as in the
drawing. It must be pasted in place and held in position until dry, to
prevent it from slipping (see Fig. 160). The third form of home-made
gauge-pin consists of a quad (Fig. 161), or thin piece of furniture,
pasted to the tympan-sheet.
=In Inking the Press= be careful to spread the ink evenly over the disk,
and apply just enough to make a clear, clean copy. Too much ink will
clog the type and produce a smeared print.
Ink should not be left upon the form after the latter has been removed
from the press, but should be washed off immediately with benzine. The
disk and rollers should also be washed after use, as the ink will not be
good when hard and will become dirty.
=The Life of a Roller= is greatly increased by using machine-oil rather
than benzine for washing it. Benzine is too drying for the composition
of a roller (which is glue and molasses) and takes the elasticity out of
it, causing it to crack. Keep the rollers in a cool place in the summer
and not in too cold a place in the winter, for extremes in temperature
also affect the composition.
=Neatness= is absolutely necessary in printing, and to secure this you
must keep your hands clean so as not to finger-mark your prints. Care
must be taken in throwing off printed sheets to see that they do not
fall upon freshly printed ones if these are wet enough to mark them.
=Materials= should be put away in their proper places after use. Do not
throw type, leads, and furniture carelessly about, as they are likely to
be lost or broken by doing so. Cigar-boxes make handy receptacles for
pied type, until you have an opportunity to sort out and distribute it.
These are useful also for keeping leads, furniture, and rules in, and a
cabinet similar to that described in Chapter I (Fig. 15), or the
curio-cabinet described in Chapter IV (Fig. 59), should be made to hold
them.
The young printer should see to it that
=Proofs and Scraps of Paper= are thrown into a waste basket and not
scattered about, as they accumulate rapidly, and not only make a shop
look very untidy, but increase the danger of fire.
=Oily Rags= should be kept in a covered tin can, for they are liable to
ignite spontaneously when exposed to the air; and of course oils,
gasoline, and benzine should be handled away from fire and corked up
after use.
CHAPTER X
AMATEUR JOURNALISM
[Illustration: Boy Journalists.]
Amateur journalism is by no means a new pastime, but probably at no time
in its long history has it been thought as much of as at present.
It would be a difficult matter to even roughly estimate the number of
papers which have been issued in the amateur world. Mr. Edwin Hadley
Smith of New York City has the largest collection now in existence. This
at present consists of 22,600 amateur papers, 500 amateur books, 800
photographs of amateur journalists, 800 professional clippings, and
2,500 miscellaneous printed relics dating as far back as 1845. The
collection, which is the result of many years' work, is sorted and
catalogued, and will soon be placed in one of our large libraries, where
the public may inspect the work that has been turned out by amateurs for
the past half century.
[Illustration: A GROUP OF AMATEUR PAPERS.]
It is said Benjamin Franklin published an amateur paper in 1723, when a
lad of seventeen years; and in tracing the history of amateur journalism
down to the present time, a person would be surprised to find what a
large number of the most successful statesmen, writers, and scientific
men this country has had were amateur journalists in their younger
days.
There are at present in the neighborhood of two hundred amateur papers
published in the United States. A few of these papers, representative of
amateurs from all parts of the country, have been grouped together and
reproduced opposite page 142, and several others are shown in Figs. 162,
163, 164, 165, and 166. It is to be regretted that lack of space forbids
a larger display of these papers, many of which are quite unique and
reflect credit upon their publishers.
[Illustration: FIG. 162.--A School Paper. 32 pages. Size 2-1/4" ×
2-3/4".]
During the centennial at Philadelphia in 1876, the National Amateur
Press Association was formed for the purpose of spreading amateur
journalism and bringing amateurs into closer relations with one another.
The United Amateur Press Association was formed in 1897, and, while it
is a younger organization than the National Amateur Press Association,
has a large membership of amateurs.
Every boy aspirant to the field of journalism should join one of these
associations as soon as he has the proper credential--a copy of his own
paper, or an original article of his published in an amateur paper. By
becoming a member and getting acquainted with other amateurs through
exchange of papers, a boy is greatly benefited. He has a chance to see
what other amateurs are doing, finds out through the other papers what
the members think of his work, and learns through these friendly
criticisms wherein he can improve his publication. He also has a chance
to enter his writings for the prizes awarded annually by the
associations for the best poems, sketches, essays, histories, and
editorials.
A great number of the members of these two associations are interested
in smaller organizations, among which are the Interstate
Association--consisting of the members of the East--and the Western.
Again, a large number of amateurs have formed state organizations, and
in large cities, where there are enough members to do so, local clubs
have been formed. The city clubs hold frequent meetings, at which it is
customary for the members to take part in literary programmes. The state
and other organizations generally hold semi-annual meetings, and the
National Amateur Press Association and the United Amateur Press
Association meet annually in some city chosen the preceding year, and at
this convention elect their officers, make awards of prizes for the
year, and have a general good time.
The boy who is owner of a printing-press is almost certain to get the
publishing fever and commence the publishing of a small paper. If his
press is too small for such an undertaking, it will of course be
necessary for him to do such job printing as he can get to do until he
has earned sufficient money to buy a larger press and such materials as
he will need in publishing a paper.
But it is not always the boy who has had a taste of printing who becomes
interested in amateur journalism. There are few boys nowadays who pass
through their school life without devoting some of their time to this
interesting and instructive work. A paper started by one boy is
generally followed by several more, and in this way the number of
amateur papers sent out in a town very rapidly increases.
Nothing daunts the ambitious boy. If he has not a press, and there are
no prospects of him earning one for some time, he will not allow this to
interfere with his plans. It only means he must devise some other way of
printing. Many boys have already proven that a press is not an absolute
necessity, by issuing papers printed with rubber type, written by pen
and on typewriters, and printed by the mimeograph and such duplicating
machines. These are all more or less tiresome operations, but ways in
which the boy determined to publish a paper may start. A few examples of
papers printed by these methods are shown in Figs. 162, 163, and 164.
It might be interesting to know a little something about how these
papers were run. The one shown in Fig. 162 was lettered by hand, and
while only one copy of an issue was made, and that passed about in the
school at which the publishers attended, there was a good deal of work
required to get it up.
[Illustration: FIG. 163.--Another School Paper.]
The paper shown in Fig. 163 is also a school paper, published at the
Lake High School, Chicago. The copy for this was first written off on a
wax sheet by means of a typewriter, and this sheet placed on the
cylinder of a machine known as a "neostyle," the cylinder then being
revolved and the papers printed from the wax sheet.
[Illustration: FIG. 164.--Printed with Rubber Type.]
The paper shown in Fig. 164 was the writer's first attempt in the
publishing line, and was indeed a sorry specimen of typography. A box of
rubber type, a four line holder, and ink-pad constituted the printing
outfit. The paper was a twelve-paged two-column affair, requiring six
impressions of four lines each to the column. The column ruling was done
with a pen, and, after printing the copies, each had to be gone over
and retouched with pen and ink. It was a long and tedious job, and so
wearing upon the type that they were practically useless by the time
the second issue had been printed. But by this time the publishers
became owners of a press with which they were able to turn out more
satisfactory work.
The first thing for a boy to consider is
=The Character= of his paper--whether it shall contain news of the
athletic field, the school, or the neighborhood, entirely, or be devoted
to amateur journalism entirely, or be made up of a little of each.
The schoolroom presents so much of interest to those in and out of it,
that papers managed and edited by several pupils, with the articles
written by the different classes, are generally successful. Athletic
news is always interesting to boys, and to have at least a portion of
your paper given up to this subject might be a good plan.
[Illustration: FIG. 165.]
The paper shown in Fig. 165 is an example of a small paper, the size of
the sheet being three by four and one-half inches. It was published a
few years ago by six boys living in Lexington, Kentucky. The staff, the
oldest of whom was but ten years of age, consisted of the
editor-in-chief, who attended to the general management, editing, and
printing of the paper, and five other boys, known as the associate
editors, who gathered the news and did the hustling. This paper
contained mostly neighborhood news, and had a large local circulation.
The paper shown in Fig. 166 consists of twelve pages printed upon a
press with a form capacity four by six inches, and is given up entirely
to the publication of original stories and poems.
[Illustration: FIG. 166.]
Some boys who do not own presses have the printing done by
professionals, but simply to edit a paper gives them but half the
pleasure and experience derived from executing all the work
themselves,--editing, printing, binding, mailing, etc.
=In Naming= a paper be sure to select a suitable title for it, a name
with a meaning, such as will denote the character of the publication,
being desirable.
=The Frequency of Publication= will depend largely upon the size of
sheet, number of pages, the amount of time that can be devoted to the
work, and the facilities for printing. Whether weekly, monthly,
semi-monthly--twice a month, bi-monthly--once in two months, or
quarterly, try to place each issue in the hands of subscribers as
nearly on time as possible.
=The Size of Page= will depend largely upon your press. However, a small
sheet is most desirable for an amateur paper.
The first page should be headed with the name of the paper set up in
rather large type. You will find
=A Stereotyped Heading= cheaper to buy than a font of large type, and
easier to handle on account of its being in a solid block. Below the
heading should appear the volume number, date, and number of issue, on
one line, followed by the title of the article and body of type.
=The Choice of Type= may be made by examining the sheets shown opposite
page 142 and in Figs. 165 and 166, many of which are good specimens of
typography. These should also help you to formulate your ideas as to the
style of your paper.
The second page should be headed with the page number and name of
paper--or title of story--in small caps, this line to be separated from
the body of type by means of a pica brass rule.
Great care should be used in publishing a paper to have the proof
thoroughly corrected before the form is printed, for typographical
errors spoil the appearance of the paper and are always disgusting to
the reader. Also see to it that the marginal lines correspond on each
sheet, and try to get uniform impressions throughout the paper.
=A Cover= is desirable for a small paper, as it adds to its appearance
and size. If you have one, set it up in somewhat the same style as those
shown opposite page 142. The cover sheets should be cut a little larger
than the inside sheets, so they will cover the latter when they are
bound together.
With the printing of an issue completed, the sheets are ready for
=Binding=.--They may be fastened together by means of wire staples,
paste, or thread.
Figure 167 shows a scheme of stitching much employed in printing-offices
and which is simple for an amateur to do. The sheets are first folded
inside one another, as in the drawing. Then, starting at _A_ with a
needle and thread, run the needle through the sheets; carry the thread
underneath the sheets from _A_ to _B_, from _B_ to _C_ above, from _C_
to _A_ beneath, and up through the sheets at _A_. Then tie the two ends
of _D_ and _E_ in a hard knot, with the portion of the thread marked _F_
between them.
[Illustration: FIG. 167.]
The cover may be bound with the rest of the sheets, or pasted to them
after the sheets have been stitched.
Few amateurs bother with
=Advertisements=, probably because it is hard to find merchants who have
confidence in results from magazines with small circulations; but with
cheap rates you should be able to secure enough ads. to more than defray
the expenses of publishing a paper.
Before soliciting these, cut a sheet of paper the size of a page and
divide it into small spaces with a pencil and ruler, making what is
known as
=The Advertisers' Dummy=.--Show this to your prospective advertisers and
let them pick out the space they wish, charging so much per inch, the
rate varying according to the position the ad. will occupy.
With at least four regular issues a year, and not less than fifty per
cent of the circulation paid subscriptions, you will be able to enter
your paper in the post-office of your city as
=Second-class Matter=, which makes it possible for you to mail your
papers to out-of-town subscribers at the rate of one cent per pound.
To secure these privileges write to the third assistant
postmaster-general of your city for an entry blank, together with full
particulars concerning second-class matter. Return the application with
a copy of your paper; and when it has been passed upon, the postmaster
will issue you a certificate entitling you to these rates and
authorizing you to print upon your paper "Entered at the post-office at
(name of town) as second-class matter."
CHAPTER XI
A BOY'S DARK-ROOM
[Illustration: A Boy Photographing his Dog.]
There is no reason why an industrious boy cannot do a profitable
business with a camera, when he has learned to operate it successfully,
does careful and neat work, and charges a reasonable price for his
pictures. The many monthly photographic competitions in the magazines
should be a great help in showing where his faults lie, and when he has
overcome these he should be able to make considerable money from the
cash prizes offered.
An amateur should master as much of the work as possible. One of the
most interesting parts is missed if you pay a professional to develop
your plates, and you never know where your faults have been made in
taking the pictures, by not seeing the manner in which the image appears
on the negative during the development. Even though you spoil one or two
plates in your first attempts at developing, your results on the whole
will probably be as good as those obtained by a professional, who is
very often careless with amateurs' work.
No discussion of photography has been included in this book, as a
complete treatise would be too lengthy, and a condensed description
impractical. There are a number of excellent publications which
describe the subject in detail, making it so clear that a boy cannot
help but understand the principles with a little study. Few of these
books, however, dwell upon the equipment of the dark-room, and none give
a fellow any ideas for the making of his apparatus, generally an
important item to a boy.
=The Necessary Equipment= for a dark-room is not large, about all you
require besides your chemicals being a ruby lantern, printing frame,
three trays,--one for developing, another for fixing, and a third for
toning,--a two-inch camel's-hair brush for dusting plates, a
drying-rack, glass graduate, funnel, set of scales, bottles for
solutions, and a cabinet in which to keep your apparatus and supplies.
=A Dark-room= is not a necessity, although it is a great convenience,
especially if you are doing much work. With the shades pulled down, you
will find that your bedroom serves the purpose very well in the evening,
and many boys do their work in this way.
[Illustration: FIG. 168. A HANDY DARK-ROOM.]
[Illustration: FIG. 172. A WASHING BOX AND DRYING RACK.]
Figure 168 illustrates how developing is carried on in a bedroom of an
old-style house, where the wash-stands are set in recesses in the wall.
Here a shelf made up of several boards fastened together with battens is
set upon the marble slabs around the basin. In this shelf an opening
four by six inches is made as shown in Fig. 170, the edges of the
opening being rabbeted to receive a five-by-seven camera plate. This
arrangement is very complete, for the developing is performed on the
shelf, the fixing on the stand below, and the washing in the basin,
while light from the lantern is projected through the glass in the
shelf, making it light underneath.
This scheme can be used for any wash-stand, by nailing the shelf to two
pieces of board twelve inches long by the width of the shelf, these
pieces being set firmly upon the wash-stand.
Some boys use
=The Bath-room= for their dark-room, darkening the window and shutting
out any rays of light that may come through the key-hole and cracks
about the door. This works splendidly, there being running water at hand
and the tub in which to wash the negatives. The work-table is made out
of several boards battened together, and should be set across the edges
of the tub.
Figure 169 shows
=Another Scheme=--a dark-room fitted up in a closet, or by partitioning
off a corner of the attic or cellar. In the latter case the inside of
the partition should be covered with black paper or cloth to prevent
light from entering cracks in the boards. The room should be provided
with
=A Work-table= about three feet high. This should be built against the
wall and strongly braced, as shown in the sketch (Fig. 169). Fasten a
shelf to the wall about nine inches below the table, and under this make
a rack with three divisions in it for trays. The rack should be
fastened to the braces, as shown in the drawing.
=Running Water= is a great convenience in a dark-room, as it saves the
bother of having to carry water in pails, or transferring your plates to
a tub or wash-basin for the final bath after development.
If it is impossible to locate your dark-room where it will be supplied
with running water, the best scheme is
=A Water-tank= with hose attachment. This is shown in Fig. 169. To carry
it out, procure from your grocer a "half-barrel," such as is used for
the shipment of salt mackerel, etc., and, after thoroughly cleaning it,
bore a hole in the side about two inches from the bottom. Buy at a
drug-store several feet of rubber tubing, a rubber stopper with a hole
cut in the centre, two pinch-stops, a six-inch piece of glass tubing
bent at right angles, and a small glass funnel. Slip one end of the bent
piece of glass tubing into the rubber stopper, and stick the latter in
the hole made in the barrel. Then slip a short piece of the rubber
tubing over the glass tubing, and place one of the pinch-stops on it to
be used in regulating the supply of water from the tank (see Fig. 171).
Set the barrel on one end of the table, and run the rubber tubing
through a hole cut for it in the work-table.
[Illustration: FIG. 170.
FIG. 171.
FIG. 169.--A Well-equipped Dark-room.]
It is advisable to filter the water used from the barrel, that you may
be sure it is free from dirt, so an arrangement similar to that shown in
Fig. 171 should be fastened below the work-table. It consists of a glass
funnel set in a hole bored in a block of wood (see _A_ in Fig. 171),
which is suspended from the bottom of the work-table by means of a stick
(_B_), one end of which is nailed to block _A_ and the other end to the
work-table. Keep a piece of filter-paper in the funnel. The rubber
tubing should be cut just long enough to reach the funnel, and the
bottom of this filter should come within an inch or two of the sink,
which will be set in the shelf below.
You will find an iron drip-pan about as cheap
=A Sink= as can be had, considering that one twelve by seventeen inches
will cost you just fifty cents--twenty-five cents for the pan and an
equal amount to pay a tinsmith for soldering a three-eighths inch pipe
in a hole cut in the bottom for a drain. Either fasten the sink on the
shelf, boring a hole for the pipe to fit in, or set it in an opening cut
in the shelf, as shown in the drawing, supporting it by the rim around
its top. Slip a piece of rubber tubing over the lower end of the drain
pipe and to this attach the second pinch-stop as a regulator for
emptying the sink (see Fig. 169).
As the water supply would be insufficient to wash the plates thoroughly
after taking them from the hypo bath, it should be used for rinsing
only, and
=A Washing-box=, after the scheme of Fig. 172, made to hold the
negatives while washing them. This box will stand on the shelf beside
the sink until you are through developing. The rack is made up of strips
of wood fastened together with wire brads. Figure 173 clearly shows its
construction. Strips _A_, _B_, _C_, and _D_ should be placed three and
three-quarters inches apart for four-by-five plates, and kerfs should be
cut in their edges as shown. _A_ and _D_ are mounted upon short stilts,
and _B_ and _C_ are nailed to the uprights supporting the handle. The
plates rest upon strips nailed across the bottom pieces.
[Illustration: FIG. 173.--A Washing-rack.]
This tray was made to hold two dozen plates, but may be made smaller if
you wish.
The box should be just large enough for the tray to fit in. Fill all the
cracks and joints with white-lead and give the box several coats of
paint to make it perfectly water tight. Then make a hole in the side
near the bottom to let the water out, and procure a cork to fit it (Fig.
174).
[Illustration: FIG. 174.--The Washing-box.]
Before developing, cork up the washing-box, fill it with water, and set
it in one end of the sink where the plates can be set in it after being
taken from the fixing bath. When you are through developing, place the
box and plates in the wash-basin or the bath-tub; remove the cork from
the box and allow the water to run in at the top and out through the
hole near the bottom. When the negatives have been thoroughly washed,
the tray can be removed from the washing-box and used as
=A Drying-rack=.
Another scheme for a drying-rack easily made is shown in Fig. 175. For
the construction, two pieces of wood twelve inches long by four inches
wide will be needed (_A_ and _B_ in Fig. 175), also two blocks (_C_ and
_D_) four inches square. Mitre one edge of _A_ and _B_, and cut a
right-angled bird's-mouth in _C_ and _D_ to receive _A_ and _B_. With
the pieces prepared, fasten them together as in the illustration. Then
procure some corrugated straw-board, such as is used for packing
glass-ware, etc., cut two pieces four by twelve inches, and tack them to
_A_ and _B_ in such a way that the corrugations on one strip coincide
with those on the other. For a simple rack this cannot be surpassed.
[Illustration: FIG. 175.--A Negative-rack.]
For chemicals, supplies, and apparatus, make
=A Cabinet= similar to the one described for tools in Chapter I, or the
curio-cabinet in Chapter V. This makes it possible to keep everything in
order and in places where they can easily be reached. Such a cabinet is
shown on the wall in Fig. 169.
The best scheme for a dark-room
=Ruby-light= is shown in Fig. 169. This is practicable, however, only
when you build the dark-room itself and can cut a window in the
partition. It makes it possible to have your source of light outside of
the room, and does away with the heat caused by having a lamp within,
where you are working.
First, cut a ten-by-twelve-inch window opening in the partition on a
level with the top of the work-table. Then make a frame a little larger
than this opening and either set a piece of ruby or orange glass in it,
or paste a sheet of ruby or orange paper over it. Build a track above
and below the opening for the frame to slide in, doing the work neatly,
so there will be no possibility of light leaking through.
The light, which may be a candle or lamp, should stand upon a shelf
supported upon a bracket outside of the window. It is convenient to have
the window slide, as it enables you to open it and have white light to
work by when a ruby light is not necessary.
This window furnishes light for developing, which will be done upon the
table, but none for the shelf below, where the sink is located and where
the fixing tray should be kept (that there will be no danger of getting
hypo into the developer). In order to have light for this shelf, you had
better follow the scheme shown in Fig. 170. Cut an opening four by six
inches in the work-table directly in front of the window, and make a
half-inch rabbet around its upper edge to receive a five-by-seven camera
plate (see Fig. 170).
[Illustration: FIG. 176.--A Home-made Dark-room Lantern.]
If it is not possible to have outside light for the dark room,
=A Home-made Lantern=, such as is illustrated in Fig. 176, will be found
very satisfactory. It is made out of a wooden box about ten by ten by
twelve inches. Cut two openings six inches square in two sides of the
box and cover one with one sheet and the other with two sheets of orange
or red paper, spreading paste over the entire surface of the paper to
make it stretch tightly over the openings as it dries. The orange and
red wrappers of some makes of printing papers and developing powders can
be used for the covering of these openings.
For a chimney, procure a long slender baking-powder can, remove the
cover and bottom, and insert it in a hole cut for it in the top of the
box. Then an arrangement must be made, as shown in Fig. 176, to prevent
light from emitting from the top of the can. This consists of a
tomato-can placed over the baking-powder can, bottom side up, with its
edge fastened in kerfs cut in the ends of four wooden stilts (see
illustration). Drive the stilts firmly into holes bored for them in the
top of the box. The edge of the tomato-can should now be about an inch
and one-half above the box, and its bottom an inch or more above the
baking-powder can.
[Illustration: FIG. 177.]
Below the chimney attach a wooden stilt to the bottom of the lantern,
and tack a can cover to the top of it, as shown in the drawing. This
forms a cup holder for the candle, which not only catches the drippings,
but also makes the lantern fire-proof should the candle burn down to the
end before you notice it. Bore a number of holes in the bottom of the
box, and nail two strips to the under side, as shown.
The lamp is now completed with the exception of the door, which should
be made in three pieces, with the edges cut and bevelled as shown in
Figs. 176 and 177. Nail strips _A_ and _C_ to the back of the box, and
slip _B_ between them. A screw-eye near the bottom of _B_ will serve as
a lift in opening the lantern. As the edges of the strips are cut on a
slant and bevelled, a joint which cannot possibly leak light is obtained
when _B_ is slipped into place. All cracks in the box should be
carefully filled with white lead.
In offering this lamp to his boy readers, the writer knows they will
find it most satisfactory and a solution to the problem of making a
perfect dark-lantern. The air admitted through the holes in the bottom
of the box carries the heat and smoke straight into the chimney, and out
through the space between the tin cans, making it impossible for the
flame to ignite the wood.
If you use
=A Plate-lifter= you will find an old tooth-brush handle tapered at the
end by means of a file one of the best that can be had.
It is well to have some scheme for
=Classifying and Preserving Negatives=.--To keep them in their original
boxes is not a good idea, as there is always danger of scratching them
and no satisfactory way of keeping track of their description, date of
exposure, etc.
=Manila Envelopes=, with a printed form to be filled out, on the
outside, are invaluable holders, as they not only make it possible to
file away negatives in alphabetical order, but preserve them from dust,
scratches, etc.
[Illustration: FIG. 178.--A Negative-case.]
The four-by-five size can be bought for about twenty-five cents a
hundred from a dealer in photograph supplies; but you can get them much
cheaper by going to a paper house and asking for their four-by-five
coin-cut manila envelope, which sells in half-thousand lots at about one
dollar per thousand. If the quantity is more than you will need, you can
probably dispose of a portion of them to your boy friends. With a
printing-press or rubber type, the following form should be printed upon
the outside, with a rule or space to the right in which to place the
descriptions:--
NO.
DESCRIPTION
DATE
REMARKS
=A Wooden Case= to hold the envelopes is desirable, and such a one may
be made similar to Fig. 178. For four-by-five negatives the inside of
the box should measure twelve inches long, five and one-quarter inches
wide, and three inches deep. It will hold about six dozen negatives.
Very light wood, about three-eighths of an inch thick, should be used
for the construction of this case. Cut two pieces twelve and
three-quarters by three and three-eighths inches for the sides, two
pieces six by three and three-eighths for the ends, and one piece twelve
by five and one-quarter for the bottom. In cutting the side-and
end-pieces, mitre the edges of each so they will make neat corners. The
mitre-box should be used for this purpose. Nail the pieces together with
small finishing nails, after which fasten the bottom-piece between them,
driving the nails through the side-pieces into it. The cover is made of
a board twelve and three-quarters inches long by six inches wide, with a
rim made of four inch-and-one-quarter strips nailed around its edge, as
shown in the illustration. Two of the strips should be twelve and
three-quarters inches long, and the other two six inches long. Their
ends should be mitred and fitted together as the sides of the box were
done, and the top should be nailed to their top edges. This cover fits
over the plates, which project an inch above the sides. Hinge it to the
back of the box, and attach a hook to the front.
If you do not keep your plates in envelopes, the sides of the box should
be lined with corrugated straw-board to separate them. This may be
tacked or glued to the wood.
By rubbing down the outside with emery-paper, oiling, shellacking, or
varnishing the wood, a very pretty case will be obtained.
You will find it a simple matter to pick out a negative by having them
filed in the order of their exposure, and catalogued alphabetically in a
note-book.
CHAPTER XII
A WINTER ENTERPRISE
[Illustration: Boys with Snow Shovel and Broom.]
Boys who keep their eyes open for opportunities to make money are not
long in finding that the coming of snow means money in their pockets if
they are willing to do a little hustling.
A number of years ago a few boys undertook the job of keeping the walks
of their neighborhood free from snow, and constructed
=A Snow Plough= with which to do their work. The plough proved so
satisfactory that others were made, and before long every boy in the
neighborhood had enlisted in the company.
By several boys joining forces in this way, and making contracts with
property owners to keep their walks and steps free from snow, a good
deal of ground can be covered in a short space of time, and a neat sum
of money realized during the season. The work can be done before and
after school, and be so divided that while several are ploughing the
walks the others are cleaning the steps.
A plough such as is illustrated in Fig. 179 is made in two sections,
four feet long by two feet wide. After battening the boards together at
_A_ and _B_, as shown in the drawing, fasten the sections in place, with
two ends together and the other two ends two feet apart. Nail them
firmly together at the angle and brace them at the open end with strips,
as shown at _C_ and _D_ in the illustration.
[Illustration: FIG. 179.--A Snow Plough.]
The bottom edge of the plough should be covered with tin, to prevent it
from wearing or becoming broken. Bore a hole an inch in diameter in each
section at _E_, and fasten a broom-handle in them from which to attach
the rope tugs. This being done the plough is ready for use.
=A Scraper= is about the best appliance that can be had for cleaning
snow from the steps, especially when the snow has turned to slush. For
the making of one of these, prepare a seven-eighths inch board sixteen
inches long by four inches wide. Bevel the lower edge and nail a two
inch strip below the top, as at _A_ in Fig. 180. Bore a hole through
both thicknesses of wood at _B_ and fit a broom-handle in it, bracing
the handle with a piece of wire run from a small hole bored in the
handle at _C_ to the ends of the scraper.
[Illustration: FIG. 180.--A Scraper.]
Figure 181 shows a scheme for
=A Snow Shovel= that is easy to make, and one which will stand a good
deal of wear. For this, secure two barrel staves, cut them in two, and
plane up the curved edges until they are straight. Then taking three of
these pieces, lay them side by side and nail a two-by-two inch strip
across the top edges, as shown at _A_, to bind them together. The
bevelled ends of the staves should be placed at the lower end of the
shovel and bound in place by a strip of galvanized iron bent over the
edges and tacked to the staves (see _B_ in drawing). Another iron strip
should be nailed across the staves at _C_, to fasten them more securely
together. Clinch the nails upon the under side of the shovel and drive
their ends well into the wood. Procure a broom-stick for the handle and
place it in a bevelled slot cut at _D_ (Fig. 182), fastening down the
end with iron pipe-straps, as shown in Fig. 181.
[Illustration: FIG. 182.]
[Illustration: FIG. 181.--An Easily Made Snow Shovel.]
With the addition of brooms to the plough, scrapers, and shovels, your
outfit will be complete and ready for business.
[Illustration: Two Boys with Fishing Pole.]
Part II
Outdoor Pastimes
[Illustration: IN CAMP FOR THE SUMMER.]
CHAPTER XIII
A BACK-YARD CLUB-HOUSE
[Illustration: Boys in Discussion, Boys Work on the Club-house.]
For many years there stood in a city back-yard a shanty in which the
boys of the neighborhood gathered after school and during vacation, to
hold their club-meetings. Many a pleasant hour was spent within the
walls of this little building, and it had to be enlarged year after year
to hold the ever-increasing number of members.
If, during the week of school preceding the summer vacation, the boys
were seen making plans and talking seriously about something evidently
in connection with the house, it might well be imagined that the annual
alterations were about to begin. At the close of school the neighbors
were made aware of it by the appearance of half a dozen boys upon the
roof of the shanty, who, with hammers and hatchets in their hands, were
easily recognized as the wrecking crew.
Perhaps the roof was to be raised a foot or given a different pitch, a
window changed here or a door placed there, a side extended or a
partition built through the centre; but no matter whether the
alterations bettered the building or not, they gave the owners a chance
to use their ingenuity in working out their schemes, and practice in
carpenter work.
The boys' greatest difficulty was found in obtaining large enough
material with which to build. The woodshed was the lumber-yard, and as
this contained only a few old boards, several packing-cases, and
kindling-wood, a great deal of splicing was required and many pounds of
nails were necessary to fasten the many small pieces in place.
After remodelling the club-house one year, the members in way of a joke
placed a "For Rent" sign upon the door, and were greatly surprised to
receive the following mysterious letter:--
MISTER AGENT: i sea u hev a house Fur rent what u want
furit im a wider with 12 children six pigs 5 chickens a mule
three dogs 7 cats and ten ducks i hop the house is big enuff
it dont matter bout the children but i wont crowd the pigs.
i soppose will paint outside an in and put awnins at the frunt
winders i'd like terry cotty shades and a stun sidewalk iF
u'll put a piassie on and reduce the rent till after wurlds
Fair i'll take it what you want furit please let me know soon
iF u dont find me hum im like to be at mis whatnots if u
dont know the way to her house just ask mis jones next door
but one to me she'll tell u Good by.
MARY JANE JOHNSTONE.
The letter was answered immediately and sent to the general delivery but
was returned from the Dead Letter Office, and no trace of the large
family could be found.
[Illustration: The Back-yard Club-house.]
Knowing that many boys who would like to build themselves a club-house
have not the money in their treasury with which to buy new lumber, this
chapter will describe the manner in which a rough-and-ready house may be
built. It will not be attempted to show the correct methods of putting
up a framework, such as would be built if the right-sized lumber were
obtainable, but the simplest way in which boys can make use of the
material at hand.
