JOI

76

JOI

rising and tread of the steps, and continue out the line C b atpleasure, towards t, in which set the five divisions on theground of the rail to the first step F e, of Figure 100, beingequal to c i of Figure 101 ; also, e d equal to * k, D c to k l,c b to lu, and b A to u t. Then will the line c t, in Figure101, be equal to the arch a f, of Figure 100 ; draw the lineD t ; then is the triangle cdi the bracket to the first step,according to the sweep of the rail: and as t c is the lengthof the ground to the first step, so is T d the length of the railanswering to it. Then from the points i, k, l, u, raise theperpendiculars i p, A Q, l z, and ms, to c t; and take the fourdivisions on the second step, and set them in the line c t,from c to b, and draw the line b d ; and then is b c the lengthof the ground to the second step, and b d the length of therail answering to it. Draw lines through these divisions, asfrom f to m, a to n, and h to o, perpendicular to c b ; andso your perpendiculars are found according to the compassbrackets of each step, and may be pieced thus:—

“In Figure 101, take t s in your compasses, and with thatdistance, setting one foot in a, in Figure 100, strike the archm; and take s u between your compasses, and with one footin b strike another arch to intersect the arch m. Again :take s z or S T in your compasses, and with one foot in theintersection of the arch m and this latter arch, describe thearch n; and take Z z in your compasses, and with one foot inc describe an arch to intersect the arch n ; and thus proceedon, so that z Q be equal to no, QP to op, pc to p q, qz toBo,2Stoo», st to nm, and t u to m d ; as also h Q to D o,!P to E p, C D to q F, H O to G Z, G n to H S, P W, tO I t, E D toK u, i, w to three times A b. The points n, o, p, q, r, s, t, u,v, w, being found by the intersection of arches, as above,stick a nail into each point, and bend a thin rule about thenails, till it touches them all, then with a pencil describe anarch round the edge thereof, which will be the arch A w,being that of the rail to work by.

“ Figure 102 shows the manner of squaring the rail, whichis thus : first, describe a f, the square, or ground of the rail,being the same as that of Figure 99, and find the centres toanswer to the different arches of the ground ; from whencedraw pricked lines to the places where you design to join therail, as from G to B, from G to c, from H to E, and from H to d.Because the first step is to be joined in three equal pieces,you must take one-third of the rising or height of the step,and set it from B to I, perpendicular to B G, and draw theline M I, parallel and equal to G b. Now, from m to n drawa perpendicular to m i, to rise so much as the rail rakes over,which is one-third of the rising or height of the step, becausethat part of the rail is one-third of the length on the firststep ; and draw the line I n, by which means we shall havethe first triangle i m n. Then from the point c, draw c qperpendicular to G C, and equal to two-thirds of the heightof one step ; and draw the line qz equal and parallel to o G;and from z raise a perpendicular, zs, to z q, equal to one-third of the height of one step, and draw the linens, andyou will have a second triangle. Again, from d draw d Tperpendicular to h<Z, and equal to the height of one step, anddraw the line t w equal and parallel to h d; and from werect the line w x perpendicular to w t, and equal to the, i height of one step, because that part of the rail over theI second step will be one piece, therefore the triangle mustI i rise one height of the step; and draw the line t x, and soyou will have a third triangle, w x x. This being done,from i in the line i m, set off i k, equal to the width of therail ; also set off the same from q to o, and t to u, and settingthe stem of a square on the hypothenusal line, so that theblade thereof touches the point k, draw the line kl; and inlike manner draw the lines po,uv; and then the little

triangles I kl, qop, t m v, do represent what must be takenoff from the lower end of each piece, to bring the rail to > t9true twist.”

The form of the scroll is only a subject of fancy, but whathas been quoted from this author, will show the difference oitaste between the time when such were in use, and thoseof the present day. No elegant geometrical forms seemthen to have been employed. As to the construction of theraking-mould for the scroll, it is done in a similar mannerto the twist of the rail, before shown, and therefore equallydestitute of principle.

Mr. Edward Oakley, in his Magazine of Architecture, ha 3copied Halfpenny’s descriptions and diagrams ; to which tv®refer the reade.

The next work under review is The British Carpenterby Francis Price. The article Joinery is almost confined f°hand-railing, as in the preceding authors. Mr. Price p r °'ceeds as follows :

“ To find the proper kneeling and ramp of rails .—Figure 103 is represented a short flight of four steps, andpart of a half-pace, on which are shown two balusters on 9step; a b is the rise or height of one step, and h c is tb®newel, generally two feat four inches and a half high, an®sometimes two feet six inches high, &c., and c d is the thick'ness of the rail; the kneeling, o, is in the middle of the fi rstbaluster; from e to f is also the height of the first step ° athe half-pace ; and fg the height of the newel, agreeable t0 .that of he; and g h is the thickness of the rail; from h to *is generally the same as from o to c, which line, h i, continu®at pleasure ; for on it is the centre for the ramp. Withyour compasses find the centre, k, which touches the backthe rail, n, and the point of the ramp, i; find the po intof touch, n ; draw the line kn; describe the ramp, and al s °the turned part of the balusters, as may be seen by th 0pricked line.

“ Over this is represented the alteration that ought to b emade, if you place three balusters on a step ; that is, that tb®kneeling ought to come to the back-side of the first and 1®, Sbalusters, as at p and q. If it be said, the methodFigure 103 is not fully expressed ; to find the height of t®ramp agreeable to the kneeling, let Figure 104 be the ra’^the bottom is continued as by the pricked line appears atand w ; take the distance, u t, and set from w to x ; fromset one rise, or the height of one step, as at y, and that g' v ?the height of the ramp, and is the same as the method 1Figure 103, notwithstanding they differ in appearance.

“ In Figure 105 is shown the manner of fluting newelsstairs, and balusters; the newel having twelve flutes, a®the balusters eight. If the stuff be large, the flutes m®7vary ; thus the newels to have sixteen flutes, the balust® 1twelve.” .

We cannot comment any farther on the above, than t®it shows the method of describing the ramp of a rail, and 1difference of taste in the age of Price, from that now in n 9 ^The design, the quantity of work, and the massy parts, whi®^characterized that time, when contrasted with the slight® 0and plainness of work executed in the present day, are re® •>

astonishing. Our hand-rails are very light, but very

ne® t;

when ornamental work is used, it is chiefly confined to i r ° ’being rarely constructed in wood. . a

“ Whatever may appear difficult in this method of fo rrn ’ ^scrolls proper for the plans of twisted rails, due appli®® 1will make easy and expeditious.

“ First, form a scroll with chalk, or a pencil, agreeab'®^ gthe bigness of the place in which it is to stand ; next re9< ^ n Jon the bigness of your stuff to be used for your rail®* ‘ ^also your mouldings on the side thereof, as in Figu re 1