• 
 
 ESSAY 
 
 | CONSTRUCTION, HANGING, AND FASTENING % 
 
 GATES; 
 
 EXEMPLIFIED IN SIX QUARTO PLATES. 
 
 ^rctmb «0iti'w»i impratam and entergeb. 
 
 THOMAS N. PARKER, ESQ. M.A, 
 
 " Studium quibus arra tueri." 
 
 Virc. Geor. I. 21. 
 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED BY C: M'HITTIN'CHAM, 
 Dean Street, Fetter lane, 
 
 FOR LACKINGTOV, ALLEN, AND CO. TEMPLE OF THE MUSES, 
 FINSBURY SQUARE. 1804. 
 
 Price 5s. Boards. 
 
/ 
 
 t 
 
 y - 
 
 
 
 
 ■ - • <, t , > ? / / i li 
 
AN 
 
 ESSAY 
 
 CONSTRUCTION, HANGING, AND FASTENING 
 
 GATES; 
 
 EXEMPLIFIED IN SIX QUARTO PLATES. 
 
 "Second Coition ■, improved and enlarged. 
 
 THOMAS N. PARKER, ESQ. M.A. 
 
 " Studium quibus arva tueri." 
 
 Virc. Geor. I. 21. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED BY C. WHITTINCHAM, 
 Dean Street, Fitter Lane, 
 
 FOR LACKINGTON, ALLEN, AND CO. TEMPLE OF THE MUSES, 
 FINSBURY SQUARE. 
 
 1804-. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2010 with funding from 
 
 Research Library, The Getty Research Institute 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/essayonconstructOOpark 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 tSOME apology may be expected for printing 
 a pamphlet of this description on large paper, 
 zvhich might appear unnecessarily to enhance the 
 price : but it was found, that the engravings 
 could not conveniently be brought within smaller 
 plates, otherwise the common octavo size would 
 certainly have been preferred. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. I. Ptge 
 Introductory Observations • 1 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 The Principles of Hanging Gates considered 3 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Explanation of Plate I 
 
 Other parts of the subject are interspersed throughout 
 the explanations of the plates, as they appear to be 
 respectively connected, under the heads of several of 
 the figures. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 Explanation of Plate II. &c 4l 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 Explanation of Plate III. &c 49 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 Explanation of Plate IV. &c 56 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 Explanation of Plate V. &c 5S 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 Explanation of Plate VI. &c 68 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Page 
 
 On the composition and resolution of forces, in determin- 
 ing the weight sustained by the hinges of gates 77 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 On the application of cast iron work for the hanging and 
 fastening of gates — estimate of the weights and prices 
 per lb. of the different sets of cast iron work — method of 
 giving the most accurate orders for the same, &c 91 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Containing a less complicated arrangement of the table 
 at page 10, &c 112 
 
CAVALRY FIGURES, 
 
 ADAPTED FOR A 
 
 SINGLE TROOP EXERCISING INDEPENDENTLY; 
 
 AND 
 
 INFANTRY FIGURES, 
 
 ADAPTED FOR A 
 
 SINGLE COMPANY, &c. 
 
 BY 
 
 THOMAS N. PARKER, ESS. 
 
 Major Commandant of tlis late Brimstree Loyal Legion, 
 
 Are sold at T. Egerton's Military Library, Whitehall; 
 and at Messrs. Lackington, Allen, and Co. London, 
 price 13s. each set. 
 
 N. B. The public are offered the above, as heretofore, at a price calculated 
 barely to cover the expense of preparing them ; the inventor having no ob- 
 ject in view, but a notion of their utility to some of the junior officers in Yeo- 
 manry and Volunteer Corps ; and particularly the Cavalry Figure?, for 
 which his plan seems to be more suitable, than for the Infantry Figures. 
 
 He however consigns them to the publick, which has his full permission to 
 imitate or improve upon them ; and any person is at liberty to make and sell 
 them on his own account, provided that they are got up as well as those 
 which have been hitherto made and sold by Mr. Parker's direction, and 
 that their price shall not exceed 13s. each set. 
 
ERRAT4. 
 
 Page 33, line 11, for WO read 150. 
 
 48, ... 7, for much read very little. 
 53, ... 21, for square read thick. 
 60, ... 8, for 17 read 16. 
 67, ... 5, for longer read higher. 
 
CHAP. I. 
 
 INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 WHILE ingenuity is wont to employ itself 
 exclusively in the more abstruse researches 
 of art and science, economy and convenience in 
 things of daily necessity is less regarded and slow 
 of improvement ; although the most important 
 concerns are dependent upon, and oftentimes 
 made up, of such as are individually of small noto- 
 riety. Thus may the subject of these pages ap- 
 pear at first sight to be of a frivolous nature ; but 
 it actually involves consequences of considerable 
 moment. 
 
 The perseverance and success with which 
 horned cattle and horses assail the hinges and 
 latches of gates must be readily admitted; and 
 the consequent mischief, by their devouring and 
 trampling under foot crops which had been des- 
 tined for the sickle or the scythe, is not easily to be 
 calculated : for the occupiers of land grow callous 
 to losses which are familiar to them, as the magni- 
 
2 
 tude of an evil becomes less obvious from the fre- 
 quency of its recurrence. 
 
 But it is not every reader who may choose to 
 follow me in the several calculations which are 
 introduced in this pamphlet ; nor is it so neces- 
 sary for him to enter into a dry detail of mathe- 
 matical truths, as it is for me to impress a con- 
 viction — that the simple and easy manner in 
 which the desired effects can be produced, may be 
 relied on as resulting from successful experiments, 
 founded upon principles which are either clearly 
 proved, or, at the least, capable of unquestionable 
 demonstration. 
 
 Gratified by the flattering reception given to 
 the former edition of this little book*, I have 
 spared no pains nor expence in correcting my 
 own errors, in providing new plates, and in avail- 
 ing myself of every improvement which subse- 
 quent information and experience have presented; 
 with the hopes of rendering this essay more ac- 
 ceptable to such of my readers as may feel inte- 
 rested in this humble branch of rural economy. 
 
 * See Anti-jacobin Rev. Feb. 1802. Crit. Rev. June 1802. 
 Brit. Crit. Oct. 1802. and Monthly Rev. Nov. 1802. My 
 best thanks are due to the reviewers for the liberal and hand- 
 some manner in which they have been pleased to notice that 
 publication j and particularly to the conductors of the Monthly 
 Review. 
 
CHAP. II. 
 
 THE PRINCIPLES OF HANGING GATES CONSIDERED. 
 
 Jul GATE, when suspended by hinges, is a 
 lever of the second kind, in which the weight is 
 placed between the power and the fulcrum ; for it 
 is evident, that the hand applied to the head of 
 the gate is the acting power, that the gate itself 
 is the weight to be raised or moved, and that 
 the hinges form the fulcrum or centre of mo- 
 tion. 
 
 When the hooks or pivots upon which a gate is 
 hung are precisely perpendicular to each other, 
 the gate will be at rest wherever it may be placed, 
 and the same power which is required to move a 
 gate thus suspended through any given arc of the 
 circle, will be exactly sufficient to bring it back 
 to its former position; in proof of which I would 
 instance a common door to a room with plain 
 hinges. But the smallest variation of the hooks 
 from their perpendicular line zvill attach to a gate 
 
4 
 
 so suspended one determinate line of rest; and 
 from any part of the circle which the gate may be 
 made to describe, it must have a constant ten- 
 dency to fall to that line of rest*. 
 
 The line of rest for a gate will always be where 
 it approaches nearest to the ground, and from 
 thence being moved half a circle to the right or 
 left, it will there attain its greatest elevation and 
 support itself, or with a very slight assistance may 
 be supported in equilibrio. 
 
 When a gate is in its line of rest, or in its op- 
 posite line of equilibrium, the two hooks by which 
 it is suspended, and the centre of the gale's gra- 
 vitation, will be in the same vertical plane zvith each 
 other : which may easily be understood by ob- 
 serving a common gate, whose hinges are put on 
 in any manner, however awkward or perverse. 
 And when the hooks are in one perpendicular 
 line, it can admit of no doubt that they must al- 
 ways be in the same vertical plane with the centre 
 
 * This opens a wide field to the wheel-wright for the exer- 
 cise of his judgment, as in determining that variation, he may 
 direct his hammer through all the points of the compass, till he 
 gains by accident what shall seem to answer his purpose : and 
 were you minutely to observe the operation of hanging a gate, 
 you would often believe, that the practitioner was trying an ex- 
 periment, rather than pursuing any regular method. 
 
5 
 
 of the gate's gravitation, because they will be 
 with any third given point whatsoever. 
 
 so 
 
 These principles are also applicable to a com- 
 mon swing gate, which has two or more pivots or 
 hooks at the lower hinge, when the position of 
 either one of the lower pivots is considered with 
 respect to the upper hook. 
 
CHAP. III. 
 PLATE I. 
 
 EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 
 
 AND under the head of each figure respectively, 
 it is proposed to comprehend the greatest part of 
 the subject. 
 
 FIG. I. 
 
 Is the outline of a gate 9 feet 2 inches long, 
 from the fore part of its head to its upper point 
 of suspension, represented in the line of rest, as 
 well as in the opposite line of equilibrium ; shew- 
 ing the velocity with which the gate is made to 
 fall, from an elevation of 6 ¥ inches gained at the 
 head, in attaining its line of equilibrium, esti- 
 mated from the line of rest ; by means of the po- 
 sition of the two hooks, and the proportionate 
 extra length of the lower thimble*. 
 
 * The co-sines and versed-sines of the several radii and an- 
 gles are marked at the top of this diagram, instead of the mid- 
 dle part of it, by way of making them more distinct ; but the 
 line Ij, which is the versed-sine of the radius ik, and the angle 
 jik, is equal to the lineal), and c ceteris paribus, as the co-sine ji 
 is equal to the line be, &c. ; subject to a small variation occa- 
 sioned by the gate's sloping in a particular manner from the 
 nature of its hinges, which is hereinafter fully explained, and 
 which is not made to appear in the diagram. 
 
^ 
 
 
 Fid A 
 
 i 
 
 i-Mi.n 
 
 j 
 *, 
 
 /• a fit/ / 
 
 Ki&VTL. 
 
Fid II 
 
 , •» 
 
 Fi 
 
 fr 1 - 
 
 . t 
 
 
 f 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 fi 
 
 Fig. Iff. 
 
 Fi6 \'| 
 
 Fig IV 
 
 ''iji.Vir 
 
 Fio.VIH 
 
7 
 But the line of fastening should be 22° 3(f 
 or T ^ part of a circle short of, or within the line 
 of rest ; and consequently the corresponding 
 line of equilibrium will be also 22° 30' short of 
 the greatest extent of the gate's opening. 
 
 To prevent the gate being left unshut, a short 
 post should be placed at about half the distance 
 between the road to be passed and the fence 
 adjoining the hanging post, that is 22° 30' within 
 the line of equilibrium, so that the gate should 
 not open from its line of fastening more than 
 about 135°, which will answer every purpose j 
 and the hinges must be so adjusted that the gate 
 shall be perfectly upright at its line of fastening, 
 as at fig. xvin*. 
 
 A gate suspended in this manner cannot be 
 left open, (excepting in high winds) but will 
 shut of itself, though not with an uniformly acce- 
 lerated motion, as might be supposed ; its ve- 
 locity being rather increased as it passes the 
 middle parts of its semicircular course, and re- 
 tarded again as it approaches its line of rest ; 
 
 * The references to the figures are always meant to include, 
 not only the engravings in the plates, but also the explana- 
 tions under the heads of the figures respectively referred to, 
 when required. 
 
8 
 
 coinciding with the proportionate rise of the head, 
 allowing only for such acceleration as must be 
 acquired while the gate, in falling with a conti- 
 nued motion, recedes more and more from the 
 line of equilibrium: — as the versed sine of the 
 angle formed by the gate with its line of rest, is 
 to the length of the gate 110 inches, which is 
 made radius; so will be the corresponding rise of 
 the head of the gate to 3^ inches, or half the 
 whole rise of the gate's head, at any given angle 
 within the quadrant * : and the rise of the head 
 
 * Otherwise as ae : ee : : Ij or ab : bb, and as ae : ee : : 
 ac : cc, Sfc. taking the small short lines which are within the 
 triangle ahh, and are perpendicular to the lowest of the two 
 lines ah ; which lowest line is horizontal, and forms an angle 
 with the upper line ah, proportioned to the rise of the head of 
 the gate. 
 
 The rule for finding the co-sine, and consequently the versed- 
 sine of any triangle, whereby the other proportions are to be 
 discovered, is to " add the logarithm of the given side to the sine 
 of the angle opposite the side required, and from the sum sub- 
 tract the sine of the angle opposed to the given side ; the remain- 
 der will be the logarithm of the side required ;" and in this case, 
 to the logarithm of the side ik =110, add the logarithm of the 
 sine of the angle ikj =67° 30', and from their sum subtract the 
 logarithm of the angle ijk = 90° ; the remainder will be the 
 logarithm answering to the number 101 — then 110 the radius, 
 minus 101 the cosine is equal to 9, which is the versed- 
 sine required ; and as 1 1 : 3-^ : : 9 : 6-^ : in like man- 
 
 24 
 
 ner have similar calculations been proved as they occur in 
 the table page 10; the above applying to the triangle ijk. 
 
 It was my wish to have omitted all greater fractions, than 
 that of ^ of an inch, or to divide the integer of one inch into 
 
9 
 afterwards will be — as the co-sine of any given 
 angle formed by the gate with its line of equili- 
 brium in describing the complement of that an- 
 gle is to the length of the gate, or radius ; so will 
 be the corresponding rise of the head of the gate 
 to the remaining 3 T 7 ^ inches ; which co-sine of the 
 angle formed by the gate, with the line of equili- 
 brium, is equal to the sine of the complementary 
 angle, or angle of the gate's progress, from a 
 radius at right angles to, or equidistant from, 
 the lines of rest and equilibrium, in performing 
 its supplementary course. 
 
 no more than 12 parts, making 12 the denominator of all 
 broken numbers : but though this might have been near 
 enough to the truth for directing the workmen, it did not ap- 
 pear to convey a just idea of that accuracy of calculation, 
 which should form the basis of this inquiry, whereon I have to 
 raise a practical superstructure, divested of all such minutiae. 
 
10 
 
 This may be made more intelligible by the following 
 TABLE. 
 
 Variation of the head's rise in 
 describing equal arcs of the 
 gate's semicircular course, 
 from the line of rest to the 
 line of equilibrium, in 24th 
 parts of an inch, and 110th 
 parts of a 24th. 
 
 1st 22° 30' 
 
 2nd 22° 30' 
 
 f. 6q 
 
 24 
 
 3rd 22° 30' 
 
 4th 22° 30' 
 
 5th 22° 30' 
 
 6th 22° 30' 
 
 7th 22° 30' 
 
 8th 22° 30' 
 
 1 r>i°i 
 
 '"TTg 
 
 24 
 
 26-14, 
 
 U I I o 
 
 24 
 
 32 47 
 __TjJL 
 
 24 
 
 32^ 
 
 24 
 
 24 
 
 lfiioj 
 
 24 
 
 U TTg 
 
 24 
 
 Total rise of the head of the gate 
 at each given angle of its se- 
 micircular course, from the 
 line of rest to the line of equi- 
 librium, in inches, 24th parts 
 of an inch, &c. equal to the 
 lines bbcc, &c. respectively, 
 
 22° 30' 
 
 45° 
 
 6 6 - 9 - 
 
 u TTO 
 
 24 
 
 = bb 
 
 67° 30' 
 
 90 c 
 
 112° 30' 
 
 13! 
 
 157° 30' 
 
 24 
 
 24 
 
 = dd 
 
 3 w= ee 
 
 IS 102 
 
 4IIUH = ff 
 
 24 M 
 
 24 ~ 88 
 
 J80 c 
 
 24 
 
 6-1- Total 
 8 
 
 Thus it appears, that though the rise of the 
 gate at the head in the first 90°, or half of its 
 semicircular course, be S-^ths inches, yet in the 
 first and last 22° 30' of its course, it will rise only i 
 of an inch, or exactly T 6 ? ths and T 6 r y;hs of a 24th 
 
11 
 
 in each respectively: and rejecting the greater 
 fractions, the rise of the gate's head, and corre- 
 sponding velocity of the gate's fall in equal eighth 
 parts of its semicircular course, is nearly in pro- 
 portion to the numbers 6, 16, 26, 32, and then 
 inversely 32, 26, 16, and 6. 
 
 FIG. II. 
 
 Represents the horizontal section of two hooks for 
 a right-handed gate, opening one way, brought 
 into one plane of observation — u upper hook; 
 / lower hook; f line of fastening; r line of rest 
 and e the line of equilibrium *. 
 
 * 
 
 The diameter of the hooks 4^ths of an inch is 
 the proper size for the gate, fig. xviii.; and in 
 this the eye is somewhat deceived by the repre- 
 sentation, it appearing small upon paper, though 
 the substance of iron is very sufficient : and a 
 blacksmith by the help of a pair of callipers will 
 find no difficulty in working to one dimension as 
 readily as to another, wherein if he errs in this 
 case, a 16th part of an inch, either in increase or 
 
 * The letters which mark the lines and hooks in the several 
 figures, from n. to xm. inclusive, are in all cases initials of 
 words descriptive of the lines or hooks to which they are re- 
 spectively affixed ; and in fig. ix. and x. the double letters 
 point out also those lines and hooks which are additional or 
 supernumerary, as will be further noticed hereafter. 
 
12 
 
 diminution from the given size, it will not be 
 very material ; yet T T 6 th of an inch added or taken 
 away makes a much greater difference than might 
 be expected in the weight and strength of the 
 cylinders of iron which form these pivots. 
 
 The horizontal distance of the lines falling 
 from the two hooks being 44th s or 1| inch, is the 
 measure adapted to hinges which are 40 inches 
 asunder. 
 