=Draw the Plan= of the building upon a piece of paper, and before
commencing work figure out exactly what material will be required. If
you haven't enough lumber you will find it a great deal easier to alter
the plans at first than when the work is half completed. It is best
first to place in one pile all
=The Material= you can find; then, after drawing the plans, sort out the
boards according to their lengths. Use the short boards whenever
possible, so that the long pieces may be kept for places requiring long
boards. Several two-by-fours should be secured for the framework. If you
do not happen to have these, you can easily get what you want at some
alteration job or where some frame structure is being torn down. Short
two-by-fours may be spliced, or, more correctly speaking, "fished." This
is very often resorted to in building when studding of a sufficient
length cannot be procured. Figure 183 shows the method of
=Fishing Studs=.--Two fish-plates, _A_ and _B_, are nailed to the sides
of the studs, covering the joints, while the face _OD_ remains on a
level to receive the siding.
By building the club-house in a corner of the yard, against the fence,
house, or barn, it is necessary to build but two walls. Less material is
required, and a much firmer structure obtained by doing this.
[Illustration: FIG. 183.]
=Stake out= the length and width of the house upon the ground, and sink
a stone or a couple of bricks at the corner to support the corner post.
Then cut two two-by-fours the length of the greatest inside height of
the house. Set one upon the corner stone, bracing it temporarily with
boards run from it to the fence, and spike the other to the fence on a
line with the corner post (see _A_ and _B_ in Fig. 184). Cut the
end-plate _C_ the correct length and spike it to _A_ and _B_, after
which cut a two-by-four the length of the shortest inside height, and
spike it to the fence rails at _D_. Nail the boards _E_, _F_, _G_, _H_,
and _I_ to the places shown in Fig. 184.
=The Studs= should be placed from two to three feet apart, according to
the length of boards used for siding, and additional studding should be
set in where it is necessary. Fasten the ends of the studs to the boards
_E_, _F_, _G_, _H_, and _I_. Studding should be placed around the window
and door openings, as shown in the illustration.
[Illustration: FIG. 184.--Framework of Club-house.]
After completing the framework,
=Board up the Sides=, fitting the boards around openings and corners as
neatly as possible.
=The Roof= is a very important factor in a building of any kind, and
care should be taken to make it of water-proof material, for a leaky
roof will not only ruin the interior but make it damp and thus
unhealthy. Tar-paper will be found a good roofing material, inexpensive,
and easily put on. First cover the roof with boards placed about one
inch apart. Then cut the tar-paper into lengths equal to the width of
the roof. Commencing at the lower edge of the roof tack one strip in
place. Lap a second strip two inches over the first, a third two inches
over the second, and so on until the entire roof is covered. Figure 185
shows a tin cap and nail made especially for this kind of work. The cap
is punched to fit over the nail, and prevents water from running into
the hole made by the latter. It will be unnecessary to coat the paper
with tar, as there is sufficient in its preparation to keep it water
proof a long time--probably longer than the house itself will be allowed
to stand.
[Illustration: FIG. 185.]
=The Floor= should not be laid directly upon the ground, but be
supported upon four-inch sleepers set as shown in Fig. 186, with cinders
rammed in between them. The bed of cinders should not be more than three
inches thick, so there will be an inch of air space between them and the
floor. This will help to keep the floor free from dampness. Four-inch
boards stood on edge will do very well for the sleepers.
[Illustration: FIG. 186.--Construction of Floor.]
You can probably make a bargain with a carpenter for
=A Window-sash.=--They very often have a number taken from old
buildings, which they will gladly sell for a small sum. There are two
ways in which you can easily fasten the sash in place, either with
hinges so it will swing in, as shown in Figs. 187 and 188, or in tracks,
to slide as described for the dark-room window in Chapter XI and
illustrated in Fig. 169. If the window is made in the front of the
building, as shown in the sketch of the finished club-house, the sash
will necessarily have to be hinged, as there would not be room for it to
slide sideways. We will therefore hinge it to swing in as shown in Figs.
187 and 188. The studding which was placed around the window opening
when you erected the framework of the house forms a frame for the sash
to set in. The window-sill is made out of a seven-eighths-inch board cut
the width of the opening, and should be nailed to the bottom piece of
the frame so it pitches slightly outwards and its edges project a little
beyond the wall inside and out (see Fig. 188). The pitch of the sill can
be obtained by blocking the inner edge with a very thin strip of wood,
as shown in the section drawing. The sash should fit the frame with but
enough space around it to allow it to open freely. Place the sash in the
opening with its inside surface on a line with the inside face of the
two-by-four frame, as shown in Fig. 188, and nail a seven-eighths-inch
window-stop around the frame outside of the sash to keep the rain and
wind from entering.
[Illustration: FIG. 188.--Section through Window.]
[Illustration: FIG. 187.--Inside of Window.]
By hinging the sash to the top of the frame as shown in the
illustration, it can be swung up out of the way when opened. A
spring-catch should be screwed to the bottom rail of the sash with the
latch-pocket counter sunk in the window-sill, and from the knob of the
catch a cord should be attached and run through a screw-eye placed in
the wall near the ceiling. The sash can now be opened by pulling the
cord, and may be held open by looping the end of the cord over a nail.
Wooden buttons should be screwed to the inside edge of the jambs for
additional locks (see Fig. 187).
A sill should be set in the bottom of the door frame, and a
seven-eighths inch stop nailed to the top and to the jambs in the same
way as you finished the window opening.
[Illustration: FIG. 189.--A Batten Door.]
=Make a Batten Door=, fastening the boards together on the inside with
battens as shown in Fig. 189, with the nails driven through from the
outside face and clinched upon the battens. Hinge the door to the inside
face of the jamb with strap-hinges, and either buy an iron latch for it
or make the old-fashioned
=Wooden Latch= described and illustrated in the following chapter.
With the carpenter work of the house completed,
=Calk up the Cracks=, of which there will doubtless be a great number,
unless matched boards have been used for the walls. This may be done by
rolling pieces of newspapers into wads and wedging them into the cracks
with a pointed stick. Several thicknesses of wrapping-paper tacked over
the inside walls will help to prevent the wind from entering, and will
also make a good foundation for wall-paper should it be placed upon the
walls.
Earth should be banked up around the outside of the house to keep away
the water. Vines trained over the outside will help to hide the
roughness of the boards.
The club-house interior may be fitted up with furniture such as is
described in Chapter IV, "Suggestions for a Boy's Room."
CHAPTER XIV
HOW TO BUILD A LOG-CABIN
[Illustration: Boy Cleaning Dishes and Boy Cooking outside the Cabin.]
The log-cabin marks what might be called the beginning of American
architecture, for it was the first form of building built by white men
upon American soil. The introduction of saw-mills was very slow, and
lumber so scarce that cabins were the best shelter the colonists could
build to withstand the cold winters and the merciless attacks of
Indians. With the building of saw-mills, the cabin gradually gave way to
the frame building, which could be more quickly built, and which was, of
course, a more comfortable lodging. But this change first took place up
and down the large rivers, where the mills were located, and did not
extend into the interior until some time later, owing to the difficulty
of hauling lumber to great distances from the mills.
To-day the log-cabin is still to be found in the timber regions and
among the mountains, but mostly for temporary residences, such as summer
homes, camps, and play-houses.
[Illustration: FIG. 190.--Plan for a Boy's Cabin.]
You boys who spend the summer in the woods should not miss the
opportunity of building yourselves a small cabin. Several boys can join
forces, and in this way make the work easier and quicker to perform.
=Select a Site= on high ground, as near to your source of timber as
possible, and then decide upon
=The Design and Size to build it=, which will be determined largely by
the size and amount of timber you can procure. A plan for a cabin simple
in construction is shown in Fig. 190, and while the details have been
carefully worked out in this chapter for a cabin of this size, you will
find it a simple matter to make such alterations as you wish. For the
building of more pretentious cabins, the writer would refer his readers
to "Log Cabins and Cottages" as the most practical book published upon
this subject. In this volume its author, Mr. William S. Wicks, has not
only written upon the construction and treatment of cabins, but also
brought together a number of sketches showing a great variety of clever
designs that have been built in different sections of the country. In
carrying out the details of construction for the cabin described in this
chapter, the writer has made use of a number of ideas from this book,
through the courtesy of Mr. Wicks and his publishers.
Of course the most of
=The Material= for the cabin will be secured near at hand, but for a
good roof, and the finishing of the door and window openings, a few
boards should be taken along, together with several pounds of nails.
[Illustration: A BOYS' LOG CABIN.]
While it is customary to lay up the walls of a cabin and then cut the
door and window openings, you will find it a very much simpler matter to
leave the spaces for them when laying up the logs, as it greatly
decreases the number of long logs required to build the cabin. As the
inside dimensions of the cabin shown in the plan of Fig. 190 are ten by
twelve feet, the full-length logs--that is, those above and below the
window and door openings--should be thirteen feet long for the ends of
the cabin and fifteen feet for the front and rear walls.
=To start the Cabin=, stake out its length and breadth upon the ground,
clear the space of all trees and brush, and make the ground as nearly
level as possible. You will find it unnecessary to have a foundation for
a cabin of this size, as it will not settle to amount to anything.
[Illustration: FIG. 191.--The Lock-joint.]
Probably the most simple way of joining the logs together is what is
known as
=The Lock-joint.=--As shown in Fig. 191, a notch is cut in the logs
twelve inches from each end, so the surfaces of the logs will be brought
together when the ends are fitted over one another, as shown in the
drawing.
Select two fifteen-foot logs for
=The Sills=, and set them an inch or so into the ground, parallel to
each other and ten feet apart. Then after cutting the notches in two
thirteen-foot logs, fit them over the sills twelve inches from the ends.
The opening for the fire-place must be left in one end of the cabin, so
mark out upon the end log the width of this opening, which should be
five feet, and cut out this section of it. Then cut two boards three
feet long, the height of the fire-place opening, and nail them to the
ends of the log just cut. These boards form the jambs of the opening.
Locate a three-foot door opening in the centre of the front sill-log,
and saw along these lines to within two inches of the ground, cutting
out the piece between. The remaining two-inch piece will form the
door-sill. Two pieces of board six feet six inches long, the height of
the door opening, should now be cut for the door-jambs and nailed to the
ends of the sill-log in the door opening.
After testing the jambs with a plumb, such as is shown in Fig. 14,
Chapter I, to see that they are perpendicular, continue laying the side
and end logs alternately. Fit the logs between the jambs and nail the
latter to their ends, being careful not to get them out of plumb in
doing so. Above the fire-place the logs will, of course, be of full
length, and at a height of four feet four inches the windows will start.
Locate the window openings twenty-six inches wide upon the logs laid at
this height, the one opposite the fire-place in the centre of the wall,
and the others twelve inches from the corners. Cut the jambs twenty-six
inches long, and, after setting them in place, continue laying up the
logs, fitting the shorter lengths between the jambs as before.
[Illustration: FIG. 192.--Interior of Cabin.]
When the desired height of the walls has been reached, which need not be
more than seven feet, you will be ready
=To construct the Roof.=--There are several ways of doing this, but as
simple as any is that shown in Fig. 192, and in the illustration of the
finished cabin. In laying this form of roof the end logs are placed one
above the other, but each tier of front and rear logs is set in a little
farther than the preceding pair, until they finally meet at the peak of
the roof. The roofs of cabins are generally thatched or covered with
bark, shingles, or boards. The thatched roof is the most artistic, and
will last from ten to fifteen years when properly made; but unless the
straw is put on very thickly and closely woven, it is likely to leak. If
you use shingles and expose each four and one-half inches to the
weather, you will require about seven quarter-thousand bunches for a
roof of this size.
Boards will make the most simple and inexpensive covering. They should
be put on as shown in the drawing of the completed cabin, and in Fig.
192. A layer of boards is first nailed across the roof-supports four
inches apart, and other boards then lapped over these spaces and nailed
in place. The roof boards should project a few inches over the side
walls and gable-ends of the cabin. When all of the boards have been put
in place, it will be necessary to finish off the ridge with
=Ridge Boards=, to prevent water from leaking through the roof at that
point. As shown in Fig. 192, these consist of two boards nailed along
the ridge, and the edge of one nailed to the edge of the other.
It is not advisable to build
=A Log Chimney and Fire-place= with the intention of using it, for
unless the work is very carefully done and kept in repair, there is
always danger of setting fire to the cabin. But, nevertheless, it should
be built, as it belongs to a cabin and adds greatly to its picturesque
appearance.
With large logs build up the chimney to a height of five feet, or two
feet above the fire-place opening, in the same manner as you did the
cabin walls, fitting the ends against the logs of the main structure.
When this has been done sink a number of stones in front of the
fire-place for a hearth, as shown in Figs. 190 and 192, and also line
the bottom of the fire-place with them. Then mix up some clay and line
the back, sides, and jambs of the fire-place with it from ten to twelve
inches thick, packing the clay until it becomes solid. The upper part of
the chimney should be made of smaller logs and sticks, and the inside of
the flue lined with clay as the work proceeds. The exterior of the
chimney will be seen in the illustration of the finished cabin.
When the construction of the cabin has been completed,
=Calk all the Spaces= between the logs with clay and moss, to keep out
the weather, using a pointed stick for this operation; and grade the
ground up to a point just below the line of the door-sill all around the
cabin, so that no surface-water will run within.
The finishing of the interior of the cabin now remains to be done. By
omitting a wooden floor the cost of material will be reduced
considerably, and there is really nothing objectionable to
=A Mud Floor= if it has been properly prepared. The earth should be
thoroughly dried out and packed down until hard and compact, and
slightly banked up around the walls.
The sills and heads of
=The Window Openings= and the head of the door opening should be cased
with boards the width of the jambs. If you can secure sash for the
windows, hinge them to the inside edges of the jambs as shown in Fig.
190, and nail a seven-eighths-inch window-stop around the jambs outside
of them, to prevent the wind and rain from getting in around the sash
(see Fig. 193). If sash cannot be obtained, wooden shutters made to fit
the opening will do very well, as they can be used at night and whenever
you wish to close up the cabin, and when you are within the cabin in the
summer you will want the windows open.
[Illustration: FIG. 193.]
After cutting boards of the proper length for
=The Cabin Door=, fasten them together with battens placed at the top,
bottom, and centre (see Fig. 194). Then hinge the door to the inside of
the jamb with either iron strap-hinges or
=Wooden Hinges= such as are shown in Fig. 194. To make a set of wooden
hinges, first cut three blocks of wood four or five inches long and nail
them to the cabin wall on a line with the three door battens (see _A_,
_B_, and _C_ in Fig. 194). Then prepare three pieces of wood eighteen
inches long and two inches wide, and bore a small hole through one end
of each, as shown at _D_ in Fig. 195. When these have been made, nail
them to the door above the battens so that when the door is put in place
their ends will rest on blocks _A_, _B_, and _C_. Locate the holes in
the eighteen-inch strips upon _A_, _B_, and _C_, and bore holes through
the blocks at these points, after which set the door in place and fasten
the arms of the hinges to the blocks, either with bolts, as shown in
Fig. 194, or with hardwood pegs cut to fit the holes.
[Illustration: FIG. 194.--The Cabin Door.]
[Illustration: FIGS. 195-199.--Details of Cabin Door.]
You will find the old-fashioned
=Wooden Latch= and latch-string a very good and serviceable fastening
for a cabin door, the details for the making of which are shown in Figs.
194, 196, 197, 198, and 199. It consists of three pieces of wood,--a
strip two feet long and two inches wide for the latch, with the ends
rounded and a hole bored through it at _E_ and another at _F_, as shown
in Fig. 196; a guard cut similar to Fig. 197, with a slot in it about
three and one-half inches long and one inch deep; and a catch similar to
Fig. 198, with its upper edge rounded so the latch will easily slide
into the slot. With the pieces thus prepared you will find it an easy
matter to fasten them in the places shown in Fig. 194. The catch is set
into the jamb of the door as shown in Fig. 198, the latch is screwed to
the door at _E_, and the guard is fastened over the latch in the
position shown in Fig. 194.
=The Latch-string= is fastened to the latch at _F_, and run through a
hole bored in the door above the top batten. To the outside end of the
latch-string attach a weight of some kind to keep it from pulling
through the hole (see Fig. 199). To lock the door from the inside, you
will find a wooden button screwed to the door at _G_ (Fig. 194) very
good, as it prevents the latch from being lifted, when turned against it
as shown in the illustration. As in the case of the windows, a
seven-eighths-inch stop should be nailed to the door head and jambs
outside of the door, for the door to swing against, and to keep out the
rain and wind (see Fig. 193).
You will have need of but few pieces of furniture within the cabin, and
those can be made very simple, out of material at hand.
=A Mantel-shelf= out of a board five feet long should be fastened above
the fire-place by means of three triangular brackets, and it is a good
idea to make your
=Provision Cupboard= to sit upon this, as shown in the drawing of the
cabin interior (Fig. 192). Use a couple of the boxes in which you bring
your camping outfit for this. Set them side by side, as in the
illustration, place a shelf or two within them, and, after battening the
cover boards together, attach them to the ends of the boxes with hinges
cut out of leather.
On each side of the fire-place a comfortable
=Rustic Seat= should be built in as shown in Figs. 190 and 192. The
drawings clearly show the construction of this. The two legs are driven
well into the ground, and a crosspiece is nailed to their tops to
support the sticks forming the seat. Make the top of the seat about
eighteen inches above the ground.
While a very comfortable bed may be made upon the ground out of pine
boughs, it is well to have at least
=Two Bunks= for guests, who are almost certain to pay you a visit to see
what kind of a time you are having, and perhaps test your cooking. These
bunks may be double-decked and placed in the corner where they will be
pretty well out of the way (see Figs. 190 and 192). Two six-foot poles
should be driven into the ground about thirty inches from the wall, and
two cross poles notched and fitted on to them as shown in Fig. 192, one
six inches above the ground and the other three feet above that. Cut a
number of sound sticks about three feet long and drive one end of each
between the logs of the wall and fasten the other end to the crosspiece
opposite. These sticks should be placed about three inches apart. In
putting up this framework make everything very strong and solid, to
prevent any mishaps to the occupants. The bunks should now be covered
with pine boughs, cut into small pieces and spread over the sticks
evenly and to a depth of two inches. When these have been properly
placed, spread a doubled quilt or blanket over them, and the bunks will
be completed.
[Illustration: TWO SIMPLE CABINS.]
As we decided not to use our fire-place for fires, owing to the danger
of setting fire to the cabin through some defects in the workmanship, or
the cracking of the clay lining, build your camp fire-place outside of
the cabin. You will find it more enjoyable to also eat in the open when
the weather permits, so build
=A Camp-table= between the trees for this purpose. It may be made out of
two eight-inch boards fastened together on the under side with battens,
and supported at one end on a cleat nailed across the trunk of a tree
and at the other on two poles driven into the ground. The height of this
table will be determined by the height of the boxes, stools, or whatever
you use for seats. It is a simple matter to make a long rustic seat on
each side of the table, and if this is done make them eighteen inches
high and the table twelve inches higher.
Those of you who have camped have probably had enough experience to know
what utensils and provisions are required, but
=A Few Pointers= may be profitable to the boy who has never been
initiated into camp life.
=Utensils= of the commonest kind should be taken along. An old
frying-pan, a coffee-pot, two water pails, a tin pan and wash-basin, tin
plates and drinking cups, some old spoons, knives, and forks, a
can-opener, and a jack-knife are about all you will be in need of. Among
=Other Necessities= are blankets, towels, dish-cloths, rags, soap, rope,
and string, matches, a lantern, and an axe, a saw, and nails.
=For Provisions=, take as much canned food as possible, as it requires
but little preparation, is easily carried, and not likely to spoil.
Bacon and eggs are, of course, to be included in your list, as they
belong to a camper's bill o' fare, are very satisfying to a fellow's
appetite when he has returned to camp hungry after a day's tramp through
the woods, and a boy will have but little trouble in cooking them. Be
sure you know how to prepare whatever food you take along to cook,
before starting for camp, and don't experiment upon dishes you have
never attempted, or you will probably make a mess of your materials, as
is generally the case, the result of which will not be fit to eat.
Should there be fishing near the site of your camp, learn the proper
preparation of fish for your table.
CHAPTER XV
HOW TO BUILD A CANVAS CANOE
[Illustration: Boys Canoeing.]
Canoeing is a most delightful outdoor sport, and one of the healthiest
in which a boy can indulge during his vacation days. Its popularity can
plainly be seen by visiting any lake or stream, and noting what a large
percentage of the small craft dotting its surface are canoes of various
shapes and sizes, paddled by boys of all ages.
For speed and the ease with which it can be carried about, the
birch-bark canoe has no equal, but very few boys own them, as they are
expensive, and their construction is more difficult than those of other
material which will satisfy a boy fully as well.
The canvas canoe is more widely used at the present time than any other
form, which is no doubt due to the fact that it is very simple to make
and keep in repair, and the cost of its material is small.
In building a canvas canoe there are two important things to
consider,--its weight and strength. These depend upon the material used.
The framework must be made stiff enough to hold its shape, as the canvas
adds but little to its strength, and at the same time the wood should be
as light as possible. There are a great variety of
=Materials= from which to choose for building the framework, among which
basswood, ash, spruce, and pine may be classed. The canoe described and
illustrated in this chapter may have its ribs, ribbands, and gunwales
made out of lattice-strips and barrel-hoops, which will save the cost of
having them cut to the right size at a mill. Pine or fir lattice-strips
of good sound stuff are generally easy to obtain in all locations.
SIZES OF STRIPS AND PIECES REQUIRED
1 piece of 2-inch by 8-inch plank 6 feet long for bow and stern pieces.
15 2-inch by 3/8-inch lattice strips 12 feet long for ribbands,
gunwales, keel, and bilge-keels.
20 barrel-hoops for ribs and deck braces.
1 strip 8 feet long, 2 inches wide, and 1 inch thick for keelson.
2 strips 4 feet long, 2 inches wide, and 5/8-inch thick for deck ridge
pieces.
2 strips 8 feet long, 4 inches wide, and 1/4-inch thick for cockpit
frame and coaming.
Several 6-inch and 8-inch boards from which to cut deck beams, patterns,
etc.
Copper nails and brass screws should be purchased for fastening the
framework together, and copper tacks for putting on the canvas. Iron
nails will rust and break off, and therefore should not be used in any
part of the canoe's construction. Use nails only where their ends can be
clinched, and screws in all cases where this cannot be done. For
covering the framework, three and one-half yards of canvas forty inches
wide will be required for the lower portion, and the same amount thirty
inches wide will be required for the deck. Boiled linseed-oil should be
purchased for filling the canvas and the best grade of mixed paint for
painting it. A drab, or cream color and white trimmings, are both
suitable for a canoe. If the latter is used, buy white paint, and, after
pouring out enough to cover the finishing strips, mix the rest with
enough yellow ochre to make a pretty shade of cream.
Below will be found a bill of the material required to build a canoe
such as this chapter describes, and although the prices of canvas and a
few of the fittings are likely to fluctuate somewhat, the price of the
canoe should not exceed this amount, and there are locations where it
may be less.
BILL OF MATERIAL
3-1/2 yards No. 10 Duck, 30 inches wide, 27 cents $0.95
3-1/2 yards No. 10 Duck, 40 inches wide, 36 cents 1.26
1-1/2 pounds 1-inch Copper Nails,30 cents .45
2 pounds 3/8-inch Copper Tacks, 35 cents .70
2 dozen 3/4-inch Brass Screws (Flat Heads), 7 cents .14
6 dozen 5/8-inch Brass Screws (Flat Heads), 6 cents .36
3 dozen 5/8-inch Brass Screws (Round Heads), 6 cents .18
1/2 gallon Boiled Linseed-oil .25
1/2 gallon Best Quality Mixed Paint .75
15 Lattice-strips, 12 feet long .90
1 Piece of 2-inch by 8-inch Plank 6 feet long .20
Miscellaneous Strips and Pieces (see page 202) .50
----
Total cost $6.64
[Illustration: FIG. 200.--Bow and Stern Pieces.]
[Illustration: FIG. 201.]
Having procured the necessary material for the canoe, the first things
to make are
=The Bow and Stern Pieces= (see Fig. 200).--The proper way of laying
these out on the eight-inch plank is shown in Fig. 201. First cut the
plank in half, and then place these two pieces side by side upon the
floor or work-bench as shown in the drawing one piece upon which to draw
the pattern, and the other upon which to locate the centre for drawing
the curves. Then square the line _AB_ across the planks, and locate the
points _D_ and _E_ on either side of it, by means of the measurements
given upon the drawing. The most satisfactory scheme for
=Drawing the Curves= is with a piece of cord, to one end of which a
pencil has been tied (see Fig. 201). With this as your compass, hold the
end of the cord at _D_ for a centre, and with a radius of ten and
one-quarter inches strike an arc cutting the line _AB_ as at _C_. _C_ is
now the required centre for drawing the curves. Drive a small nail into
the plank at _C_, and wind the end of the compass cord around it until
the correct length of radius is obtained (see drawing). Describe the arc
_DE_ with a radius equal to _CD_, or ten and one-quarter inches.
Then with a ruler lay off along the line _AB_ the distances for the
other arcs, as shown in the drawing. _FG_ will be two inches from _DE_,
_HI_ an inch and one-half from _FG_, and _JK_ an inch and one-quarter
from _HI_. Having located these points and described the arcs, draw the
lines _CD_ and _CE_, extending them so as to cut off the arcs, as in the
drawing. At the upper end of the pattern draw the line _LM_ one inch
from and parallel to _FD_. With a radius of an inch and three-quarters
and the centre _N_ describe an arc as shown in the drawing. At the lower
end of the pattern draw the line _OP_ two inches from and parallel to
_GK_, and the line _QR_ one inch from and parallel to _PK_. Having
carefully drawn out this pattern, turn over the plank and draw the same
thing upon it, locating the points exactly opposite one another, by
squaring lines across the sides and edge. Prepare the other piece of
plank similarly. To cut out the patterns, place them in the vise of your
work-bench, one at a time, and rabbet the surfaces between _DE_ and
_FG_, and _FG_ and _HI_, as shown in the section drawing, Fig. 202. This
done reverse the piece and do the same to that side. When these surfaces
have been trued up carefully, remove the piece from the vise and saw the
pattern from it. In doing this, first saw along the lines _DJ_ and _EK_,
and cut out the corners _FLMD_ and _PQRK_. Then follow roughly the
curves of lines _DE_ and _JP_, after which place the work in the vise
and trim them off nicely with a draw-knife, rounding the outer curve as
shown in Fig. 202. The portion _OQRG_ should be cut down to a plain
surface as shown in Fig. 200.
[Illustration: FIG. 202.--Section through Bow and Stern Pieces.]
With the bow and stern pieces completed, the most difficult part of your
work has been accomplished.
Now pick out the eight-foot strip procured for
=The Keelson=.--Square off the ends so that it is exactly eight feet
long, and then, commencing six inches from one end, lay off mortises for
the ribs (see Fig. 203). These mortises should be cut half an inch deep
and the width of the barrel-hoops, and their centres should be spaced
twelve inches apart.
[Illustration: FIG. 203.--The Keelson.]
In order to give the correct shape to the canoe in putting the framework
together, it will be necessary to make
=A Mould= similar to Fig. 204. Fasten together two boards about two feet
long with battens, as shown in the drawing, and with a piece of cord to
which a pencil has been attached describe a semicircle upon it, using a
radius of eleven and one-half inches. Saw out the mould carefully, and
in the centre of the bottom cut a mortise two inches by one-half for the
keelson to fit in.
[Illustration: FIG. 204.--The Mould.]
Everything should now be in readiness
=To put the Framework together=.--In order to give the keelson the
proper slope of one inch between its centre and ends, nail two blocks of
wood one inch thick to the work-bench eight feet apart, and rest the
ends of the keelson upon them. Then fasten the ends of the keelson in
the mortises cut in the bottom of the bow and stern pieces. Set the
mould which you have prepared over the exact centre of the keelson, and
fasten it in place temporarily. When this has been done take two
lattice-strips for
=The Gunwales=, and after locating the exact centre of each, screw them
at this point to the ends of the mould just below the top. Drive these
screws but part way in, as the mould is to be removed later on.
Commencing at the bow end of the canoe, draw the end of one gunwale to
the bow piece, and, after marking it the correct length cut it off so it
will fit nicely in the rabbet cut in the side of the bow piece. Then
screw the other end to the stern piece, after which attach the gunwale
on the opposite side in the same way (see Figs. 200, 205, and 206).
Now take the barrel-hoops which are to be used for ribs, and fasten them
in the mortises cut for them in the keelson, bending their ends until
they come inside of the gunwales. Then fasten them to the gunwales and
trim their ends so as to be even with the top of the canoe (see Figs.
205 and 206).
[Illustration: FIG. 205.--Top View of Canoe, showing Gunwales, Ribs, and
Ribbands in place.]
[Illustration: FIG. 206.--Side View of Canoe, showing Framework
completed.]
[Illustration: FIG. 207.--Top View of Canoe, showing Framework
completed.]
After fastening the ribs in place,
=The Ribbands= should be put on. Pick out eight of the soundest
lattice-strips you have, and fasten these at their centre to the sides
of the mould, placing four on each side of the keelson and spacing them
at equal distances. As the mould is only temporary, do not fasten the
ribbands to it securely, but drive in the nails part way.
Then, beginning at the bow, draw the ends of the ribbands to the bow
piece one at a time, and cut them off so they will fit neatly into the
rabbet. Screw them in place, being careful to space them as equally as
possible, after which attach the stern ends in the same way. Figure 205
shows the top view of the canoe at this stage of its construction.
[Illustration: FIGS. 208-211.--Details of Deck Beam and Ridge.]
=The Deck Beams= should now be made and put in place, one each side of
the cockpit, or fourteen inches from the centre of the canoe (see Fig.
207). At this point measure the exact distance between the gunwales, and
lay it off upon a four-inch board (see Fig. 208). The top of this piece
should be curved as shown in the drawing, and a mortise two inches wide
by five-eighths of an inch deep should be cut in the edge for the deck
ridge pieces to fit in. As a means of preventing the gunwales from
spreading, it is best to dovetail the ends of the deck beams into them
(see Fig. 207). Cut a tongue half an inch long and half an inch thick on
each end of the beams, as shown in Fig. 209, undercutting it slightly,
as in the drawing, to make it wedge-shaped. Then, having prepared the
ends, place the beams in the positions they will occupy in the
framework, and mark upon the top of the gunwales the shape of the
tongues. Mortise the gunwales at these points (Fig. 210), so the tongues
can be slipped into them and fastened in place. By examining the corners
of a drawer you will see clearly how the dovetail joint is made.
=The Ridge Pieces= are strips running from the deck beams to the bow and
stern pieces (see Figs. 206 and 207). For this canoe, they should be
made out of a strip two inches wide by five-eighths of an inch thick.
Cut them of correct length to reach from the mortises in the tops of the
deck beams to the mortises cut in the tops of the bow and stern pieces.
Mortises two inches wide and a quarter inch deep should be cut along the
top of these ridges, as shown in Fig. 211, to receive the deck braces.
Securely screw the ridges in place. Then cut twelve pieces of
barrel-hoops for
=The Deck Braces=, and fit them in the mortises made in the ridge
pieces. Screw these in place and bend their ends until they can be
fastened to the inside face of the gunwales. The curve of these braces
should be the same as that of the deck beams, so it will be possible to
put on the deck canvas neatly (see Figs. 206 and 207).
The space between the deck beams is left for
=The Cockpit=, the frame for which we are now ready to prepare. First
remove the mould, being careful that the framework does not spread in
doing so. Then cut two two-inch strips to fit between the deck beams,
and fasten one on each side of the cockpit two inches from the gunwale
(see Fig. 207). When this has been done take the strip eight feet long,
four inches wide, and one-quarter inch thick, procured for the cockpit
frame, and bend it around the opening, fastening it to the sides of the
deck beams and the side strips. The top edge of the frame should now be
shaved off with a draw-knife, so that it will be on a line with the deck
braces at every point (see Fig. 206). This is necessary in order to make
the curve of the deck around the cockpit the same as elsewhere.
The framework of the canoe is now completed, and should be painted and
left to dry before you go on with the rest of the work.
It is no easy matter to stretch
=The Canvas Covering= over the framework without having it wrinkle, but
with the help of a boy friend it can be stretched fairly even, and with
care and patience may be made to look neat.
Turn the framework bottom side up and, after finding the centre of the
forty-inch strip of canvas, lay it along the keelson from bow to stern.
Smooth it over the surface with your hands, and start a few tacks along
the keelson to hold it in place. As a means of keeping the canvas
stretched over the bottom of the framework while working upon it, attach
several weights to the edges; then, with your helper on the side
opposite you, commence at the middle rib and stretch the canvas down
that rib to the gunwales, starting a couple of tacks in the gunwales to
hold it in place. Then work along each rib from the centre of the
framework toward the bow, and then from the centre toward the stern,
stretching the canvas as tightly as possible, and driving tacks along
the gunwales not farther than one inch apart. You will find that the
only way to get the canvas on smoothly is by removing the tacks wherever
any wrinkles appear and, after restretching it, replacing the tacks. As
the tacks will probably have to be removed a number of times during the
operation, it is advisable to drive them in but a little way at first.
It is most difficult to make a neat job at the bow and stern, and a few
wrinkles will probably remain, no matter how much pains are taken in
fitting the canvas, on account of the narrowing of the canoe at these
points. Fill the outer mortise made in the bow and stern pieces with
paint, and, after folding the edges of the canvas, tack it in these
mortises. Place the tacks as close as their heads will permit, which,
together with the paint, will make a joint that water cannot penetrate.
Now examine the canoe carefully, and, if you have smoothed out the
wrinkles as much as possible, drive home the tacks and trim the canvas
close to the gunwales.
=The Deck= is much easier to cover. Spread the piece of thirty-inch
canvas over it from bow to stern, with the centre of the canvas running
along the centre of the deck, and place a tack in it at the bow and
another at the stern. Stretch the canvas in the same manner as when
covering the bottom of the framework, and lap it over the gunwales,
tacking it along the outer edge. Cut through the canvas at the cockpit,
and trim it off so there will be just enough to lap around the cockpit
frame. Trim the canvas along the gunwales so that it does not project
more than an inch.
After the deck has been covered, the canoe is ready for
=Painting=.--A coat of linseed-oil should first be applied to the
canvas, to fill the pores and make a good foundation for the paint. Then
allow the canvas to dry thoroughly, after which give it a coat of
paint,--cream, or whatever color you have selected. When this has dried,
rub it down with pumice-stone or fine emery-paper, and apply a second
coat.
All that now remains to complete the canoe is the attachment of the
cockpit coaming, the keel, bilge-keels, and the outside gunwales. Take
the strip eight feet long, four inches wide, and one-quarter inch thick,
which you procured for
=The Cockpit Coaming=, bend it around the frame of the pit, and cut off
the ends so they will join neatly. Then fasten it to the cockpit frame,
allowing two inches to project above the deck, and shave off the top
edge the same as you did the cockpit frame, so it will be two inches
above the deck at every point.
For a small canoe built for paddling only, it is unnecessary to have
anything more than a strip fastened to the bottom for
=The Keel=.--So cut a lattice-strip eight feet in length, and screw it
along the bottom of the keelson (see Fig. 212).
=The Bilge-keels= are lattice-strips fastened along the sides of the
canoe as a protection to the canvas, and should be attached directly
over the ribbands. One of these on the centre ribband of each side will
be sufficient (see Fig. 212).
[Illustration: FIG. 212.--The Canvas Canoe completed.]
For a finish to the upper edge of the canoe,
=Outside Gunwales= should be attached outside of the present ones. These
will cover the joint between the canvas of the deck and the lower
portion of the framework. All of these outside strips should be fastened
in place with the round-headed screws, after which they should be
painted. Figure 212 shows the canoe completed.
=A Seat= is desirable for the bottom of the canoe, for comfort as well
as to prevent your feet from wearing out the canvas. This seat should be
movable, so it may be taken out to drain the water from the bottom of
the canoe, and may be made as shown in Fig. 213. Batten together two
six-inch boards upon their under face and notch the two side edges to
fit over the ribs of the framework (see Fig. 207).
[Illustration: FIG. 213.--Seat.]
In order to keep your canoe in good condition, do not allow it to remain
in the water for any length of time when not using it, as the canvas
would soon rot by doing so. After a spin, pull it out of the water, and
turn it upside down to dry; then put it away under cover to remain until
again wanted for use.
With the greatest of care a boy will puncture his canoe once in a while,
so it is a good idea for him to know
=How to mend Punctures=.--There are several ways of doing this, but the
best is by either sewing a piece of canvas over the puncture and then
painting it with white lead, or daubing the canvas around the hole with
varnish, and then laying a canvas patch over it and varnishing it.
The making of a well-shaped paddle is no easy matter for an amateur to
accomplish, so it is advisable for a boy to procure
=A Hand-made Single Paddle=, such as can be bought for a dollar and a
half. This is generally made of selected spruce, with a copper-tipped
end, and is nicely finished. The length of the paddle will depend upon
the size of the boy who is going to use it, but should be between four
feet six inches and five feet.
It may be well to warn those who build canvas canoes about the ease with
which they are overturned. As long as the boy remains seated he is
perfectly safe, but the moment he attempts to change his position, he
need not be surprised if he receives a ducking. Upsets are common in
canoe-racing, and especially in a close finish, where one paddler after
another overbalances himself in his efforts to beat out his companions.
But these only add to the fun of such a race, and no harm is done if the
canoeist prepares for them beforehand by putting on his bathing suit.
CHAPTER XVI
HOME-MADE TRAPS
[Illustration: Boys Trapping.]
Trapping and trap-making is, and probably always will be, a pastime
which every boy enjoys. If he lives in the country or near the woods he
is sure to grow fond of the wild creatures around him, and spend some
time in following their tracks and watching their ways and habits. If he
is a city boy he may not have these advantages, but is probably just as
much interested in the study of birds and animals as his country cousin
is, and when the opportunity presents itself will slip off to the
nearest woods to spend the day with his little friends, and perhaps
carry one or two back home to share city life with him.
When boys wish to trap animals for pets, or for eating while camping, or
when they have become so numerous in a locality as to be a nuisance, it
can be considered clean sport; but as soon as they begin to trap and
kill them just for the fun of it, without deriving any good whatever
from the act, they are guilty of a great cruelty.
The various forms and schemes for home-made traps that have been
devised, and which are to be found in use by boys all over the country,
are countless, but there are of course a number of these which are more
effective than others, and some which have gained more favor among
boys. Several years ago the author wrote an article upon traps, and has
since been more than pleased to note the success boys have had in making
and using them. With a few additions, the same schemes have been
embodied in this chapter, and it is hoped that the several kinds of
snares and traps will prove as satisfying to the majority of boy
trappers. They are all simple to make, require but the material
ordinarily at hand, and are effective for most of the smaller species of
animals, and many varieties of birds.
[Illustration: FIG. 214.--Stick for the Figure-four Trap.]
[Illustration: FIG. 215.--The Figure-four.]
[Illustration: FIG. 216.--The Figure-four Trap set.]
One of the oldest forms of traps, and one of which every boy should
understand the construction, is
=The Figure-four Trap=.--It is about the simplest example, and its
principle will be found in the schemes of a great many of the more
complicated traps. For this the preparation of three sticks, such as are
shown in Fig. 214, will be necessary. These sticks may be made of any
length you wish, but their proportion should be about as shown in the
drawings. The illustrations show clearly how the sticks should be
notched, and how one end of the trigger should be tapered for the bait.
Fig. 215 will explain the manner in which these sticks are placed
together in the form of a figure-four. The rest of the trap consists of
a soap-or cracker-box with the cover hinged to it.
To set the trap, place the box upon the ground, cover down, and rest its
upper edge upon the top of the figure-four, as shown in Fig. 216. When
putting the figure-four together, it is necessary to hold the sticks
until the box is set upon them, as the weight is required to hold them
in position. For squirrels and rabbits, for which this trap is very
good, bait the trigger with a carrot, piece of apple, or cabbage leaf.
It is easy to see that the slightest nibble at the bait will disarrange
the sticks, and cause the box to drop over the game.
[Illustration: FIGS. 217-219.--A Box Trap.]
In Fig. 217 is shown an invention of the writer's, a simplified form of
the much-used
=Box Trap=, having the principle of the figure-four involved in its
trigger. This trap has proven exceptionally good for rabbits and
squirrels.
A small box about the size of a cracker-or soap-box should be procured
for the making of this trap. Remove one end, and, after nailing it to
the cover boards, hinge the latter to the end of the box, as shown in
the illustrations (Figs. 217 and 218). With no hinges at hand, the
writer has found several nails driven through the ends of the cover
boards sufficient to hold the cover while opening and closing it. Bore
two holes, one over the other, in the back of the box, and cut out the
space between. This makes a rectangular slot (see _D_ in Fig. 218). When
this has been done, take a stick about eighteen inches long, and, after
tapering one end, nail it to the box cover, allowing the tapered end to
project about nine inches. Then prepare a trigger twelve inches long,
similar to Fig. 219.
The trap is now ready to set, which is done by slipping the trigger into
the slot at _D_ and, after baiting it at _C_, catching the notch _B_ on
to the box at the top of the slot, at the same time fitting stick _E_
into the notch at _A_ (see cross section, Fig. 218). The weight of the
cover will now hold the trigger in place until "bunny," or some one of
his neighbors, attacks the inviting bait. Then the trigger will loosen
its hold at _B_, and cause the cover to fall over the intruder. A few
holes may be bored in the side of the box for ventilation, but these, as
well as the slot in the back, should be protected with tin, to prevent
your captive from gnawing the openings large enough to escape.
=The Dead Fall= is a trap commonly used for skunks, minks, muskrats, and
coons, and probably cannot be excelled as a means of killing off
destructive and annoying animals. Figure 220 shows a form of this trap
which has been successfully employed.
First make a pen out of stakes driven well into the ground in the form
of a wigwam. This is a guard for the bait, and should be open on one
side only, as shown in the illustration.
Place a short log in front of the opening, and at both ends of this
drive a stake against the outer face of the log, as shown in the
drawing. Then procure a log of the same diameter, and about six feet
long, and slip it between these stakes and the wigwam, so it falls upon
the first log. Cut a forked stick about twelve inches long for the
bait-stick, notching one end and tapering the other, as shown in Fig.
221, and cut another stick twenty-four inches long and flatten it at
both ends.
[Illustration: FIG. 221.--The Bait-stick.
FIG. 220.--The Dead Fall.]
To set the dead fall, raise an end of the upper log and slip one end of
the flattened stick under it, resting it upon the top of the stake
outside of the log. Place the bait-stick, point downward, inside of the
pen upon a chip of wood, and set the other end of the flattened stick in
the notch (see illustration). The bait-stick should now be in such a
position that the log above it will fall when the bait is tackled, and
strike its victim on the head or neck with sufficient force to kill it.
For baiting this trap, use some food of which the animal is particularly
fond.
[Illustration: FIG. 222.--The Coop Trap.]
=The Sieve Trap.=--This is a most simple form of trap, consisting of a
sieve and a short stick with which to prop up one side of it. Fasten a
long cord to the stick, and, after scattering grain beneath the sieve,
carry the end of the cord to a place of concealment to await the
appearance of some birds. As soon as these are attracted by the grain,
and begin feeding under the sieve, pull the cord and they will be your
prisoners.
=The Coop Trap=, shown in Fig. 222, can be used for trapping the larger
variety of birds. This is well known as an effective trap for wild
turkeys. It consists of a number of sticks piled up in the form of a
pyramid and tied together as shown in Fig. 222. Dig away enough of the
ground under one side of the coop to allow a bird to enter, and then
scatter some grain inside and a little in the entrance to attract the
birds.
[Illustration: FIG. 225.
FIG. 226.
FIG. 224.
FIG. 223.
A Rabbit Snare and Twitch-up.]
It may seem strange to the reader, but it is nevertheless a fact, that,
after entering the coop, a bird will try to fly out of the top, and will
remain there until starved to death, if not released, without attempting
to escape by the way it entered.
=A Rabbit Snare.=--This can be used to the best advantage after the
first snowfall, for the footprints of a rabbit are then easy to follow.
Bunny can be counted upon keeping in the same path to and from his
burrow, and a snare set in the centre of his path is pretty certain to
catch him before very long. The snare should be made of a piece of soft
wire about two feet long. Make a noose in one end about four inches in
diameter, and fasten the other end to a branch projecting over the path
(see Fig. 223).
This noose is commonly attached to what is known as
=A Twitch-up=, or a sapling bent down and held as shown in Fig. 224. One
of a number of schemes employed for holding the sapling in position is
here shown. Select a spot a few feet from a sapling, and there make an
enclosure about twelve inches in diameter. This should be made of
twelve-inch sticks driven into the ground in a circle, leaving an
opening of about six inches on one side. Drive a stake into the ground
on both sides of the entrance, and cut a notch in the outer face of each
about six inches above the ground (see Fig. 225). Find a twig somewhat
similar to the one in Fig. 226, and, after slipping it into the notches
and baiting the prong, fasten the noose and sapling to it. With the trap
thus set, a slight pull on the bait dislodges the crosspiece, and the
sapling springs up, jerking the animal into the air, and causing its
death almost instantly.
[Illustration: CAUGHT AT LAST.]
Ranchers of the Western plains and mountains are continually
experiencing severe losses from the attacks of wolves and coyotes upon
their live-stock, and to rid themselves from the nightly raids of these
animals requires unceasing warfare against them with traps. But the
wolf and coyote are very crafty fellows, and extremely keen-scented, so
that even professional trappers have trouble in capturing them, often
resorting to every scheme they can devise without success. Steel traps
are generally employed by the professional, as they are less cumbersome
and quicker to set than the home-made affairs. The traps are handled
with gloves, as the touch of the bare hands would be instantly detected
by the wary animals, and, after being placed in a circle around the
bait, are covered over with leaves and brush. In order not to leave
human footprints behind him, the trapper often sets them while mounted
upon horseback.
Not long ago, a trapper was hired by a rancher in New Mexico to capture
some Loboe wolves which had been making serious raids upon the cattle,
and one of his experiences while working there was somewhat laughable,
though probably not seen in that way by all the parties concerned. Using
a dead calf for bait, the trapper dragged it to a selected spot, and
there surrounded it by eight or ten traps, which he chained fast to
stakes, and carefully hid from view. Setting out to visit the traps as
usual, on the following morning, he mounted a knoll from which he could
see the location of the bait, and there plainly made out that a number
of his traps had been sprung and were occupied. But upon reaching the
spot, his surprise and disgust can be imagined when he found a dog in
one trap and a bad-tempered Indian held fast by the clutches of three
others. After releasing the captives, the trapper gathered from the
Indian's half-broken English that he had been riding by on the previous
night, and his dog had wandered from the trail and sprung a trap. He had
then dismounted to release the animal, but had not taken more than half
a dozen steps before his foot became clutched in a trap, the force of
which threw him forward, and, in trying to break his fall with his
outstretched hands, each became securely clutched in traps. Fortunately
no wolves made their appearance, and the couple were unharmed; but the
Indian no doubt spent a sleepless and uncomfortable night in the
position he was forced to occupy.
CHAPTER XVII
TOY GUNS, TARGETS, AND BOWS AND ARROWS
[Illustration: Boys at Target Practise]
[Illustration: FIGS. 227-230.--Examples of Ancient Guns.]
Some of the old war engines used in Europe before the introduction of
gunpowder were most ingeniously contrived, and were wonderfully
effective, considering that their projective force was obtained by means
of springs and levers. It is hard to find many good examples, as
authorities have badly confused them, but the writer has been fortunate
in securing drawings of what he believes to be pure types of the most
commonly used guns. These are reproduced on page 230, believing that the
average boy will be interested to see the kind of weapons that were
employed in warfare centuries ago. With a little study, the working of
these guns will be clearly understood without further explanation than
what is given upon the drawings. The catapult (Fig. 227) and the
trebuchet (Fig. 228) were used for storming fortifications, and each
hurled large stones. The trebuchet was a much later invented machine
than the catapult, and, being built on a much larger scale, was more
powerful. It is claimed that trebuchets were often built large enough to
hurl carcasses of horses into an enemy's fortifications. The ballista
(Fig. 229) was in reality a large cross-bow, built to shoot long, heavy
bolts or arrows. The illustration shows a form mounted upon wheels for
field service. The cross-bow (Fig. 230) was a weapon used by the
foot-soldiers of a number of European countries. It was in use in
England for some time, but, on account of the terrible wounds inflicted
by its short barbed arrows, was finally forbidden and superseded by the
long-bow.
[Illustration: FIGS. 231-233.--A Cross-bow.]
Some ideas for the making of toy shot-guns and pistols, worked by
springs and levers much the same as the ancient guns, will be
appreciated by the boy who is denied the use of firearms. The schemes
illustrated and described on the following pages will be found easy to
carry out, and such as will furnish enjoyment for many a day in the
woods or back-yard.
Figure 231 shows a new idea for
=A Cross-bow.=--The stock for this should be cut out of a
tongued-and-grooved board, with the groove running along the top, and a
mortise should be made at _A_ in which to set the trigger. This mortise
should be about two inches long and as wide as the thickness of the
board will permit, and is made by boring a couple of holes through the
stock at this point, and cutting out the wood between with a chisel.
Select a strong barrel-hoop for the bow, and fasten it at its centre in
a hole cut for it at _B_, driving a nail into it at _C_. The trigger
should be made similar to _D_ in Fig. 232. Cut block _E_ out of a piece
of tongued board, leaving the tongue to fit the groove in the gunstock.
Notch the bottom to fit over _D_ (see Fig. 233). Place a tack in each
side of the block, and run cords from them to the end of the bow. These
cords must be of such a length that the bow will bend almost to its
limit when block _E_ is placed over the trigger. A heavy rubber band
should be attached to the lower end of the trigger, and to a tack at
_F_. This must be strong enough to cock the trigger.
The cross-bow will shoot either pebbles or arrows, but the latter are
the most satisfactory.
[Illustration: FIG. 234.--Shingle Arrows for Cross-bow.]
=Shingle Arrows= are very good, as they shoot straight, and are so
quickly made as to be easily replaced by a fresh lot when lost or
broken. Mark them out as shown in Fig. 234, with the head at the thick
edge of the shingle and the tail at the thin edge, and cut them out with
your jack-knife. The head and tail are made flat on one side, so as to
lie flat in the groove of the gun.
=A Toy Pistol= can also be made out of a tongued-and-grooved board. Some
such shape as shown in Fig. 235 should first be drawn upon the board,
with the groove extending along the top. Cut this out with your
jack-knife, and make a mortise for the trigger. Cut the trigger similar
to Fig. 236, fastening it in place with a brad driven through it at _A_.
It will be noticed that the trigger is notched at both ends. These
notches are for a rubber band, which should be stretched from the upper
notch of the trigger, over the muzzle, and around to the lower notch, as
shown in the drawing. The rubber band lies in the groove in the top of
the pistol.
[Illustration: FIGS. 235-237.--A Toy Pistol.]
=The Bullets= for this pistol consist of pieces of cardboard cut into
small squares. To load the pistol, slip one of the squares through the
rubber band as shown in Fig. 237, so that it rests on top of the groove,
as shown in Fig. 235. Upon pulling the trigger the bullet will shoot out
of its position, and though naturally one might think the loop of the
rubber band would catch the card, it is not the case. The card frees
itself and travels in a straight line in the direction in which the
pistol is aimed. It is advisable to keep this pistol out of range of
your companions' faces.
=A Shot-gun= can be made on the same scheme as the pistol, by cutting a
stock the size of that used for the cross-bow (Fig. 231), and fastening
several rubber bands together to extend around the added length.
[Illustration: FIG. 238.]
=An Elastic Sling= made with a wire framework, as shown in Fig. 238, is
an improvement over the one made out of a tree crotch, as it is not
easily broken. About No. 12 wire, which is the thickness of eight-penny
nails, should be bought for this. With a pair of pincers, bend it into
the shape shown in the drawing, with loops at _A_ and _B_. Wrap the
handle with cord, and attach strong rubber bands to _A_ and _B_, with a
piece of shoe leather or kid glove set in between, at _C_.
[Illustration: FIG. 239.--A Barrel-hoop Target.]
A most satisfactory scheme for
=A Boy's Target= is shown in Fig. 239. It consists of a barrel-hoop,
fastened by means of staples to a wooden platform, as shown in the
illustration. Pack the inside of the hoop with earth which has been
moistened sufficiently to make it hold together, and place a piece of
paper over it, pasting it to the edges of the hoop. The paper will be
stretched as tight as a drumhead when dry. Five rings should then be
painted upon it, as shown in the illustration. Fasten screw-eyes in the
top of the platform, and hang the target by these wherever you wish to
use it.
By preparing several sheets of paper, a fresh piece may be pasted over
the hoop after one has been filled with holes. The earth will prevent
the paper from splitting, and will be soft enough for the end of an
arrow to stick into. Should the earth become too dry, it may be
moistened each time a new paper is put in place.
[Illustration: FIG. 240.--A Simpler Target.]
=A Simpler Target=, and a scheme which will answer a boy's purpose, if
he does not care to go to the trouble of making the hoop target, is
shown in Fig. 240. A circular piece of cardboard, with five rings
painted upon it, is tacked to the end of a broom-handle, and this is
stuck into the ground.
=Points are Scored= in target shooting as follows: Bull's-eye 9 points;
second ring, 7 points; third ring, 5 points; fourth ring, 3 points;
fifth, or outside ring, 1 point.
=The Bow and Arrow= is always popular with boys who are forbidden the
use of guns. Authorities claim that the best materials from which to
make bows are mulberry, sassafras, Southern cedar, black locust, black
walnut, apple, and slippery elm, in the order named; but if a boy
selects what appears to be a good sound piece of wood, with straight
grain, he has something which will suit the purpose.
[Illustration: FIG. 241.--A Boy's Bow.]
=The Length of the Bow= should be about the height of the person using
it. Figure 241 shows a five-foot bow, with the other proportions such as
are on makes to be found in the stores. Cut your piece of wood five feet
long, and, after placing it in the bench-vise, shape it down with a
draw-knife or plane until it is one inch wide by one-half inch thick at
the handle and three-quarters of an inch wide by one-quarter inch thick
at the ends. The bow can be made round on the inside or face toward the
archer, and flat on the outside or face away from the archer, or the two
faces may be made round. Cut a notch in the bow two inches from each
end, as shown in the illustration, from which to attach
=The Bow-string.=--A cord with as little elasticity as possible should
be used for this. If you care to spend the money for it, a good cotton
string can be purchased from a dealer in archery goods for twenty-five
cents. With a home-made bow-string, a loop should be made in one end and
bound with thread, as shown in Fig. 242. Slip the loop over the upper
notch, bend the bow until the centre of the string is about five inches
away from the handle, and attach the loose end to the lower notch by
means of a slip-knot similar to that shown in Fig. 243. The bow should
be sand-papered until smooth, and thoroughly oiled with linseed-oil. A
piece of velvet about three inches wide should be glued about the centre
for a handle.
[Illustration: FIG. 242.
Bow-string Ends.
FIG. 243.]
For a five-foot bow, cut
=The Arrow-shafts= twenty-four inches long and one-quarter inch thick.
Whittle them out of straight-grained strips of wood, round them nicely,
and cut a notch in the ends large enough to fit over the bow-strings.
It is not supposed that boys would care
=To Prepare Arrow-heads= of stone or bone as the Indians did, for there
are other schemes that are simpler to carry out. If the wood is
reasonably hard, the heads can be cut on the ends of the shaft, as shown
in Fig. 244. For target practice, a wire nail driven into the end of the
shaft, as shown in Fig. 245, with the head of the nail filed off and
pointed, has proven very good, and a thick piece of zinc or lead, cut
the shape of _A_ (Fig. 246) and set into a slot cut in the end of the
shaft, with cord bound around the shaft to hold the metal in place,
makes another excellent head. The metal points should be used only for
target practice, and then with proper care, to prevent injury to
yourself or companions.
[Illustration: FIGS. 244-246.--Schemes for Arrow-heads.]
=Feathering= is the next operation. Turkey or goose feathers are
generally used, but the former is considered the better of the two.
Strip off the broader side of the vane of three feathers, and glue them
to the shaft one and one-quarter inches from the notch, spacing them
equidistant from one another. One feather should be placed at right
angles to the notch. This is known as the cock-feather, and should
always point away from the bow when the arrow is shot.
=A Quiver= of some sort should be provided, large enough to carry a
dozen or more arrows, and this should be three inches shorter than the
arrows, so that their ends will project above the top. It may be made
out of any thick cloth, as shown in Fig. 247. A circular piece of
cardboard is placed in the bottom to which the cloth is sewed, and a
piece of heavy wire, bent into a circle, fits in the top to keep the bag
open. The quiver should hang on your right side, being suspended by
means of a cloth strap long enough to pass over the left shoulder.
[Illustration: FIG. 247.--A Quiver.]
=To Shoot= with the bow, take the position shown in Fig. 248, with both
feet flat upon the ground, and the heels in line with the target. Hold
the handle of the bow in the left hand and place an arrow on the left
side of the bow, slipping the bow-string into the notch and letting the
head of the arrow rest upon your left hand. Catch the bow-string with
the first three fingers of your right hand, so that the end of the arrow
comes between the first and second fingers, and draw the string until
the head of the arrow rests upon the left hand; then aim quickly and let
go of the arrow. By always taking the same hold upon your bow and arrow,
you will soon be able to know just where the arrow is going to strike.
The boy who has had the hobby of collecting Indian arrow-heads has no
doubt often wondered how they were made, and also how the bows and
arrows were prepared. The ways in which all uncivilized people do things
is interesting, and especially when it is remembered that they had but
raw materials with which to work and only such tools as they could make
out of stone.
[Illustration: FIG. 248.--Correct Position for Shooting.]
=The Indian's Bow= was made of different woods, and, though it varied in
shape and size, was generally about forty inches in length, so as to be
conveniently carried and handled on horseback. The bow-string consisted
generally of a deer sinew or a strand of deer-skin rolled or twisted,
and this was strung very tightly from a notch cut on one end of the bow
to a notch on the opposite end. Now, while an Indian generally made the
greater part of his weapons, there was always a warrior in the tribe who
was skilled in the art of arrow-making, and, as the preparation required
far more care than the bow, he was intrusted with this work. The
arrow-shaft was made of various woods, reeds being often used, as they
were straight and required but little cutting. Their lengths depended
largely upon that of the bows.
For the feathering of the shafts, wild turkey feathers were considered
best and used when they could be had, and these were attached to the
shaft with deer sinews.
[Illustration: FIG. 249.--Some Specimens of Indian Arrow-heads.]
A great variety of materials were used for arrow-heads, among which
flint, obsidian, horn of deer, claws of eagles, and the spurs of wild
turkey-cocks may be mentioned. Many of these are being picked up
annually in the mountains and on the plains, which were once the
battle-fields and hunting-grounds of the redmen, and in excavating for
building purposes they are frequently found. A few specimens of stone
heads showing a variety of the shapes and sizes used will be found in
Fig. 249. The preparation of these heads was usually left to the old men
who were unfit for any other work.
In making the flint head, the Indian made a loop in a piece of buckskin
which had been thoroughly wet in cold water, and then taking a piece of
flint, heated it, and with the strip of buckskin chipped off what was
not wanted until the head was of the correct shape and size. As
hornstone is more brittle than quartz, the heads made from that material
were broken and shaped by striking them against the latter. The stone
heads were attached to the shaft by means of sinews, generally from
deer. For hunting small birds, the Indians often made wooden
arrow-heads, hardening the wood by fire after shaping it.
CHAPTER XVIII
AN OUTDOOR GYMNASIUM
[Illustration: Boys Pole Vaulting and Shot Putting.]
With a little work, and a small outlay of money chiefly for
two-by-fours, and such boards as are specified in this chapter, a boy,
or club of boys, can construct and set up all the necessary apparatus
for an outdoor gymnasium. It is true a great many city back-yards are
much too small to accommodate all of the apparatus; but there is
generally a vacant lot in the neighborhood which you can obtain
permission to use. Those of you boys who are fortunate enough to spend
the summer months in the country have splendid opportunities for making
a complete gym and should not miss the chance to fit one up.
=A Horizontal Bar.=--A well-made horizontal bar requires a firm standard
which will not sway when swung upon. This is best attained by fastening
at least one upright to the side of the barn, the fence, or some other
stationary object. It is also very important to secure a strong bar free
from knots and cracks. Curtain-poles are frequently used by boys, but at
great risk, as there may be a dangerous knot lurking beneath the highly
polished surface that will break at a critical moment and cause them
serious injuries.
A four-foot hickory or ash bar can be bought from a dealer in sporting
goods for about a dollar and a half, but it will cost much less to have
a bar turned to the right shape and size at a planing mill. The diameter
of the pole should be an inch and one-half, and the ends should be two
inches square (see Fig. 250).
For the uprights procure two two-by-sixes nine feet long. Mark off a
square equal in size to the end of the bar, six inches from one end of
each, and cut out the wood with an auger. With a chisel trim the holes
square and large enough for the bar to slip through.
[Illustration: FIGS. 250-251.--The Horizontal Bar.]
Sink the lower ends of the uprights twelve inches into the ground, _A_
against the stationary object, whatever it may be, and _B_ directly in
front, at a distance equal to the length of the bar. Spike _A_ to the
abutting surface, and brace the base of _B_ with two two-by-fours to
make it solid (see Fig. 251). The tops of the braces should be mitred
against _B_, and the bottoms spiked to stakes driven into the ground, as
shown at _C_. To make it possible to adjust the bar to different
heights, holes may be cut in the uprights every foot or so, in which
case be careful to locate the holes exactly opposite one another.
It is well to have an old mattress beneath the horizontal bar as a guard
against injury in case of a fall. This also makes a splendid
=Tumbling Mat= for practising rolls, hand-springs, and wrestling. If a
mattress cannot be obtained, a few potato sacks stuffed with shavings or
excelsior will answer the purpose.
The most satisfactory scheme for making a pair of
=Parallel Bars= is shown in Fig. 252. To acquire the necessary firmness
without putting in bracing that would interfere with the performer, the
base of the apparatus should be set underground, as indicated by the
dotted lines in the illustration.
In height the parallel bars should be about four feet six inches, in
length seven feet six inches, and in width twenty inches between the
bars. This makes the uprights _A_, _B_, _C_, and _D_ six feet long,
allowing eighteen inches to project into the ground. Prepare one end of
each as shown in Fig. 253, notching it for the bar to fit in and cutting
off the corner.
[Illustration: FIG. 252.--The Parallel Bars.]
When this has been done, cut four two-by-fours twenty-eight inches long.