 In adjusting the hinges it is necessary, that 
 the upper thimble should incline i inch from its 
 centre towards the hanging post, as at fig. xiv., 
 and that the lower thimble should be screwed into 
 the heel of the gate i inch out of the straight line, 
 inclining in the opposite direction, that is, from, 
 instead of towards, the hanging post, both thim- 
 bles together making a variation of the T \ inch 
 expressed in fig. ii. : and to correspond with this 
 variation, the upper hook fig. xii. should measure 
 from the eentre of the pin to the shouldering about 
 half the thickness of the heel of the gate, as the 
 *. inch inclination of the upper thimble will allow 
 sufficiently for the gate hanging clear of the post. 
 The lower hook, fig. xiii. must be \ inch longer 
 than the upper hook, and be driven into the gate- 
 post H inch out of the perpendicular line of the 
 perforated parts of the gate-post in which the 
 
IS 
 
 hooks are to be received, as expressed -Mths, 
 
 FIG. II. 
 
 The lower thimble must also exceed the upper 
 thimble in length H inch, as at fig. xiv. and xv. 
 supposing the gate to be a right angled parallelo- 
 gram, or at least the rail and heel to be at right 
 angles to each other ; else the lower thimble must 
 be extended by a washer, to make up the defi- 
 ciency, which however will not at all interfere 
 with the velocity of the gate's fall : because the 
 hooks are the centres of motion, upon which all 
 adjustment as to the gate's fall depends; the 
 places of the thimbles influencing only the up- 
 right position of the gate when fastened. 
 
 The numbers of T \ths and -^ths, fig. ii. rather 
 surpass the precise measure of their respective 
 sides of the triangle, but are nearer to the truth 
 in calculation, than any workman could attain in 
 applying these directions : for in neither case do 
 they exceed their true measure so much as -^th. 
 of an inch ; and therefore in the one the clear 
 sum of I inch is assumed for general purposes ; 
 and should the hinges be less than 40 inches 
 asunder, f inch will be rather too much, or were 
 they to be more than 40 inches distant from 
 each other, \ inch on the contrary would be ra- 
 ther too little for the just proportion. 
 
14 
 It is certain that a small space must be lost in 
 hanging a gate, though the hooks and thimbles 
 be made with great exactness ; for the weight of 
 the gate will draw the upper thimble to bear 
 upon the hind part of the upper hook, and will 
 press the lower thimble against the fore part of 
 the lower hook : this must be trifling when the 
 hinges are well fitted, and no allowance is made 
 for it in the drawings ; because the lower thimble 
 gains as much upon the upper one by their being 
 placed { inch, that is ^ inch each, out of the plane 
 of the gate's extension ; as appears by the differ- 
 ence of the sides of the triangle, numbered 4£ths 
 and i|ths, fig. ii., equal to T x r th inch by the mea- 
 sure of J|ths, which is assumed, but really about 
 iVth inch more, as stated above; or on the whole 
 equal to 1 inch, which is a good general equi- 
 valent for the loss in hanging a gate *, and will 
 usually be sufficient to preserve the upright posi- 
 tion of the gate when fastened, without having 
 recourse to a washer at the lower thimble. 
 
 Great care has been taken to divest the pat- 
 tern iron-work, as represented in the plates, from 
 all unnecessary weight of metal, which, I trust, 
 
 * There is no objection to the thimbles being larger with 
 respect to their hooks, than the small difference which is found 
 in the best finished hinges: they will only require an addition 
 to the extra length of the lower thimble to counterbalance the 
 increased loss in hanging a gate with such hinges. 
 
15 
 
 will operate against an imposition much practised 
 by blacksmiths, whose work of this sort is com- 
 monly sold by the pound : and by rounding off 
 the bearing parts of the hinges, the surface to 
 be acted upon by friction is much reduced, and 
 the motion of the gate proportionally facili- 
 tated *. 
 
 The velocity as above, given to the gate's 
 fall, will be amply sufficient, without any care 
 of oiling the hinges; but the effect of wind 
 cannot be counteracted in gates by any good 
 construction of the hinges : for were a velocity 
 given to a gate's fall equal to the resistance of 
 so powerful an agent, the gate would soon want 
 repair, from the constant violence of its shutting, 
 and be so much the heavier in the hand of a horse- 
 man : besides, when a strong wind blew in the 
 same direction as that of the gate's fall, no man 
 
 * The most conclusive experiments " on the motion of bo- 
 dies affected by friction" which I have met with, were made 
 by Mr. Vince, and published by the Royal Society of London, 
 Vol. LXXV. of their Philos. Transac. : and the result of his 
 ingenious inquiries, as far at least as is necessary to this sub- 
 ject, may be comprised as follows. 
 
 " That the friction of hard bodies in motion is an uniformly 
 retarding force. 
 
 " That the quantity of friction increases in a less ratio than 
 the quantity of matter or weight of the body. 
 
 " That the friction of a body does not continue the same, 
 when it has different surfaces applied to the plane on which 
 it moves, but that the smallest surface will have the least fric- 
 tion." 
 
16 
 
 on horseback would be able to withstand its 
 force; and well constructed gates are the most 
 liable to be acted upon by wind, from their wide 
 extent of surface : but if passengers are so careless 
 as to leave gates open under such circumstances, 
 there will be one satisfaction remaining ; that is, 
 as soon as the wind ceases, the hinges must re- 
 sume their property, and the gates fasten of 
 themselves. 
 
 When the hinges of gates are more or less 
 than 40 inches asunder, the new position of the 
 hooks may be found by the following 
 
 TABLE. 
 
 i 5§z 
 
 Ik *s. 
 
 — 4J O j£ 
 
 a. U O </ 
 
 4 gg- 
 
 e two hinges or 
 e's suspension. 
 
 tance of two perp 
 s, one falling tr 
 f each of the hool 
 
 £ a *<2Z 
 
 > 3 0J ct3 
 
 £ ./. O O n 
 
 •.-* Co 
 
 t>*l» £3 sol- 
 
 o S ° 
 t> c °-c-= 
 
 o a- o d ° 
 
 £§ |§| 
 
 "■SI ™ tf. v 
 
 o fc o 
 
 gg M 
 
 II &=■= 
 
 o ST ° ci.c 
 
 & 3 J! c " 
 2 "! c o « 
 
 ih 
 
 dis 
 e 
 
 's « ^ u o 
 " ac -3.S aj 
 
 u- 3) "55 ii 
 
 fa lis 
 
 'o PS *« ~ 
 
 O n] ^ ~~ b 
 
 ®« *~~ 
 
 o n «5 BS 5 
 
 
 .»**- ti ^ c 
 
 «i<~ ™ - c 
 
 «.■— — >- c 
 
 istance 
 vots 0! 
 
 orizon 
 dicula 
 the ce 
 
 «> c « ii 
 ft W 
 
 = 3 S = " 
 So -g.HS 
 
 o° gag 
 
 So G.B2 
 
 a B 
 
 Q B 
 
 O E 
 
 5 B 
 
 11 1 
 
 12 \ j. 
 
 13 J 
 
 24*") 
 
 25 h 
 
 38 7 
 
 39 £ G 
 
 51 1 
 
 52 J. I-& 
 
 26 ) 
 
 53 ) 
 
 14 7 
 
 15 } ~^ 
 
 27 | 
 29 ) 
 
 40*) 
 42 J 
 
 54 7 , 
 
 55 J l t 
 
 16*1 
 18 j 
 
 30 } „ 
 
 31 j ** 
 
 43 ) 
 
 44 ^ I| 
 
 45 ) 
 
 56*) 
 
 57 5> I| 
 
 58 ) 
 
 19 I 
 
 20 \ A 
 
 32*1 
 33 > i 
 
 46 7 p 
 
 47 j lr * 
 
 59 ) 
 
 60 J. 1* 
 
 21 J 
 
 34 ) 
 
 61 ) 
 
 22 7 2 
 
 23 j T 
 
 35 ) 
 
 30 ^ 1 T V 
 
 48*) 
 
 49 S. 11 
 
 62 7 *| 
 
 63 } Ir * 
 
 37 ) 1 
 
 50 ) 
 
 64* 2 
 
17 
 Those numbers denoting the distance of the 
 hinges, which are marked with an asterisk, are 
 precisely proportioned to the horizontal distance 
 of the lines falling from the hooks, for as 40 : 
 1| : : 3°2 : 1, &c. and the intermediate numbers 
 are nearly enough calculated, but as 40 : H : : 
 41 : 1 and a further fraction; 42 to a still 
 greater sum, but not amounting to T X T inch dif- 
 ference till the distance of the hinges becomes 43 
 inches : and the same will apply to other parts 
 of the table. 
 
 The accuracy of these calculations may be tried 
 in various ways : suppose a gate to be 110 inches 
 long, and that it is intended to rise at the head 
 6£ inches, in its semicircular course from the line 
 of rest to the line of equilibrium, then as the length 
 of the gate is to the distance between the tzw hinges , 
 so zvill be 6| inches to double the horizontal dis- 
 tance of tic o perpendicular lines, one falling from 
 each of the hooks. 
 
 Take any other distance of the hinges from 
 each other, and the required extra length of the 
 lower thimble may be found, by placing the 
 numbers 110 and 61 as the first and second 
 terms of a rule of three proportion, and the new 
 distance of the hinges must be the third term : 
 the answer divided by two will be the sought for 
 
 D 
 
18 
 
 horizontal distance of the two perpendicular 
 lines falling from the hooks : and as the extra 
 length of the lower thimble should be always the 
 same as the horizontal distance of the perpendi- 
 cular lines falling from the hooks, (adding the 
 loss in hanging the gate) the answer for the one 
 is the measure for the other. 
 
 This may be further explained by fig. xxiii. : 
 suppose a line drawn through the centre of the 
 two hooks, and forming an angle with a perpen- 
 dicular line of 1° 47' = angle bac j one angle at 
 the base acb = 90°, or a right angle ; and conse- 
 quently the third angle of the triangle abc must 
 be = 88° 13'. The line ab is marked with 
 inches from 10 to 64, upon which take a given 
 distance of the hinges, and by making any por- 
 tion of this line radius, extending from a towards 
 b, the sine answering to the given side or radius, 
 and the angle 1° 47' will be the sought for propor- 
 tionate horizontal distance of the lines from the 
 two hooks. The sine be, and those parallel to be, 
 have their respective measures affixed to each, 
 from i inch to 2 inches. 
 
 Thus readily might the proportionate horizon- 
 tal distance of lines falling from the two hooks, 
 be ascertained for every given case, and it will be 
 found to coincide with the table page 16 ; for as 
 
19 
 
 40 : H : : 48 : H, or 40 : 1£ : : 32 : 1, &c. : and 
 the cosine of the angle cab, or line ac = 63 1 1A 
 inches, or very little short of ab = 64 inches. 12 
 
 These general rules will find a tolerably accu- 
 rate measure in all cases, for where a gate or 
 wicket * is short and light, the friction of the 
 hinges will be less in two respects ; both by the 
 diminished pressure on the hooks from the gate's 
 lightness, and the reduced diameter of the pivots, 
 which will supply what is wanting in the weight 
 or momentum of the gate : on the other hand, 
 when the gate is long and heavy, its increased 
 weight or momentum, and its length as a lever, 
 will be opposed to the additional friction of the 
 hinges. 
 
 In cases where old hinges are badly made, with 
 large hooks or deep thimbles, that difficulty is to 
 be met by taking the proportion for the distance 
 of the two hinges from each other at 5 or 10 
 inches more than it really may be, with reference 
 to the table page 16; or by adding something to 
 the usual horizontal distance of the lines falling 
 from the hooks: but when the thimbles are of a 
 long cylindrical form, they are extremely apt to 
 
 * The fall of a wicket is to be adjusted in the same manner 
 as that of a gate, but the hinges should be proportionably 
 lighter. 
 
20 
 
 bind upon the hooks, and will sometimes put a 
 dead stop to a gate's motion : with such thimbles 
 the attempt of adding to the velocity of a gate's 
 fall may only increase the binding or friction ; 
 and the remedy for this defect therefore is to 
 make the hooks much smaller than the thimbles: 
 in new thimbles no form but that of annular or 
 ring -like should be admitted, as represented 
 plate 3. 
 
 The lower thimble, fig. xv. being furnished 
 with a screw of equal diameter throughout its 
 length, or not tapered, its extra length may be 
 regulated to so great a nicety as half a turn of 
 the screw ; and may either be let into the heel 
 beyond the shouldering, or lengthened out by a 
 washer, as circumstances require ; in adapting it 
 either for hinges which are less than 40 inches 
 asunder, or the contrary, without the help of a 
 blacksmith, or any fresh forging, which is always 
 troublesome and expensive : and if a gate sinks 
 at the head, without any fault in the hanging- 
 post or hooks, the lower thimble may be length- 
 ened out to bring the gate upright, and the hooks 
 should remain unaltered. 
 
 I have much confidence that the evil of gates 
 sinking at their heads will be disposed of by at- 
 tention to their construction, which forms a part 
 
21 
 
 of this essay : but of whatever description a gate 
 may be, the rules for hanging it are the same. 
 
 The posts must be of a sufficient length and 
 strength, fig. xxvr. ; and being fixed about 8 feet 
 9 inches asunder, will be adapted for a gate 9 feet 
 long, or 9 feet two inches, including the thimbles: 
 the thimbles being attached to the gate in the 
 manner above directed, let the gate be sup- 
 ported where it is to hang and fasten ; and then 
 drive in the upper hook at a convenient distance 
 from the edge of the hanging post, so that the 
 upper hinge shall not be in the way of any car- 
 riage passing the road, but at the same time so 
 near to the edge of the post, as to lose no more 
 room for the road than is unavoidable, by the 
 head and heel of the gate extending a little upon 
 the two posts. 
 
 It is not necessary to the gate that it should 
 lap against the hanging post at all ; but since 
 the head ought to meet the falling post, at the 
 least with half its own substance, or from that to 
 two inches, the hanging post should be nearly as 
 much covered by the heel for the sake of unifor- 
 mity. 
 
 When the upper hinge is fitted, the gate ought 
 to be supported upright for ascertaining the 
 
22 
 
 place of the lower hook ; and if the thimbles are 
 properly put on, the position of the lower hook 
 cannot be mistaken. Both hinges being fitted, 
 it remains to be found, whether the hooks are in 
 their exact places : for this purpose take two 
 plumbed lines, with fine threads and heavy even- 
 sided plumbs. If the hooks are well finished, the 
 observation respecting their centres may be 
 taken by fastening the plumbed lines round the 
 hooks, and letting them fall from the outsides of 
 similar parts of the hooks : 40 inches being the 
 given distance of the hinges, the horizontal dis- 
 tance of the two lines falling from the hooks 
 should be li inch, and in a line which forms an 
 angle of 22° SO' with the gate's line of fastening: 
 take therefore a common two feet rule, and hav- 
 ing opened the legs to the angle of 22° 30', place 
 one side of it against the plumbed lines, which 
 ought to answer to the measure of 1£ inch, while 
 the other leg of the rule should be parallel to the 
 gate's line of fastening: a slight blow or two 
 with a hammer on one or both of the hooks in the 
 direction necessary, will complete the adjust- 
 ment j and the gate will be found to shut of it- 
 self from any line within the 135° from its fasten- 
 ing, and without violence ; whether opened to 
 the smallest, the greatest, or any intermediate 
 angle prescribed by the short post, which should 
 be placed, to meet the middle part of the gate 
 
23 
 
 at the angle of about 135° from the line of fas- 
 tening*. 
 
 It might be prudent before the short post were 
 put down, to ascertain at what line the gate will 
 stand open, or be poised by the friction of its 
 hinges towards the line of equilibrium, which 
 will discover how near the workmen may 
 have adjusted the line of fastening to 22° 30' 
 short of the natural line of rest ; and if the gate is 
 found to fall properly, the short post may be put 
 up accordingly j-, though the method described 
 may not have been minutely pursued ; taking care 
 that the short post be sufficiently within the line 
 of equilibrium, and that the gate shall set off from 
 the short post with a velocity equal to overcome 
 any increased friction by rust on the hinges ; for 
 oil should not be used at all, as its occasional aid 
 is not to be depended on. 
 
 The lower hook has a key-hole and cotter to 
 secure the gate from being taken off the hinges 
 for idle purposes : or a stud rivetted to one side 
 of either of the hooks, with a little notch cut in 
 the strongest part of the adjoining thimble is a 
 
 * Tufts of grass will continually grow up and prevent a 
 gate's shutting, from which the road should be kept very 
 clear within the course of a gate's motion. 
 
 f See A. Plate 6. 
 
24 
 
 simple and good contrivance ; whereby a gate is 
 prevented from being taken off the hinges when 
 shut, but is easily taken off at some one part of 
 its course when required, where the stud comes 
 opposite to the notch, and admits the thimble to 
 pass over the studded hook. 
 
 It is not uncommon to see one hook driven 
 into the post with its point upwards as usual, and 
 the point of the other hook reversed, which is a 
 most effectual way of keeping the gate upon its 
 hinges ; but when any repair is wanting, the gate 
 cannot be disengaged from the hanging -post 
 without drawing one of the hooks. 
 
 Indifferent gate-posts are liable to get out of 
 their upright position: the constant weight of 
 the gate must have a tendency to pull the hang- 
 ing-post inwards ; the fall of the gate may make 
 the falling-post recede from the direction of the 
 frequent blows it receives; and heavy carriage 
 wheels passing near the posts will occasion them 
 to open outwards. 
 
 The natural or artificial slopes of the ground 
 adjoining to gate-posts often affect their upright 
 position, and decline them from the higher 
 ground : a gate crossing a road along the top 
 ridge of a hill, would have its posts according to 
 
25 
 
 this notion, open outwards ; in a road along a 
 valley on the other hand, between two hills, the 
 gate-posts would be forced inwards : and similar 
 effects might be expected, wherever gate-posts 
 are placed upon uneven ground, or that indif- 
 ferent posts will acquire a declination from their 
 upright position towards the lower ground which 
 adjoins them. 
 
 It is but reasonable to suppose, that the oppo- 
 site effects of scorching heat and intense cold, 
 excessive rain and extreme drought, assisted by 
 the common agitation of heavy carriages passing 
 between the posts, may occasion the ground 
 about the posts frequently to make fresh settlings, 
 and which must generally throw the posts to- 
 wards the natural descent of the surface. 
 
 Many contrivances have been recommended to 
 counteract these difficulties, particularly that of 
 mortising the pair of gate-posts together by cross 
 pieces of timber under the road: but the most 
 effectual preventive of the evil appears to be that 
 of letting down the posts very deep into the 
 ground, which will supersede the expence of cross 
 timbers ; and in gaining a firm hold at their 
 bases, they will be the better secured both from 
 natural and accidental dislocation. 
 
26 
 Care must also be taken in hanging a gate, 
 that you choose the best side for it to open, in 
 doing which, there are two circumstances to be 
 considered : the principal one is, that there may 
 be plenty of room for a servant on horseback to 
 hold the gate while a carriage passes ; and the 
 other is to avoid its opening against any cross- 
 road or path. Add to which some attention is 
 due to the trespass of cattle from a common road, 
 or otherwise, and it is thought more secure for a 
 gate to open against that side from which the 
 trespass may be most apprehended : in some 
 cases it is advisable to furnish a hanging-post, 
 with a pair of hooks on both sides of it, so that 
 the gate can be shifted as occasion may make it 
 convenient. 
 
 FIG. III. 
 
 Is an horizontal section of the two hooks for a 
 left handed gate to open one way, shewing the 
 lines of rest, fastening, and equilibrium ; and to 
 which the preceding explanation of fig. ii. in 
 every manner applies, mutatis mutandis. 
 
 fig. IV. 
 
 Exhibits a bad method of hanging a gate, but 
 which is nevertheless very common ; the hooks 
 
27 
 being so placed, that both the line of equilibrium, 
 and the opposite line of rest, are at right angles 
 to the line of fastening, or nearly so : by which 
 means the gate may shut very well after a horse- 
 man or foot passenger ; but when opened for a 
 carriage of any kind, the line of road being close 
 upon the line of equilibrium, the gate must be 
 opened beyond its balance, and from thence 
 will naturally descend, and fall back upon the 
 fence adjoining the hanging-post ; conveniently 
 enough for a waggoner, who will be saved the 
 trouble of looking out for a prop to the gate 
 while his waggon passes. 
 
 It may be urged indeed, that a prop will occa- 
 sion as much damage by not being removed, as a 
 gate's falling wide open ; but I contend, that it 
 must be less trouble to detach the prop- than to 
 bring the gate back from the furthermost fence, 
 towards its fastening ; besides, the greatest mis- 
 chief is to be apprehended from passengers in 
 general, who may carelessly throw the gate back 
 beyond its equilibrium : waggoners from habit 
 may be presumed to be more thoughtful in 
 such matters, and servants attending carriages 
 will find it more convenient to hold the gates 
 while carriages pass, than to search after 
 props. 
 
28 
 These observations apply to read gates, which 
 are too apt to induce, more or less, the trespass of 
 cattle, but the evil may to some extent be coun- 
 teracted by management ; though a great deal 
 must still depend upon the common sense, and 
 disposition to do what is reasonable and right, in 
 those who pass roads through gates which may 
 form essential fences to fields. 
 
 With respect to the opening into a field, where 
 there is no road, the cheapest gate which will 
 make a complete and durable fence is to be 
 preferred, and the best fastening is a good pad- 
 lock : the intention of this pamphlet is principally 
 directed to the improvement of road gates, but a 
 pattern for field gates will also be noticed and re- 
 commended, similar to the plan of fig. xxiv. 
 
 fig. v. 
 
 Shews the position of the upper hook of a swing- 
 gate with respect to the two hooks or pivots 
 forming the lower hinge. 
 
 In making experiments for the hinges of a 
 swing-gate, the greatest objection which pre- 
 sented itself in the common method of construct- 
 ing them was, that light swing-gates were very 
 easily disengaged from the lower hinge, either by 
 
29 
 cattle or passengers ; and servants attending car- 
 riages are so well aware of it, that they are too 
 apt to avail themselves of this circumstance to 
 make the road clear for the return of the car- 
 riages ; and cattle are sure to unhinge or unfasten 
 gates, after having made one or two successful 
 attempts. 
 
 This objection to the common hinge of a swing- 
 gate at first led me into some mistakes as to the 
 hinges of gates in general ; for I attempted to 
 make the line of rest the line of fastening also, for 
 a gate opening one way, fig. vii. ; and from thence 
 I inferred, that by altering the gate-posts and 
 hooks the same thimbles would answer for a swing- 
 gate, and that any gate might be well secured, by 
 a key hole and cotter at one of the hooks. 
 
 This was very true in theory, and the fallacy 
 of my plan did not immediately shew itself in 
 practice : I hung some of my own gates in this 
 way, and much approved of the gentle manner in 
 which the gates approached their lines of fasten- 
 ings. 
 
 I soon found, however, that the effects of wind 
 were so unmanageable with this arrangement of 
 the hinges, and most particularly in the swing- 
 gates, that the position of the thimbles for the 
 
so 
 
 gate opening one way was obliged to be altered 
 as at fig. li.; and I set to work upon improv- 
 ing the common lower hinge of a swing-gate, 
 by contriving some means to remove the objec- 
 tion of its parts being easily detached from each 
 other: I flatter myself that the purpose is com- 
 pletely answered by the lower hinge, plate 4. 
 
 And as far as relates to fig. v. I have to recom- 
 mend that the same proportion of l£ inch dis- 
 tance of the perpendicular lines falling from the 
 hooks be observed for a swing-gate, when the 
 hinges are 40 inches asunder, for the same rea- 
 sons as are stated under fig. ii., and which in a 
 swing-gate may form an equilateral triangle, 
 whether the sides of the triangle are to be shor- 
 tened or extended with reference to the table, 
 page 16. 
 
 This general proportion as to the horizontal 
 distance of the perpendicular lines falling from 
 the hooks, is adapted for those swing gates that 
 have the double drop catches afterwards de- 
 scribed, which stop the gate suddenly either from 
 the right or left, without once passing its line of 
 fastening. 
 
 In other cases, where the gate is made to vi- 
 brate to and fro, overcoming at first the obstacle 
 
31 
 
 of a solid catch, till its velocity becomes lessened, 
 and at length fastens itself, after several oscilla- 
 tions : for such a gate which is calculated to 
 vibrate till its velocity is considerably expended, 
 a greater velocity may be allowed in the con- 
 struction of the hinges ; and the equilateral tri- 
 angle, the sides of which, in the first instance, are 
 recommended to be 1| inch, may exceed that or 
 any other proportion of the table, page 16, as much 
 as i., or even I an inch ; for it is not material 
 whether a swing-gate may make one, two, or 
 more vibrations, as far as they tend to insure the 
 effect of the gate's fastening itself ; and provided 
 always that the effect be not so long delayed as 
 to admit of cattle taking advantage of it, which 
 they will soon learn to do, and wait for the gate 
 giving them opportunities of breaking their pas- 
 ture : but when a swing-gate is to fasten sud- 
 denly upon a double drop catch, a general me- 
 dium should be adopted to prevent too severe a 
 jar of the gate on the one hand, and the resistance 
 of wind on the other. 
 
 Trees and plantations near a gate baffle the 
 violence of winds very much, and indeed some 
 allowance ought to be made in the velocities of 
 gates, in constructing the hinges, with regard to 
 the equilateral triangle described, as the gate 
 may be more or less exposed to the winds ; ob- 
 
32 
 
 serving that a swing-gate is by its arrangement 
 more liable to be acted upon by wind, than a 
 gate opening only one way : but this difference 
 of exposure to wind in a swing-gate is provided 
 for in the construction of these hinges, as the line 
 of fastening is 30° short of the line of rest on 
 either hand with regard to each of the lower 
 pivots respectively, by which the gate approaches 
 its line of fastening with rather more velocity 
 than if 22° 30' only were allowed, as in fig. ii. 
 
 I shall next consider the manner of adapting 
 the posts for a swing-gate, and the intermediate 
 spaces to be allowed for the hinges and fasten- 
 ings. It is most suitable for the posts of a swing- 
 gate to present their edges to the front,, or for 
 the hinges and fastenings to be placed upon an 
 angle of each of the posts, as at B C E FG H, 
 plate 6. 
 
 This will give more room for the gate to open, 
 or at least allow of a smaller space between the 
 heel of the gate and the hanging-post; and the 
 hanging-post itself would prevent a gate thus 
 suspended from opening so far as its line of equi- 
 librium : but the hanging-post ought by no means 
 to supersede the use of the short posts on either side 
 of a swing-gate, which should always be so placed 
 that they might meet the middle part of the gate; 
 
33 
 for the hand applied at the head in opening a 
 swing gate would have great power from the 
 length of the lever, to strain the upper hinge 
 and mortises adjoining it, if the hanging post 
 were to be made the new fulcrum ; whereas 
 by placing the short post to meet the middle part 
 of the gate at about 22° 30' short of its line of 
 equilibrium, every purpose will be sufficiently an- 
 swered, and the short post will there be out of the 
 way of a horseman. The line of equilibrium in 
 a swing gate will be on either side only 750° from 
 the line of fastening, which added to the 30° be- 
 tween the line of fastening and line of rest, com- 
 pletes the half circle; the short post being 127° SO' 
 from the line of fastening, instead of 135°, which 
 can be allowed in a gate opening only one way. 
 But it will be found, that the short post must be 
 placed 2 or 3 degrees short of the 127° 30' from 
 the line of fastening, at least it appears by cal- 
 culation and experiment that the upper hinge will 
 not open further than about 24° from the line of 
 equilibrium with the hinges recommended. 
 
 The space between the heel of the gate and the 
 hanging post may be thus ascertained for an or- 
 dinary gate, with reference to plate 4. 
 
 Fig. xx. and xxn. represent the lower hooks of 
 a swing gate: after cutting out one inch from 
 
34 
 
 the corner of the hanging post, the part, fig. xx., 
 may be inserted so far into the hanging post, 
 which will give its shouldering a firm butment, 
 and so much reduce the distance between the 
 hanging post and the heel of the gate : it will 
 then measure from the near edge or corner of the 
 hanging post to the centre line of the lower 
 hooks | inch, and the length of the lower thimble, 
 fig. xix. and xxi., from its shoulder to the centre 
 line of the open thimbles 1£ -f 1| = 3 inches, 
 which, added to the above, will give the distance 
 of 3 1 inches from the heel of the gate to the edge 
 of the hanging post ; and this is the smallest space 
 which can be applied to a good practical purpose. 
 
 Accordingly the upper hook should be of the 
 length pointed out by the dotted circle, fig. xx., 
 allowing If + 1| = 244 inches for the length from 
 the shoulder to the centre of the pin ; out of which 
 one inch towards the shoulder will be within the 
 edge of the hanging post, which is to be cut away 
 as above, just to admit the upper and lower 
 hooks, but no where else : and the upper thimble 
 should measure exactly If inches from shoulder 
 to centre, which will leave the same deficiency, 
 compared with the extent of the lower hinge, as 
 was allowed for the gain of the upper hinge to 
 open one way, and explained under fig. ii., which 
 very nearly applies to this case. 
 
35 
 
 Under this arrangement, if duly attended to, 
 the upper hinge of a swing gate will be found to 
 open as at B, plate 6, only 14° short of the side 
 of the gate-post, and 24° short of the line of equi- 
 librium, or 126° instead of 135° ; and if this should 
 be thought insufficient, were the hooks to be al- 
 lowed to project something more, and the thim- 
 bles also a little extended, say £ inch each, and 
 the hooks | inch each, the gate would then pro- 
 bably open quite up to the side of the hanging 
 post, or within 10° of the line of equilibrium, 
 which is nearer to its balance than recommended, 
 fig. ii, ; but the short posts ought to be placed 
 within the points of interruption, which will be 
 something less than 126° from the line of fasten- 
 ing, and a swing gate cannot well be arranged to 
 open wider. 
 
 At B, plate 6, it appears, that were the thim- 
 bles only to be lengthened, the hanging post 
 would still be in the way, or if the hooks only 
 were to be extended, the upper hook would stop 
 the heel of the gate at the angle described ; for 
 the two points of interruption meet the heel of 
 the gate at once, as in B, plate 6 ; so that if it be 
 desired for the gate to open wider, the hooks and 
 the thimbles should be equally extended: but 
 since greater inconveniences might follow from 
 the gate opening too near the line of equilibrium, 
 
36 
 
 ispm its being retained there by the friction of the 
 hinges, the desire of opening the gate wider than 
 can safely be admitted may obviate one evil, but not 
 without the hazard of producing a greater : though 
 the hazard is in all cases to be expected only 
 from the inaccuracy of the iron work, or of the 
 workmen employed in hanging a gate; as I trust 
 that the method recommended, and the princi- 
 ples stated, are consistent with each other, and 
 must carry with them a degree of credit, in pro- 
 portion to the trouble and diligence which has 
 been used in their arrangement ; and resulting 
 both from actual experiments, and mathematical 
 proofs. 
 
 It is evident from C, plate 6, that no interrup- 
 tion would be given from the lower hinge so soon 
 as at the upper, though not by so great a differ- 
 ence as the angles of 4° to 14°; because the gate 
 is no where upright in its course, but at its 
 line of fastening, or at the line opposite to that 
 of its fastening, which no gate is intended to 
 reach. 
 
 This sloping of the gate might afford a quib- 
 ble against the proportionate rise of the head of 
 the gate in the intermediate parts of its course, 
 of which so much has been said^ and it would 
 perhaps have been more accurately expressed ; 
 
37 
 that the substance of the head of the gate is 
 raised from its line of rest, or place of its nearest 
 approach to the ground ; for though the head, as 
 to its substance, does actually rise in the given 
 proportions, yet when sloping from the upright 
 position, the top of the head must be as much 
 lower, as the bottom of it becomes higher than 
 the given proportions: and the gate will have the 
 greatest slope or declination of the head from its 
 upright position, at about 90° from the line 
 wherein by the arrangement of the hinges it is 
 made to be upright. 
 
 The lower hinge B, plate 6, will require per- 
 haps the edge of the hanging post adjoining it, 
 when it is opened, to be filed or cut away about 
 i inch, to give the outsides of the lower double 
 open thimbles room to pass freely, between the 
 lower hooks and the edge of the hanging-post. 
 
 All these little difficulties may be surmounted, if 
 it be thought proper to add | inch, or even less, to 
 the projection of each of the hooks, and to the 
 extension of each of the thimbles : which, how- 
 ever, I should by no means generally recommend. 
 If it should be of material consequence to open 
 the gate wider, where it joins upon a publick road, 
 passing the private road at right angles, or where 
 any very abrupt turning is to be made, it may be 
 
38 
 
 necessary to give^every possible advantage in that 
 respect ; lest from the thoughtlessness of servants, 
 such gates might be opened towards or against a 
 carriage, instead of the contrary way j and there- 
 by divest swing-gates of almost the only compa- 
 rative merit or preference which they have with 
 regard to those opening one way : and this may 
 be done, as to opening the gate wider, by leav- 
 ing the lower hooks as before at 1 1 inch distance 
 from centre to centre, and allowing the upper 
 hook to project further from the post, so that the 
 perpendicular lines falling from the 3 hooks shall 
 form an isosceles triangle ; the line joining the 
 double hooks below forming the base, and the 
 other two sides being each 1 \ inch long or more as 
 required. The whole iron work must be length- 
 ened out a little (or at least all but the double 
 lower hook) ; and if the space between the hang- 
 ing-post and heel of the gate becomes too great, 
 it maybe divided by an iron rod placed perpendi- 
 cularly, and attached either to the hanging-post or 
 the heel of the gate; but rather to the former, as 
 no unnecessary weight, however small, should be 
 given to the gate. 
 
 FIG. VI. 
 
 Requires no further explanation than what is 
 found under fig. v., as it only represents the 
 
39 
 sides of the equilateral triangle extended to 11- 
 inch. 
 
 FIG. VII. 
 
 Has also been referred to above, in stating the 
 failure of my experiment for uniting the line of 
 fastening with the line of rest. 
 
 FIG. VIII. 
 
 Is the reverse of fig. vii., which is extremely ap- 
 plicable to a turnpike or lodge-gate, where a 
 person constantly attends. 
 
 In this figure the line of equilibrium is made 
 also the line of fastening, by the lower hook pro- 
 jecting further than the upper one, from the 
 hanging-post. 
 
 A gate thus hung will be upright when fas- 
 tened, the upper thimble being proportionably 
 longer than the lower one ; and upon unfastening 
 the gate, it falls open either to the right or left, 
 out of the way of a carriage, and there remains 
 till it be brought back again by the person at- 
 tending : such gates would frequently prevent 
 accidents with carriages, either in public or pri- 
 vate roads j and this method of hanging gates 
 should be generally adopted, where no objection 
 
40 
 
 arises from the circumstance of constant atten- 
 dance. 
 
 It is not unusual to see turnpike gates hung in 
 this manner in Shropshire, though they seldom have 
 a sufficient fall ; and in some instances, I believe, 
 that the hooks may have been intended as per- 
 pendicular to each other, for the upper hook as 
 often projects a little further from the hanging- 
 post than the lower hook, as otherwise. 
 
Plate j 
 
 Fig \l 
 
 
/'/.ATE 2 
 
 F.£t r t"'ri' Se. f1t,„rt..y" 
 
41 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 PLATE II. 
 
 FIG. IX. 
 
 IjOME swing-gates have four hooks or pivots 
 at the lower hinge, with as many open thimbles ; 
 and I have seen a model of a lower hinge, which 
 had so many pivots as to form two segments of 
 indented wheels. 
 