Then lay the uprights _A_ and _B_ on the ground twenty inches apart, and
spike two of the two-by-fours to them at _G_ and _H_ (see Fig. 254).
Uprights _C_ and _D_ should be similarly fastened together with the
other two-by-fours at _I_ and _J_ (see Fig. 252). When these frames
have been made, set them upon their bases six feet apart, and spike the
two-by-fours _K_ and _L_ to the uprights in the places shown in Fig.
252, with braces set between them and the pieces _H_ and _J_, at _M_,
_N_, _O_, _P_ (see Figs. 252 and 255).
[Illustration: FIG. 256.--Section of Bar.
FIG. 253.--Dress Ends of Uprights like this.
FIG. 254.
FIG. 255.--Corner Bracing.
FIGS. 253-256.--Details of Parallel Bars.]
The bars should be seven feet six inches in length, and cut out of
Georgia pine two-by-fours. Figures 252 and 256 show how these should be
dressed, the tops rounded to fit the hands and the ends curved. First
roughly shape them with the draw-knife, then smooth up with the plane,
and finally scrape and rub them down with sand-paper until perfectly
smooth. When the bars have been prepared, slip them into the notches cut
in the uprights, and spike them in place.
With the constructive work done, it is only necessary to bury the base
to complete the apparatus. Excavate a trench eighteen inches deep, and
level off the bottom. Then lower the framework and, after determining
that the bars are level, fill in the earth, packing it well against the
uprights and braces. Boards _E_ and _F_ should be laid across the top of
_G_ and _I_, and spiked in place.
=The Punching-bag Platform=, illustrated by Fig. 257, should be made
thirty inches square and suspended from the shed or a wall.
Nail a thirty-inch piece of two-by-four to the wall, two feet above the
height at which the platform is to be placed, as at _A_ in the drawing,
and nail another on a level with the top of the platform, as shown at
_B_.
Fasten the platform boards together with battens, using nails long
enough to clinch on top of the upper face, and nail the two boards _C_
and _D_ to the edges, mitring the edges as in the figure. Then lift the
platform to the desired height, and fasten the ends of _C_ and _D_ to
the ends of _A_. Also nail the bottom of the platform to the under side
of _B_.
A swivel such as shown in Fig. 258 can be bought for forty or fifty
cents, and one of these should be screwed to the bottom of the platform,
from which to suspend the punching-bag.
[Illustration: FIG. 257.--A Punching-bag Platform.]
=A Pair of Jump Standards= are made out of two two-by-fours about eight
feet long. After planing them smooth on all sides, measure off two feet
from one end of each, and mark off the remaining six feet in inches, as
shown in Fig. 259.
After squaring these divisions across the poles with your try-square,
bore holes three-eighths of an inch in diameter through the poles at
each division. Then, with a small brush and black paint, mark off each
foot with a band extending around the pole, each half foot with a
narrower band, and each inch with a short line, as shown in the
drawings. Letter the foot divisions 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.
[Illustration: FIG. 262.
FIG. 260.
FIG. 261.
FIG. 259.--The Jump Standards completed.
FIGS. 259-262.--Details of Jump Standards.]
When both standards have been finished, bury them in the ground to a
depth of thirteen inches, eight feet apart. Cut two wooden pegs similar
to Fig. 261 to fit the holes, and procure a nine-foot pine or hickory
pole one inch thick for a cross-bar (see Fig. 260). When the bar is
placed upon the pegs, the distance from its top to the ground should
correspond with the figure on the upright. If not the same, raise or
lower the uprights until the error is corrected.
With a pair of these standards there is no danger of injury by tripping
over the bar, as the latter will fall off with the slightest knock.
There is one disadvantage in using a stick, however, it being easily
broken if jumped upon. Because of this, a rope with a weight attached to
each end, as shown in Fig. 262 is often substituted. The ends of the
rope are hung over the pegs in such a way that it will slip off the pegs
when struck. The weights should be just heavy enough to prevent the rope
from sagging in the centre.
=A Vaulting Pole= should be made of a strong wood, free from knots and
other defects. The regulation pole is made of selected spruce, its
length varying from eight to fourteen feet. If you make your own pole,
be careful to plane off all splinters and irregularities, making it
round and smooth, and point one end so it will stick into the ground and
prevent slipping.
Although seldom used in an outdoor gymnasium,
=A Spring-board= is excellent for practising the high and broad jumps,
and is a piece of apparatus with which a great deal of fun may be had.
Figure 263 shows a scheme for a spring-board that is easy to make. First
cut three pieces of two-by-four two feet long, lay them on the ground
parallel to each other eighteen inches apart, and construct a platform
four feet long by two feet wide on top of them.
[Illustration: FIG. 263.--A Spring-board.]
[Illustration: FIG. 264.]
Cut another two-by-four two feet long, taper it as shown in Fig. 264,
making it two inches thick on one edge and an inch and a quarter on the
other, and nail it to one end of the platform. Secure a log two feet
long (a cedar fence post will do very nicely), and fasten it across the
centre of the platform parallel to the two-by-fours. The upper portion
of the spring-board should be made of elastic boards, preferably ash.
Construct a second platform six inches longer than the first, leaving
about one-half inch between the boards, and battening the pieces
together at _A_ and _B_ (see Fig. 263). Nail the battens securely in
place, using nails of sufficient length to allow clinching on the under
face of the battens. The clinching will prevent the boards from
springing apart.
This platform should be fastened to the first, with the end which has
not been battened secured to the two-by-four at _C_. The best method of
fastening the ends of these boards is with bolts long enough to extend
through the two platforms and project an inch or more below the bottom
two-by-four (see illustration). Large washers should be placed under the
heads of the bolts to prevent the latter from cutting through the
boards.
The upper platform should not be nailed to the log, but merely held to
it by straps passed diagonally around the outside boards and log, as
shown in the illustration.
Set the spring-board upon the spot you wish to use it, and bank up the
earth behind it until a gradual slope is made from the ground to the
top.
If any difficulty is experienced in keeping the spring-board in place,
it may be overcome by driving stakes into the ground around the sides of
the lower platform.
After setting up your gymnasium apparatus, oil the bars of the
horizontal bar and parallel bars with boiled linseed-oil, and paint all
the rest of the wood to keep it in good condition.
=Hurdles= should be lightly constructed, so as to be easily knocked over
should a hurdler trip upon them. They are made similar to carpenter
horses, directions for the making of which are given in Chapter I. Their
height will depend upon the skill of the hurdler.
If the field is large enough,
=A Running Track= can be made around it, by levelling off the ground,
removing all stones and irregularities in its path, and banking up the
corners to enable the runner to turn the curves readily.
[Illustration: FIG. 265.]
=For Short Sprints= the most common method of starting is upon all
fours, as illustrated in Fig. 265. Make a depression in the ground for
the toe of the rear foot to press against in starting off.
=For Broad Jumping=, a block of wood two feet long should be sunk into
the ground, as a mark from which to leap.
It is a good plan to organize
=An Athletic Club= among the boys of the neighborhood with which to
raise money necessary to buy the material for apparatus, and
=Athletic Meets= may be held among the members and with other clubs.
CHAPTER XIX
A BACK-YARD CIRCUS
[Illustration: The Boy's Circus.]
Shortly after the founding of Rome, a large building was built within
which to hold commemorations of Roman victories and anniversaries, with
chariot races, bull-fights, gladiatorial contests, and athletic games;
and from this building, which was called the "circus," this class of
entertainment derived its name.
To keep up with the times, the circus has had to profit by every
scientific discovery, adding continuously to its line of attractions,
until now it is necessary for a show to produce a new, sensational, and
hair-raising feat each season in order to keep in the favor of the
public and compete with others in the field. The tight-rope walkers,
bare-back riders, and trapeze performers were not long ago the main
attractions of a circus, but these do not seem nearly as remarkable now
when compared with such daring feats as looping-the-loop or
looping-the-gap on a bicycle, riding down an incline on a single wheel,
or diving from the peak of the tent into a small tank not more than six
feet square, to be seen at the present day.
When a circus came to town, it seemed but natural for the boys of our
neighborhood to club together and arrange a performance on a small
scale, but as nearly like that of the professionals as possible. A
back-yard was transformed into training quarters, and here we worked
hard for several days before the show, imitating as best we could the
stunts of the circus performers. Because one fellow could walk on his
hands, and turn hand-springs, besides being the owner of a pair of
tights, he naturally became the chief attraction; another had a pair of
riding boots, so he was chosen ring master; a third made a bargain with
his sister to cut him out a cheese-cloth costume, and was chosen to take
the part of a clown,--and in this way each boy helped along the
performance by contributing his best efforts.
The most successful shows were those in which a week or more was spent
in rehearsing the performance and getting things in shape. Tickets and
programmes were neatly printed by one of the members who owned a press,
and the former were distributed among the boys and their friends to
sell.
The first thing to do in preparing a yard for a circus, is to
=Mark out a Ring= in the centre, with a diameter as large as the yard
will permit. This circle may be drawn on the same principle as that
shown in Fig. 201, Chapter XV, using a rope at either end of which a
stake has been attached. After describing the circle, secure several
six-inch boards sufficiently limber to enable you to bend them around
the circle, and fasten them in place by means of stakes driven into the
ground outside of the boards. The enclosed space should then be filled
in with several inches of shavings, which you can procure from a
carpenter if you have not enough in your own workshop.
=Good Circus Seats= can be made out of boxes eighteen or twenty inches
high, with planks laid across their tops.
To give the back-yard a real circus appearance, we always thought it
necessary not only to have a ring but also a tent over it and the
grandstand, so we gathered together all the old awnings, tents, and
carriage covers we could scrape up, and fastening these together with
pins or heavy thread made
=A Large Tent.=--A ten-foot pole was sunk into the ground in the centre
of the ring, and ropes were run from the top of this to the fence, after
which the tent was fastened to the ropes and propped with poles wherever
any sagging occurred.
Bright colored cheese-cloth was used
=In decorating the Tent=, and for evening performances Japanese lanterns
were hung about the yard.
[Illustration: FIG. 267.--Halving.
FIG. 266.--Ticket Office and Turnstile.]
=A Ticket Office= should be built at the entrance to the yard. This can
be made out of two boxes, one set on top of the other, as shown in Fig.
266. Cut an opening fifteen inches square in the front for a window,
round the top, and make a guard of wooden strips to fit it. Cut a slot
in the counter, fastening a box beneath it in which to drop tickets, and
for a cash drawer fasten strips to the under side of the counter, as
shown in Fig. 266, so that a cigar-box will slide upon them. To the top
of the ticket office fasten a board cut the shape shown in the
illustration, and print the word "Tickets" upon it. These letters may
be illuminated for an evening performance by boring holes through them
and placing candles behind (see Fig. 266).
=A Turnstile= should be made in front of the ticket office, so that all
are obliged to pay their admission fee and pass through the turnstile
before entering the tent (see Fig. 266; also illustration opposite page
268). The stile is made with two sticks about forty inches long fastened
together at their centres, as shown in Fig. 267. This joint, known as
=Halving=, consists in cutting away one-half the thickness and the width
of each piece so that the remaining portions fit together flush. After
nailing the pieces together, bore a quarter-inch hole through the
centre, and screw the crosspiece at this point to the top of a piece of
two-by-four driven into the ground in front of the ticket office. The
crosspiece should now revolve with the screw as an axis.
The turnstile should, of course, have a lock, and an arrangement similar
to that shown in Fig. 266 answers the purpose. Cut a slot in the front
of the lower box on a level with the top of the stile for the arms to
run through (see illustration), and then prepare four blocks, such as
_A_, _B_, _C_, and _D_ in Fig. 268. Screw one end of _B_ and _C_ to the
ends of _A_ and fasten block _D_ between the other ends of _B_ and _C_,
after which nail block _A_ to the under side of the counter in the
position shown in Fig. 266. Prepare a lever such as is shown in Fig.
269, cut a mortise in the top of the counter for it to fit in (see Fig.
266), and pivot it to the side of the upper box. Place a screw-eye in
the end of the lever and another in _D_, and connect the two with a
piece of cord. Figure 266 shows an arm of the turnstile held by the
lock, which is released by pushing back the lever. A railing should be
built in front of the turnstile to block the passage on that side.
[Illustration: FIG. 268.--Lock.]
[Illustration: FIG. 269.--Lever.]
=The Side Show= should be placed in one corner of the yard. The cages
can be made out of boxes with either slats or wire-mesh fastened over
the front, and the top or side hinged in place for a door. The animal
performers of the circus should occupy these cages before the show
commences, and to make the menagerie as large as possible, a few cages
may be filled with pets borrowed for the occasion. Several closed boxes
should be placed alongside of the cages, and lettered "Lion," "Tiger,"
or the names of some such ferocious animals as these, and the public
should be informed that for their safety the management thought it best
not to place these specimens on exhibition.
=Animated Animals= generally have a place in every circus, and help out
the clowns in their end of the performance. The animals are not
difficult for handy boys to make, so several should be manufactured for
your show. If you can get your mother or sister to do the necessary
sewing, it would be well to secure her help.
=The Elephant= is one of the oldest forms of animated animals, and is at
the same time one of the most popular. Four or five yards of gray
cambric should be purchased for its covering.
[Illustration: FIGS. 270-271.--The Elephant.]
The cloth should be cut out like the pattern shown in Fig. 270, the
correct measurements being secured from two boys who have taken the
position shown in Fig. 271. Fold the cloth along the centre and then sew
the dotted lines _AA_ and _BB_ together. Paper cornucopiæ form the
tusks, and the ears are made of gray cambric cut the shape shown in Fig.
271, and lined with heavy wrapping-paper to make them stiff.
Two boys are required for the elephant. These must bend forward, as
shown in Fig. 271. The rear boy places one hand upon the front boy's
back and wags the tail with the other, while the front boy runs one hand
through the elephant's trunk and keeps it in motion. Fasten potato sacks
on to your legs to make them as large as possible.
=The Giraffe= is one of the rarest of animals, and very few are to be
found in captivity. In fact, a large circus claims there is only one
specimen in this country, outside of a herd in their possession. So if
you make a giraffe, which is not difficult to do, you will have a
feature in your show that none but the very largest combines can afford.
The animal's head should be drawn the shape of Fig. 272 on a board, and
then cut out with the aid of a saw and draw-knife. The jaw, ears, and
horns should be cut out separately, the shape of Figs. 273, 274, and
275. Bore two holes in the head at _A_, slanting them toward one
another, and fit in them the pegs cut for the horns. The jaw should be
pivoted with a small nail at _B_ on one side of the head, and an ear
should be likewise fastened at _C_ on each side of the head. When these
portions of the giraffe's anatomy have been put in place, stretch a
rubber band from a tack driven in the top of the jaw to another tack
driven into the neck (see Fig. 272), and attach another rubber band
similarly to each of the ears. These rubber bands will act as springs,
causing the ears to wag and the jaw to open and close when the giraffe
moves his head.
[Illustration: FIGS. 272-276.--Details of Giraffe.]
Paint the head, making the features as nearly like those of a giraffe as
possible, and, when the paint is dry, mount the head on the end of a
six-foot pole.
[Illustration: FIG. 277.--The Giraffe's Tail.]
The covering for the body is made out of a large piece of tan cloth with
brown spots marked upon it, as shown in Fig. 276. It is not necessary to
give a pattern for this, as the illustration clearly shows how it should
fit over the two boys who form the body, and hang from the headpiece.
The neck should be stuffed out with excelsior. A short and a long stick
should be nailed together, as shown in Fig. 277, and cloth should be
sewed to the end of the short stick for the animal's tail. Stuff the
tail with excelsior and fasten unravelled rope to the end, as shown in
the drawings. The long stick should be held by the boy who forms the
rear of the animal, so that by means of it he can manipulate the tail
(see Fig. 276). As shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 276, the boy in the
front portion of the animal holds the end of the pole supporting the
animal's head.
[Illustration: FIG. 278.--The Wild Man and the Wild Horse.]
[Illustration: FIG. 279.--Framework of Wild Horse.]
[Illustration: FIGS. 280-282.]
An animated animal very often brought into a circus ring is the
two-legged
=Wild Horse=, owned by the Wild Man of Borneo. This breed of horse is
shown in Fig. 278. A framework is necessary for the body, and this is
best made as shown in Fig. 279. Cut two four-foot strips for the
side-pieces, fasten them two feet apart, with a barrel-hoop at either
end and arch barrel-hoops over the back, as shown in the drawing. The
head (Fig. 280) is made in the same manner as that of the giraffe, the
jaws and the ears (Figs. 281 and 282) being cut out separately and
pivoted in place similarly to those of the giraffe. Paint the face,
marking the eyes and nostrils, and make a mane and tail of unravelled
rope. Having finished the head, mount it upon a short stick and fasten
this to a crosspiece set in the framework, as shown in Fig. 279, bracing
it with an upright fastened to another crosspiece. In fastening the
various pieces of the framework together, it is well not only to use
long enough nails to clinch, but also to bind each joint with wire or
cord to make it stiff.
Purchase brown or black cambric for covering the framework. Tack it to
the wooden strips, leaving an opening in the top for the rider to stand
in, and allow it to hang to the ground as shown in the illustration, so
as to conceal the feet of the rider.
[Illustration: FIG. 283.--"Jocko."]
=The Wild Man= should wear an old slouch hat and a hunting jacket, and
should have a pair of false legs fastened to him, so that while his own
are inside the framework, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 278, they
appear to be astride. To make the false legs, cut off the legs of an old
pair of long trousers, stuff them with excelsior, and fasten a pair of
shoes to the ends. These legs should be fastened to the hips of the
rider. The framework should be held to the rider by means of ropes tied
to the side strips, as shown in Fig. 279. These should be long enough to
cross the boy's shoulders in the same way as a pair of suspenders.
[Illustration: FIG. 284.--Jocko's Hat.]
=A Monkey's Make-up= is shown in Fig. 283. The boy who is most apt at
making a monkey of himself should be selected to take the part of this
animal. In the first place he requires a red suit, which may be made
quickly by sewing red cloth over an old coat and a pair of trousers.
Cover the legs with a pair of tan stockings, and slip the feet into a
pair of large gloves. The face and hands should be colored, and for this
purpose buy some brown grease paint. In rubbing the paint over the face,
leave a circle of white around the eyes and mouth, and make a brown mark
each side of the mouth to give it a broadened effect. A tight-fitting
cap should be made of cloth as nearly the shade of the brown paint as
possible, to hide the hair. Figure 284 shows the monkey's hat,
consisting of a tomato-can covered with red cloth, which is fastened
around the monkey's chin by means of an elastic cord. A piece of rope
can be fastened beneath the coat for a tail.
=The Ring Master= should wear a high silk hat, a stand-up collar, and a
pair of boots, besides being supplied with a long whip.
=The Clown's Suit= is best made out of red and yellow cheese-cloth, this
material being about as cheap as can be bought for the purpose. The suit
consists of a pair of baggy trousers or bloomers, with elastic around
the waist and ankles, a loose coat with large buttons, a collar, a
skullcap, and a hat. Make the buttons out of red cheese-cloth and stuff
them with cotton. The coat may be made of red and the trousers of yellow
cheese-cloth, or both may be made of yellow with red polka dots sewed on
to them, as shown in the illustration of his costume (Fig. 285). The
collar is made of white cloth, lined with paper to make it stiff, and
should be pleated around the neck to form a ruffle. A skull cap should
be made out of white cloth to hide the hair. Make a peaked hat of stiff
paper, and cover it with red cheese-cloth.
[Illustration: FIG. 285.--The Clown's Make-up.]
[Illustration: THE BACK-YARD CIRCUS.]
When making up for a performance, the clown should powder his face,
neck, and hands with magnesia, and draw expression marks upon his face
with burnt cork, as shown in Fig. 285.
=The Attendants= for the elephant and giraffe should wear old bath robes
or gowns, and have turbans made by twisting a piece of red cheese-cloth
about the head.
By visiting any circus and closely watching how things are managed, it
ought to be a simple matter to get enough
=Ideas for a Performance= that can be carried out with the animals and
performers described in this chapter. The clown should, of course, have
his usual supply of jokes, which he can get out of the comic papers, and
should do his best to annoy the other performers. He should make himself
=A Slapper=, consisting of two sticks with a block slipped between at
one end. This will produce a great deal of laughter among the audience,
for when the slapper is struck against a performer the ends of the
sticks strike together, making a loud, cracking noise, and one would
hardly believe that a stinging blow had not been dealt. The clown
attempts the tricks of the other performers, but always fails or gets
them very badly mixed.
A startling feat to be announced upon the programme will be
=Looping the Hoop on a Giraffe.=--This stunt is performed by the
elephant, who is given a number of barrel-hoops, which he tosses by
means of his trunk over the giraffe's outstretched neck. The elephant
and giraffe should always be entered in a race, which will prove
exciting, inasmuch as your specimens will be evenly matched.
The monkey may do almost anything and be amusing. Swinging upon a
turning-pole, teasing the animals, boxing with the clown, and climbing a
rope, are all his specialties. Then he should have
=A Chariot= within which to ride around the ring. This can be made out
of a soap-box, as shown in Fig. 286. Cut down the sides, as in the
illustration, attach two shafts to the bottom, and mount it upon a
couple of small wagon wheels. When this has been done paint the wood a
bright red, and cut stars of different sizes out of gilt paper and glue
them all over the outside.
[Illustration: FIG. 286.--Jocko's Chariot.]
The ring master acts as manager of the performance, and should use his
whip unsparingly upon the animals, to force them into obedience.
If a boy can turn upon a turning-pole, an apparatus such as is described
in Chapter XVIII may be set up outside of the ring.
Before performances, the entire circus--animals, acrobats, and
showmen--should parade about the neighborhood in circus attire. We
always made the
=Parades= a feature of our circuses, and found them not only great
sport, but the best kind of advertising. The animal cages should be
placed upon wagons decorated with flags. Head the procession with a
couple of drummers, and have two boys march in the rear carrying signs
advertising the show.
=The Advertising Signs= may be painted with bluing upon large pieces of
manila wrapping-paper, and should be tacked on wooden stretchers mounted
on poles.
[Illustration: Circus Parade.]
CHAPTER XX
SUGGESTIONS FOR FOURTH OF JULY
[Illustration: Boy Startled by Fire-cracker and Lanterns on Kite-string.]
As most boys probably know, the first Fourth of July celebration took
place in 1775, following the signing of the Declaration of Independence
in Independence Hall, Philadelphia. When the old bell rang forth the
result of the meeting of the Continental Congress, citizens gathered in
the streets and displayed their great joy by shouting, beating drums,
and firing muskets. The news spread very rapidly, and great rejoicing
reigned everywhere. It soon became a custom to celebrate annually this
famous event, and it should be every boy's privilege to have a
rollicking good time upon this day, making as much noise as he pleases.
When the average boy has bought a few sky-rockets, Roman-candles, and
cannon-crackers, for the Fourth, he generally finds, to his sorrow, that
he has run out of pocket money. It is then that he is very apt to want
to try his hand at making pyrotechnics. There are many publications
which describe how amateurs may manufacture Roman-candles, sky-rockets,
nigger-chasers, and such pieces, but it is hoped that no boy will
venture to carry out any such experiments, for, with the greatest of
care, unforeseen accidents will occur which may result disastrously to
him. At the same time, there is no economy in it, for the apparatus and
materials will generally cost him more than to buy the fireworks ready
made. This is also true of colored lights, for which there are many
simple formulæ, but none of which can be made up as cheaply as the
powders can be bought already prepared.
There are, however, many things a boy can make for the Fourth that are
perfectly harmless, such as fire-cracker cannons and home-made
set-pieces, besides different schemes for firing crackers and fireworks
that he can carry out. The suggestions offered on the following pages
will be found interesting, and they will probably suggest other ideas to
the inventive boy.
The store toy cannon and cap-pistol are exceedingly dangerous for boys
to use, and were all cities to pass laws forbidding their sale, as in
the case of a great many of the larger cities, thousands of young lives
would be saved from the terrible accidents resulting annually from
celebrating with these toys.
In Fig. 287 is shown
=A Fire-cracker Cannon= with which a boy can have a great deal of fun
and at the same time with no danger of injury. Cut the two gun-stocks
similar in shape to Fig. 288, and the two wheels four inches in diameter
(Fig. 289), after which bore holes in the gun-stocks at _A_, and in the
centres of the wheels, through which to run the axle. Procure a
baking-powder can and make a couple of holes in the sides for the axle
to run through (Fig. 290), and one in the bottom of the can the size of
a fire-cracker fuse. Cut a conical piece of wood about two inches long
and nail it to the outside of the can cover as shown in Fig. 291.
[Illustration: FIGS. 287-291.--A Fire-cracker Cannon.]
When the various pieces have been thus prepared, place them together as
shown in Fig. 287, and slip a piece of heavy wire through the holes made
in them, and bend over the ends of the wire to hold the wheels in place.
=To fire the Cannon=, place a cracker in the can with the fuse
projecting through the hole in the bottom, and fit the cover over the
can. Then light the fuse. The exploding cracker will force off the
cover, which is the projectile, and hurl it a considerable distance in
the direction the cannon has been pointed.
=A Toy Mortar= may be made similarly, with the exception of the carriage
or mortar-bed. Figures 292 and 293 show the details for this, which is
different from a regular mortar, one end being enclosed for an
ammunition box. Make a cover for the ammunition box to prevent sparks
from igniting the packages of crackers, using pieces of leather for
hinges. As shown in the section drawing (Fig. 293), the mortar-bed is
mounted upon a small board, being held in place by means of a short
screw, which makes it possible to swing the mortar around in any
position desired.
[Illustration: FIGS. 292-293.--A Fire-cracker Mortar.]
These cannons and mortars will furnish sport not only for the Fourth,
but for any other day of the year, as they can be used by a crowd of
boys in
=Mimic Battles=, with paper soldiers. The boys should divide into
armies, and construct their fortifications about twenty feet apart,
planting the guns upon the works and placing the paper soldiers behind.
All paper soldiers knocked over are out of the game, and the side first
completely killing the enemy's garrison is, of course, the winner of the
day. These battles are always very exciting, especially toward the end,
when there are but a few warriors remaining. In order that the
projectiles may fit all the cans, it is necessary to have them all of
the same size.
[Illustration: FIG. 294.--Another Toy Cannon.]
=Another Toy Cannon= that is simple to make is shown in Fig. 294. For
this, buy a short piece of glass tubing at a drug-store and have the
druggist seal one end of it. Then secure a good-sized cork and cut a
hole through the side large enough for the tube to run through (see _A_
in Fig. 294). Cut out a pair of wooden wheels about three inches in
diameter, and fasten them to the ends of the cork with a pin or small
nail. Make the cannon shafts four inches long, point one end of each and
stick them into the cork at _B_ and _C_. The open end of the tube should
be at _D_ and the sealed end at _E_.
=To fire the Cannon=, slip a match into the open end of the tube with
the head toward _E_, and hold a lighted match at the closed end. As soon
as the heat ignites the phosphorus, the match will shoot out of the open
end of the tube.
=Firing Fireworks from Kites= presents a novel feature for a Fourth of
July celebration, the aërial display making a very pretty spectacle, and
the boy who sets off his fireworks in this manner will have something
different from the rest of the neighborhood.
[Illustration: FIG. 295.]
Figure 295 shows the manner in which a Roman-candle can be attached to a
kite-string. A piece of punk about an inch and one-half long should be
bound to the fuse of the candle, and as the fuse is rather short it is
necessary to cut through the paper bound around it, and set the punk
into the end of the candle, as shown in the drawing. Attach a piece of
twine two feet long to the other end of the candle, and then, after
getting your kite up, attach the end of this string to the kite-string
and light the punk, being very careful in doing so not to ignite the
fuse of the Roman-candle. After attaching the candle and lighting the
punk, let out the kite-string as rapidly as possible, so that by the
time the punk has burned down to the fuse end, the Roman-candle will be
well up in the air. As soon as the candle begins to explode, shake the
kite-string so as to make the balls shoot into the sky in different
directions.
=A Pack of Fire-crackers= with a piece of punk attached to the fuses may
also be suspended from a kite-string and fired in mid-air.
[Illustration: FIG. 296.
FIG. 297.
Schemes for Attaching Lanterns to Kite-strings.]
Other fireworks may be set off similarly, and colored lights produce a
fine effect.
=Nigger-chasers= shot into the air by means of a cross-bow, such as is
described in Chapter XVII, present another novelty.
=Japanese Lanterns= hung from kite-strings are also a pretty sight, and,
while they give somewhat the same appearance as fire-balloons, they are
lasting and can be saved for another year.
After procuring a number of lanterns of different shapes and sizes,
fasten candles securely in them so that there is no possibility of them
igniting the paper. Figures 296 and 297 show two ways in which the
lanterns may be attached one below the other. The first method (Fig.
296) consists of pins stuck through the bottoms of the lanterns and bent
over into hooks, while in the second (Fig. 297) a small hole is made in
the bottom of one lantern and the wire handle of another is slipped
through this hole and looped over a burnt match.
Before sending up the kite with these lanterns, make a number of small
loops in the kite-string where you wish to hang the lanterns, and
provide the handle of each series of lanterns with a pin-hook, as shown
in Fig. 297. Then, when everything is in readiness, have one of your
friends hook the lanterns to the loops while you attend to letting out
the kite-string. Of course the smaller the lanterns are the greater
number you can hitch in place, and if you use a team of kites you will
find that they will carry a number of strings of lanterns.
[Illustration: FIG. 298.--A Shooting-torch.]
=A Shooting-torch=, such as is shown in Fig. 298, is a scheme that is
simple to carry out. It consists of a stick about eighteen inches long,
with fire-crackers bound around it with wire, and the fuses twisted
together, as shown in the illustration. It is fired in the same way as a
Roman-candle.
After firing all of your fireworks, you should have
=A Final Set-piece= with which to close the exhibition. A good scheme
for such a piece is shown in Fig. 299. Mark out the letters upon a
board, and, with a quarter-inch bit, bore holes about one half-inch
apart along the outlines of each letter. Then cut enough sticks of punk
two inches long to fit all of the holes, and put them to soak in
kerosene. The oil makes the punk burn much brighter than it would in its
dry state. When the punk is thoroughly soaked, stick the pieces in the
holes. A candle will be found most convenient for lighting the punk.
Nail the board to a tree or post, and place several cannon-crackers in
holes bored near the bottom of the board. After allowing the punk to
burn for a short time, light the cannon-crackers and blow up the
set-piece as a grand finish.
[Illustration: FIG. 299.--A Final Set-piece.]
CHAPTER XXI
HALLOWEEN
[Illustration: Witch Riding Broomstick and Halloween Prankster]
Halloween, or the eve of All Saints' Day, has been observed since the
beginning of the Christian era. In very early times, ghosts, demons, and
spirits were believed to rule the universe on this evening, and any one
who ventured upon the streets after dark was doing so at the risk of his
life. For companionship, as well as protection, it was customary for
large numbers of friends to spend the evening together; and these
gathered around the fire-place, and passed away the time drinking cider,
cracking nuts, eating apples, and telling ghost stories.
While the superstitious fears of Halloween have almost entirely
disappeared, the evening is generally celebrated in the same manner as
in the past. This is the only evening on which a boy can feel free to
play pranks outdoors without danger of being "pinched," and it is his
delight to scare passing pedestrians, ring door-bells, and carry off the
neighbors' gates (after seeing that his own is unhinged and safely
placed in the barn). Even if he is suspected, and the next day made to
remove the rubbish barricading the doors, lug back the stone carriage
step, and climb a tree for the front gate, the punishment is nothing
compared with the sport the pranks have furnished him. There is, of
course, such a thing as boys going too far with their Halloween fun and
getting into malicious mischief, but the cautious boy is not likely to
cause any serious trouble by his actions.