 Unless some considerable advantage could be 
 gained by so much additional work, it ought upon 
 every account to be discouraged : and I shall en- 
 deavour to make it appear, that two hooks at the 
 lower hinge of a swing gate are decidedly better- 
 calculated for the effect desired, than any other 
 number of pivots, and I may add, than any other 
 contrivance amongst the great variety which has 
 attracted my notice. 
 
 In this figure, u I and / form the equilateral 
 triangle, whose sides are II inch, which as well as 
 the lines about it are the same as those of fig. v. 
 
 g 
 
42 
 the supernumerary lower hooks, marked // // 
 must produce a certain additional effect; but I 
 contend that the hinge would be better without 
 them. 
 
 The lines e e and the lines ee ee shew, that 
 the gate will not open so wide with the addition- 
 al hooks as without them, by a considerable an- 
 gle ; and as the vibration of the gate must ulti- 
 mately proceed from the two hooks / /, and not 
 from those marked // //, the latter cannot as- 
 sist in fastening the gate : yet while the gate is 
 moving upon either of the hooks // //, its ve- 
 locity is exceedingly increased, as the horizontal 
 distance of their perpendicular lines from that of 
 the upper hook is so great as 2tV inches instead of 
 II inch; so that when the gate does not pass its 
 equilibrium and remain open, it must fall vio- 
 lently at first, but afterwards vibrate between the 
 two hooks / / ; otherwise the two hooks / / would 
 become useless, and the hinge might be reduced 
 to the two outer hooks // //, which are not so well 
 placed, as those at / /. 
 
 FIG. X. 
 
 This is another position for the outer hooks 
 which is liable to objections equally strong; for 
 though the outer hooks // // will allow the gate to 
 
4S 
 
 open wider, they cannot answer that purpose, un- 
 less the upper hook and thimble were both a great 
 deal extended, which indeed they must be, to 
 correspond with the space below, that such a 
 lower hinge would require : and without some 
 better reason could be given for such an extra- 
 ordinary space between the hanging post and 
 heel of the gate, two hooks at the lower hinge 
 must still have the preference to any greater 
 number. 
 
 Fig. ix. and x. may very well be compared to 
 the segments of indented wheels alluded to above ; 
 the one being less than a semicircle, though part of 
 a large wheel, contracts the angle of the gate's 
 equilibrium, as at fig. ix ; and the other segment 
 being greater than a semicircle, though part of a 
 less wheel, will allow the gate to open wider before 
 it becomes suspended in equilibrio, as at fig. x. 
 I have no idea of any good effect being produced 
 by multiplying the teeth, hooks, or pivots, of the 
 lower hinges for swing gates ; nor have I seen 
 any other pattern of a hinge so well adapted to this 
 purpose as that represented plate iv. 
 
 fig. XI. 
 
 Shews the common method of hanging a swing- 
 gate, which will give a strong vibrating power to 
 
44 
 
 a gate's velocity, having a suitable latch and 
 catch : but supposing the line of road to be at 
 right angles to the line of the gate's fastening, 
 the gate must pass its equilibrium, whenever it is 
 opened for a carriage, and be liable to be left 
 open ; though in many instances the upper hook 
 is made to project somewhat beyond the lower 
 hooks, and so far it approaches towards the plan 
 of the horizontal triangle of the lines falling from 
 the hooks : but I have very rarely seen a swing- 
 gate tolerably well hung, and the posts being 
 placed in the common manner, must always pre- 
 vent the gate's opening so wide and commodious- 
 ly as upon the plan explained under fig. v. 
 
 Before I close this part of my subject, I shall 
 notice some swing-gates which are rather remark- 
 able in their construction. 
 
 There are many turnpike-gates in Staffordshire, 
 which are hung upon a round or cylindrical post ; 
 the upper hook being formed by an iron bolt or 
 pin rising perpendicularly out of the centre at 
 the top of the post ; a thimble is brought by a 
 curved bar of iron of suitable strength round from 
 the heel of the gate to the vertex of the post : and 
 the lower hinge is contrived by a semicircular 
 piece of iron furnished with a roller at each end, 
 
45 
 
 which embraces one half of the hanging post, hav 
 ing an iron hoop let into the post for the rollers 
 to work upon. 
 
 Thus the diameter of the upper hook may be 
 lj or II inch, and the diameter of the lower 
 pivot no less than that of the gate-post itself: 
 the whole gate is sometimes supported by a wheel 
 or caster under the heel working on a bed of 
 iron. 
 
 This extraordinary kind of gate would make a 
 complete circuit round its hanging post, if not 
 prevented by an adjoining gate or fence ; and 
 when well put up would remain wherever it might 
 be placed, or impelled by the hand ; for the cen- 
 tres of the two pivots are in the same perpendi- 
 cular, though their diameters respectively may 
 be as 9 or 10 to 1. 
 
 This iron work must necessarily be heavy and 
 expensive, but since its weight is suspended close 
 against the hanging post, and the gate not liable 
 to be jarred, it would not be easy to hang a turn- 
 pike-gate upon a more durable and convenient 
 plan. 
 
 I have seen also a very expensive way of hang- 
 ing private gates in some parts of Shropshire : sup- 
 
46 
 pose four thimbles of equal length from their shoul- 
 ders to centres, two attached to the hanging- 
 post and two to the heel of the gate ; the thim- 
 bles being about an inch diameter, are placed 
 nearly opposite to each other in pairs at the dis- 
 tance of common hinges : an iron bar of about 
 an inch diameter is then placed perpendicularly 
 through the four thimbles, and should be secured 
 to, or made to form a part of the two thimbles 
 which attach to the hanging post, while the other 
 two thimbles have a free motion round the per- 
 pendicular iron bar. The centres of these hinges 
 are of course in the same perpendicular line, 
 and the gate is supported by a wheel or caster 
 under the heel : in order to effect the gate's fall- 
 ing of itself, a block of wood is placed as low as 
 the road, and round the base of the hanging-post, 
 with an iron bed let into it for the wheel or caster 
 to work upon ; and by giving this block of wood 
 a certain rise to the right and left from the gate's 
 line of fastening, the gate upon being opened is 
 gradually and uprightly raised, but with a great 
 deal of friction, and weight in the hand; till left 
 to fasten itself in descending upon the declined 
 plane with an uniformly accelerated motion, and 
 considerable force. 
 
 This plane could readily be so managed, as to 
 moderate the gate's fall to any velocity that might 
 
47 
 be wished, but there will remain one grand ob- 
 jection which cannot be overcome ; namely, that 
 the line of rest must also be the line of fastening, 
 and the same observations which have been made 
 upon fig. vii. would apply to these hinges : there- 
 fore the plan, fig. v. is still entitled to my recom- 
 mendation, in exclusion to every other method of 
 hanging-gates, that I have seen; excepting al- 
 ways turnpike-gates, or those lodge-gates which 
 have a person in constant attendance; but to 
 which -this last method of hanging a gate is equal- 
 ly unfit, as it is for every other purpose. 
 
 FIG XII. 
 
 Is the upper hook for a gate to open one way, 
 measuring exactly two inches from the shoulder 
 to the centre of the pin : the thicknes of the 
 heel of the gate being Si inches, and the upper 
 thimble turned I inch towards the gate-post, as at 
 fig. xi v. plate 3, the distance from the centre of 
 the upper thimble to the edge of the heel adjoin- 
 ing the gate-post will be H — 1=1 \ inch; so that 
 \ inch is allowed for the heel of the gate to hang 
 clear of the post, which is more than can be ne- 
 cessary, but the heels of some gates may be thick- 
 er : or if the hooks are thought to be too long, 
 it is very easy to chisel away the wood from un- 
 
48 
 
 der the shoulders of the hooks, and let them into 
 the post $ inch further. 
 
 Each part of the hooks is accurately repre- 
 sented, and sufficiently strong without any unne- 
 cessary weight of metal. The spikes or shafts of 
 the hooks should be about |ths inch square ad- 
 joining the shoulder, and ought to be much ta- 
 pered, not more than from £ths to Iths in their 
 lengths of 61 inches each, but pointed at their 
 ends. If the shafts of the hooks were to c be a 
 great deal tapered, they would not take so firm a 
 hold of the post. 
 
 FIG. XIII. 
 
 Represents the lower hook of a gate to open one 
 way, which is I inch longer than the upper hook 
 from its centre to shoulder ; because the upper 
 thimble being bent i inch towards the post, and 
 the lower thimble placed I inch in the contrary 
 direction, the difference together is I inch j and 
 that much must be added to the lower hook. The 
 positions of the hooks in regard to each other 
 determine the whole effect of a gate's fall, which 
 has been fully explained under fig. ii. 
 
1 
 
 Fig.XIV 
 
 "f&Ut ■ I 
 
,9/a/r -J 
 
49 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 PLATE III. 
 
 FIG. XIV. 
 
 JLS the upper thimble adapted for a gate opening 
 one way j with an iron strap which is to fasten 
 with screws along the top of the gate, either 
 11 foot long only and finished with a staple at 
 the small end as at D, plate 6, or made to extend 
 the whole length of the gate, and finish with a 
 round screw nut let into the fore part of the head 
 of the gate as at fig. xviii.j the thimble being 
 bent £ of an inch bearing towards the hanging- 
 post. 
 
 FIG. XV. 
 
 Is the lower thimble of a gate proportioned to the 
 upper thimble, fig.xiv., as 1| inch is to 3 inches,, 
 in regard to the distance between their centres 
 and shoulders respectively. These thimbles are 
 adapted for a gate whose hinges are 40 inches 
 asunder ; and as 40 is to l| a the difference in this 
 instance, so should be any other distance from hinge 
 
 H 
 
50 
 to hinge to the proportionate difference or extra 
 length of the lower thimble ; and the greater the 
 extra length might be made, over and above such 
 proportion, the greater must become the velocity 
 of the gate's fall, or tendency towards the line of 
 rest, until its course is arrested by the fastening- 
 post -rsth part of the circle, or 22° 30' short of 
 the line of rest. The lower thimble is let into 
 the gate by a screw of equal substance through- 
 out its length*, or not tapered, in order that the 
 adjustment of the thimbles, as to the velocity of 
 the gate's fall, may be regulated to so great a 
 nicety as half a turn of the screw : and the thim- 
 ble may either be let into the heel of the gate, 
 or lengthened out by a washer, as occasion shall 
 require. The position of the thimbles, in respect 
 to each other, must be favoured also by the lower 
 thimble, which being placed | of an inch out of 
 the middle of the heel of the gate, in the con- 
 trary direction of the upper thimble, the whole 
 difference, as to the distances of the two thimbles 
 from the hanging-post, will be \ an inch ; and 
 their vertical plane, which is the same as that of 
 the lines of rest and equilibrium, will form an 
 
 * It may be noticed that the screw is represented left- 
 handed by mistake, which had best be executed right-handed 
 in the iron-work, as is more regular and usual: the screws, 
 fig. xvn. xix. and xxi., are also improperly made left- 
 handed. 
 
51 
 
 angle with the line of fastening of 22° 30', or Ath 
 part of a circle : this adjustment, in effect, adds 
 rrth of an inch to the extra length of the lower 
 thimble, so that, by a plumb-line, it will be found 
 (when the gate is hung upright, as it always ought 
 to be) that the actual extra length of the lower 
 thimble, or horizontal distance of the two centres 
 from each other, will beH + A=lT inch. 
 
 FIG. XVI. 
 
 Represents the side view of fig. xiv. 
 
 fig. xvii. 
 Gives the side view of fig. xv. 
 
 fig. xviii. 
 
 Is a complete gate for opening one way, and con* 
 structed in such a manner, that it shall not sink 
 at the head, as ordinary gates are apt to do. 
 The bars are let into the middle parts of the head 
 and heel, and the braces are tapered for finishing 
 upon a level surface with the heel, head, and rail ; 
 as is evident in the following directions for the 
 sawing out the timber, which should be of kind 
 oak, not too tough, and entirely free from sap. 
 
52 
 
 The waste in planing and finishing a gate 
 may be allowed for or not, as the gate is desired 
 to be a little more or less strong : but when the 
 timber is good, it is reduced so little by being 
 planed and finished into a gate, that no allowance 
 need be made for the waste ; or, at all events, if 
 the sawer attends to the dimensions recommended, 
 the gate will be quite strong enough for its size. 
 
 Directions for sawing the Timber of the Gate, 
 
 FIG. XVIII. 
 
 T , Greatest Tapered to Solid 
 
 Lengtn. t h,ckness. the head. Contents. 
 
 Feet. In. In. by In. In. by In. Cubickln. 
 
 Heel 4 4 ... 4£ 3| =832 
 
 Head 4 4 ... 2f 1\ =325 
 
 Rail 9 ... 3§ 3| ... 2\ 2| =972 
 
 5 Bars, each 9 ... 3| 1 ... 2f | = 1417| 
 
 Diagonal brace 9 6 ... 3| If ... <2\ 1 = 427| 
 
 Larger upright brace 2 8 ... 3J \\ 
 
 Smaller ditto 2 8 ... 3 II 
 
 } = 
 
 250 
 
 4224 
 
 which will be found to form a well-proportioned 
 gate, the whole of the eight parts at the head 
 presenting to the eye l 2\ inches; and seven out of 
 the eight parts at the heel, that is, all excepting 
 the heel itself, present S| inches. Its solid con- 
 tents of timber is 4224 cubick inches = 2 feet 5\ 
 inches, or nearly 2f cubick feet. 
 
53 
 The diagonal brace is fitted into the heel by a 
 strong butment, even with the lowest bar, and 
 its smaller end meets the upper angle at the head, 
 and is confined laterally by two upright braces ; 
 which would keep up the rail, provided the head 
 were not pushed forward ; and that is prevented 
 by an iron strap of equal length to the gate being 
 attached to, or forming a part of the upper thim- 
 ble in the first instance, where it holds the heel 
 of the gate by the shoulder of the thimble : it is 
 afterwards screwed to the rail at proper distances ; 
 and, lastly, secures the whole work together by a 
 screw nut, rounded and let into the front of the 
 gate's head*. By this arrangement, the gate is 
 in fact suspended by the iron strap and rail, in- 
 stead of the heel, which assists greatly in prevent- 
 
 * The iron strap is about an inch by a quarter of an inch 
 in substance, for one half of its length, when it is tapered to- 
 wards the head of the gate. At the end nearest to the thim- 
 ble, it is made stronger for a few inches; and close to the 
 shoulder of the thimble, it should be about \ inch square : the 
 edges are chamfered off, and the whole appears to be gradu- 
 ally tapered from the heel to the head of the gate, widening 
 a little round the hole which is left for the upright part of the 
 latch adjoining to the handle. 
 
 In the preceding edition of this pamphlet, I acknowledged 
 myself indebted to an ingenious mechanick for this pattern of 
 a gate, with regard to the contrivance of the braces and iron 
 strap for upholding the rail ; and since this plan of construct- 
 ing a gate is become so deservedly approved of, it may be 
 proper for me to add, that I received it from Mr. John Bad- 
 dely, of Albrighton. near Wolverhampton. 
 
54 
 
 ing any strain upon the mortises by the gate's 
 own weight, or otherwise : I cannot imagine a 
 gate of a more durable construction, and it seems 
 particularly well calculated for road-gates. The 
 fastening is remarkably easy for a horseman to 
 open, and as difficult, if not impossible, to be 
 opened by cattle: the upright wire of the latch 
 is furnished with a guard, and the mortise of the 
 head of the gate through which the latch passes 
 is finished with sheet-iron escutcheons, like those 
 at K, plate 6, the fastening being completed with 
 the catch M, plate 6, having a button in the place 
 of the ring. 
 
 If it were wished to make a larger gate of this 
 pattern, let the above column of lengths be al- 
 tered accordingly j but the column of greatest 
 thicknesses, and that of the sizes to which the 
 parts are to be tapered, may remain as they are : 
 suppose the gate is to be 91 or 10 feet long, in- 
 stead of 9 feet, then add about half of what the 
 length of the gate is increased to the lengths of 
 the head and heel, with as much as is wanting to 
 the braces, and the gate will be in a good form, 
 the rail and bars being of course cut out to the 
 new length. 
 
 All road gates and gate-posts should be painted 
 white, otherwise they will be frequently broken 
 
55 
 
 in dark nights by horses and carriages being run 
 against them. 
 
 It appears by calculation that the contents of 
 solid timber in the gate, fig. xviil, and the quan- 
 tity of sawing (which is half the superficies of 
 its parts measured separately), are exactly 
 
 Solid Contents. 
 
 Sawing. 
 
 Ftet. In. 
 
 Feet. In. 
 
 2 5\ 
 
 31 11| 
 
 Allowance must be made for waste of timber by 
 every cut of the saw, which is equal to the quan- 
 tity of saw-dust ; and the measure of sawers work 
 in a gate depends a great deal upon the size of 
 the timber, and how far the slabs and other pieces 
 which are unfit for gates may be convertible to 
 different purposes*. 
 
 * In making accurate calculations, it is as well to give the 
 precise amount as to omit the fractions ; but to measure the 
 bulk, and superficies of the parts of this gate, tapered as they 
 are, is rather tedious and troublesome : I trust and believe, 
 however, that I have drawn correct conclusions ; and since 
 many gentlemen are apt to neglect their gates, as well as 
 other repairs and improvements, for want of properly under- 
 standing the nature and extent of the work required, I hope 
 that, in the attempt to remove such obstacles, as to this sub- 
 ject, I shall not be thought to have misapplied either my own 
 time, or trespassed unnecessarily upon that of my readers. 
 
56 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 PLATE IV. 
 
 FIG. XIX. 
 
 1\EPRESENTS the broad outline of the lower 
 double open thimble for a swing gate, with the 
 relative horizontal position of the upper thimble 
 in a dotted circle marked ii inch, the diameter of 
 the upper thimble. 
 
 The several parts are measured by inches and 
 fractions of inches, and require no further expla- 
 nation than what has already been given under 
 fig. v., with occasional reference to plate 4 : the 
 screw should be 1 inch diameter throughout, or 
 not tapered, and 3 inches long j though it is here 
 broken off abruptly, as the shafts of the hooks, 
 and as the screws and shafts of the thimbles, are 
 in most of the plates, to save room. 
 
 FIG. XX. 
 
 Is the broad outline of the double lower hook, 
 precisely adapted to the double open thimble, 
 
 FIG. XIX. 
 
ri(»-.\x 
 
 /'/../, 
 
 F ' ICSmU/t. Sc. £lt77Ultf>~ 
 
"S. 
 
57 
 
 FIG. XXI. 
 
 Gives the side view of the double open thimble, 
 fig. xix., with an iron pin which fits at either end 
 into the open groove of fig. xx. By making 
 fig. xxi. with both sides alike, as to the iron pin, 
 the lower hinge of a swing gate may be fitted to 
 half a turn of the screw ; and the upper hook be- 
 ing furnished with a key-hole and cotter, or with 
 a stud on one side of the hook, and a notch in 
 the strong part or but of the upper thimble, the 
 gate cannot be taken off the hinges by cattle, or 
 for idle occasions. 
 
 fig. xxii. 
 
 Is a side view of fig. xx.; its different parts, as 
 well as those of all the figures, being arranged 
 conveniently for the workmen to execute, with 
 suitable strength, and divested of unnecessary 
 weight of metal. 
 
 I may now observe, that I have made the several 
 drawings by rule and compass, from patterns 
 which have been put up a long time, and that 
 they continue to answer their respective purposes 
 extremely well. 
 
58 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 PLATE V. 
 
 H 
 
 FIG. XXIII. 
 
 AS been already explained at page 16. 
 
 FIG. XXIV*. 
 
 Is an excellent pattern for a light gate, and so 
 constructed, by the manner in which the braces 
 are rivetted to the bars, that it is not only very 
 cheap, but appears to be less likely to sink at the 
 head than any other pattern that I have met with, 
 excepting that of fig. xviii., which is more expen- 
 sive, and not intended for common field-gates, 
 for which this is admirably well adapted. 
 
 * I have noticed this pattern in many parts of Shropshire, 
 particularly on farms of my own, and in Cheshire; but I 
 never observed it to be well executed : the addition of the 
 two short upright braces for strengthening the middle part of 
 the gate seem to be required on account of the reduced size of 
 the bars. 
 
Fine 
 
 XXL1I 
 
 / 1 
 
 i 
 
 c ? 
 
 . nfcri/c- - t/Jwm ' 
 
/'/..ITK : 
 
 Fi 
 
 1" Iff. 
 
 XX11I 
 
 
59 
 
 Directions for sawing the Timber of the Gate, 
 
 FIG. XXIV. 
 
 Length. Thickness. Contents. 
 Feet. In. In. by In. Cub. In. 
 
 Heel 4. 8 ... 3£ 3 = 58S 
 
 Head 4 8 ... 2§ 1\— 340 
 
 Three bars, each 9 ... 3 1 =972 
 
 Three smaller bars, each ..9 ... 2 I = 648 
 
 Two diagonal braces, each 9 6 ... 2 § 1 = 285 
 
 Two short upright braces, 1 x 1 
 
 together ) a 
 
 2915| 
 
 Solid Contents. Sauing. 
 
 Feet. In. Feet. In. 
 
 1 8 2 94. 7 
 
 This gate, therefore, compared with that of 
 fig. xviii., contains less timber in the propor- 
 tion, say as 2| feet to lj, or as 10 to 7; that is, 
 the timber which will make 7 of the one kind, 
 would be sufficient for 10 of the other. 
 
 The rivets should all be made of i inch wire, 
 the heads I inch diameter, and the washers of 
 strong sheet iron, rounded or punched into form, 
 and of the same diameter as the head : the one 
 principal centre rivet ought to he 3| inches long, 
 and the rest 2| inches, which in each case will 
 exceed what is necessary by nearly § an inch; 
 but this half inch is more readily disposed of 
 than any thing shorter when the rivets are used*. 
 
 * Nails may of course be substituted for rivets, if they 
 might be thought more economical. 
 
60 
 
 A rivet being driven into its place through one 
 bar, and one or two of the braces, the washer is 
 put upon the reversed side, and the end of the 
 rivet should then be cut off to the exact length 
 required. This is done by rather a strange me- 
 thod, but since it is proved to be a good one by 
 practice, I shall recommend it to imitation ; for 
 where 17 rivets are to be attached to each gate, 
 it is very material to know how to get through 
 such work in an expeditious and workman-like 
 manner. 
 
 Take about 2 feet from the strong end of an 
 old scythe blade, to which there is a piece of 
 iron forming a sufficient handle; and this will 
 answer the purpose of a file or a fine saw in cut- 
 ting away the waste ends of the rivets; which, 
 when nickt by the weight of this tool, being 
 drawn as a saw along the rivet, a hammer will 
 knock off the superfluous part : but were the part 
 to be cut off much less than half an inch, the 
 hammer could not have the same effect ; and 
 filing would become very tedious, when a large 
 quantity of rivets were made use of. 
 
 In gates of this construction, for ordinary field 
 uses, it is not necessary that all the parts of each 
 gate should be of a very exact form ; for if the 
 bars were tapered, or some of them only, the 
 
61 
 
 gate might be so much the stronger : but when 
 new timber is to be cut out for gates, no cheaper 
 plan can be adopted than that of the dimensions 
 given ; and as there are no parts required to be 
 tapered, any broken or defective pieces will more 
 readily convert to other uses; and in case of a 
 few bars or braces being wanting, they might be 
 supplied out of one inch boards. 
 
 The two diagonal braces, where they adjoin the 
 heel and head in four places, should be mitred 
 into the heel and head of the gate, as far as the 
 beading, if the head, heel, and braces are so finished, 
 uniting to the head and heel with a planed sur- 
 face ; and the braces must be reduced a little at 
 the ends adjoining the head of the gate, to bring 
 them to finish level, as the head is only 2f inches 
 thick. 
 
 The means which I think most favourable for 
 introducing improvements in gates are, for each 
 person who may think well of my suggestions, to 
 procure one new gate of each description recom- 
 mended, with new posts, to be hung and com- 
 pleted in the best manner ; and taking these as 
 models, to alter and amend the old gates thereby, 
 as far as may seem economical, and suitable to 
 his particular purposes. 
 
62 
 The common field gates admit of a material 
 distinction from road gates in several respects; 
 for, as to those which are used very seldom, or 
 are generally locked, it is of little consequence, 
 so that they make a good fence, whether they 
 shut of themselves or not : and some people think 
 that a light, high gate is preferable to a low and 
 heavier one; but I have heard a gate of about 
 k\ feet high recommended for several reasons, 
 and particularly as a fence against horses; be- 
 cause the top rail should meet their wind-pipes 
 instead of their chests, and being able to put 
 their heads over it, they would be the less likely 
 to force it with their rumps. 
 
 A gate opening out of a field into a public road, 
 should be such as no one could easily get over, 
 with upright pales for instance, sharpened at the 
 top, and it might be higher than usual : there is 
 no objection to such gates opening double, as 
 folding doors, and I would prefer the hooks for 
 hanging them to be perpendicular to each other, 
 so that the gates should remain wherever they 
 might be placed ; and no other fastening ought to 
 be allowed but a lock and key : this supposes that 
 there is no common road or path through the field 
 
 For the above gate, fig. xxiv., it is proposed 
 to have both the thimbles put on with screws, or 
 
63 
 
 in any other simple manner, at the points a and 
 b, clear of the mortises adjoining, and which in 
 this pattern will be about 38 inches asunder. 
 
 The common plan of fixing on braces is, to 
 have one rising, from the lower part of the heel 
 to meet, properly enough, the middle of the rail, 
 and two more placed upright : but this manner of 
 putting on the braces can bear no sort of compa- 
 rison to that of making them cross each other in 
 any way similar to fig. xxiv. 
 
 And another material objection to these com- 
 mon gates is, the almost universal practice of 
 making deep mortises in the top rails to receive 
 the braces, which very much weaken the rail, 
 and particularly towards its smaller extremity. 
 
 Let any gentleman give himself the trouble to 
 observe a certain number of road gates, which he 
 may take occasion to pass through ; and he would 
 perceive a very large proportion of them to have 
 failed either at the mortise of the rail adjoining 
 the nearest brace to the head of the gate, or at 
 the mortise which connects the head and rail to- 
 gether: the nearest upright brace is usually as 
 much as 1 1 foot from the head ; and a gate thus 
 constructed is extremely liable to injury at the 
 two mortises described; both by the occasional 
 jars, from which no gates can be exempted, and 
 
64 
 by horsemen riding against the gate, when the 
 power of the horse will be applied precisely be- 
 tween the two weak mortises. 
 
 FIG. XXV. 
 
 Is a full-sized representation of the joint in the 
 latch, fig. xvni., with the dimensions of its parts 
 adjoining. 
 
 FIG. XXVI. 
 
 Is part of an oak tree, without the bark; and 
 since a well-constructed gate cannot be advan- 
 tageously used, without suitable posts, it is neces- 
 sary to make some remarks upon the length and 
 substance of such as will answer the intended 
 purpose ; and as much expence and trouble may 
 be saved, by a proper understanding in this re- 
 spect, I shall submit the following calculations. 
 
 An oak post 10 inches square and 8 feet long is 
 sufficiently strong for the gate, fig. xvm., and it 
 will contain 5\ feet of timber, or exactly 5 feet 
 6A inches, the value of which must depend upon 
 the quality of the timber : but for ordinary pur- 
 poses, the lower part of a tree of the dimensions 
 fig. xxvi. will make make 4 capital posts for use, 
 though their form may not be thought ornamental, 
 and will contain by customary measure 19i feet, 
 or exactly 1 9 feet 6A inches ; but the true mea- 
 
65 
 sure of the pari of a tree, fig. xxvi. is 25 feet, 
 or exactly 25 feet 1^ inch: this leaves to the 
 purchaser of round timber, taking in the sap, an 
 advantage in the proportion of about 50 to 39, 
 or upwards of 5 to 4. 
 
 Estimate of Gate-Posts. 
 
 For 4 posts, containing 19f feet customary* 
 
 measure, of moderately good oak (several /' •£• *■ fl- 
 inches of which, in the length towards the ^-1 19 
 root, is of little or no value), taken toge- 
 ther, say at 2s. a foot 
 
 About 36 feet of sawing, cross-cutting, and 7 
 cleaving, say 3 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 £.2 
 
 This being divided by 4 will amount to 10s. a 
 post ; which value, though apparently large, will 
 be soon compensated in avoiding the continual 
 charge of altering and propping insufficient posts ; 
 besides, these dimensions exceed the size of 10 
 inches square, even after allowing for the early 
 decay of the sap on the round side of each post ; 
 insomuch that a part of a tree of smaller dimen- 
 sions might serve for the purpose: suppose the 
 circumference of a part of a tree, without the bark, 
 intended for 4 posts, were only 5 feet 8 inches 
 (instead of 6 feet 3^ inches, which is the circum- 
 
66 
 
 ference answering to the diameter of 2 feet), it 
 would contain 16 feet 9A inches by customary 
 measure, including the sap, which would be nearly 
 equal in strength to 4 posts of 10 inches square; 
 for each of such posts will measure, in the true 
 way, more than 5 feet, and the 4 posts, fig. xxvi., 
 would be reduced 7s. in price, or Is. 9d. each, 
 leaving their value about 8s. 3d. apiece. 
 
 It would be frivolous to add illustrations upon 
 questions, to which similar cases are detailed in 
 eveiy common book on mensuration of solids; 
 but I feel it highly necessary to take notice of 
 the outline of these facts, which, like other parts 
 of the subject, are not generally practised upon : 
 and further, should a gate of my recommendation 
 be observed to lodge its head upon the ground, 
 I beg to be considered, as accountable only for 
 the gate, and not for the post on which it hangs, 
 unless my directions in that respect also may have 
 been duly attended to. 
 
 It must be understood, also, that I am esti- 
 mating the value of an oak gate-post of a certain 
 strength, and not cavilling about the difference 
 as to the customary and true measure of round 
 timber; for the market price of timber is con- 
 sidered as applying to a particular measure, and 
 
67 
 taking into the account the waste in converting 
 round timber. 
 
 The above posts, as to their length, are calcu- 
 lated for the gate, fig. xviii. ; but for fig. xxiv., 
 which is 4 inches longer, the gate-posts should be 
 about 8 feet 4 inches long instead of 8 feet. 
 
68 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 PLATE VI. 
 
 A 
 
 JvEPRESENTS a section of two gate-posts, 
 with the proper position for the hinges of a gate 
 to open one way, shewing also the line of fasten- 
 ing, the line of rest, and line of equilibrium ; 
 which two last lines are in the same vertical plane, 
 both with the hooks, and with the centre of the 
 gate's gravitation; and at about -^th part of a 
 circle within the line of equilibrium, a short post 
 is placed, to prevent the gate's opening wider 
 than the line from whence it will certainly return 
 of itself, which short post may be placed still for- 
 warder, if necessary, to insure so important an 
 effect. 
 
 B 
 
 Shews the upper hinge of a swing gate, with the 
 exact dimensions of the iron work, as well as the 
 precise effect which will be found in opening a 
 swing gate, constructed and hung in the manner 
 
f 
 
 / 
 
 /'/.ATE 
 
 N 
 
 O 
 
 * 
 
. A 
 
 FLAT£ <■ 
 
 <=aa;; ^j 
 
 ' 
 
 9 El 
 
 (j 
 
 o 
 
 1 L.... E 
 
 w 
 
 i^ 
 
 c 
 
69 
 
 described fig. v.; and whereby it appears, that 
 such hinges will not admit of a gate's opening 
 nearer than 10°4- 14° = 24° of its line of equi- 
 librium, nor more than 132° from its line of fast- 
 ening : and as near as can be towards, but within 
 the line where the upper hook, the hanging-post, 
 and the heel of the gate are brought together, 
 should the short post be placed, to prevent the 
 upper hinge, mortises, &c. from being strained. 
 
 Is the lower hinge of a swing gate, with the exact 
 dimensions of the iron work, &c. and by which 
 the gate would not be interrupted from opening 
 so soon as by the upper hinge B : this also has 
 been explained under fig. v., and represented in 
 plate 4. 
 
 D 
 
 Is an usual method of attaching the upper thim- 
 ble to a short strap, to be fastened on the top 
 rail of the gate with nails or screws, and bent 
 upwards at the small end to catch under a staple : 
 this strap answers very well for an ordinary gate, 
 and strengthens the mortise at the heel, but that 
 at the head of the gate is very little assisted by 
 this short strap at the heel. 
 
70 
 
 E 
 
 Describes the manner in which the double drop 
 catch* F is to be attached to the falling-post of 
 a swing gate; and it is necessary to notice, at 
 this place, the distance required between the head 
 of the gate and the near edge of the falling-post : 
 the end of the latch should project about 3 inches 
 from the head of the gate, and if the head of the 
 gate be placed about 2| or 2f inches from the 
 edge or corner of the falling-post, the latch will 
 meet the catch towards the centre of the latch's pro- 
 jection, or rather more towards its end, which will 
 answer the purpose very well, with cutting away 
 a little from the edge of the falling-post, as at F 
 and H, to give room for the play of the latch, 
 which should be adjusted and made to act pro* 
 perly, before the falling-post is fixed in its place. 
 
 This will make a difference as to the distance 
 of the hanging-post from the heel. of the gate 
 which is 3 1 inches, and that between the head 
 of the gate and the falling-post which is about 
 
 * Almost every blacksmith has some favourite notions for 
 gate fastenings, and the variety of them is now become so 
 extensive, that I have necessarily confined myself to such 
 only as, from the result of experiments and a due considera- 
 tion of their comparative merits, I shall venture to recom- 
 mend. 
 
71 
 
 Q§ inches, say as 3 to 2 ; but it is not so great a3 
 the difference of substances, between the heel and 
 head of the gate, which present a surface to the 
 front of 4 and 2£ inches respectively in the pat- 
 tern fig. xviii., or in the proportion of 8 to 5 : 
 and therefore these circumstances do not make 
 any irregular or disproportionate appearance to 
 the eye. 
 
 Is another view of the double drop catch, with its 
 dimensions, angles, and moveable drops. (See E) 
 
 G 
 
 Is a different kind of double catch with solid 
 drops, which is further shewn at H : it is stronger 
 than that of EF, but the drops of at H take up 
 more room, leaving about double the space or 
 play for the latch when the gate is fastened ; and 
 which is the only reason for preferring the former 
 pattern; that is, the open instead of the solid 
 drops, both in the double and single catches. 
 
 Either of these catches is furnished by the 
 blacksmith whom I have employed, at half-a- 
 crown, the one E F weighing about 2 lbs. and 
 the other G H about 2| lbs. ; and I do not un- 
 derstand why some catches made in Suffolk should 
 be charged half-a-guinea with a common latch, 
 which latch may weigh about 18 oz. at 8d. per lb. 
 
72 
 
 worth 9d. or say Is. ; and deducting the outside 
 value of the latch, there is a difference in price 
 as 9s. 6d. is to 2s. 6d., being almost as 4 are to 1 ; 
 and the Suffolk single catches are also extremely 
 expensive, and allowing Is. again for the latch, 
 the difference of price would be, as 3s. 6d. is to 
 Is. 4d., compared with those made at Shifnal. 
 
 I have seen only a drawing and pasteboard 
 model of the Suffolk catches and latches, from 
 which I may not have made an accurate compa- 
 rison, but the principles and effects of each are 
 decidedly the same ; and it remains for those who 
 purchase the one to inquire upon what grounds 
 such an extraordinary price is exacted, and to 
 consider whether they may not get their gate 
 iron-work executed upon more reasonable terms. 
 