[Illustration: FIG. 301.
FIG 300.--A Section through the Bean-blower.
A Magazine Bean-blower.]
Every boy who has used a bean-blower knows that the beans swell when
held in the mouth, often to such an extent that they will not go through
the opening, and clog the tube. Figure 300 shows a scheme for a
=Magazine Bean-blower=, which does away with this difficulty, inasmuch
as with it the beans are not put in the mouth. The drawing shows a
section taken through the centre of one the writer has before him, which
works admirably. This bean-blower will cost you just two cents, the
price of two of the regular nineteen-inch tin tubes sold in the stores.
To these add a large ribbon-spool, which can be had for the asking at
almost any dry goods store, some glue, and a sheet of writing paper.
Place the spool in your bench-vise, and bore a quarter-inch hole in the
centre of the side of it (see _A_, Fig. 300). This hole should be on a
slant, and extend only into the hollow part of the spool, as shown in
the drawing. When this has been done, take one of the tin tubes and cut
off two sections of it, one four inches long and the other three and
one-half inches long. This is easily done by filing through the tin on
one side with a small file, and then bending the tube back and forth
until it breaks. Place the end of the four-inch tube in the hole bored
in the spool at _A_, gluing a strip of paper around it to make it fit
tightly (see _B_ in Fig. 300). A piece of paper smeared with glue should
be wrapped around the other end of this tube in the form of a funnel, as
shown in Fig. 301. Press the paper around the end of the tube, as shown
in the section drawing, Fig. 300, and use plenty of glue upon it to make
it stiff. Glue a strip of paper around the short tube, and stick it in
one end of the spool, as shown at _C_, Fig. 300. The little wooden
mouthpiece that is furnished with bean-blowers nowadays should be
slipped over the other end of the tube, as shown in the drawing. Now
take the second bean-blower, and glue it in the other end of the spool,
as shown at _D_. The bean-blower is now complete. To operate it, hold
the spool in one hand, and, after dropping a number of beans or peas
into the magazine, place the palm of the other hand over the top of the
paper funnel, and blow until the tube is emptied. It is necessary to
close the opening in the top of the magazine, or the beans will blow out
of it instead of from the end of tube _D_. Dried peas always work better
than beans in a bean-blower, as they are round and never clog the tube.
[Illustration: FIG. 302.--A New Style of Tick-tack.]
[Illustration: FIG. 304.
FIG. 303.
Details of Crank for Tick-tack.]
The loud drumming noise of a tick-tack rattled upon a window is enough
to give any one the cold shivers, and if the guests of a Halloween party
are gathered about the fire-place, telling weird ghost stories, this
unearthly noise is sufficient to give even the bravest heart a
conviction that the house is haunted by supernatural beings. The writer
and his friends used to make
=A New Style of Tick-tack=, such as illustrated in Fig. 302, which
claims several advantages over the ordinary kind. In the first place it
has a crank arrangement which does away with the long string that is
everlastingly becoming entangled, and only one boy is necessary to
operate it where two are required with the old-style affair. Again, by
having the tick-tack upon the end of a long pole, second-story windows
can easily be reached with it. For the making of this tick-tack, procure
two large spools, some heavy cord, and a long pole (perhaps you can
borrow your mother's clothes-pole for the occasion). With a knife cut
notches in the flanges of one spool, and fasten it to one end of the
pole, driving a large nail through the hole in the centre of the spool
into the pole (see Fig. 302). Place the other spool in your bench-vise
and saw it in two pieces, as shown in Figs. 303 and 304, so that _A_ is
one-half the size of _B_, or one-third of the length of the spool. Cut a
strip of wood about six inches long, bore a hole near one end a little
larger than a sixteen-penny nail, and nail the strip to the end of spool
_A_ so that the hole comes exactly over the one in the spool (see Fig.
303). Attach spool _B_ to the other end of _C_ by means of a nail driven
through the hole into the strip. The crank is now completed, and should
be fastened to the lower end of the pole by means of a nail driven
through the hole in _A_. It will be seen that this tick-tack is a
simple piece of apparatus. The crank at the lower end of the pole is
turned and revolves the notched spool at the upper end. To keep the cord
from slipping on the pole, a little resin should be rubbed upon it, and
it might be well also to rub a little upon the spools.
[Illustration: FIG. 305. The Clockwork Tick-tack.]
=A Clockwork Tick-tack=, such as is illustrated in Fig. 305, is another
good idea, and one that can be carried out with a few minutes' work.
Remove the works from an old alarm clock, and fasten them with wire or
cord to the end of a pole, as shown. Attach a cord to the striker, and
make it long enough to reach to the other end of the pole. Make a loop
in the end of the cord, and drive a nail into the pole over which to
loop the cord to keep the striker in check. This tick-tack is worked by
placing the end of the pole close to the window-glass, with the striker
toward the glass, and slipping the cord off its nail. The striker is
controlled entirely by the cord.
=The Goblin-man= (Fig. 306) is easily made out of such material as you
can most generally find about the house. The framework for the body of
this ghostly creature is shown in Fig. 307, and consists of a pole about
four feet long with the centre of an eighteen-inch crosspiece nailed
across it. In order to fasten these pieces firmly together, they should
be halved as shown in Fig. 267, Chapter XIX. The arms consist of two
sticks (_A_ and _B_ in Fig. 307) fastened together at right angles with
small iron braces, and screwed in place near the ends of the crosspiece,
as shown in the illustration. Holes should be bored through the arm
pieces in order that they may work freely on the screws. Place a small
screw-eye in each arm at _B_, and attach a short string to it. A short
stick should be nailed to the four-foot pole about eighteen inches from
the lower end, so that the boy who carries the framework can rest it
upon his shoulder.
[Illustration: FIG. 306.--The Goblin-man.]
[Illustration: FIG. 307.--Framework of the Goblin-man.]
The head of the goblin is a jack-o'-lantern made out of a piece of
cardboard, bent as shown in Fig. 308, and held in this shape by means of
broom-wire laced back and forth across the top. Cut a hole the shape of
an ear in each side, and paste a piece of red tissue-paper over the
opening. For the face, take a piece of white paper a little larger than
the face is going to be, mark out eyes, nose, and mouth upon it, and cut
the openings for them. Paste red tissue-paper over the openings for the
eyes, and mark a large black pupil in the corner of each (Fig. 309). For
the mouth, paste a piece of white tissue-paper over the opening, and
mark out the teeth in black (Fig. 309). A piece of red tissue-paper
should be pasted over the opening for the nose. After finishing the
face, paste it on to the cardboard head. The goblin's countenance is
lighted up from within, by means of a candle fastened in a baking-powder
can. Cut down one side of the can with a pair of tin-shears or a
can-opener, and tack it to the framework about six inches above the
crosspiece, as shown in Fig. 307. This can must not be put in place,
however, until the head is fastened to the framework, which is done by
punching a hole in the cardboard large enough to admit the end of the
pole. Get an old derby for a hat, and, after punching a few holes in the
top for the heat and smoke of the candle to escape, sew it to the
cardboard head. Cover the back of the head with black cloth in such a
way that it may be opened to light the candle. To save the goblin-man
the embarrassment of losing his head, drive a nail through the crown of
the derby-hat into the end of the pole. For a neck, button a cuff around
the pole between the crosspiece and head.
[Illustration: FIG. 308.
FIG. 309.
FIGS. 308-309.--The Goblin's Head.]
A white suit of clothes is, of course, the correct style for the goblin
to wear. This can be found in an old nightshirt, lengthened with white
cloth, if necessary, to make it reach the ground when it is placed upon
him. The shoulders should be padded out to hide the framework.
When the goblin-man is finished, strap the shoulder-stick of the frame
to your shoulder, and fasten the end of the pole to your waist with a
belt. Your hands are then free to manipulate the arms, by means of the
cords attached to their ends. Before starting out upon the street, have
some one light the candle in the head.
As this weird-looking creature passes along the streets, with glaring
eyes and other features equally brilliant, people will have to stop to
reassure themselves that they are not face to face with some unearthly
demon.
A trick that will furnish amusement for at least a portion of the
evening is
=The Disappearing Rope=, which is not an entirely new idea, but one
which is always popular. Procure a number of rubber bands and tie them
together, end to end. Then attach one end of these to a front fence, and
to the other end fasten several yards of string. After doing this, cross
over the sidewalk with the string, pulling it tightly so the rubber
bands will stretch, and hang a sign with the word "DANGER" printed upon
it in large letters over the string where it crosses the sidewalk.
It is only natural that the person who sees this sign will make a grab
for it, thinking you are blocking the sidewalk to make him walk around
it. This is your opportunity to act quickly and let go of the string,
which will snap back to the fence upon the contraction of the rubber
bands, and disappear from view, leaving your much-astonished friend to
pass on, knowing that the joke is upon him.
CHAPTER XXII
A BACK-YARD TOBOGGAN-SLIDE
[Illustration: Children on the Toboggan-slide.]
It is the misfortune of a great many boys to be deprived of one of
winter's greatest sports, by living in a flat country where there are no
hills upon which to coast. These boys have little use for sleds aside
from "hitching," unless they can make an artificial slide. In a number
of large cities, toboggan-slides on a large scale are erected in the
parks each year, and thrown open to the use of the public. Although this
coasting cannot equal that to be had on natural hills, it affords a
great pastime to thousands of boys and girls, and is a luxurious treat
to many who have never seen hills larger than the artificial park
variety.
The construction of a toboggan-slide is not difficult for a boy or
several boys, and though it must be limited in size, a small slide has
an advantage in that there is not a long walk from the end of the run
back to the starting-point.
[Illustration: FIG. 310.--A Back-yard Toboggan-slide.]
It is a good idea to locate the toboggan-slide in a back-yard or an
enclosed lot, so that the outside fellows cannot monopolize it; and it
is well to have some firm object to which the framework can be fastened,
as it saves a great deal of bracing, and materially lessens the amount
of lumber needed. The work should be done in the early part of the
fall, before the cold weather sets in. Figure 310 shows a slide built in
the corner of a yard against the fence.
=The Length= will be determined by the size of the yard. If the yard is
short, the slide should be proportioned accordingly, to allow the sled
its full run before reaching the end of the lot.
=A Platform= should be built in the corner, six feet square, and about
seven feet above the ground. For this, cut four two-by-fours six feet
nine inches long, fasten one in the angle formed by the two fences, and
another five feet four inches to the right of it (_A_ and _B_ in Fig.
312). The third upright (_C_) should be nailed to the fence five feet
eight inches from _A_, and the fourth (_D_) should be fastened at an
equal distance from _B_. Then cut two pieces of two-by-four each six
feet long, and nail them across the tops of _A_ and _C_, and _B_ and
_D_, respectively, as shown at _E_ and _F_ in Fig. 312. The uprights
should now be braced with horizontal and diagonal bracing, as shown in
Fig. 312, to give the platform the necessary stiffness.
[Illustration: FIGS. 311-313.--Framework of Toboggan-slide.]
After deciding upon the length of the slide, lay off the distance upon
the ground from the bottom of upright _B_, and drive a stake into the
ground at the farther end. Then attach a cord to the stake and run it
along the fence to a nail driven into the top of upright _B_. This cord,
shown in Fig. 311, marks the pitch of the slide, and will give you a
guide-line by which to work. When this has been done, cut three pieces
of two-by-four about two feet long, and spike them to the fence just
below the guide-line (see _G_, _H_, and _I_, Fig. 311), spacing them
about six feet apart on centres. When these have been fastened in place,
take a piece of two-by-four and mark off upon it the distance from the
ground to the top of block _I_. Then square a line across the
two-by-four at this point, at an angle corresponding to that at which
block _I_ is nailed to the fence (see Fig. 313). Saw the two-by-four on
this line, and then stand it upright in front of block _I_, thirty or
thirty-two inches from the fence (according to whether eight-or ten-inch
boards are used upon the slide), and spike a piece of two-by-four to the
top of it and to the top of block _I_, as shown in Fig. 312. Cut and set
up a similar upright and crosspiece at _G_ and at _H_, after which brace
all as shown in the illustration (Fig. 312).
If you are going to buy boards with which to cover the platform and
slide, get twelve-foot lengths, eight or ten inches wide. By using these
you will have no waste, and but little cutting to do. If, however, you
have material of other dimensions on hand which you can use, the
supports of the slide should be so spaced that the boards will reach
from one to another. The boards should run lengthwise upon the slide,
and be nailed to the framework, leaving as small cracks as possible
between them.
In order to prevent sleds from running off the slide, a guide should be
nailed to the edge farthest from the fence, from the top to the bottom,
and on the opposite side where it extends above the fence top (see Fig.
310).
After nailing the platform boards in place,
=Build a Railing= out of boards around three sides of it, to prevent any
one from slipping off (see Fig. 310).
=A Ladder=, made out of two two-by-fours, with two-inch strips nailed
across them, should be set against the front of the platform and spiked
in place, as shown in the illustration of the completed slide (Fig.
310). This will make it easier to reach the platform than by the way of
the icy slide, and also prevents those coasting from colliding with
those who are returning.
Any ingenious boy will know how to make a swift slide by turning the
hose upon it, and allowing the water to run over the surface until every
portion is well covered.
A toboggan-sled is out of proportion for a slide of this size, and will
not be found as satisfactory as a sled with runners, as the steepness of
the slide will not be sufficient to make it go.
=A Home-made Sled=, such as that shown in Fig. 314, requires but little
material, and if carefully made will prove stronger than the variety
commonly sold in the shops.
[Illustration: FIG. 314.--A Home-made Sled.]
[Illustration: FIG. 315.--Pattern for Runners.]
Figure 315 shows the pattern for the runners, which should be cut out of
four-inch boards, seven-eighths of an inch thick. Round the top edges,
and cut the front and rear ends as shown in the drawing. Make a slot in
the place indicated for a handle, and bore a hole near the front end for
the crosspiece to run through. The seat consists of a board cut
twenty-two inches long and nine inches wide. This will not be nailed to
the runners but to cleats, as shown in Fig. 316. Cut three cleats nine
and one-quarter inches long, two inches wide, and seven-eighths of an
inch thick, and fasten these between the runners, five-eighths of an
inch from their tops, placing one near the end of the seat, one at the
centre, and one at the front. Four two-inch iron braces should be
procured, and two of these screwed to the under side of the front and
rear cleats, and to the sides of the runners, as shown in Fig. 316. The
seat can then be nailed in place, and a broom-handle fastened in the
hole bored near the ends of the runners.
=The Best Kind of Iron Runners= for a home-made sled are those that a
boy can put on without the aid of a blacksmith, and such a pair of
runners is shown in the drawing of this sled. They consist of what are
known as half-oval iron strips, and can be had usually at a hardware
store or blacksmith shop. A pair forty inches long and three-quarters of
an inch wide, with five holes for countersunk screws drilled in each,
can be bought for fifty cents. When they have been procured, screw them
to the bottom of the runners, using one inch or one and one-quarter inch
screws for the purpose.
[Illustration: FIG. 316.--A Section through the Sled.]
Although these runners are plenty heavy enough for light coasting, they
would probably prove weak for coasting upon hills of any great size. To
withstand the strain brought to bear upon the runners when hill
coasting, boys generally find it necessary to make them out of two-inch
stuff. This, however, makes the sled heavy and clumsy, and can be done
away with by following a scheme which a friend of the writer's invented
and found very satisfactory. It consisted of
=Reënforcing the Runners= with steel bars driven into holes bored
vertically in them. The holes were bored while the runners were held in
a vise, and the steel bars were a little larger than the holes, so that
they would fit them tightly. This scheme allows the use of seven-eighths
inch stuff for the runners, and sixty-penny wire nails can be filed off
to the proper length and substituted for steel bars if the latter cannot
be obtained.
When the sled has been completed, it should be given a good coat of
paint.
[Illustration: Boys Discuss the Project.]
PART III
Indoor Pastimes
[Illustration: A MINIATURE THEATRE.]
CHAPTER XXIII
A MINIATURE THEATRE
[Illustration: Children at the Theatre.]
Probably nothing can be found which will make a more interesting
entertainment for a winter evening, than a miniature theatre patterned
as nearly as possible after a large playhouse. The construction of the
stage, and preparation of miniature scenery, properties, and mechanical
effects, furnish good work for disagreeable weather when it becomes
necessary to remain indoors, and there is plenty of it, and of great
enough variety, to occupy the attention of a number of boys.
Very little material is necessary, outside of what generally can be
found in the attic, cellar, and woodshed, so that the expense incurred
by making the theatre amounts to almost nothing. A gilt picture-frame
makes
=An Excellent Proscenium= for the front of the stage, and, as it will
not be marred in the least, you can probably borrow one for the
occasion.
[Illustration: FIG. 317.--The Stage Framework.]
On the opposite page is shown a miniature theatre completed, and in Fig.
317 will be seen the proper construction of
=The Stage Framework=, which is made of narrow boards and built upon two
horses the width of the picture-frame. Make the horses as shown in Fig.
317, one two feet six inches high and the other two feet nine inches
high, using two-by-fours for the tops and narrow boards for the legs and
braces. After constructing the horses, cut four boards seven feet long
and nail two to the ends of each (_A_ and _B_, Fig. 317), after which
cut two pieces to reach across the tops and nail them in place as shown
at _C_. Then set the horses five feet apart, with the lower one in
front, and screw three boards to the tops as shown at _D_, _E_, and _F_,
and three narrow strips to the top of the framework as shown at _G_,
_H_, and _I_. Strips _G_, _H_, and _I_ form what is known as
=The Gridiron=, or supports from which the scenery drops are suspended,
and should have a row of tacks driven into each edge, as shown in Fig.
317, upon which to hang the drops. By fastening the framework together
with screws, it may be taken apart after a performance and packed away
for another time.
=The Stage Floor= rests upon boards _D_, _E_, and _F_, and is made of
laths laid close together, parallel to the front of the stage. The laths
should not be nailed in place, as it is necessary to have the stage
floor movable.
When the work has proceeded thus far, set the picture-frame between the
uprights of the front frame so that the opening comes on a level with
the stage floor, and fasten it to _A_ and _B_ with nails driven through
screw-eyes placed in the back of the picture-frame.
=The Drop-curtain= should be made of white muslin, and measure in width
several inches wider than the opening in the picture-frame. Hem the two
side edges of the cloth, and sew brass rings on to them two inches
apart. Then tack the top and bottom to strips of wood. A scene may be
painted upon this curtain, but you will find the result probably more
successful if you paste a picture of some sort upon the cloth, as
suggested in the illustration of the completed theatre.
[Illustration: FIG. 318.--View of Curtain from Stage.]
In Fig. 318 we have a view from the stage of the arrangement by which
the curtain is raised and lowered. Two heavy wires should be slipped
through the rings on the curtain, and their ends fastened to four
screw-eyes placed in the uprights at _J_, _K_, _L_, and _M_. These form
the curtain guides. Bore two holes in uprights _A_ and _B_ above the
picture-frame, and run a broom-stick through them for a roller, after
which make a crank similar to that shown in Fig. 319 and fasten it to
one end. Place two screw-eyes in the crosspiece at _N_ and _O_ (Fig.
318) and slip two cords through them, tying one end of each to the top
of the curtain and the other end to the roller. By turning the crank the
string will now wind around the roller and raise the curtain. It will be
necessary to screw a button on to upright _A_ at _P_, as shown in Fig.
319, to lock the crank when the curtain is raised. We often had two and
three drop-curtains upon our miniature theatres, which made it necessary
to have additional rollers and guide-wires.
[Illustration: FIG. 319.--Crank for Curtain Pole.]
[Illustration: FIG. 320.--The Footlights.]
The greatest precautions should be taken
=In lighting the Theatre=, to have all wood surrounding lights covered
with tin, and not to use candles or matches around inflammable
substances. Figure 320 shows a satisfactory arrangement of
=The Footlights.=--A piece of tin the length of the picture-frame and
ten inches wide should be procured for these and bent into the shape
shown in the illustration. Drive tacks through the bottom of the tin
about two inches apart, and stick a short candle upon each. Then fasten
the tin below the picture-frame as shown in the drawing of the completed
theatre, and paint it black upon the outside.
[Illustration: FIG. 321.
FIG. 324.
FIG. 322.
FIG. 323.
Details of Floodlights.]
=Floodlights=, which are used to throw light from the wings on to the
stage, may be made as shown in Figs. 321, 322, 323, and 324. The case
for the light is made in the same manner as the dark-room lantern,
described in Chapter XI, and illustrated by Figs. 176 and 177, except
that the door is placed in the side instead of the back and no glass or
paper is fastened over the front opening (see Figs. 322 and 323). Make
the opening four by five inches, and fasten two grooves, formed by
nailing two strips of wood together, as shown in Fig. 324, above and
below it, in which to slide glass plates for the purpose of throwing
=Colored Lights= upon a scene. The slides consist of old four-by-five
camera plates with colored tissue-paper pasted upon them, and are
operated in the same manner as magic-lantern slides. The light should be
mounted upon a standard, such as is shown in Fig. 321, consisting of a
seven-foot pole fastened at the lower end to a board and braced with
triangular blocks, as shown in the illustration. It should be so
attached to the pole that it can be adjusted to any desired height, and
to attain this two pipe-straps should be fastened to the back of the
box, as shown in Fig. 322. First nail two vertical strips in place as at
_A_ and _B_ in the drawing, and to these screw the two iron pipe-straps.
When the straps have been attached, slip the end of the pole through
them, and place a screw-eye in the box, another in the pole near its
upper end, and a nail in the side of the box. Then attach a cord to the
screw-eye in the box, and, after running it through the screw-eye near
the top of the pole, twist it several times around the nail in the side
of the box, which will hold the box in that position. One of these
lights should be made for each side of the stage. In addition to them,
you may have occasion to use
=Spotlights= to throw more light upon one portion of a scene than
another. Bicycle lamps will be found handy for this purpose.
If your house is wired for electricity, several miniature incandescent
lamps can be procured for the footlights, while larger lamps can be used
for all the other necessary lighting.
As the work of making scenery, properties, and mechanical effects is not
in the same line as the construction of the stage and its framework, it
has been treated in the following chapter.
Before setting up the theatre for a performance, it is well to spread a
large cloth over the carpet, to catch anything that may drop from the
stage. Then, with all the framework fastened together, hang draperies on
each side and above and below the proscenium arch, as shown in chapter
heading. This will conceal everything but the proscenium opening.
=Admission Tickets= and programmes should, of course, be printed with a
printing-press if you have one; otherwise with rubber stamps.
CHAPTER XXIV
SCENERY, PROPERTIES, AND MECHANICAL EFFECTS
[Illustration: Working on Drops.]
Scenery for a miniature theatre will be made in much the same manner as
the small drops and wings a scenic artist prepares of each scene of a
play, before he commences work upon the large canvasses. Any handy boy
will find it an easy matter to prepare his scenery, as it does not
require a knowledge of drawing so much as it does the knack of copying
scenes from pictures, and the proper placing of the various wings and
drops. Several simple suggestions for water, field, street, and interior
scenes, with sketches of the drops and wings necessary to complete them,
have been placed on the following pages of this chapter with a view to
helping you with your first attempts at making scenery. By the time you
have made some of these you will have had enough practice in the work to
devise other designs and work up the details more elaborately. With a
little shifting of drops and wings, or substituting one for another, the
appearance of the scene can be sufficiently changed to make it as good
as an entirely new setting. Several examples of this will be found among
the illustrations.
=For materials=, you will require some large pieces of paper, several
sheets of cardboard, a box of colored chalks, a pair of shears, and a
pot of paste--add to this a bunch of laths with which to make the
frames, and some nails, screws, and tacks for fastenings. The back of
wall-paper presents an excellent surface for chalks, and several rolls
will cost you but a few cents, as you can purchase old-style patterns.
Suit and shoe boxes will furnish the necessary cardboard.
[Illustration: FIG. 325.--Drop for Ocean Scene.]
[Illustration: FIG. 326.--Drop (_D_ in Ocean Scene).]
The size and proportion of the scenery will depend entirely upon those
of the proscenium, and as these are governed by the size of the picture
frame you procure, no attempt will be made to give you the dimensions of
wings and drops; but you will get a good idea as to their proper
proportion from the illustrations shown of the scenes set up, as the
line of the proscenium opening is dotted upon them. In the full-page
illustration of the completed theatre preceding Chapter XXIII is shown
=An Ocean Scene= in which the entire depth of the stage is used for the
setting. Here you will notice the drops have been made to extend beyond
the sides and top of the proscenium opening, a thing which is necessary
in order that those of your audience sitting close to the front of the
theatre, or to one side of the centre of the stage, will not be able to
see through the openings between the drops and wings. Figure 325 shows
how the four drops necessary for this scene should be made. First sketch
drop _A_, shading the clouds and waves with colored chalks as shown in
the drawing of the completed theatre. Then cut out the opening in its
centre, carefully following the outlines of the clouds. Lay this sheet
upon another and mark out drop _B_, with a smaller opening in its
centre, and then, after coloring and cutting it out in the same manner
as you did drop _A_, lay it upon a third sheet and mark out drop _C_,
with a still smaller opening in its centre (see Fig. 325). Drop _D_
forms the background of the scene, and should be made as shown in Fig.
326, with a horizontal line separating the sky and water. With the
exception of a few white caps in the foreground, no waves should be
shown upon this drop.
If wall-paper is used for the scenery, several widths will have to be
pasted together for each drop.
[Illustration: FIG. 327.--Waves for Ocean Scene.]
=Additional waves= should be made out of strips of paper and fastened
together as shown in Fig. 327, with the crests of the waves of each
strip extending a little above those of the strip in front. Prepare
three sets of the waves, and, after pasting one to the bottom of each
drop, bend out the crests so as to leave a little space between each
strip.
These drops should now be tacked to frames made out of laths similar to
Fig. 328, with the corners nailed and braced with diagonal strips. Place
a couple of tacks in the top of these frames, and to these attach cords.
The drops should now be hung by means of the cords to the tacks in the
top strips of the stage framework. Space them about as shown in the
illustration of the completed theatre, and so adjust the lengths of the
cords that, from a point equal to where the centre of your audience will
be located, the horizon lines of your drops will appear on a line with
one another. Then having found the proper lengths of the cords, make
loops in them so the drops can be quickly hung in place without further
adjustment.
[Illustration: FIG. 328.--Frames for Drops.]
[Illustration: FIG. 329.--Rocks for a Seashore Scene.]
In the foreground of the ocean scene a stone wall has been shown, which
should be made upon a strip of cardboard, with the joints of the stones
marked off with gray paint. This strip should be set against the bottom
of the front drop. To change this setting into
=A Mid-ocean Scene=, it is only necessary to substitute a strip of waves
similar to Fig. 327 in place of the stone wall; and
=A Seashore Scene= can be had by making a strip of rocks similar to Fig.
329 to set against the front drop, and covering the foreground with sand
to form the beach.
[Illustration: FIG. 331.--Drop (_G_ in Field and Blockhouse Scene).]
[Illustration: FIG. 332.--Drop (_H_ in Field, Blockhouse, and Street
Scene).]
[Illustration: FIG. 330. A FIELD SCENE.]
[Illustration: FIG. 338. A BLOCKHOUSE SCENE.]
[Illustration: FIG. 333.--Wing. Fence and Foliage (_I_ in Field Scene).]
[Illustration: FIG. 334.--Wing (_J_ in Field and Blockhouse Scene).]
[Illustration: FIG. 335.--Wing (_K_ in Street and Blockhouse Scene).]
[Illustration: FIG. 336.--Standard for Trees.]
=A Field Scene= should be set up as shown in Fig. 330. Make the
background drop _G_ similar to Fig. 331, tacking it to a frame as you
did the drops of the ocean scene, and prepare the foreground drop _H_
similar to Fig. 332, tacking its upper edge to a single lath from which
it can be hung in position. Draw the leaves upon drop _H_ about as shown
in the illustration, and in cutting out the strip make a few openings
between the leaves as shown in the drawing. Wings _I_ and _J_ are shown
in Figs. 333 and 334. These should be drawn upon cardboard, and then cut
out with a sharp knife, with openings made in places between the leaves
and branches.
Tack the bottom of
=The Trees= to small blocks of wood for standards (see Fig. 336), and
drive brads through the blocks so they will stick into the stage floor
and prevent the trees from toppling over. In setting up this scene, as
in the case of all others, you will have to shift the pieces until all
entrances and exits are hidden by the wings. The places can then be
marked upon the stage floor. This scene will occupy but the front part
of the stage. If a greater depth is desired, it will be necessary to
prepare additional wings, which can be made similar to Figs. 333 and
334, with possibly a few changes in the form of the branches and leaves.
Figure 335 shows a tree that can be used for the centre of a scene. A
little earth scattered over the stage floor will give the appearance of
ground.
[Illustration: FIG. 337.--Blockhouse (_L_ in Blockhouse Scene).]
By using the same background drop, _G_, and the foreground drop, _H_
(Figs. 331 and 332), trees, _J_ and _K_ (Figs. 334 and 335), and making
a blockhouse and stockade similar to _L_ (Fig. 337), you will have the
proper setting for
=A Blockhouse Scene=, such as is shown in Fig 338. The blockhouse should
be fastened to a strip of wood in the same manner as you fastened the
ends of the trees (see Fig. 336).
For outdoor scenery, and especially forest scenes, the writer remembers
using
=Pine Boughs= for trees and shrubbery. These were cut into pieces of the
right length for trees, with their ends pointed so they would stick into
gimlet holes made in the laths of the stage floor; and loose pieces were
thrown in between for shrubbery. Mounds and hills were made with moss.
This saved the work of making so many drops, and, of course, looked a
little more realistic than paper scenery, but was not as handy to set
up, and caused longer delays between the scenes.
[Illustration: FIG. 340.--Drop (_M_ in Street Scene).]
=Rustic Bridges= can easily be constructed with a few twigs, as can also
rustic seats and fences. A very realistic
=Pond or Lake= can be represented by placing a piece of a mirror upon
the stage floor, and banking sand or moss around its edge.
[Illustration: FIG. 339. A STREET SCENE.]
[Illustration: FIG. 341.--Wing (_O_ in Street Scene).]
[Illustration: FIG. 342.--Wing (_N_ in Street Scene).]
Figure 339 shows a simple setting for
=A Street Scene=.--The background will be made similar to Fig. 340, and
the wings _N_ and _O_ as shown in Figs. 341 and 342, while drop _H_ and
wing _K_ are the same as used for the other scenes (see Figs. 332 and
335). Wing _O_, the house upon the right of the stage, will be made
in one piece, with window openings cut in it and covered with
tissue-paper ruled to represent the window-sash (see Fig. 341). Show the
trim around the openings and also the siding upon the building. Then
fasten the back of the wing to a standard such as used for the trees
(see Fig. 336). Wing _N_, or building upon the left of the stage, will
require a number of pieces of cardboard to show its perspective
correctly. Make the front of the building as shown in Fig. 342. Then
fasten a piece of cardboard to edge _A_ for the side, three pieces at
_B_, _C_, and _D_ for the roof, and a strip across the front at _E_ for
the porch roof. The pieces can be fastened together best with strips of
linen glued to their inside surfaces. The porch roof will be supported
upon four posts made out of strips of cardboard as shown in Fig. 339.
This building will be the village post-office, grocery, and hardware
store combined, and should have a number of signs to this effect painted
upon the front.
[Illustration: FIG. 343.--A Simple Interior Scene.]
[Illustration: FIG. 344.--Pattern for Walls of Interior Scene.]
To the several outdoor scenes already described, you should add a
setting of
=An Interior=, as you will probably have occasion to use one in any play
you produce in your miniature theatre. Figure 343 shows a simple
interior, the size of which will, of course, depend upon that of the
stage. However, it should not be very deep. Figure 344 shows the pattern
by which to cut the five pieces of cardboard, of which the walls are
made. The edges of these pieces should be glued together with strips of
linen. Cut the door openings at _F_, _G_, and _H_, two window openings
at _I_ and _J_, and slots in the tops of _B_ and _D_ at _K_, _L_, _M_,
_N_, _O_, and _P_, as shown in the drawing. Make the doors out of pieces
of cardboard, hinging them to the openings with linen strips, and draw
the window-sash and their divisions upon tissue-paper and paste them
over the openings _I_ and _J_. Oil the paper if it is not very
transparent, so the audience can see the villain when he passes by the
windows. Make a wainscoting around the walls to the height of the
window-sills, ruling the boards with a lead pencil, and draw a line
across wall _C_ a little below the bottom of slots _M_ and _N_ in walls
_B_ and _D_, as shown. If you have used white cardboard for the walls,
and not injured its calendered surface when cutting the openings, it
will have a good plaster appearance. Otherwise, cover the cardboard with
white or tinted paper. Paint the wainscoting and the door and window
trimmings brown. To set up the room, bend the walls into the shape shown
in Fig. 343. Then cut three strips of cardboard several inches longer
than the width of the room and slip them into the slots you have cut in
the tops of the walls _B_ and _D_ (see _Q_, _R_, and _S_, Fig. 343). _T_
is a drop like _S_, but is suspended in front from the gridiron. These
strips form the ceiling of the room, and generally have beams or
mouldings painted across their bottom edges, but it will simplify
matters to leave them plain, as shown in the illustration. The line
which you have drawn across the rear wall corresponds with these strips.
Cut a number of illustrations from a magazine for pictures, and either
hang them upon the walls or paste them to the cardboard. Doll
furnishings can be used to complete the scene.
There are a great variety of subjects upon which a boy can base his
plays, but what probably will make the most interesting programme and
one of the simplest to prepare is
=A War Drama=.--In this you can picture a number of battles after the
descriptions you have read in your history, or dramatize one of your
favorite war stories, bringing its young heroes before the footlights.
This class of plays will give you an opportunity to use
=Paper Soldiers= for actors. Probably you have a supply of these, but if
not, you can get them at any toy store. They come upon printed sheets
ready to be cut out, and as they cost only a penny a sheet it pays to
buy rather than make them.
Cavalry and infantry of about every nationality, Indians in various
positions upon horseback and on foot, and a large assortment of American
soldiers in marching order and fighting array are now to be found in
these sheets. For
=Marching Soldiers= across the stage, tack their feet to a lath as shown
in Fig. 345, and then slide the lath across the stage, at the same time
pushing out one of the laths forming the floor. The moving of the laths
scarcely will be noticeable from the position of your audience.
[Illustration: FIG. 345.--Scheme for Marching Soldiers.]
=Separate Standards= for soldiers you wish to set about the stage should
have small strips of cardboard glued to their backs and bent out in the
same manner as easel-backs are made. At least four or five of the
soldiers should be jointed so they can walk about the stage and appear
perhaps a little more graceful in their actions than their stiff-jointed
comrades who are fastened to laths. Figure 346 shows
=A Jointed Figure= made out of a paper soldier. Suppose you have a
soldier in some such position as shown in Fig. 347. First cut off the
legs along the dotted lines shown in the illustration, each leg in two
pieces (see _A_, _B_, _C_, and _D_, Figs. 347 and 348). Remove also the
hand projecting beyond the body at _E_. A small piece of cardboard of
the same thickness as that upon which the soldiers are printed should be
glued to the back of _C_ and _D_ where those pieces were cut into in
cutting off the legs (see _F_, _G_, and _H_, Fig. 348). When this has
been done, pivot _A_ and _B_ to _C_ and _D_ at _F_ and _G_, and then
pivot the ends of _C_ and _D_ at _H_ and _I_ to the hips of the soldier
(see Fig. 346). Thread should be used for pivoting these pieces
together, with knots tied on either end. New arms will have to be made,
as those printed upon the body cannot be cut out. These are made in two
pieces similar to _J_ and _K_ in Fig. 348. You will find it a simple
thing to make them and paint the hands flesh color and the sleeves to
match the rest of the clothes. Pivot _J_ to _K_ at _L_ and the end of
_K_ to the shoulder at _M_. The arm printed upon the side of the figure
should now be painted so as to blend with the color of the coat. The
white cardboard glued to the joints should also be painted to correspond
with the rest of the body. You will find this method of making a jointed
soldier much easier than to attempt to draw, paint, and cut out one of
your own design. Figures in other positions can, of course, be jointed
in the same manner.
[Illustration: FIGS. 346-348. Scheme for making a Jointed Figure.]
The movements of a jointed figure are controlled with pieces of
silk-thread attached to the hands, feet, and head, as shown in Fig. 346.
These threads should be carried through the top of the stage framework
and loops made in their ends should slip over the fingers of your hands,
in which position they can be operated. It will take a little practice
beforehand to enable you to work the threads successfully, so you will
not be responsible for such laughable performances as making him dance
while delivering a farewell address, or leave the scene through the top
of the stage during an exciting portion of the play.
In an interior scene, such as Fig. 343, the jointed figures will have to
make their entrées and exits through the passages between the front
walls and the proscenium, as the operating cords would interfere with
them going through the other openings. The figures which pass through
the doors will have to be tacked to the floor laths and shoved across
the stage.
All the small movable furnishings of a scene are known as
=Stage Properties=.--These include such pieces as furniture, boats,
carts, and trains.
[Illustration: FIG. 350.
FIG. 349.
A Tent.]
=Tents= will be necessary properties for an encampment scene. These
should be cut out of white paper the pattern of Fig. 349, then folded
along the dotted lines, and edge _B_ pasted over the flap _A_. The front
flaps will be left open. Figure 350 shows the tent set up.
=An Indian Teepee= will also be required for Indian warfare. Follow the
pattern shown in Fig. 351, marking it off as though it were made up of a
number of skins, and place a few figures of decoration upon it. Then cut
three or four short sticks and, after crossing their ends as shown in
Fig. 352, fasten the paper covering over them, bending flap _A_ along
the dotted line, and pasting _B_ over it.
[Illustration: FIG. 351.
FIG. 352.
A Teepee.]
The field scene (Fig. 330) and the blockhouse scene (Fig. 338) will be
used for the settings of your battle-fields. For your miniature
sea-fights, the mid-ocean scene will be used.
=Battleships= should be made out of cardboard as shown in Fig. 353, with
the masts reënforced at the back with strips of wood, and the rigging
made with heavy thread. It will be well to have a number of pictures
from which to work in drawing and painting the various ships of your
fleet. The hull of each ship should be curved as shown in the
illustration, and mounted upon a cardboard rocker. Make a number of
slashes along the curved edge of the hull, and bend out the little
flaps alternately, first to one side and then to the other (see _A_ in
drawing), after which glue them to the rocker. Attach a cord at _B_,
with which to pull the ship across the stage, and another cord at _C_,
with which to guide the stern. The hull will, of course, run between the
strips of waves, so as to be half concealed by them. A person cannot
imagine how realistic these little battleships appear when tossing about
upon the toy waves, without having seen them in operation.
[Illustration: FIG. 353.--A Battleship.]
=Trains and Wagons= can be cut out of cardboard and moved across the
stage by means of laths to which they have been attached in the same
manner as the paper soldiers shown in Fig. 345. Toy wagons, carriages,
and an automobile such as described in Chapter XXVI, may also be used in
some scenes.
Rain, wind, thunder, and such stage sounds, a moon or sun-rise, and
lightning, as produced on the stage, are known as
=Mechanical Effects=.--Most of these can easily be adapted to your
theatre, though the apparatus need not be as elaborate as that used by
professionals.
=Thunder= can be produced by means of a large piece of heavy cardboard
held by one corner, as shown in the chapter heading, and vibrated back
and forth. The beating of
=Rain= upon the outside of a house is imitated with a small quantity of
dried peas or beans dropped upon the head of a drum or into a cardboard
box. Every time the door is opened during such a storm, the audience
should hear the whistling of the
=Wind=, which is imitated by a few low drawn-out whistles. The stage
must, of course, be dark for producing
=Lightning=, in order to get the best effects. The flashes can be made
by igniting a small amount of flash-light powder, placed in a tin can
cover.
=The Roar of Cannon= and firing of smaller guns can be imitated to good
effect upon a drum.
CHAPTER XXV
MAKING A TOY RAILWAY
[Illustration: Bicycle Powered Railway.]
It is often thought that a toy railway is beyond a boy's ingenuity to
construct, whereas, in reality, it is one of the simplest toys he can
make. This applies to the tracks, stations, and cars of every
description, all of which can be made with a few strips of wood, some
spools, nails, cardboard, and a bottle of glue, for materials. If you
have passed the age of caring for such toys as this, you will, no doubt,
enjoy the making of one for your younger brother, or for one of your boy
relatives.
[Illustration: FIG. 354.]
[Illustration: FIG. 355.--The Toy Railway in Operation.]
[Illustration: FIG. 356.--Support for Trolley-line.]
Figure 355 shows a railway set up and in running order. As shown in the
illustration,
=The Trolley-line=, or overhead cable, runs around the wheels of two
supports, one at either end of the track. Prepare four pieces of wood
the shape and size of that shown in Fig. 354 for the uprights of these
supports, and make two wheels three inches in diameter. The wheels may
be marked out with a piece of string and pencil as shown in Fig. 201,
Chapter XV, if you haven't a compass. When the wheels have been cut out,
place them in your bench-vise, one at a time, and with a rasp make a
groove around the edge as shown at _C_, Fig. 356. Bore a three-eighths
inch hole through each upright at _F_, Fig. 354, and another through the
centre of each wheel. Now fasten two of the uprights six inches apart
upon a block of wood, as shown at _A_ and _B_, Fig. 356. Whittle a shaft
to fit loosely in the holes of the uprights, and, after slipping it into
them, fasten one of the wheels upon one end and a small spool upon the
other (see _C_ and _D_ in Fig. 356). A weight of some sort should be
fastened to the base, as shown at _E_. The uprights for the other
support should be similarly mounted upon another block of wood. Fasten
the remaining wheel to an axle run through the holes in the uprights,
and, as it is unnecessary to have a spool upon the other end of the
axle, cut it off short and drive a nail through it to prevent it from
slipping through the holes. Having thus prepared the supports, place
them as far apart as you wish to extend the railway, and run a cord
around the two wheels and tie it. Then set the supports a little farther
apart, if necessary, to tighten the cord. Run another cord from spool
_D_ to
=A Water-motor=, steam engine, or whatever power you can get with which
to operate the railway. A bicycle inverted with the tire removed from
its rear wheel has been used satisfactorily, as has also a
sewing-machine with the belt slipped off and the cord from the spool put
in its place.
[Illustration: FIG. 357.--The Tracks.]
A good substitute for the tin tracks ordinarily sold in shops for toy
railways will be found in those shown in Fig. 357. These
=Tracks= consist of quarter-inch strips mounted upon pieces of
cardboard. Make a small gimlet-hole in one end of each stick, and drive
a short finishing nail in the opposite end (see Fig. 357). Cut the
cardboard strips the length of the sticks, and tack them to the sticks
as shown in the illustration. If inch and one-half spools are used for
the car wheels, the inside gauge of the tracks should be an inch and
three-quarters. By lapping the cardboard strips over the ends of the
sticks, and the sticks over the ends of the cardboard strips, and
placing the nail dowels in the ends of the sticks as in the drawing, a
strong track is formed when the pieces are fitted together. This may be
extended to any desired length by adding more sections to it.
[Illustration: FIG. 358.--A Top View of Car Truck.]
[Illustration: FIG. 359.--Spool Wheels.]
[Illustration: FIG. 361.
FIG. 360.]
=The Cars= for this railway will have their trucks constructed alike,
and it is a simple matter to transform a car from one style into
another. Figure 358 shows a top view of a truck. For the bed of this cut
a three-eighths-inch board twelve inches long by two and one-quarter
inches wide, and, after rounding the ends as shown in the drawing, cut a
mortise at _A_ and _B_ two and three-eighths inches from either end.
Procure two one and one-half inch spools for wheels, and drive a wooden
peg through the hole in each, cutting off the ends so they project a
little beyond the hole, as shown in Fig. 359. Then bore four holes in
the edges of the truck-bed with a gimlet at _C_, _D_, _E_, and _F_ (see
drawing), and, after setting the spools in mortises _A_ and _B_, pivot
them in place with small finishing nails driven into the wooden pegs.
These nails should fit loosely in the gimlet holes. In order to drive
them into the exact centres of the spools, it is best to locate these
points upon the ends of the pegs before placing the spools in the frame.
A quarter-inch hole should be bored in the top of the truck-bed at _G_
and _H_ (Fig. 358) in which to fasten the two uprights _I_ and _J_ (see
Fig. 360). Make the uprights four inches long and whittle a peg upon the
lower ends to fit holes _G_ and _H_ (see Fig. 361). Bore a hole with a
gimlet in the top of each and run a piece of heavy wire from one to the
other, bending it as shown in Fig. 360. Fasten _K_ between _I_ and _J_,
as shown. Place a small brass ring upon the wire before you fasten it in
place. A small hook should be screwed into one end of the truck and a
screw-eye into the other end for couplings, should you wish to hitch two
or more cars together.
=A Gondola Car=, such as shown in Fig. 362, should have its truck made
similar to Fig. 358, with the exception that it should be two inches
shorter, in order that cigar-box strips can be used for the side-pieces.
Cut the strips an inch and one-half high and fasten them to the bed of
the car with brads. This car may be used as a trailer.
[Illustration: FIG. 362.--A Gondola Car.]
[Illustration: FIG. 363.--Side View.]
[Illustration: FIG. 364.--End View.]
[Illustration: FIGS. 365-373.--Details of Toy Street Car.]
The car shown in Fig. 360 is a rather crude affair, but with a little
more work may be transformed into a better-looking car--
=A Street Car= such as is shown in Figs. 363 and 364 being an example of
what can be made. The sides, ends, and roof of this car are made of
cardboard, the patterns for the cutting of which are shown on page 339.
Figure 365 shows a cross section taken through the centre of the car.
The two side-pieces _A_ should be first prepared as shown in Fig. 366.
With a ruler and lead-pencil draw in the windows about as shown in the
drawing, using double lines to indicate the sash. Then, with a sharp
knife, cut out the centre of each just inside of the inner line. These
windows may be left open or may be covered on the inside with
tissue-paper. If tissue-paper is used oil it to make it more
transparent. When the two sides have been prepared, bend each along the
dotted lines (see Fig. 366) and tack one to each side of your car truck
as shown in Fig. 365. When properly bent, the distance between the upper
part of the sides should be two and three-quarters inches. Cut the two
inner ends of the car the shape of Fig. 367, using a compass with a
radius of two and one-half inches with which to describe the curve at
the top. Draw in the panels and sash lines as you did those upon the
side-pieces, being careful to get them on the same level, and cut out
the door and window openings. Fasten these end-pieces between the sides
with glue, and also tack them to the uprights of the car (_I_ and _J_,
Fig. 360), which will come just inside of them. The roof is made in two
sections (_B_ and _C_, Fig. 365). For _B_ cut a piece of cardboard
twelve and one-quarter by three and three-quarter inches (Fig. 368),
draw the curved end with a compass, using the radius shown on the
drawing, and slit the corners as indicated by the dotted lines. When
this piece has thus been prepared, remove the wire from the top of the
truck (see Fig. 360). Bend the cardboard over the sides and ends of the
car, and lap corners _D_ and _E_ over _F_ and _G_, and _H_ and _I_ over
_J_ and _K_, tacking them with thread to hold them in place. To fasten
this part of the roof to the top of the car, cut a number of small
strips of linen, and glue them to the under side of the roof and to the
inside face of the sides and ends of the car (see Fig. 365). The upper
portion of the roof _C_ should be made out of a piece of cardboard bent
into the shape of Fig. 369 and cut at the ends so the upper portion of
_C_ projects a little beyond its sides. Draw the ventilation lights upon
the sides of _C_ as shown on the drawings, and then fasten the piece
upon the top of _B_ with strips of linen in the same manner as you
fastened _B_ in place. _C_ should now have the same curve to its top as
_B_. Cut and glue a piece of cardboard in each end of _C_ to complete
the roof. The shape of this piece is shown in Fig. 370. The outer ends
of the car should be made as shown in Fig. 371 and tacked around the
ends of the wooden truck platform, and also fastened to the under side
of the roof with strips of linen. The window openings may be cut in the
ends, but it will make a stronger car if they are simply drawn upon it.
Cut four cardboard steps similar to Fig. 372 and tack them to the sides
of the front and rear platforms. When the car has been put together,
replace the wire in the tops of uprights _I_ and _J_ (Fig. 360), running
the ends through the roof (see Fig. 363). Paint the sides and ends of
the car yellow with brown trimmings, and paint the roof a light gray.
Water colors can be used for the purpose. Letter the name of your
car-line upon the sides and the number of the car upon each end and
side. The route should be lettered upon strips of cardboard with pins
run through them as shown in Fig. 373, these strips to stick in the roof
of the car (see Figs. 363 and 364).
Having seen how the car is made, you will find it a simple matter to
make designs for
=Other Cars=, using the same scheme for the trucks, and altering the
patterns for the sides, ends, and roof, to suit the design.
Nothing has, as yet, been said about the
=Operation of the Railway=, and though Fig. 355 probably shows
sufficiently clearly how it is run, a few words may be helpful. The car
or cars are placed between the wooden tracks, and the trolley (or cord
attached to the ring on top of the car) is tied to the trolley-line as
in the illustration. Upon starting your engine, water-motor, or whatever
motive-power you have, the car will run from one end of the track to the
other. When it has reached the support of the trolley-line, it will stop
long enough for the cord trolley to pass around the wooden wheel, and
then run in the opposite direction until the other support is reached.
It will thus be seen that the trolley hangs to the upper part of the
cable, or trolley-line, in running one way, and to the lower part on the
return run. In changing the direction of the run, the ring to which the
trolley is attached slides to the other end of the car.
[Illustration: FIG. 374.--The Railway Depot.]
=A Station= such as is illustrated in Fig. 374 is made out of cardboard
and mounted upon a seven-eighths-inch board large enough to form a
railway platform. After cutting out the side-and end-pieces, with door
and window openings placed as shown in the illustration, fasten them
together with strips of linen glued in the corners. Make the roof low
and extend it over the platform upon each side and over the gable-ends,
as shown in the illustration. Paint the sides of the depot the
regulation depot red, and the roof a shingle or slate color. Paint the
door and window-sash black, letter the name of the station upon the
gable-ends, and with a ruler and lead-pencil rule off the boards upon
the sides, and the slate or shingles upon the roof. As this is a typical
railway station, two may be made of the same pattern, one for either end
of your car line.
CHAPTER XXVI
CLOCKWORK AUTOMOBILES
[Illustration: Children Play with Toy Automobiles.]
It is generally easy for a boy to get hold of a set of old clockworks,
for a discarded clock of some sort is almost certain to be found in the
household storeroom. If the main-spring is intact, it is highly probable
that a little tinkering and cleaning will be sufficient to put the
mechanism in working order, at least so that it can be used for running
small engines, automobiles, and other mechanical toys that most interest
boys.
Before taking a set of works apart, it is well to examine it carefully
and note the positions of the various springs and wheels, so it will be
possible to put them together again properly should you wish to do so.
Without taking notice of this, you are likely to have a handful of
wheels as a result, with which you can do nothing except perhaps convert
them into tops.
[Illustration: FIG. 377.--Top View of Wooden Frame.]
[Illustration: FIG. 375. THE CAR COMPLETED.]
[Illustration: FIG. 376. THE FRAMEWORK.]
The adaption of a set of works to
=An Automobile Touring-car= is shown in Figs. 375 and 376, the former
showing the little machine completed and the latter its frame with the
clockworks fastened in place. The same scheme as that used for the cars
of the toy railway described in the preceding chapter will be followed
in making
=The Frame= of the automobile, as that is about the simplest way, and
makes a light, easy-running vehicle. The bed will be cut of a different
pattern, however, as will be seen in Fig. 377. Lay out the piece to the
dimensions shown upon this drawing, and then cut it out, making a
mortise in each end for the wheels to fit in. The spool wheels should be
mounted in the same manner as those of the railway cars, for which see
Fig. 359, Chapter XXV, and the directions upon page 335. One end of
spool _A_ should be pivoted with a longer finishing nail than those used
for the other pivots, so that when driven in place about half an inch
will project beyond the frame. A small silk spool should be fastened
upon this for a belt-wheel (see _B_, Fig. 377). The hole in one of these
spools is about three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter, so, in order to
make it fit tightly upon the nail, it is necessary to fill in around the
nail with sealing-wax. To do this, turn the wooden frame upon its edge
and place the spool over the nail, being careful to get the nail in the
exact centre of the hole. Then hold a stick of sealing-wax over the
spool, and with a lighted match melt the end and allow it to drip into
the hole. When the hole has been partially filled, allow the wax to
harden a little, and then press it down around the nail with the end of
a match, being careful not to throw the spool out of centre by doing so.
The hole should then be filled to the top.
We are now ready to prepare the clockworks for mounting upon the wooden
frame. The works shown in Fig. 376 are from an alarm clock, but if you
have a striking clock, or one with works a little different from those
shown in the illustration, it does not make a bit of difference in the
scheme for attaching the works. The three parts shown in the foreground
of Fig. 376 must first be removed from the works. These will be
recognized readily in any clock, as they are pivoted close together, and
regulate the speed of the other wheels. When they have been removed, the
main-spring will unwind rapidly. The frame of the works shown in the
illustration is held together with nuts, so that in removing the wheels
it was necessary to unscrew two of them, spring the frame open enough to
let the wheels drop out, and then replace the nuts again in their former
positions. If the frame of your clockworks is riveted together, the
wheels will have to be broken out. A small silk spool, such as _B_ (Fig.
377), should be fastened upon the small pivot which originally operated
the clock's hands, for a belt-wheel. Lay the works upon a table with
the face-side down, and, after centring the hole of the spool upon the
pivot, fasten it in place with sealing-wax in the same manner as you
attached spool _B_.
The works should now be attached to the wooden frame. Place them with
the striker uppermost, near the edge of the frame, so that the small
belt-wheels are in line with one another. Then bore a number of gimlet
holes in the wooden frame and run copper wire through them, passing it
around the posts of the clock-frame and twisting its ends until the
works are firmly fastened in place.
A rubber band about an eighth of an inch wide and long enough to reach
from one belt-wheel to the other should be procured for
=The Belt.=--This should stretch just enough to cling upon the spools,
as more than that would cause too much friction.
[Illustration: FIGS. 378-385.--Patterns for the Automobile Touring-car.]
Before going any further with the construction of the automobile
=Test the Machine=, to be sure that it is in perfect running order. Wind
up the main-spring, pressing a finger against one of the wheels to hold
it in check until you are ready to start the machine. When properly
made, the clockwork automobile should run a distance of from twenty to
twenty-five feet upon a wooden floor, while about three-quarters of that
distance should be covered upon a floor with a fairly smooth carpet.
=The Cardboard Sides= and other details of the automobile should now be
made. The pattern for these have been so shown in Figs. 378-385 that
they can easily be laid out to the proper shape and size by means of the
process of enlarging by squares described on page 110, Chapter VIII.
White cardboard should be used upon which to draw these pieces, and the
thinner it is the easier you will find it to work with.
[Illustration: FIG. 386.]
[Illustration: FIG. 387.--Cardboard Side of Automobile.]
First prepare the two sides, cutting them out by the pattern of Fig.
378. Then glue the bottom edge of each side to the edge of the wooden
frame, cutting holes in the left side for the belt-wheels and projecting
posts to run through (see Fig. 375 and _A_, _B_, _C_, _D_, and _E_, Fig.
387). The top to the front of the car should now be cut as shown in Fig.
388, the distance between the sides being measured to get the piece of
proper dimensions. Bend the edges as in Fig. 388, and glue them to the
inner surfaces of the side-pieces as shown by the dotted lines in Fig.
387. In the same way cut and glue a piece of cardboard between the
side-pieces at _G_ and _H_ (Fig. 387) for the seat-backs. The bent edges
of these pieces are shown by dotted lines in the illustration. Draw
four
=Wheels= as shown in Fig. 379, using a compass with which to describe
the circles, and cut them out with a sharp knife. You can cut out
between the spokes, if you wish, or leave them solid. Glue the wheels to
the cardboard, placing their centres about as located at _I_ and _J_,
Fig. 387. Four
=Mud-guards= should be cut like Fig. 380, with flaps made along one
edge. Then bend these guards around the tops of the wheels, and, after
applying glue to the flaps, press them against the cardboard side,
holding your fingers upon the flaps until the glue has dried (see Fig.
375). The guards should be placed a little above the tops of the wheels.
Cut four
=Lamps= like Fig. 381, and glue end _K_ of two upon the front of the
automobile at _L_ (Fig. 387) and one of the other two upon each side at
_M_. These lamps are shown in position in the illustration of the
completed automobile (Fig. 375). Draw and cut
=The Steering-wheel= similarly to Fig. 382, and, after pivoting it to
the end of a strip of cardboard with a pin, as shown in Fig. 389, bend
the lower end and glue it to the under side of the cardboard top _F_ at
_N_ (see Fig. 387, also Fig. 375). Make a
=Horn= like Fig. 383, and glue it to the steering-wheel as shown in Fig.
389. A strip of cardboard about the size of that used for the upright of
the steering-wheel should be cut for
=The Brake=, and glued to the inside surface of the right side of the
car at _O_ (Fig. 387).
[Illustration: FIG. 388.]
[Illustration: FIG. 389.--The Steering-wheel.]
=The Chauffeur= should now be made. Cut his head and body the shape and
size of Fig. 384, drawing the face upon each side with goggles over the
eyes. Cut the arms in two pieces the shape of _P_ and _Q_ (Fig. 385),
and then pivot _P_ to _Q_ at _R_ and the end of _Q_ to the shoulder of
the body at _S_, using thread for fastening the pieces together. Paint
the hat, coat, sleeves, and gloves a leather color, and the face flesh
color. The body should then be fastened to the hammer of the clockworks
with sealing-wax, as shown in Fig. 386, while the left hand should be
glued to the edge of the steering-wheel and the right to the end of the
brake (see Fig. 375). By thus attaching the body to the end of the
hammer, and winding up the small spring, the chauffeur will shake
violently when the auto runs across the floor, showing the vibrations of
the machine in a greatly exaggerated and amusing manner.
It is now only necessary to
=Paint the Machine= to complete it. The photograph (Fig. 375) indicates
the different colors used. The lamps, and top, ends, and sides of the
front portion of the car should be painted the color of brass, and the
rest of the sides, with the exception of a strip along the bottom and
the edge of the arms, should be painted vermilion. Paint the inside of
the car and the edges of the seat-arms tan color, to represent leather
upholstering. With black paint, or ink, stripe off the door and
trimmings upon the sides and top of the machine, as shown in Figs. 375,
387, and 388. Blacken the brake and steering-wheel and the spokes and
rims of the wheels. Along the bottom of each side roughly indicate some
machinery with black paint, about as it is drawn in Fig. 387.
When you have tired of your touring-car, you can easily convert it into
=An Automobile Delivery Wagon=, such as illustrated in Fig. 390. To
make this you will require the same frame as that used for the
touring-car, with the clockworks and belt-wheels attached in the same
manner. If you have made the touring-car, remove the cardboard sides
from its wooden frame, separating the cardboard from the wood carefully,
so you can put the machine together again when you wish. If you haven't
made this automobile, you will find the details for the construction of
the frame in Figs. 376 and 377, and the manner of performing the work
described on pages 343 to 346.
[Illustration: FIG. 390.--An Automobile Delivery Wagon.]
=The Cardboard Sides= are much easier to prepare than those for the
touring-car, as they are straight and require but little cutting. The
outline for these is shown in Fig. 390, surrounding the drawing of the
completed wagon. Lay out one side upon a piece of cardboard, using the
dimensions given upon the drawing, and then place it upon a board and
cut it out with your knife. Using this as a pattern, place it upon
another piece of cardboard and run a pencil around its edges, thus
marking out the second side. In cutting out the latter piece, run your
knife a little inside of the line in order to allow for the increase in
size caused by marking it out with the first cardboard side. Having
prepared the two sides, draw panels upon them in some such form as shown
in the illustration, separating them with three lines. Draw a small
window, with its top slightly arched, near the front edge of each side,
and cut an opening for it (see illustration).
Glue the sides to the edges of the truck in the same manner as those of
the touring-car were done, piercing holes for the posts of the
clockworks to fit in, and openings for the belt-wheels to project
through, in the left side. Cut a piece of cardboard for the back of the
wagon, fit it between the sides, and fasten it in place by gluing a
number of linen strips to it and the sides upon the inner or unexposed
surfaces. Then cut a piece of cardboard for the roof, making it about
two inches longer than the sides, to give it the proper projection over
the front of the wagon. Fasten this piece in position in the same manner
as you fastened the back of the wagon.
Make the floor and footboard for the wagon out of a piece of cardboard
bent as shown in Fig. 390, and fasten it across the top edges of the
projecting portions of the sides with linen strips. Cut a strip for a
seat, and fit it between the sides an inch and one-half above the floor.
=The Wheels= of an automobile wagon contain fourteen spokes, but as you
have the pattern for the touring-car wheels of twelve spokes, you can
just as well use it in making the wagon wheels. They should be mounted
upon the sides of the wagon, a trifle above the bottoms of the spool
wheels, as shown in the illustration, so they will not touch the carpet
when the machine is operated.
=All Other Portions= of the wagon should be made of the same patterns
given for the touring-car, viz. the chauffeur (Figs. 384 and 385), the
steering-wheel (Figs. 382 and 389), the brake (Fig. 375), and the lamps
(Fig. 381). As the legs of the chauffeur will show, it will be necessary
to cut a pair out of cardboard (the drawing shows the shape clearly
enough to work by) and fasten them to his body. Fasten the chauffeur
upon the seat and glue his left hand to the steering-wheel, placing the
latter in front of him, as shown in the drawing. Stick the lower end of
the cardboard upright of the steering-wheel upon a pin run through the
wagon floor from the under side. Glue the upper end of the brake to the
chauffeur's hand and the lower end to the side of the wagon.
=Paint the Wagon= with water colors, making the sides, end, and roof
olive green, the steering-wheel, brake, and spokes of wheels black, and
the lamps yellow or the color of brass. In painting the sides show the
battery compartments upon them below what would properly be the bottom
of the wagon (see illustration). Leave the cardboard white below this
box, as it represents no portion of the machine, but is necessarily
brought down so far to conceal the wooden frame. It will give the
machine a more finished appearance if, after painting, you go over it
with black paint and a fine brush and stripe the panels upon the sides,
following the lines which you drew upon them with a pencil. Letter the
word "Delivery" upon the centre panel of each side, and the firm name in
the small panel between the lamp and window.