 The strong screw through the centre of the 
 double catch G answers a twofold purpose, that 
 of attaching it very securely to the post, and of 
 forming a check to either of the drops, from 
 which they recoil, and fasten the gate, without 
 allowing it once to pass the falling-post. 
 
 H 
 
 Is another view of the double drop catch, of which 
 G forms a part, and the space within the drops 
 of this catch is 3 inches by 1| inch, while that 
 
73 
 of F is 1 1 inch by 2 inches : the catches at F are 
 | inch longer than those at H, because, in the 
 one the drops go up into the hollow of the catch, 
 whereas the thickness of the drops F occupy 
 about | inch, when they are raised up by the 
 latch, against the adjoining upper parts of the 
 catch. 
 
 I 
 
 Is intended as a solid catch, either in cast or 
 wrought iron, for a vibrating swing gate, similar 
 to what is commonly made use of, excepting that 
 the notch is reversed; the latch being made to 
 descend instead of ascend at its point : in this 
 there are three advantages; the one, that the 
 latch is more convenient for a horseman to open ; 
 another, that it is barely possible for cattle to 
 unfasten it ; and lastly, should a gate be so 
 ill constructed, or its post give way, that the 
 gate might sink at its head, the catch will not 
 gradually cease to act ; but, after a long time, 
 will at once shew that its position must either be 
 altered, or the gate newly adjusted. 
 
 J 
 
 Is a cast-iron latch, which has been proved* to 
 answer extremely well for the drop catches. 
 
 * I rode a horse, that was very powerful and impetuous, 
 several times against a gate fastened with this cast-metal catch, 
 
 h 
 
74 
 
 K 
 
 Are sheet -iron escutcheons made to fit the latch, 
 and which may be adopted rather as a finish at 
 each side of the open mortise through the head 
 of the gate, than for any real utility. 
 
 Is a convenient hook and ring, an old contrivance 
 for holding a horse by the bridle or halter at a 
 gate, or more particularly in stable-yards; and 
 very preferable to the more common appendages 
 of sharp hooks and nails, which- are notoriously 
 dangerous. 
 
 M 
 
 Is the single drop catch*, which may be used 
 with the ring handle, as represented, in field 
 gates where no horsemen pass, with the iron peg 
 latch N. 
 
 which was giving the catch as hard a trial as could be de- 
 sired ; and I am confident that the gate must have given way 
 sooner than the catch. This latch weighs about 2 lbs. and is 
 worth about 7|d. exclusive of the sheet-iron escutcheons. 
 
 * Of the several kinds of spring catches and latches, the 
 common sorts are very liable to be out of repair, by being 
 constantly exposed to the weather ; and those of a superior 
 kind are too expensive for general purposes. 
 
N 
 
 Is a plain iron peg latch, which is cheap, and 
 may do very well for ordinary field gates j or 
 especially for shrubbery and garden wickets, where 
 no horses are rode through : for road gates, the 
 iron peg latch is not only inconvenient but dan- 
 gerous, when passengers are not accustomed to 
 it. 
 
 Some people are not immediately aware, that 
 by pulling at the ring of this catch they are ex- 
 erting themselves against the gate-post instead of 
 the gate ; and if on horseback, from their own 
 impatience and want of consideration, might be 
 apt to get a severe pinch upon their fingers. 
 
 O 
 
 Is a hasp with a hook attached, answering the 
 purpose of a peg, to fasten with the staple, and 
 very useful in fold-yards, dog-kennels, pig-sties, 
 and such like. 
 
 Is a hasp with an iron peg or pin attached, for 
 the same purpose as O, and is the better for hav- 
 ing no rivet, which is the weakest part of O : 
 
?6 
 the peg or pin is finished with a stud at its 
 lower end, which passes through one hole of the 
 hasp; but the upper hole of the hasp being 
 smaller, resists the stud, and prevents the peg's 
 being detached from the hasp. 
 
77 
 CHAR IX. 
 
 On the Composition and Resolution of Forces, in 
 determining the Weight sustained by the Hinges 
 of Gates. 
 
 XN pursuing my experiments under this head, I 
 procured a piece of fine mahogany to represent a 
 gate, nearly on the scale of an inch to a foot ; 
 being 9 inches long, 4£ inches high, I inch thick, 
 and weighing 4* oz. as thus : 
 
78 
 Five holes were bored through this model for 
 receiving two cylindrical pieces of brass, weigh- 
 ing together 31 oz. whereby the gate's centre of 
 gravity, and the weight of the model, might be 
 varied at pleasure. 
 
 The two ends of the model were so contrived, 
 that I could attach hooks of harpsichord wire 
 with fishing gut lines, and scales, to any parts 
 where the hinges might be placed; and I had 
 some moveable pullies, for shifting to different 
 parts on a small vertical plane of wood. 
 
 With this apparatus, I proceeded to try a va- 
 riety of experiments, which would be too tedious 
 to detail, and I shall therefore state the results in 
 a more general way : I hope nevertheless to make 
 myself understood, and to connect my remarks so 
 far with the principles of mechanicks, as to leave 
 no room for my reader's apprehension that I 
 should have drawn erroneous conclusions. 
 
 It appears, that the strains sustained by the 
 hinges do not depend so much on the weight of a 
 gate, as on the manner in which it may be con- 
 structed and suspended. 
 
 That the horizontal distance of the gate's 
 centre of gravity from the line of suspension. 
 
79 
 materially affects the strains on the hinges, as a 
 weight on the steel-yard or lever : the line of sus- 
 pension being assumed as perpendicular (which is 
 near to the truth) for convenience of calcula- 
 tion. 
 
 That the effects of the lever are very much 
 counteracted by the space between the two points 
 of suspension; so that the greater such space may 
 be, the less will be the strains on the hinges, and 
 vice versa. 
 
 That whether the centre of the gate's gravity 
 may be either towards the top rail or the lower 
 bar, the effects on the hinges will be the same ; 
 provided that the perpendicular line passing 
 through the gate's centre of gravity be not al- 
 tered : for the two brass weights, which are almost 
 as heavy as the model, at least in the proportion 
 of 7 to 9, were occasionally cemented together, 
 and the two weights thus united, being put suc- 
 cessively into each of the two perforations of the 
 model, which are in the same perpendicular line 
 as represented black in the plate, no difference 
 in the strains on the hinges took plao£.- " The 
 similar experiment was then repeated in the two 
 perforated parts at the opposite end of the model ; 
 and when the new centre of the gate's gravity 
 was allowed for, and counterbalanced, in the 
 
80 
 
 scales, the position of the weights in their new 
 perpendicular line produced no alteration in the 
 equilibrium. It should here be observed, that 
 the weights required to balance the model in 
 each position of the gate's centre of gravity, 
 exactly correspond with the calculations on which 
 the subsequent table is formed. 
 
 In attaching the model lengthways to a scale 
 beam, or fastening it to one half of a graduated rule ; 
 a weight equal to that of the model, being placed 
 as far from the fulcrum or centre of the graduated 
 rule on the one side, as the centre of the gate's gra- 
 vity was on the other side of the beam, a perfect 
 equilibrium took place : and in varying this ex- 
 periment, it appeared in every case, that the 
 distribution of the gate's substance over a con- 
 siderable length of the beam, produced the same 
 effect, as if the weight of the gate had been col- 
 lected into a more compact mass in its centre of 
 gravity : and therefore the gate fig. xviii. may be 
 considered for some purposes of experiment, as a 
 weight of l^Olbs. suspended upon a lever, at 44 
 inches distance from the fulcrum or perpendicular 
 line of suspension ; with reference nevertheless to 
 the space between the two points of suspension. 
 
 Upon these premises, I have formed a table, 
 adapted principally for the two gates, figs, xviii. 
 
81 
 
 and xxiv. ; which omitting the fractions, I be- 
 lieve to be accurate, and is as follows : 
 
 TABLE, 
 
 Shewing that the strains sus- 
 tained by the hinges do not de- 
 pend so much on the weight of a 
 gate, as on the manner in which 
 it may be constructed and sus- 
 pended. 
 
 
 p 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ■a 
 
 
 rT"d 
 
 w 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 — 
 
 
 <n rs 
 
 u 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (m o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 - to 
 
 B.2 
 
 Ja 
 
 
 V -Q 
 
 fr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ,s 
 
 
 to C 
 
 i) 
 
 
 <U JJ 
 
 
 
 -*= Sr 
 
 _ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <u 
 
 ho 
 
 So 
 
 £ 
 
 V 
 
 1 s 
 
 
 u 
 
 13 O 
 
 u 
 
 
 o — 
 
 -. 
 
 V 
 
 H 
 
 9) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 T3 < 
 
 J; o 
 
 >- a> 
 
 Ml 5 
 
 Sum of the resulting forces acting upon the 
 two hinges. 
 
 Result of the perpendicular and horizontal 
 forces, acting on each hinge respec- 
 tively. 
 
 Horizontal strain of extension on the 
 upper hinge, equal to that of com- 
 pression on the lower hinge. 
 
 Horizontal distance of the gate's centre of 
 gravity from a perpendicular line passing 
 through the two points of suspension. 
 
 Half the weight of the gate, equal to the 
 perpendicular strain or pressure sus- 
 tained by each hinge respectively. 
 
 Half the distance of the two points of a 
 gate's suspension from each other. 
 
 -Q T 1 O* JO 
 
 — <M O* O 
 
 — r-. ^, ;_ <M 
 
 5«n 
 
 - H 
 
 -" 
 
 rH 
 
 w 
 
 <* 
 
 * 
 
 •* 
 
 
 <* 
 
 >rj 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 ■3 
 
 o 
 
 C) T-l l-H ,_, 
 
 * I find by experiment, that an oak gate made of moderately 
 seasoned timber, will lose a tenth part or more of its weight 
 in two or three years service. 
 
 M 
 
82 
 It appears extraordinary, that a gate of 9 feet 
 long, 4 feet 4 inches high, and weighing 120lbs. 
 shall act upon its hinges with such an increased 
 force as from 299 to 9901bs. by so constructing 
 it as to make the gate's centre of gravity equi- 
 distant from its head and heel, and reducing the 
 space between the hinges to one half of the for- 
 mer and proper extent : and I should have been 
 cautious in receiving this notion, had I not prov- 
 ed it by experiments. 
 
 The horizontal distance of the gate's 
 centre of gravity from a line passing 
 through the two points of suspension i nches . lBChefc 
 being increased from . 44 to 54 
 
 The space between the two points of 
 
 suspension being reduced from . . 40 to 20 
 
 Effects of the preceding improper al- 
 terations in the construction and 
 suspension of a gate weighing 120lbs. 
 by the increment of the forces acting 
 upon the two hinges in no less a de- lbs lbs 
 
 gree than, from 299 to 990.* 
 
 * It is a kind of paradox, thai a gate of a given weight 
 should by such means act with so much greater power on the 
 hinges: and since ordinary practitioners may not easily be 
 persuaded of this fact, otherwise than from experiments which 
 may be more impressible, than a bare recommendation ; I 
 would advise, that they should take a common wicket, and 
 
83 
 
 The results of all my experiments appear to be 
 governed by this general rule ; namely, as the 
 space between the tzvo points of suspension is to 
 the weight of the gate j so is the horizontal dis- 
 tance of the perpendicular line draion through the 
 gate's centre of gravity, from the perpendicular 
 line drawn through the two points of the gate's 
 suspension, to the horizontal strain upon either 
 one of the hinges : and with reference to the 
 plate, as 40 : 120 : : 44 : 132 ; or to the table, 
 as 20 : 60 : : 44 : 132. 
 
 Then suppose half the weight of the gate to be 
 sustained upon each hinge, or 60lbs. acting in a 
 perpendicular direction on the upper hinge, and 
 also a strain of extension equal to 132lbs. acting 
 in an horizontal direction : by drawing two lines 
 on a certain scale to represent the measure and 
 direction of these constituent forces, and making 
 them the sides of a parallelogram, the diagonal 
 of the parallelogram will give the measure and 
 direction of the resulting or equivalent force, 
 acting as a strain of extension or tie on the 
 
 suspend it with their fingers through the thimbles : they 
 might next reverse the heel and head of the wicket and repeat 
 the experiment ; and lastly, they should place the thimbles 
 pretty close together, and use their fingers once more by way 
 of hooks, and they would at the least be convinced that I 
 am not much mistaken. 
 
84 
 
 upper hinge, and compounded of the two forces of 
 60 and l32lbs : this diagonal may be found from 
 the table, or thus, as 20: 60:: 48.3: 144.9. 
 And similar reasoning applies to the strain of com- 
 pression on the lower hinge, and the lower diago- 
 nal in the plate marked 48.3, will shew the pro- 
 portionate measure and direction of the strain 
 abutting upon the lower hinge in the manner of 
 a strut or brace, with a force equal to 144.9lbs. 
 
 Each hinge is here supposed to bear a moiety 
 of the perpendicular weight, as it does of the ho- 
 rizontal strains, but this will depend upon the 
 hooks and thimbles being nicely adjusted 3 other- 
 wise it may often happen, that one of the hinges 
 shall sustain the whole perpendicular weight of 
 120lbs. and the other hinge be entirely relieved 
 from that portion of its burthen which acts per- 
 pendicularly, and would in such case sustain only 
 the force acting horizontally, or l32lbs. 
 
 If the perpendicular weight of the gate were 
 sustained by the upper hinge only, the two forces 
 of 132 and 120, may be represented by two 
 lines drawn to a scale, containing a right angle ; 
 and the line subtending the right angle or com- 
 pleting the triangle, is the hypothenuse of a 
 right-angled triangle, or it might be made the 
 
85 
 
 diagonal of a right-angled parallelogram. This 
 hypothcnuse or diagonal will be the result of the 
 two constituent forces, and would amount to a 
 strain of extension, by admeasurement equal to 
 about 177lbs. on the upper hinge, but in a direc- 
 tion which forms a rather acute angle with the 
 line of suspension. 
 
 In respect to the powers which act upon the 
 hinges of gates, the equivalent or component 
 forces in every case will contain a right angle ; 
 and consequently, the diagonal or resulting force, 
 will always apply to the 47th prop. 1st book of 
 Euclid. 
 
 Or this may be made more intelligible, as 
 thus : on the perpendicular line which joins the 
 two points of suspension, describe a right-angled 
 parallelogram, taking an equal portion of the per- 
 pendicular line of the gate's centre of gravity, for 
 the side opposite and parallel to the line of sus- 
 pension. You then have the measure of this 
 parallelogram, as applicable to the gate fig. 
 xvm, at 120 by 132, and the diagonal of this 
 parallelogram will be about 177 *. for the force 
 resulting from two powers acting obliquely, is 
 always in the diagonal of the parallelogram ex- 
 pressed by these powers. 
 
86 
 The right-angled parallelogram being thus form- 
 ed, draw the other diagonal equal to the former, 
 so that the parallelogram may be divided into four 
 triangles, with the two opposite triangles respec- 
 tively equal to each other : and the general re- 
 sult of the forces will be as follows ; which I have 
 also proved by experiments with my model. First 
 — the upper hinge being supposed to sustain all 
 the perpendicular pressure. 
 
 Diagonal strain of extension on the upper hinge, 
 
 from the resulting force as above .... 177 
 
 Horizontal strain of compression on the lower 
 
 hincre 132 
 
 Sum of the resulting forces directed as above 309 
 
 Secondly — the lower hinge being supposed to 
 sustain all the perpendicular pressure. 
 
 Diagonal strain of compression on the lower 
 
 hinge, from the resulting force as above 177 
 
 Horizontal strain of extension on the upper hinge 132 
 
 Sum of the resulting forces directed as above ... 309 
 Strains of the resulting forces on the two hinges, 
 supposing that they sustain the perpendicu- 
 lar weight of the gate, or 120lbs. in equal 
 proportions, being each 144.9, and together 
 equal to 289 
 
 Difference of the whole strains upon the hinges, 
 placing all the perpendicular weight of I20lbs. 
 upon either of the hinges 20 
 
87 
 From this it is evident, that the respective 
 strains upon the two hinges, when either one of 
 them is made to sustain the whole of the perpen- 
 dicular weight of 1201bs. is in the proportion of 
 177 to 132: but it must be taken into the ac- 
 count, that the smaller strain is perfectly hori- 
 zontal, whether extending or compressing the 
 hinge, as the case may be ; and that the greater 
 strain forms an acute angle with the line of sus- 
 pension, either in extending or compressing the 
 hinge as the case may be : and therefore it is not 
 very material whether the hinges are made to 
 sustain the strains from the gate equally or not ; 
 so that neither of the thimbles be placed too high 
 upon the pin of a hook, in a way to acquire in- 
 creased power ; for where any additional strain is 
 given to a hook, by sustaining a greater share of 
 the perpendicular weight, the weight so added 
 acts very favourably on the strongest part of the 
 hook, and no inconvenience is to be apprehended 
 from such an arrangement. 
 
 *&' 
 
 In the plate, the w 7 eight 120 round the pulley 
 E balances the perpendicular pressure of the 
 gate, and is equal to the weight of the gate ; the 
 weight 132 round the pulley A balances the ho- 
 rizontal strain of extension on the upper hinge ; 
 and the weight 132 round the pulley D balances 
 
ss 
 
 the horizontal strain of compression on the lower 
 hinge ; because as 20 : 60 : : 44 : 132. 
 
 And any model so suspended, or otherwise 
 according to the preceding table, will be support- 
 ed exactly as in the plate, by weights attached in 
 the manner and in the proportions thereby di- 
 rected. 
 
 An isosceles triangle is formed in the plate 
 from the two points of suspension, the line 
 20+20 forming the base; those of 48.3 the two 
 sides, meeting the perpendicular line of the gate's 
 centre of gravity at the point C ; and which trian- 
 gle is bisected by the line 44. 
 