By attaching a set of clockworks in the same manner as described for the
automobiles, you can make
=A Clockwork Railway=, constructing the cars similarly to the street car
shown in Fig. 363, Chapter XXV, and using the schemes in the same
chapter for the tracks and depots.
CHAPTER XXVII
WORK TO DO WITH A KNIFE
[Illustration: Boy Sharpening Knife.]
A number of years ago a friend of the writer paid a visit to a large
penitentiary where the prisoners were engaged in the manufacture of
boots and shoes. Among the workers he became particularly interested in
a small German boy who was industriously marking the backs of boots with
the lot numbers always to be found upon these goods. The boy didn't have
an ink bottle near him, and yet, with what appeared to be a wooden
stick, was marking the numbers in ink. A closer inspection disclosed the
fact that the pointed stick held by the lad was nothing more or less
than
=A Home-made Fountain Pen.=--Upon seeing that the visitor was struck
with the novelty of the affair, the superintendent presented him with
one of the pens and told him of its origin. The pen was the invention of
a forger who was placed in this department of the prison, and when its
good qualities were seen it was very quickly adopted by all of the
prisoners in place of the pointed stick and ink-bottle they had been
using.
The pen is shown in Fig. 391. It is made out of a piece of elderberry
wood about five inches long, a small glass vial, and a piece of sponge.
First push out the pith of the piece of elderberry wood (this you will
find easily removed), and then point one end pen-shape, as shown in the
illustration, and split it back from the point about an inch in the same
manner as a writing pen is made. Whittle the other end of the stick so
it will fit tightly in the neck of the glass vial. This bottle, or
reservoir, should be filled with ink, and a small piece of the sponge
you have procured should be pushed into the hollow of the pen above the
point (see illustration), as a means of preventing the ink from flowing
too freely upon the point.
[Illustration: FIG. 391.--A Home-made Fountain Pen.]
Although the pen was originally made with a coarse point for marking
heavy figures, you will find that it can be made to write to a
reasonable degree of fineness by whittling a fine point upon it.
[Illustration: FIG. 392.--The Magic Pin-wheel.]
=The Magic Pin-wheel= represented by Fig. 392 can be made with a few
minutes' work, and is something entirely new in the line of magic toys.
There are probably few persons who will understand this simple yet
mysterious toy when they see it properly operated, until the secret is
disclosed to them. As you will see by looking at the drawing, the
pin-wheel consists of nothing more than a stick notched along one edge,
and a thin piece of wood about an inch in length fastened through its
centre to the end of the stick by means of a pin. In cutting the notches
it is important to make them of the same length and depth. Locate the
exact centre of the chip of wood before pivoting it to the end of the
stick, and with your knife make a small hole for the pin to run through
at this point. Be careful to drive the pin in straight.
[Illustration: FIG. 393.--How to operate the Pin-wheel.]
=To Operate= the pin-wheel, hold the stick in the left hand as
illustrated in Fig. 393, and then, taking a coin in the right hand, rub
it vigorously across the notches. The vibration produced by rubbing the
stick causes the small pin-wheel to revolve about its pin axis. The
funny part of the performance is the fact that you can have perfect
control over the wheel, and change the direction of its course at will,
if you but master one little trick performed with the first and second
fingers of the right hand. In holding the coin between the thumb and
first finger of the right hand, allow the end of the first finger to
extend over the top of the stick and bring the second finger close to
the side of it, as shown in the illustration (Fig. 393). To make the
wheel revolve from left to right, allow the end of the first finger to
rub along the top edge of the notches; then, to reverse the direction,
relieve the pressure of this finger, and press the second finger against
the other edge of the notches.
At first you may not be able to make the wheel obey your commands, but
with a little practice you will find it a simple matter to make it
change its direction without any one noticing how you perform the
magical trick.
=A Brass Tack= driven into the stick a little below the notches, about
the point where the thumb of your left hand will strike, will add to the
mystic appearance of the pin-wheel. A person invariably notices this the
first thing when he sees you operate the wheel (you can make it a point
to press your left thumb against the tack), and thinks he has solved the
trick. But when you let him have the toy, he will soon find out that all
his pressing and pulling upon the tack will have no effect upon the
wheel, and beg you to "put him on" to the trick.
=A Wooden Chain and Rattle= has long been one of the most interesting
pieces of work a boy can make with his jack-knife, and, inasmuch as the
making of one requires careful cutting, the exercise is a good test of a
boy's skill with this handy tool.
[Illustration: FIG. 394.
FIG. 395.
FIG. 396.
Details of a Wooden Chain and Rattle.]
In making the first chain and rattle, you had better use a pine block,
as hard wood is not so easy for a beginner to handle. Therefore, for a
first attempt, select a piece of sound pine free from blemishes, and
plane it down to the dimensions, seventeen inches long, two inches wide,
and two inches thick. With a lead-pencil mark off ten divisions one inch
apart, running the lines around the four sides of the block (see Fig.
394). Then draw two lines lengthwise on each side of the block, as shown
at _AB_ and =CD=, making them one-half inch apart and three-quarters of
an inch from each edge. With a chisel, cut out the four corners of the
block down to the tenth line, as represented by the shading in Fig. 394.
=The Chain= is to be cut out of the remaining core, one link out of
every two divisions. Commencing at the top of the block, remove the
shaded portions _T_ and _U_ (Fig. 395), as those would form only half
links; then notch out the shaded corners marked _X_ in the drawing, and
gradually cut the core into circular links. Having finished this
operation, draw a circle inside of each link, and cut out the wood
inside of it. Round the edges of the links as shown in the drawing of
the finished chain (Fig. 396).
Your success in making a good chain will depend largely upon a good,
sharp knife and careful cutting. With a dull knife you are almost
certain to split the links when separating one from another.
=The Rattle= is to be made from the lower portion of the block. This
part of the figure is more difficult to cut than the chain. First draw
the two lines marked _HI_ and _JK_ in Fig. 394 one-half inch from the
edges; then draw the cross lines _LM_, _NO_, _PQ_, and _RS_, as shown in
the illustration. These lines should be similarly drawn upon the other
three sides of the block. Remove the wood from the spaces shaded in the
drawing, and you will then have left a centre solid block from which to
cut the ball. Gently round the corners of this, and then gradually
separate it from the surrounding framework. When this has been
accomplished, the centre block will slip up and down. Now continue
cutting the block until it is a perfect round ball, but be careful not
to make it small enough to fall out of the frame, for that would spoil
the entire piece of work.
After completing the cutting, sand-paper the links and rattle until they
are perfectly smooth. Then oil the wood or give it a coat of varnish.
CHAPTER XXVIII
CORK TOYS
[Illustration: Materials Needed and Finished Articles.]
It is surprising the number of small toys that can be made out of corks
of different shapes and sizes with the aid of glue, pins, burnt matches,
worsted, and cardboard. Even though a boy has passed the kindergarten
age, he will find this work entertaining for days when the weather is
disagreeable without; and though he may not care to play with them
himself, his work will not have been wasted, for a younger brother will
surely be glad to have some cork animals and birds to add to his
menagerie, and a sister no less delighted with a small log-cabin and set
of cork furniture.
Flat and tapered corks can probably be found about the house on old jars
and bottles, while the straight variety can be procured at any
drug-store. In buying the latter ask for No. 9, inch and one-half,
straight, common corks, half a gross of which will cost about
twenty-five cents.
[Illustration: FIG. 397.--The Pig.]
=Cork Animals= are peculiar-looking beasts of abnormal proportions, but
all sorts of magical feats are performed by toy makers, and such wonders
as
=A Pig= that can boast of a body as large as that of an elephant is
commonly found among the so-called Noah's ark animals. To make a pig,
first draw its head, as in the drawing of Fig. 397, upon a piece of
cardboard, and then, after cutting it out, select a straight cork and
make a slit in one end of it in which to stick the head. A little glue
applied to the cardboard will hold the head in place. The pig's feet
consist of four pieces of burnt matches pointed at the ends and stuck
into the cork as shown in Fig. 397, while the tail is formed of a piece
of copper wire curled at one end and stuck into the cork. When the pig
has been made, paint its head and feet to match its body.
[Illustration: FIG. 398.--The Horse.]
=A Horse= requires a cork of the same shape as that used for the pig.
Cut the head out of cardboard and glue it in a slit made in the end of
the cork (see Fig. 398). Dip the ends of four burnt matches in glue and
stick them in the cork for legs, and fasten a few pieces of worsted in a
hole made in the end of the cork for the tail. A piece of thread should
be fastened about the animal's neck for reins.
After making the horse, take another straight cork for
=The Elephant=, and cut the head, trunk, ears, and tusks out of a piece
of cardboard as shown in the illustration (Fig. 399). Cut the tail out
of another piece of cardboard, and glue it in a slit made in the end of
the cork. The legs are, of course, larger around than those of the
horse, and, as matches will be too slender, whittle four short wooden
pegs for them. Point these pegs at one end, and, after dipping them in
glue, stick them into the cork.
[Illustration: FIG. 399.--The Elephant.]
[Illustration: FIG. 400.--The Giraffe.]
=The Giraffe= is just as simple to make as any of the animals, for he is
put together in the same manner, except that a tapered cork is used for
the body. The head and neck are made in one piece of cardboard (see
illustration), and a piece of worsted forms the tail. When you have
painted the head and neck a tan color to match the cork, and marked a
number of brown spots upon the body, this tall and most graceful of
animals will appear very life-like.
[Illustration: FIG. 401.--The Korka-bird.]
=A Porcupine= is simple to make out of a long, straight cork with
toothpicks cut into small pieces for quills, and stuck into the cork as
close as you can place them. The head and other portions of this animal
can easily be made with the aid of a natural history, and it will be a
simple matter to devise
=Other Animals= upon the same schemes as those just described, by
consulting the pictures in one of these books. It is not necessary to
always copy a real animal. Use your ingenuity and see what queer-looking
creatures you can make. Figure 401 gives a suggestion for one of these,
which we will call
=The Korka-bird.=--You will see by looking at the drawing that the two
legs are made of matches, the lower ends of which are stuck into a piece
of cork for a standard; and the neck consists of a burnt match stuck
into the end of the cork with its upper end split to receive the
cardboard head. A small chicken-feather stuck into the top of the head
(the cardboard being split enough to receive it), two others in the
back, and a fourth in the end of the cork compose all the plumage this
wonderful bird can boast of, but this lack of feathers is more than
made up by a beautiful head, neck, body, and legs, which are gilded.
[Illustration: FIG. 402.--The Duck.]
As a suggestion of what can be made in the way of water toys,
=A Duck= is shown in Fig. 402. The body for this consists of a cork
split in half, the head is cut out of a piece of cigar-box, and a small
tin keel is fastened to the centre of the under side of the body. A few
chicken feathers will form the tail. Glue, of course, cannot be used
upon the duck, as it would soften in water, so the pieces composing it
will have to be fastened together by means of pins. Other water toys,
such as
=Canoes=, consisting of a cork split in half, lengthwise, with the
inside scooped out by means of your knife, are made with a few minutes'
work, and these can be transformed into
=Small Sail-boats= by sticking a toothpick in the bow for a mast and
rigging a tiny sail upon it.
=Cork Furniture= is not a new idea for toys, but, inasmuch as many have
never heard of them, a few examples of what can be made in this line
have been introduced in this chapter. For
=A Chair=, such as shown in Fig. 403, find a flat cork, and stick four
pins in one side for legs, and five pins fairly close together in the
other side for the chair-back (see illustration). When the pins have
been properly placed, take some worsted and wind it around each of the
four legs, crossing from one to another as shown in the drawing, thus
forming the chair-rounds. Also weave the worsted in and out around the
pins forming the chair-back as in the drawing, so that all but the heads
of the pins are covered when the operation is completed.
[Illustration: FIG. 403.--Chair.]
=The Sofa=, illustrated in Fig. 404, is made after the same manner.
Split a straight cork lengthwise for the seat, placing it flat-side up,
and stick pins around three edges of it upon which to wind the worsted.
[Illustration: FIG. 404.--Sofa.]
=A Small Tabouret= is shown in Fig. 405. Select a straight cork for the
base of this, and, after seeing that a good sharp edge is upon your
knife, slice the cork lengthwise, making it hexagonal in shape. Then
stick six pins in the cork near the upper edge, placing one in each of
the six edges (see illustration). When this has been done, weave worsted
upon the pins in the same manner as the chair-back was formed.
[Illustration: FIG. 405. Tabouret.]
[Illustration: FIG. 406.--A Cork Log-cabin.]
=A Toy Log-cabin=, or slab-hut, as it would properly be called, as the
building is first put up and then covered with corks split in half for
slabs, is illustrated in Fig. 406. A cardboard box should be procured
out of which to make this little building, the proportion of which will
determine the shape and size. Turn the box bottom side up, and on it
construct a gable-roof. Cut two pieces of cardboard large enough to make
a good projection over the ends of the building, and fasten them to the
bottom of the box as shown in the drawing, gluing a number of linen
strips to the pieces to hold them securely in place. Two pieces of
cardboard should be cut to fit the gable-ends, and glued in place with
linen strips. Cut windows in each side of the box and a door in each
end. Having completed the little cardboard cabin, split enough straight
corks in half lengthwise to cover the walls. Sharpen your knife well
before commencing this work, so the corks will cut evenly and without
breaking. Begin gluing these half corks along the bottom of the walls,
fitting them end to end as shown in the drawing, and placing one row
above another. Fit them neatly around the windows and door openings, and
if they do not space out as evenly as shown in the illustration, cut
some shorter pieces to fill in. The corks will quickly adhere to the
cardboard if you press your finger against each for a second or two
after placing it in position.
The roof may be painted to represent boards or shingles, and a cork
stuck in it as shown in the illustration will form the chimney. Cover
the window openings with paper. Tissue-paper will admit more light than
ordinary writing-paper, so probably will be the better material. Hinge a
piece of cardboard to the jamb of each door opening, using small pieces
of linen for hinges. Rule a few vertical lines upon the doors to
represent the boards. All that now remains to be done to complete the
cabin is the mounting, for which a seven-eighths-inch board should be
procured. Use linen strips to fasten the cabin upon this board, placing
them upon the inside surfaces of the walls, which can be reached by
running your hand through the door openings.
CHAPTER XXIX
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS AND PHRASES
[Illustration: Selection of Books.]
The terms and phrases used in describing the work included in this book
have been arranged alphabetically in this chapter, together with their
definitions. This has been done for the purpose of furnishing a boy with
a handy reference, with definitions in a clear and simple form, covering
only such points as apply to his particular kind of work.
=Abbreviations=
=d= stands for "penny." E. G. 16d stands for sixteen-penny nails (see
page 36).
=I.e.= or =i.e.= stands for "that is."
=E. G.= or =e.g.= stands for "for example."
=Viz.= or =viz.= stands for "namely, to wit."
="= stands for "inch" or "inches." E. G. 2" means two inches.
='= stands for "foot" or "feet." E. G. 2' means two feet.
=etc.= stands for "and so forth."
=Abutting Surface.=--Next or adjoining.
=Animated Animals.=--Animals (such as those used in the back-yard circus)
which are constructed and then given life. In the case of the circus
animals, the boys who enclose themselves in the bodies furnish the
animals with life.
=Bait-stick.=--A stick in a trap, upon which the bait is placed. It is
also known as the trigger.
=Baluster.= See Balustrade.
=Balustrade.=--A series of small spindles or posts (Balusters), to the
tops of which a bar (Hand Rail) is attached, placed along the sides of
stairs and around stair openings. The hand rail is supported at either
end by a post (Newel Post). E. G. See Figs. 71 and 75. Also applied to a
solid wall built up the sides of a stairway and around the stair
openings.
=Batten Door.=--A door formed by joining the boards together with
battens.
=Battens.=--Strips of wood, or cleats, fastened across two or more
boards to hold them together, as in making a cover or door. E. G. See
Figs. 15, 189, and 194.
=Bevel.=--Formed by cutting off the sharp edge of a board or any piece
of work. E. G. See Fig. 28. A tool used for laying out bevels
=Bird's Mouth.=--A notch, V-shaped, or the form of a bird's mouth, cut
in a piece of work. E. G. See Fig. 8.
=Blind-nailing.= See page 34.
=Brace.=--A strip, board, or heavier piece fastened across two or more
pieces to strengthen and steady them; a diagonal strip.
=Bracket.=--A support, generally triangular in shape, screwed or nailed
to a wall or object to hold up such things as shelves and cabinets.
=Broom-wire.=--The fine wire which is bound around brooms to hold the
straw to the end of the broom-stick.
=Bull's-eye.=--The centre ring of a target.
=Butt-joint.=--When the square end of one piece of wood butts or sets
against another piece, the joint formed is known as a butt-joint. The
pieces are not cut into as in the case of making other joints.
=Casings.=--The finishing strips placed around door and window openings.
E. G. See Figs. 85, 88, and 89. They are also known as Trim.
=Chair Rail.=--A narrow board fastened around the walls of a room at a
height equal to that of an ordinary chair-back.
=Chamfer.=--Formed by cutting off the sharp edge of a board. It is much
the same as a bevel (see Fig. 28), but the term is more often applied to
cases where the bevel is stopped, instead of running the entire length
of the edge, and its ends rounded up to meet the square edge of the
board. This form of chamfer is used for ornamental purposes, and is
known as a Stop Chamfer. Figure 29 shows a form of chamfer used in
planing end-wood.
=Cleats.=--Strips of wood fastened to others to strengthen them; or
strips secured to an object for the purpose of supporting a shelf or
drawers. E. G. See Figs. 15 and 148; also descriptions relating to same.
=Clinching Nails.= See page 34.
=Corbelled Brick.=--Several courses (layers) of brick so laid that each
projects a little beyond, or comes a little within, the course below. E.
G. See corbelled chimney for doll-house, Fig. 103, Chapter VI.
=Corner Stone.=--A stone placed in the corner of a foundation.
=Cornucopiæ.=--The plural for cornucopia; made by rolling paper or other
material into the shape of cones or funnels.
=Countersunk.= See Screws on page 36.
=Cross-piece.=--A piece that crosses another; a piece fastened in a
horizontal or oblique position, and extended from one piece to another.
=Cross Section.= See Section.
=Details.=--The parts of which a thing consists; a Detailed Drawing is
usually a working drawing, showing all the parts of a piece of work,
with dimensions marked upon them.
=Diagonal.=--A strip, board, or heavier piece fastened in an oblique, or
slanted, position--used in bracing (see Bracing of Toboggan Platform
Framework, Fig. 310); also a line drawn obliquely to another line,
several lines, or an object.
=Diagonally.=--In a diagonal direction.
=Diameter.=--The distance equal to a straight line passing through the
centre of a circle or a circular object, terminated at both ends by the
circumference, or the curved surface.
=Door Frame.=--The wooden frame built in a door opening for the door to
swing in. For definition of Jambs, Sill, and Head, see Window Frame.
=Door-stops.=--Wooden strips nailed around the Jambs and Head of a door
frame, for the door to swing against, and to make a tight joint between
the door and frame.
=Dovetail-joint.=--A tongue, undercut so as to make it wedge-shaped
(somewhat the shape of a dove's tail), is prepared upon one piece, and a
mortise, the shape and size of this tongue, is cut in the other piece
for it to set into. E. G. See Figs. 209 and 210, and text on page 210,
Chapter XV.
=Dowelling.=--A process of securing together two edges or faces of a
piece of work with pins of wood or metal. Holes are bored in the edges
or faces of the pieces, and wooden pegs are cut to fit them. These pegs
are coated with glue and then driven into place. The edges or faces of
the pieces are also covered with glue, and if the pieces have been
properly planed so as to fit together perfectly, a tight joint will be
obtained when the glue has dried. The work should be clamped until the
glue has dried. E. G. See Fig. 54. For nails used as dowels, see Fig.
357.
=Dowels.=--The pegs or pins used in dowelling.
=Dressed.=--After lumber has been planed at a mill, it is known as
"dressed stuff." A board may be dressed to the proper dimensions, that
is, prepared either by sawing, planing, paring, or scraping.
=Driving Home a Nail.=--The act of applying the finishing strokes of a
hammer upon the head of a nail in driving it into wood (see Driving
Nails, page 32).
=Drop.=--A piece of scenery hung from the Gridiron above the stage. E.
G. See Figs. 331, 332, and 340.
=Elevation.=--A straight Side or End view of an object. E. G. See Fig.
206.
=Em.=--A square type. Used as a unit in measuring type. The letter "m"
in type originally had a square end.
=En.=--A type half an "em" in width.
=End-plate.=--A timber, such as a two-by-four or two-by-six, placed
across the tops of the studs in the end of a framework, for the roof
rafters or the floor joists above to rest upon. E. G. See Fig. 184. When
placed across the studs in the side of a framework it is known as a
Side-plate.
=End-wood.=--Wood which has been cut across the grain and shows the ends
of the grain upon its surface. E. G. The end of a stick.
=Equidistant.=--Equally distant.
=Finishing Nail.=--A nail with a small head used on surfaces to be
exposed, where it is desirable to make as small nail holes as possible.
The finishing nail is very handy for all kinds of small work.
=Fishing.=--An operation where two or more pieces are joined together,
end to end, by means of strips (known as Fish-plates) nailed or screwed
across the joints. It is also known as a Fish-joint, and is a common
form of splice. E. G. See Fig. 183.
=Flange.=--A projecting rim such as the edge of a spool.
=Flush.=--A surface of a board is said to be flush with the surface of
another when those boards are so placed together that the two surfaces
are even, or extend along the same line or plane.
=Font.=--An assortment of type of one size and style, including a
certain number of each letter in the alphabet (large and small),
punctuation marks, and such characters as are necessary in printing.
Spaces and Quads are sold separately.
=Foundation.=--The base upon which a building rests. Usually made of
stone, brick, or posts, and placed below the surface of the ground.
=Gable-end.=--That portion of a wall which extends into the angle formed
by a gable or gambrel roof. E. G. See Figs. 64, 77, 96, and 109.
=Gauge of Tracks.=--The distance between the tracks.
=Grease Paint.=--A paint for the purpose of making-up the face in
preparation for a circus or entertainment of some sort. Prepared of a
composition easily removed, and free from injurious substances.
=Gridiron.=--The framework above the stage from which the scenery drops
are suspended. The framework consists of a series of parallel bars
resembling a gridiron.
=Groove.=--A channel or hollow cut in a piece of wood. In a
tongued-and-grooved board it is the hollow in which the tongue fits.
=Halving.= See Fig. 267; also description on page 259. This joint is
also known as a Halved-joint.
=Hand Rail.= See Balustrade.
=Hem.=--The edge of a piece of cloth doubled over and sewed, to
strengthen it and prevent the threads from ravelling.
=Hexagonal.=--Six-sided.
=Horizontal.=--Parallel to the horizon.
=Hornstone.=--A variety of quartz having the appearance of flint, but
more brittle.
=Kerf.=--The opening, or narrow slot, made in sawing.
=Latch-pocket.= See Spring-catch.
=Lath.=--A strip approximately one and one-half inches wide,
three-eighths of an inch thick, and four feet long. Nailed across the
walls and ceiling of a room upon which to place plaster.
=Locking-up.=--The process of tightening a form of type so as to hold it
together (see description, page 136).
=Longitudinal Section.= See Section.
=Making-up.=--Painting the face as a disguise or to show expression
marks.
=Mitre.=--The end of a board is mitred when cut off at an angle of
forty-five degrees. Although applied to other angles, the term mitre is
understood to mean a forty-five degree cut, unless otherwise stated (see
Bench-hook, Fig. 11, and Mitre-box, Fig. 12, Chapter I; also
descriptions of their use).
=Mitred Try-square.=--Used for laying off mitres (see Figs. 38 and 39,
Chapter II).
=Mortise.=--A slot or cavity made in a piece of wood to receive the end
of another piece. E. G. See Figs. 208, 210, 211, Chapter XV. Bevelled
Mortise.--A mortise with its bottom or sides bevelled. E. G. See Fig.
10, Chapter I.
=Mould.=--Something which serves to give the proper form to an object.
E. G. The mould for shaping a canvas canoe, Fig. 204, Chapter XV.
=Newel Post.= See Balustrade.
=Notch.=--A hollow cut in anything; a nick; an indentation. To
Notch.--To cut in small hollows, as to notch a stick. E. G. See Fig.
191, Chapter XIV, and Fig. 392, Chapter XXVII.
=Obsidian.=--A form of lava.
=On Centres.=--In spacing studs or strips of any kind, they are spoken
of as being placed a certain number of inches on centres. E. G. Twelve
inches on centres means that the distance from the centre of one piece
to the centre of another is twelve inches.
=Out of Plumb.=--Not vertical; not perpendicular to the horizon.
=Out of Square.=--Askew; oblique; not true.
=Parallel.=--Lines or objects are parallel to one another when they have
the same direction, and all corresponding points are equidistant from
one another.
=Perpendicular.=--Vertical; plumb; in an upright position.
=Perspective.=--A perspective is a drawing showing an object in the form
in which it appears to the eye. The lines converge, or approach nearer
together, as they go away from the eye, until they finally meet at a
point on the horizon, or a line drawn to represent the horizon. E. G. In
looking down a railway track the telegraph poles and tracks appear to
run together on the line of the horizon.
=Pica.=--The standard of measurement in printing. A name given to a size
of type which measures one-sixth of an inch high (measured from the
nicked side to the side opposite); and seventy-two ems (see Em) measure
one foot.
=Pie.=--A mixed assortment of type. See page 135, Chapter IX.
=Pieing Type or Making Pie.=--Spilling or mixing up type.
=Pipe-straps.=--Iron straps used mostly by pipe-fitters to fasten
gas-piping in place. E. G. See Figs. 321 and 322.
=Pitch.=--The pitch of a board is the degree to which it has been
tilted.
=Plan.=--A drawing showing a view of an object, looking down upon it,
either on top of it (e. g. see Figs. 205 and 207), or with the upper
portion sliced off (e. g. see Fig. 190. This shows a plan of the
log-cabin at a level of the door and windows, with the upper portion
removed).
=Plank.=--Lumber two inches or more in thickness is known as planks or
planking. Anything of less thickness is known as boards.
=Plumb.=--Perpendicular; vertical; true. An instrument for determining
whether or not an object is plumb (see Fig. 14, Chapter I).
=Proscenium.=--The front portion of a stage. The Proscenium Arch is the
arch or frame extending around the front of the stage of a theatre.
=Pumice Stone.=--A porous rock, of extreme lightness, used for polishing
metals; for smoothing the surface of wood; and for smoothing the surface
of a coat of paint before applying a second coat (see Painting of Canvas
Canoe, page 214).
=Pyrotechnics.=--The art of making fireworks; fireworks; the composition
and use of fireworks.
=Quad.=--An abbreviation for quadrat. A block of type-metal lower than
the type, used for filling out lines, and for spacing between lines. A
2-em quad is two "ems" in width, and a 3-em quad three "ems" in width.
=Quartz.=--Glassy crystals, having the form of a six-sided prism,
terminated at each end by a pyramid. It is colorless, or transparent,
when pure, and more or less opaque and in various colors when impure.
=Quoins.=--The wedges used to tighten or lock-up a form of type. E. G.
See Figs. 155 and 156.
=Rabbet.=--A groove or hollow cut in a piece of work, generally for the
purpose of joining it with some other material. E. G. The sides of the
bow and stern pieces of the Canvas Canoe described in Chapter XV are
rabbeted so the ribbands and the edge of the canvas will fit in them
(see Figs. 200 and 202, Chapter XV).
=Radius.=--The distance from the centre of a circle to any point upon
its circumference. It equals one-half of the length of the diameter.
=Rasp.=--A file with coarse teeth, used for working upon wood.
=Recess.=--A niche in a wall; a space or opening formed by the wall
setting in a little way.
=Reënforce.=--To strengthen; to supply additional strength with strips
or braces.
=Ridge.=--An edge of a roof formed by the meeting of two sloping
surfaces. The top edge of a peaked roof. E. G. See Fig. 192, Chapter
XIV.
=Ridge-boards.=--The boards fastened along the ridge of a roof to cover
the joint. E. G. See Fig. 192, Chapter XIV.
=Right Angle.=--An angle of ninety degrees. At Right Angles.--So as to
form a right angle.
=Rubbing Down.=--Bringing to a smooth surface by rubbing with
sand-paper, emery-paper, or pumice stone.
=Rustic.=--Made of limbs of trees in their natural form.
=Sagging.=--The bending of a body by its own weight, or by a load placed
upon it.
=Sapling.=--A young tree.
=Sash.=--The frame which holds the glass of a window. Also applied to
the frame with the glass in place.
=Scraping.=--A piece of glass or the blade removed from a plane is used
for scraping a piece of work to give it a smoother surface than can be
obtained by using a plane upon it.
=Section.=--A part.
=Section Drawing.=--A drawing made of an object, showing it as it would
look if you were to cut it open or split it in two. The portions which
would have to be cut through, in such an operation, are shaded in a
drawing of this kind. E. G. See Fig. 218, Chapter XV; Fig. 300, Chapter
XXI; and Fig. 316, Chapter XXII.
A Cross Section is a section taken through the short way of an object.
A Longitudinal Section is a section taken through the long way of an
object.
=Selvage.=--The selvage of cloth or wire-mesh is the edge which has
been so woven as to prevent ravelling.
=Semicircle.=--Half a circle.
=Set of a Saw's Teeth.= See page 21, Chapter II.
=Setting Nails.= See page 34, Chapter II.
=Shape it Down.=--A term used to imply that the board or piece of work
shall be gradually cut down until it approaches its finished form and
size.
=Shooting Stick.=--An iron or wooden tool with a head on one end, used
to lock-up the Quoins in a form of type. E. G. See Fig. 155, Chapter IX.
=Sills.=--The lowest horizontal timbers in a building of any kind on
which the structure rests. See also Window Frame.
=Sleepers.=--The timbers supporting the lower floor of a building,
distinguished from joists by being filled in between with cinders or
concrete. E. G. See Fig. 186, Chapter XIII.
=Slip-knot.=--A noose which slips along the line or rope around which it
is tied. E. G. See Fig. 243, Chapter XVII.
=Slot.=--A mortise, or hole, with sides square or nearly so. Made by
boring several holes, and then connecting and squaring them up with a
chisel.
=Space.=--A thin piece of type-metal, lower than the type, used between
words, and for spacing out lines. A 3-em space is a third of an "em" in
width, a 4-em a quarter of an "em" in width, a 5-em a fifth of an "em,"
and an 8-em (known as a hair space) is an eighth of an "em."
=Spike.=--A twentypenny nail (four inches long) and all lengths greater.
See list of sizes on page 36, Chapter II. To Spike a board in place is
to fasten it with spikes.
=Spliced.=--Two pieces are spliced when joined together, generally end
to end, in such a way that they are held together and act as one piece.
E. G. See Fig. 183, Chapter XIII, and Fishing.
=Spring-catch.=--A small lock, such as shown in Figs. 96, 114, and 187.
The latch is operated by a small knob, and is thrown into position by a
small spring. The metal socket which is screwed in place for the latch
to spring into is known as the Latch-pocket.
=Sprint.=--A short race run at full speed.
=Squaring Lines.=--By squaring lines across a board is meant the
operation of drawing lines across a board with a try-square, the head of
the try-square being placed against the tried-edge of the board so those
lines will be at right angles to that tried-edge. E. G. See Fig. 38,
Chapter II.