 The strains may be thus ascertained in the 
 most simple manner : weigh the gate, which 
 suppose to be 120lbs. and lay it across a rail or 
 bar to find the line of the gate's centre of gravity 
 C, on which it will rest in equilibrio : then take a 
 piece of packthread, and therewith form the tri- 
 angle as in the plate, dividing it also into two 
 equal parts : measure the dimensions of each line 
 with a common rule, and set them down on 
 paper, with the lines drawn in any rough manner, 
 when the answers desired may be immediately 
 found : for by substituting the new numbers re- 
 spectively in the places of those in the plate, the 
 
89 
 new proportions will follow in the same manner, 
 for example - 3 as 40: 120 : : 44 : 132, and as 
 40:48.3:: 120: 144.9. (See the plate and 
 table.) 
 
 The great practical points to be gained by at- 
 tention to the subject of this chapter, may be 
 comprised in a few words ; namely, that a gate 
 ought to be so constructed as to throw the heaviest 
 parts of it as much towards the heel of the gate 
 as conveniently may be : and therefore, the rail 
 and bars of a gate are best formed when their 
 parts are tapered on every side, as in fig. xviii, 
 which is by far the best pattern of a gate that I 
 ever met with ; (laying aside the question, whe- 
 ther it may be thought sufficiently ornamental 
 for any highly finished approach to a house) : and 
 further, that the hinges should be placed as far 
 asunder as is consistent with the form of the gate, 
 taking care not to spoil the mortises or weaken 
 the heel of the gate, by the manner of inserting 
 the thimbles; otherwise greater mischief might 
 ensue than by increasing the strains on the hinges. 
 And it should be recollected that the strains or re- 
 sulting forces of a gate acting upon the hinges, 
 are at the same time injurious to the gate itself, as 
 they are trying to the strength of the hinges. 
 
90 
 
 Had I not uniformly adopted the plan of not 
 only giving a plain direction for what I would re- 
 commend, but also of explaining the principles 
 of science, supported for the most part by actual 
 experiments, on which I ground my opinions ; I 
 could have reduced this chapter to a very narrow 
 compass, and which might have sufficed for prac- 
 tical purposes : but it is fit, that the intelligent 
 reader should be enabled to direct his workmen 
 with such authority and effect, as in every mat- 
 ter, however trifling, may be best supported by 
 having fully investigated the subject. 
 
91 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 ON THE APPLICATION OF CAST-IRON WORK FOR THE 
 HANGING AND FASTENING OF GATES. 
 
 AN the foregoing pages of this pamphlet, I have 
 given the fullest directions to the sawer, the 
 joiner, and the blacksmith ; and although I had 
 long believed, that some parts of gate iron-work 
 might be cast with great advantage, I little ex- 
 pected, that cast-iron ever could have claimed an 
 entire and exclusive preference to wrought iron, 
 for the purposes of gates ; and have furnished the 
 subject of a distinct chapter. 
 
 The forged iron-work represented in the plates, 
 will equally apply, as to all its essential shapes and 
 proportions, to the correspondent parts of cast 
 iron ; but the hooks and single catches of the 
 latter are attached differently to the posts, in or- 
 der to avoid the use of a common iron hammer, 
 ill suited to the supposed brittleness of cast me- 
 tal: though the late improvements in casting 
 
92 
 iron are so great, that even nails and large sewing 
 needles are now manufactured in that manner ; 
 and therefore, so far from entertaining any fur- 
 ther doubt concerning the fitness of cast-iron 
 work for gates, I should be extremely surprised to 
 hear of a single instance of any part failing : 
 and were such an accident to occur, I should be 
 much obliged by a statement of the circumstance, 
 with the opinion of the person experiencing it ; 
 whereby a suitable alteration could be made in any 
 pattern which might prove to be defective. 
 
 But the adoption of cast-iron work for gates 
 should not be rejected from one or two solitary ac- 
 cidents, which will more frequently happen to 
 wrought iron, (the former only from violence, and 
 the latter from defects in the workmanship or 
 materials) as the best iron never can be forged in 
 so sound a manner, as when the article is cast 
 with fused metal of the best quality * : besides 
 
 * In villages and small towns, where the customary terms 
 between the blacksmiths and their employers are, to make 
 iron-work lor such purposes at a low charge by the pound, 
 the blacksmiths are under the necessity of using an inferior 
 sort of iron, supplying its want of strength and their want 
 of profit by an extra weight of metal. By this short-sighted 
 economy in their employers, they must soon have further and 
 more considerable profits in repairing their own work, a large 
 proportion of which fails perhaps, particularly the hooks, in 
 driving them into the hanging post : and I have frequently 
 observed, when any part of a hook breaks, which is very 
 
93 
 were patterns to be procured for blacksmiths to 
 imitate, they could not be so accurately and 
 cheaply made in any other way, as these are in 
 cast iron ; and if any part should break, it might 
 either be replaced with forged iron made from the 
 broken pattern, or it might be renewed in cast 
 iron, by reference to the number embossed on the 
 piece broken. 
 
 The liberality of the public will acquit me of 
 any sinister motive in what I recommend to their 
 adoption : and having devoted much of my time 
 for many months past to this particular branch of 
 the subject, in regard to cast iron, I should think 
 myself culpable in withholding, or in barely sug- 
 gesting, what I can assert with confidence, as I 
 should shrink from the idea of any wilful misre- 
 presentation. 
 
 The several pieces of the cast-iron work for 
 gates are embossed with numbers upon each, 
 
 apt to occur; that the iron appears to have been held toge- 
 ther by a slight thread of substance, from an imperfect weld- 
 ing ; which must wholly depend upon the skill and honesty 
 of the workman, as it can seldom be detected till the failure 
 has taken place : it may then appear surprising how the bro- 
 ken hook could have supported the weight assigned it, for 
 never so short a time. Such failures therefore are easily ac- 
 counted for, and I have pointed out an efficient remedy in re- 
 commending the use of cast iron. 
 
94 
 from one to sixteen ; whereby no part referred to 
 can be mistaken for another, neither in their ap- 
 plication to different gates, nor in the following 
 explanations. 
 
 No. 1. Upper hook, adapted equally for fig. 
 xv hi. and xxiv., or for any other gates opening 
 one way: the square iron plate of this and the 
 plates of all the other cast iron hooks should be 
 let in level with the sides of their hanging posts 
 with four two-inch wood-screws * to each hook. 
 
 No. 2. Upper thimble, adapted for fig. xxiv., 
 or for any other gates opening one way, and 
 having no strong upper rail for the strap thimble, 
 which of course must add to the strength of a 
 gate : the shaft of the former thimble, No. 2, being 
 in the shape of a square prism, and about 2£ 
 inches long, is furnished with a key-hole and 
 
 * By the term ivood-screzvs is meant, as all joiners under- 
 stand, iron screws for fastening into ivood ; and in order to as- 
 certain the most exact description of the sized screws recom- 
 mended, I shall subjoin the length and weight of each, or how 
 many of them will make a lb. &c. 
 
 Screws 3 inches long 18 to a lb. 
 
 Do 2 Do 31. ..Do. 
 
 Do \\ Do 39. ..Do. 
 
 Do | Do 20 to an ounce. 
 
 Small nails for the sheet iron escutcheons of the latches, 
 % inch long, 42 to an ounce ; commonly called txuo-penny 
 clout nails, and retailed at 2d. per 100. f 
 
95 
 cotter. In fastening such a thimble to a gate, a 
 hole is made in the heel to suit the shaft ; after- 
 wards the workman should mark the place on the 
 outside of the heel of the gate, that he may bore 
 through the wood to meet the cotter hole ; and 
 having prepared room for reaching the cotter with 
 a blunted chisel, the thimble may then be forced 
 in with a wooden-mallet *, and fastened very se- 
 curely : when the fastening is completed, the holes 
 may be made good with wooden pegs, and finished 
 off, so that no idle person may even understand 
 how the thimble is fastened. The upper thimble is 
 always to remain in the same place, for no circum- 
 stance short of its being broken could render 
 its removal necessary. 
 
 No. 3. Lower hook half an inch longer than 
 the upper one, adapted for any gates opening one 
 way. The square iron plate to be let into the 
 hanging post as above. 
 
 No. 4. Lower thimble, adapted for any gates 
 opening one way : it should be let into the centre 
 
 * When no wooden mallet is at hand, a common hammer 
 may be used, by placing a piece of a board between the blow 
 and the cast iron. I think that it may be better to fasten 
 the upper thimble with a round wire and hole to suit it, in- 
 stead of a larger cotter ; and a good workman will make 
 the wire follow a large gimblet, with which he will imme- 
 diately find the hole in the shaft of the thimble. 
 
90 
 of the heel of the gate clear of mortises, and 
 about 40 inches from the upper hinge * : the 
 shaft being in the form of a square prism 2| inches 
 long, may be driven in with a wooden mallet, 
 without a cotter or any other fastening; as the 
 action of the gate must rather press the lower 
 thimble in further, than draw it out. It may ne- 
 vertheless be taken out, if repuired to be length- 
 ened by a washer, as also for any other purpose of 
 alteration or repair. 
 
 No. 5. Latch adapted for any gate, either 
 opening one way or to swing : but when the 
 
 * It is to be observed, that these cast iron hinges, whether 
 in gates to open one way, or in swing gates, are all calculated 
 for a distance from hinge to hinge of about 40 inches ; and if 
 the distance between the hinges be more or less than 40 
 inches, the lower thimble may either be let further into the 
 heel of the gate, and thereby shortened, or it may be length- 
 ened out with a washer, as the case may require. The cast 
 iron hinges for gates opening one way, are adapted for right 
 handed gates ; and should a left handed gate for opening one 
 way be desired, the lower thimble may be reversed ; the 
 upper thimble which has the square prism for its shaft may 
 be reversed also ; and the hooks, Nos. 1 and 3, will answer 
 equally well for a left-handed or a right-handed gate open- 
 ing one way. But should a strap thimble be wanting for a 
 left-handed gate opening one way, it must be made in forged 
 iron and reversed ; as I have not thought it necessary to fur- 
 nish a pattern for a left-handed strap thimble ; and the more 
 particularly, lest it might be accidentally made use of in a 
 right-handed gate. 
 
97 
 
 gate is rather low and the upper bar strong, 
 as in fig. xviii., the jointed latch, No. 9. is pre- 
 ferable. 
 
 No. 6\ Single drop catch adapted for any gate 
 opening one way : the iron plate should be put 
 on with four two-inch wood-screws, and let in 
 level with the side of the falling post, unless it be 
 necessary to alter the common projection of the 
 catch on account of an unusual thickness in the 
 head of the gate, or the contrary. 
 
 No. 7- Upper strap thimble, adapted for any 
 gate opening one way, which has a strong top 
 rail to receive such an additional strengthener, as 
 the strap thimble certainly must be, whenever it 
 can be adopted. The strap thimble is best fitted 
 to the gate before fastening the mortises at the in- 
 sertion of the top rail into the heel, and is secured 
 with two If inch wood-screws. 
 
 No. 8. Strap for the fore-part of fig. xviii., to 
 keep the head and top rail of the gate together. 
 This should be fitted and put on with two 1 f 
 inch wood-screws, at the time of fastening the 
 mortise adjoining ; and a hole is left in the strap 
 for the handle of the jointed latch, No. 9- 
 
9» 
 No. 9- Jointed latch of three pieces, as at 
 fig. xvin. : the principal part with rivet pin and 
 washer ; the long upright handle with small rivet 
 nail or pin ; and the guard for protecting the up- 
 right part of the handle with 4 three-quarters inch 
 wood-screws. 
 
 No. 10. Upper hook for a swing gate ; the plate 
 of which being formed like a hollow wedge with a 
 right angle to its front, should be let in level 
 with the angle of the hanging post as at B, plate 
 6, and fastened with four two-inch wood-screws. 
 
 No. 11. Upper thimble for such a gate as fig. 
 xxiv. intended to swing, or for any other swing 
 gate not having a strong top rail for the strap 
 thimble, No. 15. 
 
 No. 12. Double lower hook for any swing gate, 
 the hinges being nearly 40 inches asunder. The 
 hollow wedge-like plate should be let in level with 
 the angle of the hanging post in the same manner 
 as No. 10 (see C, plate 6.) with four two-inch 
 wood screws. 
 
 No. 13. Double lower open thimble for any 
 swing gate, to be fitted into the heel with a wood- 
 en mallet, either with or without a cotter. 
 
99 
 No. 14. Double drop catch for the falling post 
 of any swing gate, the screw plates being let 
 into the sides of the post as at G and H, plate 6, 
 with four two-inch wood-screws, and one three- 
 inch wood-screw *. 
 
 No. 15. Upper thimble with strap for any 
 swing gate which has a strong top rail : to be put 
 on in the manner directed for No. 7> with two 
 If inch wood-screws. 
 
 No. 16. Solid double catch similar to I, plate 
 6, for any swing gate : to be put on as directed 
 for No. 14, with four two-inch wood-screws, and 
 one three-inch wood-screw. 
 
 This catch admits of a gate's vibrating, and 
 may be adopted in some few instances, when 
 heavy gates are made to fall with great velocity : 
 it is the reverse of the old principle of a catch for 
 
 * I took occasion before to notice the price of this double 
 drop catch, which was sold in wrought iron by the black- 
 smith whom I recommended for half a crown ; whereas a 
 similar article appeared to cost 9s. 6d. in Suffolk : the value 
 of this double drop catch is now reduced from 2s. 6d. to Is. 2d. 
 by adopting the cast iron, No. 14, which, including the 
 screws,weighs Sflbs. at 4d. per lb. 
 
100 
 
 swing gates, the notch of this being placed above, 
 instead of below the latch. 
 
 Plan in respect to the more readily giving 
 orders fur the cast iron hangings and fastenings 
 as above, which are furnished by Messrs. Deer- 
 mans, Francis, and Company, Eagle Foundery, 
 Birmingham, upon the following terms : 
 
 The cast-iron work unfinished and not fitted 
 3d per lb. ; fitting and finishing f d per lb. ; sheet 
 iron escutcheons. Id. each ; screws, nails, &c. in 
 small quantities at the lowest retailed prices, or 
 by the gross at the wholesale prices : the pivot nails 
 and washers for the latches are weighed in with 
 the cast metal. 
 
 Complete specimens* of each part recommended, 
 being at present 16 in number, finished and 
 fitted, 411bs. atSfd.perlb 12s. 9ld. 
 
 Pair of sheet-iron escutcheons 2d. 
 
 * I would most particularly recommend the purchase of 
 this complete set of specimens of the cast iron-work, as a 
 proper accompaniment to this chapter : in the sale of this 
 iron, I must beg to repeat, that I have no interest whatever, 
 otherwise than in making arrangements convenient to the 
 public ; and since the articles themselves may be procured at 
 so low a charge, I thought it best not to enhance the 
 price of this publication, by giving representations of them in 
 plates. 
 
101 
 
 FOR THE GATE, FIG. XXIV * TO OPEN ONE WAY. 
 
 Nos. 1,2, 3, 4,5, and 6; 13lbs ; . . : . 4s. 0|d. 
 
 Pair of sheet-iron escutcheons, 12 two-inch 
 screws, and 16 two-penny clout nails will be 
 wanting for the above. 
 
 FOR THE GATE, FIG. XVIII. TO OPEN ONE WAY. 
 
 Nos. 1,3, 4,6, 7,8, and 9; 17ilbs. . . 5s. 72-d. 
 
 Pair of sheet-iron escutcheons, 12 two-inch 
 screws, 4 one and a half-inch screws, 4 three-quar- 
 ters-inch screws, and 16 two-penny clout nails will 
 be wanting for the above. 
 
 FOR THE GATE, FIG. XXIV. TO SWING. 
 
 Nos. 5, 10, 11,12, 13, and 14 ; 14ilbs. . 4s. 7fd. 
 
 Pair of sheet-iron escutcheons, 1 three-inch 
 screw, 12 two-inch screws, and 16 two-penny clout 
 nails will be wanting for the above. 
 
 * Inputting together the gate fig. xxiv., one 3§ inches 
 rivet, and fifteen 2\ inches rivets with washers are required, 
 worth from 8d. to Is. per doz. according to their quality : and 
 for the gate jfig. xviii., 8 two-inch wood-screws, and 6 one- 
 inch-wood screws. The wholesale prices of the rivets and 
 washers are 8s. per gross for those of 2§ inches long, and 
 9s. 6d. per gross for those of 3£ inches : from 12 to 13 of the 
 former weigh alb. and from 16 to 17 of the latter. The rivets 
 above described and recommended, may be procured whole- 
 sale by application to Mr. John Bill, Bread Street, Cheap- 
 side, London, or Mr. John Bill, at Mr. F. Andrews's, Goat 
 Street, Wolverhampton. The rivets sold in London will cost 
 6d. per gross more on account of carriage. 
 
102 
 
 FOR THE GATE, FIG. XVIII. TO SWING. 
 
 Nos. 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, and 15 ; 19*lbs. 6s. 0|d. 
 
 Pair of sheet iron escutcheons, 1 three-inch 
 screw, 12 two-inch screws, 4 one and a half inch 
 screws, 4 three-quarter inch screws, and 16 two- 
 penny clout nails will be wanting for the above. 
 
 FOR AN ORDINARY READY MADE GATE, * HAVING A 
 STRONG TOP RAIL. 
 
 Nos. 1,3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 i 15lbs 4s. 8ld. 
 
 Pair of sheet-iron escutcheons, 12 two-inch 
 screws, and 2 one and a half-inch screws will be 
 wanting for the above. 
 
 *s 
 
 No. 16 may be substituted for No. 14, the latch 
 No. 5 being used with it ; but the latch No. 9 
 is too heavy in the handle to be acted upon by the 
 moderate velocity and momentum of such swing 
 
 * It is hoped, that this plain set for a right-handed gale, 
 which is adapted for general purposes, will afford a satisfactory 
 trial of the cast-iron work : and let the workman be remind- 
 ed in respect to putting on the hinges, &c. that the upper 
 thimble cannot be misapplied ; that the lower thimble is to 
 have the No. 4. uppermost, and to be inserted into the heel 
 at equal distances from the inner and outer sides of the heel, 
 and at about 38 or 40 inches from the upper thimble : then 
 will the hooks answer for the gate to be perfectly upright; and 
 the hooks and catch should be let into the post as far as may 
 be required by the thickness of the heel and head of the gate 
 respectively; the gate being proved to be upright by a 
 plumbed line. 
 