=Staple.=--A U-shaped piece of metal, with two sharp points which are
driven into wood in the same way as a nail.
=Stock.=--Material; supplies.
The brace which holds the bit for boring; the block which holds the
blade of a plane (see Fig. 24, Chapter II); the portion of a gun which
contains the barrel and trigger.
=Stops.= See Door-stops and Window-stops.
=Strap-hinge.=--A hinge with long arms, or flaps, which extend over a
larger area than those of an ordinary hinge, and give it the power of
withstanding greater strains.
=Studs.=--The smaller pieces of timber used in the framework of a
building, to which the siding is attached, or to which the laths are
nailed. Known also as Studding.
=Stuff.=--In carpenter work this term is applied to the different sizes
of lumber. E. G. Seven-eighths-inch stuff means boards seven-eighths of
an inch thick; two-inch-stuff is lumber two inches thick.
=Stunt.=--Originally a slang word used to denote a trick or feat of some
sort. It is now generally recognized as a legitimate word.
=Swivel.=--A fastening with a pivot which allows the object attached to
it to revolve without twisting the cord, wire, or chain, by which that
object is suspended. E. G. See Fig. 258, Chapter XVIII; and page 249.
=Taper.=--To make gradually smaller in diameter toward one end; to
gradually diminish toward a point.
=Temper.=--Steel and iron tools are given their necessary degree of
hardness by a process of heating and cooling, known as Tempering. Too
much friction obtained while grinding a tool will destroy this temper,
making it necessary to re-temper it.
=Toe-nailing.= See page 33.
=Tongue.=--The projecting edge of a tongued-and-grooved board. A
projecting pin cut on a piece of wood to fit a mortise of the same shape
cut in another piece of wood. Used in making Dovetail-joints. E. G. See
Figs. 208 and 209, Chapter XV.
=Tongued-and-grooved Boards.=--Boards with a groove along one edge and a
tongue along the opposite edge, so that the tongue of one board will fit
in the groove of another, thus forming a fairly tight joint. These
boards are known also as Matched Boards.
=Trench.=--A ditch; a long channel.
=Tried-edge of Work.= See Testing Work, page 28.
=Trim.=--The wooden Casings placed around door and window openings (see
Figs. 85, 88, and 89, Chapter V).
To dress a piece of work; to cut; to make smooth.
=Turnstile.=--A post upon the top of which four horizontal arms are
pivoted to revolve, so as to allow but one person to pass at a time (see
Fig. 266, Chapter XIX, and description of construction on page 259).
=Two-by-four.=--A piece two inches thick by four inches wide used for
supports and the construction of frameworks. Pieces of other dimensions
are also known and spoken of by their sizes in inches. E. G.
Two-by-sixes, two-by-eights, and two-by-tens.
=Typographical.=--Relating or pertaining to typography.
=Typography.=--The art of setting type.
=Undercutting.=--As the term implies, the wood is undercut, or cut
under, thus making it wedge-or V-shaped. E. G. See Fig. 209, Chapter XV;
also text on page 211.
=Upright.=--An upright is a piece of timber which is perpendicular when
in place.
=Valance.=--A drapery for a couch or bed. E. G. See Couch in
illustration of a Boy's Room, Chapter V.
=Vertical.=--Perpendicular to the horizon; upright; plumb; straight up
and down.
=Wainscot.=--A lining placed upon the inside walls of a building. It was
originally made of oak timbers, known as wainscot, but the term is now
applied to any kind of wood, burlap, tapestry, or other material applied
in the same manner. As a rule, it extends but part way up a wall,
starting at the floor line.
=Warped.=--Twisted out of shape.
=Washer.=--A ring placed beneath the head of a bolt to give it a broader
bearing surface, and thus prevent it from cutting into the surface of
the piece of work. It is also placed under a nut to prevent it from
working loose.
=Wedge-shaped.=--V-shaped.
=Window Frame.=--The wooden frame built in the window opening for the
sash to fit into. The Jambs are the sides of this frame, the Sill the
bottom piece upon which the Jambs rest, and the Head the top piece of
the frame. E. G. See Figs. 187 and 188, Chapter XIII, and Fig. 193,
Chapter XIV.
=Window-stops.=--Wooden strips nailed around the Jambs, Head, and Sill
of a window frame to prevent rain and wind from entering between the
sash and its frame.
=Wing.=--A piece of scenery placed at the side of the stage. E. G. See
Figs. 333, 334, 335, 341, and 342, Chapter XXIV.
INDEX
A
Advertisements for amateur paper, 152;
dummy for, 152.
Advertisers' dummy, 152.
Advertising signs for circus, 271.
Amateur journalism, 142.
Amateur papers, methods of printing, 145;
specimens of, 143, 146, 147, 148, 149, and group opposite 142;
character of, 148;
naming of, 149;
frequency of publication of, 149;
size of page of, 150;
heading for, 150;
choice of type for, 150;
cover for, 151;
binding, 151;
advertisements for, 152;
second-class rates for, 152.
Andirons for doll-house fire-place, 88.
Animals, animated, 261;
cork, _see_ Cork animals.
Animated animals, 261.
Archery, scoring of points in, 235;
position for shooting in, 239.
Arrow-heads, 237;
Indian, 241.
Arrow-shafts, 237;
feathering of, 238;
Indian, 240.
Arrows, shingle, 232.
Ash-sifter, an, 53.
Athletic club, organizing an, 254.
Athletic meets, 254.
Attendants, circus, 269.
Automatic-drill, use of an, 31.
Automobiles, clockwork, 343;
touring-car, 343;
delivery-wagon, 352.
B
Back-saw, use of the, 24.
Back-yard circus, a, _see_ Circus.
Back-yard club-house, a, _see_ Club-house.
Back-yard toboggan-slide, _see_ Toboggan-slide.
Bailey plane, the, 26.
Ballista, the ancient, 231.
Balustrades, doll-house, 78, 100.
Barrel-hoop target, 234.
Bath-room as a dark-room, a, 155.
Batten door, a, for club-house, 184.
Battles, mimic, with paper soldiers, 276.
Battleships, cardboard, 328.
Beams, deck, for canvas canoe, 210.
Bean-blower, a magazine, 282.
Bedroom as a dark-room, a, 154.
Beds, doll-house, 118;
pine-bough, 198.
Bench-hook, how to make a, 9;
use of a, 24, 29.
Bench-screw, iron and wooden, 5.
Bench-stops, 7.
Bench-vise, how to make the, 5.
Bevel, how to use the, 45.
Bevelling, 30.
Bilge-keels for canvas canoe, 215.
Binding of amateur papers, 151.
"Bird's mouth" cut, 8.
Bits, a rack for, 16;
use of, 31.
Bit-stock, use of, 31;
selection of, 31.
Blacking-case, a, 68.
Blind-nailing, 34.
Blockhouse scene, a, 319.
Book-shelves, 67.
Boring, 30.
Bow and arrow, the, 236.
Bow, length of, 236;
the Indian's, 240.
Bow piece for canvas canoe, 204.
Bow-string, the, 237.
Box trap, the, 221.
Boy about the house, the, 47.
Boy's dark-room, a, 153.
Boy's printing-shop, a, 126.
Boy's room, suggestions for a, 57;
suitable furnishings for a, 57.
Boy's workshop, a, 3.
Braces, deck, for canvas canoe, 211.
Bread-board, how to make a, 54.
Broom and dust-pan rack, a handy, 50.
Bullets, cardboard, 233.
Bunks for log-cabin, 198.
Butt-joint, a, 59.
Button-locks for club-house, 184.
C
Cabinet, a tool-, 14;
a special tool-, 16;
a curio-, 65.
Cabin, log-, _see_ Log-cabin.
Cages for side show, 260.
Calking cracks, 184.
Camera, profitable work with a, 153.
Camping, pointers for, 199;
utensils for, 199;
other necessary articles for, 199;
provisions for, 200.
Camp-table, a, 199.
Cannon, danger of store, 273;
a fire-cracker, 273;
another toy, 276.
Canoe, how to build a canvas, 201;
materials for, 202;
putting together framework of, 207;
canvas covering for framework of, 212;
painting of, 214.
Canvas canoe, _see_ Canoe.
Canvas covering for canoe, 212.
Car for toy railway, a simple, 334;
a gondola, 336;
a street, 336;
other cars, 340.
Carpenter's carrying-box, a, 17.
Carpenter's horses, 9.
Carpenter work, advantages of understanding, 3.
Carpets for doll-house, 106.
Carrying-box, a carpenter's, 17.
Case, a blacking-, 68;
upper and lower type-, 129;
scheme for laying type-, 129;
the Yankee job-, 130;
a negative-, 167.
Casters for doll-house, 84.
Catapult, the ancient, 229.
Catch, spring-, for doll-house, 98;
for stable, 102;
for club-house, 183.
Chain and rattle, a wooden, 359.
Chairs, miniature mission, 113.
Chamfering, 30.
Chariot, a circus, 270.
Chase, the type, 136.
_Chemistry News_, the, 143, 146.
Chimney, doll-house, 85, 94;
log-cabin, 192.
Chisels, racks for, 16;
forms of, 28;
how to use the firmer-, 28;
framing-, 29;
paring with, 29;
grinding of, 38.
Cigar-boxes, preparation of, 110.
Cigar-box furniture, _see_ Furniture.
Circus, a back-yard, 255;
the ancient Roman, 255;
the modern, 255;
how several boys gave a, 256;
preparing a back-yard for a, 256;
ideas for performance of, 256;
parades, 271.
Classifying negatives, 165;
manila envelopes for, 165.
Clinching nails, 34.
Clock, a miniature grandfather's, 117.
Clockwork automobiles, 343.
Clockwork railway, 355.
Clockwork tick-tack, a, 286.
Clothes, workshop, 18;
hooks for workshop, 19.
Clothes-line reel, a handy, 48.
Clown, suit for, 268;
stunts for, 269;
slapper for the, 269.
Club, organizing an athletic, 254.
Club-house, a back-yard, 175;
drawing plan of, 178;
staking out, 179;
material for, 178.
Coaming for cockpit, 214.
Cockpit, 212;
coaming for, 214.
Colored lights for miniature theatre, 309.
Compass-saw, use of the, 21.
Composing-rule, a, 134;
how to use a, 135.
Composing-stick, how to use the, 134.
Composing type, 134.
Coop trap, the, 224.
Cork animals, 363;
a pig, 364;
a horse, 364;
the elephant, 365;
the giraffe, 365;
a porcupine, 366;
other animals, 366.
Cork toys, 363;
animals, 363;
the korka-bird, 366;
a duck, 367;
boats, 367;
furniture, 367;
a toy log-cabin, 369.
Corner, how to fit up a cosey-, 58.
Cosey-corner, how to fit up a, 58;
a doll-house, 107.
Couch, a, 63;
covering of, 64.
Countersink, use of the, 37.
Cracks, calking, 184.
Cross-bar for jump standards, 250.
Cross-bow, the ancient, 231;
new idea for a, 231.
Cross-cut saw, use of the, 21.
Cupboard, provision, 197.
Curio-cabinet, a, 65;
finishing of, 67;
catalogue for, 67.
Curtain, drop-, 306.
Curtains for doll-house, 106.
Curves, drawing, 204.
D
Dark-lantern, a home-made, 163.
Dark-room, a boy's, 153;
a bedroom as a, 154;
a bath-room as a, 155;
another scheme for a, 156.
Dead fall trap, the, 222.
Deck beams for canvas canoe, 210.
Deck braces for canvas canoe, 211.
Definitions of terms and phrases, 371.
Delivery-wagon, a clockwork automobile, 352;
frame for, 352;
cardboard sides for, 353;
the wheels, 354;
other portions of, 354;
painting, 355.
Desk, how to make a writing-, 59;
another style of, 62;
finishing of, 61.
Disappearing rope, the, 290.
Distribution of type, 137.
Divide a board, to, 45.
Doll furniture, 109.
Doll-house, how to make a, 71;
the store, 71;
painting the, 90;
another style of, 91;
furnishing the, 105.
Door, batten, for club-house, 184;
log-cabin, 194.
Doors, doll-house, 80, 84;
trim for, 84;
stable, 104.
Dowelling, 60.
Drawing, parallel lines, 43;
enlarging by squares, 110;
curves, 204.
Draw-knife, use of a, 30;
how to grind the, 39.
Dresser, a doll's, 120;
a cigar-box, 124.
Drill, an automatic-, 31.
Driving nails, 32.
Drop-curtain, 306.
Drops for miniature theatre, 316, 320.
Drying-rack, a, 161;
another scheme for a, 161.
Duck, a cork, 367.
Dummy, the advertisers', 152.
Dust-pan and broom rack, a handy, 50.
E
Elastic sling, an, 234.
Elephant, a circus, 261;
tricks for the, 269;
a cork, 365.
Elevator, a doll-house, 94;
shaft for, 92;
car of, 96;
guide-wires for, 96;
pulleys, chain, and weight for, 97.
Enlarging by squares, 110.
Enterprise, a winter, 169.
Equipment of workshop, 4;
of printing-shop, 128;
of dark-room, 154.
F
Feathering arrow-shafts, 238.
Feed-hoist for stable, 104.
Feed-troughs for stable, 103.
Field scene, a, 316.
Figure-four trap, the, 219.
Filter for dark-room tank, 158.
Fire-cracker cannon, a, 273.
Fire-cracker mortar, a, 275.
Fire-crackers, firing, from kites, 278.
Fire-place, doll-house, 86;
log-cabin, 190, 192.
Fireworks, danger and cost of making, 272;
harmless and inexpensive, 273.
Firing Roman-candles from kites, 277;
fire-crackers from kites, 278;
nigger-chasers with cross-bow, 278.
Firmer-chisels, use of, 28.
Fishing studs, 178.
Fish-plates, 178.
Floodlights, 308.
Floor, back-yard club-house, 181;
mud, for log-cabin, 193.
Floors, doll-house, 74, 76, 91;
finishing of hardwood, 106.
Fly-killer, a simple, 51;
use of the, 52.
Folding-bed, a cigar-box, 123.
Footlights, 307.
Fore-plane, use of the, 25.
Form, locking up a, 136;
overlaying the, 138;
underlaying the, 138.
Fountain pen, a home-made, 356.
Fourth of July, suggestions for, 272;
the first, 272.
Frames for scenery drops, 314.
Frames, picture-, for a boy's room, 59.
Framing-chisels, use of, 29.
Franklin, Benjamin, 142.
Furniture, cork, 367;
a chair, 368;
the sofa, 368;
a tabouret, 368.
Furniture, mission, 109;
chairs, 113;
settee, 114;
tables, 114;
another design for tables, 115;
side-board, 115;
a mirror, 117;
grandfather's clock, 117;
kitchen furniture, 118;
beds, 118;
dresser, 120;
wash-stand, 121;
finishing of, 121.
Furniture, suitable for a boy's room, 57;
selection of doll-house, 107;
doll-, 109;
metal, 109;
other cigar-box, 122;
printer's metal and wooden, 136.
G
Gable-ends, the doll-house, 79, 97;
the stable, 102.
Gable roof for doll-house, 92;
for stable, 101.
Galley, a home-made, 135.
Gambrel roof for doll-house, 79.
Gauge-pins, 139.
Gauging with rule and pencil, 43;
with the marking-gauge, 43.
Gig-saw, use of the, 24.
Giraffe, a circus, 262;
looping the hoop on a, 269;
tricks for the, 270;
a cork, 365.
Goblin-man, the, 286.
Gondola car, a, 336.
Gouge, use of the, 30;
how to grind the, 39.
Grandfather's clock, a miniature, 117.
_Gratz Park News_, the, 148.
Grinding, the proper method of, 37.
Grind-stone, use of the, 37.
Gun, a shot-, 234.
Guns, ancient, 229.
Gunwales for canvas canoe, 208;
outside, 215.
Gymnasium, an outdoor, 243;
location of, 243.
H
Halloween, 281;
ancient superstitions of, 281;
origin of, 281.
Halving, 259.
Hammer, selection of, 32.
Handling of tools, the proper, 20.
Hatchet, paring with a, 32;
how to grind a, 40.
Hinge-lock, the, 48.
Hinges, strap-, 184;
wooden, 194.
Hook, how to make a bench-, 9.
Hooks, hat and coat, 19.
Hoop, looping the, on a giraffe, 269.
Horizontal bar, a, 243.
Horse, the circus wild, 265;
the cork, 364.
Horses, carpenter's, 9.
House, the boy about the, 47;
how to make a doll-, 71;
another doll-, 91;
a back-yard club-, _see_ Club-house.
Hurdles, 253.
I
Ideas for a circus performance, 269.
Imposing-stone, the, 136.
Indian, story of a trapped, 227.
Inking the press, 140.
Ink-stand and pen-tray, an, 63.
Interior scene, an, 322.
J
Jack-plane, use of the, 25.
Japanese lanterns, for decorating circus tent, 257;
hung from kite-string, 278.
Jobbing, 47;
outfit for, 47.
Jocko, 267.
Johnstone, Mary Jane, 176.
Jointed figures, 325;
operation of, 327.
Journalism, amateur, 142.
Jump standards, a pair of, 249.
Justifying, 135.
K
Keel for canvas canoe, 215;
bilge-, 215.
Keelson for canvas canoe, 206.
Kerf, definition of, 25.
Kitchen furniture for doll-house, 118.
Kites, firing fireworks from, 277.
Knife, work to do with a, 356.
Knives, how to grind, 40.
Korka-bird, the, 366.
L
Ladder, stable hay-loft, 103;
toboggan-slide, 296.
_Lake High School Daily_, the, 146.
Lantern, a home-made dark-, 163.
Lanterns, Japanese, for circus tent, 257;
hung from kite-string, 278.
Latch, wooden, for club-house, 184;
for log-cabin, 195.
Laying out work, 42;
tools for, 42.
_Ledger, The_, 149.
Letter, a mysterious, 176.
Lightning, how to imitate, 330.
Lock, workshop door, 19;
a hinge-, 48;
spring-catch for doll-house, 98;
spring-catch for stable, 102;
club-house, 183;
button for club-house, 184;
for turnstile, 259.
Locking up a form, 136;
quoins, shooting-stick, and key for, 136.
Lock-joint, the, 189.
Log-cabin, how to build a, 186;
the pioneer, 186;
the modern, 186;
site for, 188;
design and size of, 188;
material for, 188;
staking out, 189;
furnishings for, 197;
a toy, 369.
Looping the hoop on a giraffe, 269.
M
Magazine bean-blower, a, 282.
Magic pin-wheel, the, 357.
Mantel and fire-place, a doll-house, 86.
Mantel-shelf for log-cabin, 197.
Mark for broad jumping, 254.
Marking-gauge, a, 43;
how to operate a, 44.
Materials, receptacles for printing, 140;
cabinet for dark-room, 161.
Mechanical effects for miniature theatre, 329.
Mid-ocean scene, a, 315.
Mimic battles with paper soldiers, 276.
Miniature theatre, a, _see_ Theatre.
_Mirror, The_, 146, 147.
Mirror for doll-house, 117.
Mission furniture, doll, _see_ Furniture.
Mitre-box, how to make a, 10.
Monkey, make-up for, 267;
tricks for, 270;
chariot for, 270.
Mortar, a fire-cracker, 275.
Mould for canvas canoe, 207.
Mysterious letter, a, 176.
N
Nail-box, how to make a, 18.
Nailing, toe-, 33;
blind-, 34.
Nails, driving, 32;
withdrawing, 33;
clinching, 34;
forms of, 35;
sizes of, 36.
Nail-set, the, 34.
Negative-case, 167;
finishing of, 168.
Nigger-chasers, firing, with cross-bow, 278.
O
Ocean scene, an, 313.
Office, ticket, 257.
Oil-stone, selection of, 40;
the Washita, 40.
Oily rags and waste, care of, 19, 141.
Outdoor gymnasium, an, 243.
Overlaying a form, 138.
P
Packing-cases for doll-house, 72, 91.
Paddle, a single, 217.
Papering the doll-house, 105.
Papers, amateur, _see_ Amateur papers.
Parades, circus, 271.
Parallel bars, 245.
Parallel lines, to draw, 43.
Paring, 29.
Partitions, doll-house, 74, 91;
stable stall, 102.
Pen, a home-made fountain, 356.
Penants, college, for cosey-corner, 58.
Pen-tray, an ink-stand and, 63.
Picture-frame, a proscenium, 303.
Picture-frames for a boy's room, 59.
Pictures, suitable, for a doll-house, 107.
"Pieing," 135.
Pig, a cork, 364.
Pin-wheel, the magic, 357.
Pistol, a toy, 233;
cardboard bullets for, 233.
Plan, drawing, for club-house, 178.
Plane, use of the jack-, the fore-, and the smoothing-, 25;
the Stanley, 25;
the Bailey, 26;
printer's, 137.
Plane-iron, how to grind a, 39;
how to whet a, 41.
Planes, choice of, 25.
Planing, position for, 26;
wood with crooked grain, 27;
end-wood, 27.
Plate-lifter, a, 165.
Plate-rack, a, 54;
staining of, 56.
Platform for punching-bag, 248.
Platform for toboggan-slide, 293.
Plough, a snow, 169.
Plumb, how to make a, 12;
how to use a, 13.
Points, scoring of, in archery, 235.
Pole, a vaulting, 251.
Pond, for miniature theatre, 320.
Porcupine, a cork, 366.
Portieres for doll-house, 106.
Posters for a boy's room, 58.
Preserving negatives, 165;
manila envelopes for, 165.
Press Association, the National Amateur, 143;
the United Amateur, 143;
the Interstate Amateur, 144;
the Western Amateur, 144;
local amateur, 144;
advantages of membership in a, 144.
Presswork, pointers for, 138.
Printing, 126;
neatness in, 140.
Printing-press, starting with a small, 126;
inking the, 140.
Printing-shop, a boy's, 126;
location of, 126;
the author's, 128;
equipment of, 128.
Proofs, striking, 136;
correcting, 136;
disposing of waste, 141.
Proper handling of tools, the, 20.
Properties for miniature theatre, 327.
Proscenium, a picture-frame, 303.
Provision cupboard, 197.
Provisions for camping, 200.
Punching-bag platform, 248.
Punctures in a canvas canoe, to mend, 216.
Purchasing tools, advice about, 13.
Q
Quiver, 239.
Quoins, 136.
R
Rabbit snare, 225.
Rack, steel-square, 16;
a broom and dust-pan, 50;
a plate-, 54;
a towel-, 70;
type-case, 131;
a washing-, 159;
a drying-, 161;
another scheme for a drying-, 161.
Racks, bit and chisel, 16;
other tool, 16.
Railing for toboggan-slide, 296.
Railway, making a toy, 331;
materials for, 331;
trolley-line for, 331;
power for operating, 333;
tracks for, 334;
cars for, 334;
operation of, 340;
station for, 341;
a clockwork, 355.
Rain, how to imitate, 330.
Reel, a clothes-line, 48.
Reënforcing runners of sled, 299.
Ribbands for canvas canoe, 208.
Ridge boards, 192.
Ridge pieces for canvas canoe, 211.
Ring for a back-yard circus, 256.
Ring master, costume for, 268;
duties of the, 270.
Rip-saw, use of the, 21.
Roar of cannon, how to imitate, 330.
Rocks for seashore scene, 315.
Rollers, the proper care of printing, 140.
Roman candles, firing, from kites, 277.
Roman circus, the, 255.
Roof, the gambrel, 79;
the gable, 92, 101;
tar-paper for back-yard club-house, 181;
log-cabin, 191;
covering of cabin, 192.
Room, suggestions for a boy's, 57;
suitable furnishings for a boy's, 57.
Rope, the disappearing, 290.
Rope bar for jump standards, 251.
Ruby lantern for dark-room, a home-made, 163.
Ruby-light, a, 162.
Rule, a composing, 134.
Runners for sled, 298;
reënforcing, 299.
Running track, a, 253.
Running water for dark-room, 156.
Rustic bridges for miniature theatre, 320.
Rustic seats, 198, 199.
S
Sail-boats, toy cork, 367.
Sand-paper block, a, 12.
Sash for workshop, 4;
for back-yard club-house, 182;
for log-cabin, 194.
Saw, use of cross-cut, 21;
use of rip-, 21;
difference in teeth of cross-cut and rip-, 21;
the back-, 24;
the compass-and gig-, 24.
Sawing, the proper manner of, 22.
Saws, choice of, 21;
sharpening of, 41.
Scene, an ocean, 313;
a mid-ocean, 315;
a seashore, 316;
a field, 316;
a blockhouse, 319;
a street, 320;
an interior, 322.
Scenery, material for, 312;
frames for, 314;
drops, 316, 320;
wings, 317, 318, 319, 321;
trees, 317, 318;
rustic bridges, 320;
pond or lake, 320.
Scenery, properties, and mechanical effects, 311.
Scoring of points in archery, 235.
Scraper, a snow, 170.
Screw, iron and wooden bench-, 5.
Screw-driver, a desirable, 36.
Screws, forms of, 36.
Seashore scene, a, 316.
Seat, a window-, 65;
rustic, 198, 199;
canvas canoe, 216.
Seats for a back-yard circus, 257.
Second-class matter, 152.
Set-piece, a final, 280.
Settee, a miniature mission, 114.
Sharpening tools, 37.
Shelves, workshop, 18;
book-, 67.
Shingle arrows, 232.
Shingles for log-cabin, 192.
Shooting in archery, position for, 239.
Shooting-stick, a printer's, 137.
Shooting-torch, a, 279.
Shot-gun, a, 234.
Shovel, a snow, 171.
Side-board, a miniature mission, 115.
Side show, the circus, 260.
Sieve trap, the, 224.
Sifter for ashes, 53.
Signs, advertising, for circus, 271.
Sink for dark-room, 158.
Slapper, the clown's, 269.
Sled, a home-made, 296;
iron runners for, 298;
reënforcing runners of, 299.
Sling, an elastic, 234.
Smith, collection of Mr. E. H., 142.
Smoothing-plane, use of the, 25.
Snare, a rabbit, 225.
Snow plough, a, 169.
Snow scraper, a, 170.
Snow shovel, a, 171.
Soldiers for miniature theatre, 324;
standards for, 324, 325;
jointed, 325.
Specimens of amateur papers, 143, 146, 147, 148, 149, and group opposite 142.
Spotlights, 309.
Spring-board, a, 251.
Spring-catch, _see_ Catch.
Sprints, method of starting, 254.
Stable, how to build a, 100;
painting the, 104.
Stage, construction of, _see_ Theatre.
Stairways, doll-house, 76, 98.
Stall partitions for stable, 102.
Standards, a pair of jump, 249.
Stanley plane, the, 25.
Station for toy railway, 341.
Steel-square, rack for, 16;
laying out work with the, 42.
Steps, front, 78;
rear, 79.
Stern piece for canvas canoe, 204.
Stick, composing-, 134;
the shooting-, 137.
Stops, bench-, 7.
Street car, a, 336.
Street scene, a, 320.
Strop, how to make a, 12;
how to use a, 41.
Stropping, 41.
Studs, fishing, 178;
placing of, for club-house, 179.
Supplies, receptacles for workshop, 18;
cabinet for dark-room, 161.
Swivel for punching-bag, a, 249.
T
Table, a miniature mission, 114;
another design of, 115;
a camp-, 199.
Tank, water, for dark-room, 156.
Target, a barrel-hoop, 234;
a simpler, 235.
Tar-paper for club-house roof, 181.
Teepee, a paper, 328.
Tent for back-yard circus, 257;
decorating, 257.
Tents, paper, 328.
Testing work, ways of, 28.
Theatre, a miniature, 303;
framework for, 303;
the gridiron, 305;
the stage floor, 305;
drop-curtain, 306;
setting up, 310;
tickets for, 310;
a war drama for, 324.
Thunder, how to imitate, 330.
Ticket office, 257.
Tickets for circus, 256;
for miniature theatre, 310.
Tick-tack, a new style of, 284;
a clockwork, 286.
Toboggan-slide, a back-yard, 291;
location of, 291;
length of, 293;
material for, 295.
Toe-nailing, 33.
Tool-cabinet, a, 14;
for special tools, 16.
Tools, purchasing of, 13;
list from which to select, 14;
proper handling of, 20;
lending, 20;
sharpening, 37.
Torch, a shooting-, 279.
Touring-car, a clockwork automobile, 343;
frame for, 344;
belt for, 346;
testing the machine, 346;
cardboard sides of, 348;
wheels for, 349;
mud-guards for, 349;
lamps for, 349;
steering-wheel for, 350;
brake for, 350;
chauffeur for, 350;
painting, 351.
Towel-rack, a, 70.
Toy guns, targets, and bows and arrows, 229.
Toy railway, making a, _see_ Railway.
Toys, cork, 363.
Track, a running, 253.
Tracks for toy railway, 334.
Trains, cardboard, 329.
Trap, the figure-four, 219;
the box, 221;
the dead fall, 222;
the sieve, 224;
the coop, 224;
a rabbit snare, 225;
a twitch-up, 226.
Traps, home-made, 218.
Trebuchets, ancient, 229.
Trees, 317, 318;
standards for, 317;
pine boughs for, 319.
Tried-edge, the, 28.
Trimmings, of doll-house, outside, 84;
interior, 89;
stable, 104.
Trolley-line for toy railway, 331.
Try-square, testing work with the, 28;
laying out work with the, 42;
a mitred-handle, 45.
Tumbling-mat, a, 245.
Turnstile, a, 259;
lock for, 259.
Twitch-up, a, 226.
Tympan, the printing-press, 138.
Tympan-sheets, 138.
Type, selection of, 129;
composition of, 134;
pieing, 135;
distribution of, 137;
washing, 140.
Type-cases, upper and lower, 129;
scheme for laying, 129;
the Yankee job, 130;
rack for, 131.
Typesetting, 134.
U
Underlaying a form, 138.
Utensils for camping, 199.
V
Vaulting, pole for, 251.
Vise, how to make a, 5.
W
Wagons, cardboard, 329.
Walls, doll-house, 74, 79, 92;
stable, 101, 104;
club-house, 181.
Wardrobe, cigar-box, 125.
Washing-box, a, 158;
rack of, 159;
box of, 160;
how to use the, 161.
Wash-stand, a doll's, 121.
Waste and oily rags, care of, 19, 141.
Water, running, for dark-room, 156;
filter for, 158.
Water-tank for dark-room, 156.
Waves for ocean scene, 314.
Weapons, ancient, 229.
Whetstone, selection of, 40;
the Washita, 40.
Whetting, the proper way of, 41.
Wicks, book by Mr. W. S., 188.
Wild horse, the circus, 265.
Wild man of Borneo, the, 265, 266.
Wind, how to imitate, 330.
Window, for workshop, 4;
for back-yard club-house, 182.
Windows, doll-house, 80, 92;
dormer, 80;
glass for, 82;
casement, 82;
divided glass for, 84;
stable, 103;
log-cabin, 190, 194.
Window-seat, a, 65.
Wings for miniature theatre, 317, 318, 319, 321.
Winter enterprise, a, 169;
contracting work for, 169.
Withdrawing nails, 33.
Wooden chain and rattle, 359.
Work, laying out, 42.
Work to do with a knife, 356.
Work-bench, a solid, 4.
Workshop, a boy's, 3;
location of, 4;
clothes for, 18.
Work-table for dark-room, 155.
Writing-desk, how to make a, 59;
another style of, 62;
finishing of, 61.
Y
Yankee job-case, the, 130.
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