103 
 gates as have been described : for though it might 
 admit of one or two strong vibrations, the latch 
 No. 9 could not at last be overcome by the sloping 
 sides of the solid catch, but must rest out of the 
 notch, and the gate remain unfastened. It may- 
 be expected that I should state how far the cast 
 iron-work has undergone such a trial, as authorizes 
 me thus strongly to recommend it to the public. 
 
 I have had several of the latches, No. 5, in my 
 own use for some months, and the single drop 
 catches, No. 6, which have been more recently 
 made, for a few weeks; about a dozen of the 
 former, and three or four of the latter, are put on 
 the gates which are in the greatest thoroughfare 
 about the house. With fair usage, neither the one 
 nor the other can be broken \ they make a cheap, 
 durable, convenient, effectual, and complete fasten- 
 ing for gates as recommended : and have resisted 
 the power of the strongest horse purposely rode 
 against a gate to which they have been at- 
 tached. 
 
 Nos.5, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, weighing 14|lbs. 
 at 4s. 7^d. were put on a gate near Worcester, 
 under my immediate inspection in September 
 last, through which there is a carriage road and 
 a common foot path : this gate after experienc- 
 ing a double test, as to the sufficiency of the 
 
104 
 
 cast iron-work ; first, in its ordinary purpose, and 
 secondly, in satisfying the curiosity of those who 
 go to see it, continued to answer most com- 
 pletely for several weeks j as I have no doubt it 
 does at this time. 
 
 Nos. 1,3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9, weighing 17flbs. 
 at 5s. 7+d. have been attached to a gate in the 
 joiner's yard at Shifnal, for the sake of trial, and 
 I am fully satisfied with it. 
 
 I have also had Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, weigh- 
 ing 13lbs. at 4s. 3|d. put on a strong horse 
 wicket, for which that set of iron-work is as well 
 adapted, as for the gate fig. xxiv., and I expect 
 never to hear of any failure in the iron-work. 
 
 The hinges Nos. 1,2, 3, and 4, have also under- 
 gone a full trial, by being attached to a gate 
 weighing 1 1 9lbs : and several persons have been 
 solicited to try their strength in throwing the gate 
 with the utmost violence against the falling post, 
 from any line of its opening; but they could 
 not produce the smallest injury, either by break- 
 ing the hinges, or drawing the two-inch screws 
 which fasten the hooks to the hanging post. 
 
 The most suspicious pieces of the cast iron are 
 the hinges, and should they be used for extremely 
 
105 
 
 heavy gates, I cannot answer for the consequences ; 
 as they have not been submitted to experiments 
 beyond the weight of the gates for which I 
 designed them : for such gates they are sufficiently 
 strong, and whenever I find them fail, but not 
 till then, shall I be induced to add to their sub- 
 stance. 
 
 I have already ordered two tons of this cast 
 iron work, part at the request of some friends, 
 and the rest for myself j and I shall offer a com- 
 plete set of specimens to the Society of Arts, Ma- 
 nufactures, and Commerce; to the Board of Agri- 
 culture ; and to the Royal Institution : a set also 
 shall be forwarded to Worcester, and to Shrews- 
 bury, for the inspection of the public. 
 
 In comparing the expense of the cast iron with 
 that of the best wrought iron work for gates, 
 taking the price of the last from pages 53 and 
 54 of the former edition of this pamphlet, it ap- 
 pears ; that the heavy and light wrought-iron 
 work together, as there recommended, amount 
 toSOlbs. 2oz. at the price of £\. 5s. 6d. which 
 omitting the two ounces, gives an average value 
 of 10yd. per lb. whereas the cast iron work costs 
 only 3%& per lb. to which add id. per lb. for the 
 additional charge of screws, &c. which is more 
 than the value, and there seems to remain a saving 
 
 p 
 
106 
 
 to the public in the proportion, as 4 to 10|, or as 
 20 to 51, being nearly 61 per cent, or more than 
 ■$ths, by adopting the cast iron work. The 
 actual saving however, is not so great, but it may 
 be fairly estimated at fifty per cent. 
 
 To this calculation an objection immediately 
 presents itself; that the cast-iron work must be 
 heavier than that which is wrought ; and this is true 
 with respect to the fastenings, but not so in re- 
 gard to the hangings : all the thimbles, and the 
 strap at the head of the gate fig. xviii., are the 
 same both in weight and dimensions, as they 
 should be made in wrought iron ; and as the for- 
 mer are worth 4d. per lb. and the latter 8d. a 
 saving of one half is made thus far in the compara- 
 tive value : and a saving of nearly one half on 
 the general amount of the other parts of gate iron- 
 work, is evident from the following statement. 
 
 WROUGHT IRON. CAST IRON. 
 
 Weight. Price. Weight. Price. 
 
 lbs. oz. s. d. lbs. oz. s. d. 
 
 Hooks for a gate open- - ) 4 6 g n 5 ]Q , 1Q| 
 
 ing one way j 
 
 Fastenings for ditto 1 8 4 4 QU 2 ^ 
 
 with jointed latch.. ) 
 
 Ditto, ditto with com- 7 2 5 5 , g 
 
 mon latch 3 
 
 Hooks for a swing gate 6 4 4 2 6 11.... 2 2| 
 
 Fastenings for ditto.... 4 4 5 6 7 1 2 4£ 
 
 20 5 19 I 31 6 10 5 
 
 ->• 
 
107 
 But. were the superior strength and quality of 
 many of the cast metal parts to be taken into 
 the account, the comparison would be much more 
 in their favour * : the common cast metal latch 
 aad single drop catch would be preferred by any 
 one to two or even three sets of the wrought iron 
 fastenings with which it is compared. 
 
 In procuring the cast-iron work, I particularly 
 request, that no applications may be made other- 
 wise than to Messrs. Deermans, Francis, and Com- 
 pany, Eagle Foundery, Birmingham j- : but any 
 gentleman wishing to have one gate of each pat- 
 tern (figs, xviii. and xxiv.) or either of them ; 
 may address a letter to me (at Hatton Grange, 
 near Shifnal, till Lady Day next, and afterwards 
 Oxon near Shrewsbury) free of expence, enclosing 
 
 * The cast iron being more perfect and smoother on its 
 surface, than wrought iron, is generally finished for these pur 
 poses, it is the less liable to be corroded and destroyed by ex- 
 posure to weather. 
 
 t The parts of the cast-iron work ought to be respectively 
 fitted to each other with the utmost exactness ; for in any 
 binding of the hooks and thimbles, either the gate or the 
 hinges must break, because cast metal will not bend : and 
 in case of any part being accidently sent out of the foundery, 
 from the hurry of business, not properly fitted, the necessary 
 adjustment should be made before the iron work may be put 
 into use : and let it be remembered, that screw holes can be 
 drilled into the best cast-iron as easily as into that which is 
 wrought, and that it submits equally well to the operation of 
 filing. 
 
108 
 
 an order for the amount, or rather, an order not 
 to exceed a certain sum, payable in London ; it 
 being my intention to direct the finishing of a few 
 more gates, by way of patterns, the better to pro- 
 mote the introduction of these improvements *. 
 
 The two gates figs, xviii. and xxiv. with'cast- 
 iron work complete, either to swing or to open 
 one way, may be delivered at Bridgenorth, on the 
 River Severn, at Gailly Wharf on the Stafford- 
 shire Canal, or to the stage waggons passing 
 through Shifnal, at from about c 25s. to 30s. each, 
 according to the description of the gate desired : 
 but of course, I will not be accountable for the 
 safe delivery of any gate, further than to the above 
 places. 
 
 The weight of these gates may be very well as- 
 certained by the common estimate of timber by 
 weight, which is 50 cubick feet to a ton : there- 
 fore 44flbs. may be allowed for every cubic 
 
 * Persons living at an inconvenient distance from Shifnal 
 for the carriage of a large gate, may very readily be furnished 
 with any quantity of mahogany models of the two gates, on 
 the same scale as those represented in the plates, at half a 
 crown each ; which are very accurately executed by the same 
 workman who is employed in making the other gates. Or 
 they may order a strong horse wicket, with the same iron work 
 as is recommended for the gate fig. xxiv., worth about ISs. 
 with the cast-iron work complete. 
 
109 
 foot : and thus the gate fig. xviii., taking it at 
 2 f cubick feet, will weigh 112lbs. without the 
 iron work. 
 
 By the same rule, the gate fig. xxiv., being H 
 cubick feet, will weigh 78flbs. without the iron- 
 work ; and this manner of calculating the weight 
 of the gate fig. xviii. was found to come as 
 nearly as possible to the true weight of a gate 
 of that pattern. 
 
 In this way might the contents of any gate be 
 estimated, if the timber has not lost much of its 
 weight in seasoning ; allowing 44flbs. or 45lbs. 
 to a cubick foot. 
 
 Fifty cubick feet of hewn timber is allowed to be 
 equal to forty cubick feet of unhewn timber, each of 
 which is supposed to weigh a ton : and this exactly 
 coincides with my calculation, that the difference 
 in the real and customary measure of timber is 
 nearly as 5 to 4 in favour of the purchaser of round 
 timber, which was mentioned under the head of 
 fig. xxiv. 
 
 It would answer extremely well for any gentle- 
 man of landed property, to send for Mr. William 
 Bucknal, joiner, Shifnal, Salop, to put up a few 
 gates, and to give instructions to their workmen 
 
110 
 
 for pursuing the same method. Bucknal is full}'' 
 capable of this office, and in addition to his own 
 ingenuity and quickness of perception, has re- 
 ceived every information that I could convey to 
 him; while, on the other hand, he has assisted 
 me, by executing my designs in various ways, 
 and in doing which, I found, that he generally 
 improved upon my suggestions : and further, 
 Bucknal has made all the mahogany patterns for 
 the cast iron, in a manner which has done him 
 much credit with the best judges of that kind of 
 work. Thus combining theory and practice in 
 attending upon my experiments, the moderate 
 charge which he agrees to accept upon being 
 taken 40 or 50 miles (but not exceeding that dis- 
 tance) from his home business, for a few days, I 
 can affirm, shall be amply compensated by the ex- 
 pedition and accuracy with which he will execute 
 what he undertakes. 
 
 But previous to sending for Bucknal, at least 
 should the distance be considerable, it would be 
 proper, that a dozen or a score sets of the cast iron 
 work, with screws, &c. and two or three new gates, 
 should be prepared ; as it would be very bad eco- 
 nomy to occupy his time in directing the altera- 
 tions of old iron-work. One or two labourers 
 ought to be allowed to make fresh holes for posts, 
 if wanting, so that Bucknal might be fully employ- 
 
Ill 
 
 ed in putting on the cast iron work, and adjusting 
 the gates ; and under such circumstances he might 
 get through a great deal of work in a short time. 
 
 His terms are, 4d. per mile for the distance 
 from Shifnal, including his time and expences on 
 the road, and the same charge for returning : 
 5s. per day for one, two, or three days work, and 
 7s. 6d. per day as long as he is detained afterwards : 
 to board with the servants of the family, and be 
 lodged at his employer's : and letters addressed to 
 him to be post paid. 
 
 I shall always be obliged by any intelligent 
 observations upon the subject of this publication, 
 which might either correct my errors, or other- 
 wise improve these suggestions. 
 
 And as every individual must in some degree be 
 interested in a scheme which unites convenience 
 to passengers, with protection to agricultural pro- 
 duce ; I indulge myself in the wish, that the 
 foregoing directions may be found to deserve the 
 good opinion of the public: while those who 
 adopt my plan may be convinced, that I have 
 neither raised their expectations too high, nor 
 overrated its pretensions to their approbation. 
 
112 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 IN revising Chap. III. of this pamphlet, since 
 it was printed off, I found some trifling inac- 
 curacies in the table page 10, which have induced 
 me to substitute the following table in its stead. 
 The reader will immediately perceive the necessary 
 alterations in the pages adjoining the former table 
 page 10, with reference to the new table; although 
 it would be rather an intricate measure to correct 
 them in the Errata : and since they are of no 
 importance to the practical part of the subject, 
 the insertion of the corrected table, it is hoped, 
 maybe thought sufficient. 
 
113 
 TABLE. 
 
 Variation of the head's rise in 
 describing equal arcs of the 
 gate's semicircular course, 
 from the line of rest to the 
 line of equilibrium, in inches 
 and purls of an inch. 
 
 Total rise of the head of the gate 
 at each given angle of its se- 
 mioircular course, from the 
 line of rest to the line of equi- 
 librium, in inches and parts of 
 an inch, equal to the lines lb, 
 cc, &c respectively. 
 
 1st. 22° 30' 
 
 9 
 
 IT 
 
 22° 30' 
 
 T°2 = M 
 
 2nd. 22° 30' 
 
 22 II 
 
 32 — T6 
 
 45° 
 
 U=cc 
 
 3rd. 22° 30' 
 
 3 7 — 1 5 
 
 12~ l T5 
 
 67° 30' 
 
 ff=2|=<M 
 
 4th. 22° 30' 
 
 42 — l 5 
 32 — J ~T5 
 
 90° 
 
 3 2 T ° 
 
 5th. 22° 30' 
 
 4 2 1 5 
 
 112° 30' 
 
 V^=4£=# 
 
 6th. 22° 30' 
 
 37 — 1 5 
 32 3 2 
 
 135° 
 
 ^=5|f=gg 
 
 7 th. 22° 30' 
 
 22 II 
 
 T2~ — I b 
 
 157° 30' 
 
 32 32 
 
 8th. 22° 30' 
 
 o 
 
 IT 
 
 ISO 
 
 *l£=6lTotal. 
 
 32 8 
 
 Many little mistakes must be expected to 
 occur from want of attention to circumstances 
 which may materially vary the effects desired ; and 
 I shall endeavour to point out the causes as well 
 as the remedies for such defects, by recapitulating 
 and further explaining a small portion of what has 
 
 Q 
 
114 
 
 been already recommended. In respect to gates 
 opening one way : 
 
 FIG. XVIII. 
 
 Weight of the gate 120lbs. 
 
 " Horizontal distance from the 
 line of suspension to the per- 
 pendicular line of the gate's 
 centre of gravity" 44 inches. 
 
 Surface of the gate acted upon 
 by the wind (the centre of 
 which may be about 44 inches 
 from the line of suspension) 
 18 square feet, or 2 square .yards. 
 
 "Space between the two points 
 
 of suspension" 40 inches. 
 
 Diameter of the hooks or pivots 4|ths of an inch. 
 
 " Horizontal distance of two 
 perpendicular lines, one fall- 
 ing from the centre of each 
 of the hooks" (for the gate to 
 shut with some quickness) . If inch. 
 
 Having given these particulars which attach to 
 the gate fig. xviii. I shall proceed to state in what 
 manner any considerable deviation therefrom will 
 alter the general effect of a gate's suspension : and 
 by enumerating the leading circumstances which 
 contribute to make agate shut with more certain- 
 
115 
 
 ty, the reverse of them may be understood to have 
 an opposite effect. 
 
 1 . Augmentation of the strains on the hinges, 
 notwithstanding the increased friction, with re- 
 ference to the rules given in Chap. IX. for ascer- 
 taining the same. 
 
 2. Diminution of the surface of the gate, ex- 
 posed to the wind ; the weight of the timber not 
 being reduced. 
 
 3. Diminution of the diameter of the pivots. 
 
 4. Diminution of the space between the two 
 points of suspension, which is comprehended above. 
 
 But in any common sized gate no contrarieties 
 could be well combined, that might not be coun- 
 teracted, by the addition of |th or at the most 
 |th of an inch " to the horizontal distance of two 
 perpendicular lines, one falling from the centre of 
 each of the hooks." 
 
 The gate fig. xxiv. is a great deal lighter than 
 fig. xvm., and presents a less surface to the wind 
 in the proportion of about 8 to 9> but more re- 
 mote from the line of suspension, as the horizontal 
 distance of this gate's centre of gravity from the 
 line of its suspension exceeds that of fig. xvm, in 
 the proportion of 49 to 44 inches ; and accordingly 
 the strains and friction of these two gates are not 
 very different, although their respective weights 
 are as 84 to 120. (See the table, page 81.) 
 
116 
 
 Many ornamental gates are made of deal, which 
 must necessarily be more affected by wind, than 
 oak gates of the same form. 
 
 The best constructed ornamental gates are those 
 which have a semicircular bar, whose arch sup- 
 ports the top rail, and when such gates have good 
 wrought iron straps at their principal mortises, 
 they wear very well. 
 
 The hooks of a swing gate should in every case 
 form the equilateral triangle as explained under 
 fig. vi., with seldom less than If inch or more * 
 horizontal distance, &c. and the hooks of a gate 
 opening one way should be placed as explained 
 under fig. ii. with If inch or more, instead of 
 H inch horizontal distance, &c. : which also will 
 be more satisfactory, and not give too great a ve- 
 locity to a gate opening one way ; the space be- 
 tween the hinges being in each instance about 38 
 or 40 inches. And the patterns have recently 
 undergone the most minute adjustment, previous 
 to my thus consigning them to the service of the 
 public. 
 
 Feb. 14, 1804. 
 
 * I have generally found, that considerate persons are dis- 
 posed to submit to the increased wear and tear of their gates, 
 rather than to the hazard and inconvenience of having them 
 occasionally left open in windy weather, by thoughtless pas- 
 sengers ; as one trespass from cattle may cost more than se- 
 veral repairs of a gate. 
 
 C WH1TT1NGHAM, Printer, Dean Street. 
 
■C„ ~^L/~ 4faJb^y^Ar«&_ 
 
 
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