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YOUNG CARPENTERS ASSISTANT;
A COMPLETE
j
SYSTEM OF ARCHITECTURE
fOR
' / CARPENTERS, JOINERS, AND WORKMEN IN GENERAL,
ADAPTED TO THE
» STYLE OF BUILDING IN THE UNITED STATES.
REVISED AND CORRECTED, WITH SEVERAL ADDITIONAL AttTlCLES, AND FORTY EIGHT NEW DESIGNS, CHIEFLlf
V > • OF FULL SIZE WORKING DRAWINGS OF MODERN FINISH, IN DETAIL,
' PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR COUNTRY USE.
BY JOHN HAVILAND, ARCHITECT.
PUBLISHED BY M'CARTY & DAVIS— 171 MARKET STREET.
1833.
9 »• •
« •
Entered, according to the act of congress, in the year 1833, by M'Carty.& Davis,
in the clerk's office of the district court of the eastern district of Poiinsvlvania.
PREFACE
TO THE IMPROVED EDITION.
In offering to the Public a new Edition of the Young Carpenter's Assistant, it
will be proper to make a few general remarks on the original object of the author,
and the nature of the improvements which are now effected. When this work was
first published, nothing on Architecture had previously appeared in this Country.
All foreign authors adapted their examples and observations almost entirely to the
style of Building in their respective countries, which in many instances differed
materially from ours. Hence, to the American Student, a work embracing the
practical and theoretical knowledge of Architecture, adapted to the peculiar circum-
stances of this country, had become a great desideratum ; in supplying of which,
none succeeded better than the Young Carpenter's Assistant.
The rapidity with which every Science is advancing in this country, sufficiently
indicates the great improvements necessarily made in the most important of all
subjects, as it regards our health and convenience, — the proper construction and
building of our houses. Whence, the original work, published now sixteen years
ago, must consequently be found considerably deficient in information and examples,
and a new edition has been in great demand.
For the rcvisal and correction of this new edition of the Young Carpenter's
Assistant, the Publisher is indebted to the care and professional knowledge of Mr.
John Haviland, Architect, whose great practical experience so pre-eminently enables
him to adapt the work to the present time, and to impart much additional informa-
tion and valuable matter on each subject.
A series of forty-eight New Designs and beautiful Specimens, chiefly of full
size, accompanied with their Working-Drawings, and parts explanatory of the Modern
Finish, in detail, have been introduced by Mr. Haviland for the immediate applica-
tion of the Practical Carpenter and Builder. They are calculated to instruct him
either in the designing or execution of Dwelling-Houses, Banks, Prisons, Doors,
Windows, Railing, Skirting, Cornices, and Marble Mantles. The whole is particu-
larly adapted for country use ; and, as nothing has been omitted which can tend
to his information, it is presumed that this will be rendered the most complete and
useful book to the young workman.
Philadelphia, July, 1833.
3
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
Having been for some time past in the practice of teaching the Rudiments of
Architecture, I have experienced mucli inconvenience, for want of suitable books on
the subject. All that have yet appeared, have been written by foreign authors, who
have adapted their examples and observations almost entirely to the style of build-
ing in their respective countries, which in many instances differs very materially
from ours. Hence the American Student of Architecture has been taxed with the
purchase of books, two-thirds of the contents of which were, to liim, unnecessary ;
when, at the same time, in a large and expensive volume of this kind, he has not
always been able to fmd the information wanted.
Nothing on Architecture has heretofore appeared in this Country, where the field
for improvement in every useful art and science is, perhaps, more extensive than in
any other. Why there has not, appears to mc matter of surprise, whilst we have
among us men of talents, full}' acquainted with the subject ; some of whom are also
men of leisure. Perhaps they have not viewed the subject in the same light, or
given to it the same degree of importance, that I have. For my part, I can con-
ceive of kw objects of more consequence, in a new and improving country like our
own, as it regards our health and convenience, or as it may gratify the fancy, than
the proper construction and building of our houses : whence I conclude it a matter
of interest, not only meriting the attention of every Carpenter, but of every man
who has time and inclination to devote to the study, and more especially such as
may have occasion to build.
Under the influence of these impressions, and at the solicitation of some of my
friends, I have been induced to this undertaking. How far I have succeeded, I
leave to those who are capable of judging. No doubt they will discover in it some
imperfections ; yet surely it will not be considered as arrogance in mc to conclude
it better adapted to the peculiar circumstances of this Country, tluui any foreign
production of the kind. I have not, from prejudice, omitted any thing useful con-
tained in the books already published on the subject : neither have I, on account
of their authority, or from partiality, retained any thing I apprehended useless to the
young Carpenter of the United States. The proportion of the four Orders I have
taken from Paul's Works, with but little variation ; and, for some of the Geometrical
Problems, I am indebted to Peter Nicholson, whose Works are held in deserved
estimation. In stairs, and framing roofs, I have given the most recent improvements
of this Country ; and have endeavored, through the whole, to adapt the explanations
to the capacities of Learners ; which accounts for a minuteness that may possibly
appear tedious to those who need no instruction.
Philadelphia, 1805.
4
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PLATE 1.
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THE
YOUJVG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT.
AS this work is intended for the Student in Architecture, it seems requisite to
give some directions, respecting the necessary instruments for drawing, &c.
Fio-. A, Plate 1, is a representation of a draught-board, to which the paper used
in drawing is to be fixed. This board is composed of a frame of mahogany or
other hard wood (the outside edges of which should be exactly straight and square)
with a panel about half the thickness of the frame, to be let in from the back, and
to lie in a rabbit in the frame ; there to be secured l)y small wooden buttons. Fig.
B is a section of the board, a and 6 are the buttons by which the panel is kept in
its place. Eight or ten of these may be necessary. The panel should be clamped,
to remedy any disadvantage attending the shrinking of the wood. It would not be
amiss, before making the draught-board, to ascertain the size of the paper to be
used, and make the panel about 2 inches less each way than the sheet. In apply-
ing this board to use, lay the paper on a table, and moisten one side of it with a
wet sponge ; place the board upside down near it ; take out the panel and lay it on
the paper, one inch of ^^ hich will extend beyond the panel all round ; take hold of
the edges of the paper, and lift them both into the frame ; fasten the buttons and
dry the paper by the fire ; when it will be smooth as a drum-head.
Fig. C is the T square, the blade of which should be long enough to reach nearly
across the draught-board, and should not exceed three-sixteenths of an inch in
thickness. Similar in form to this a bevel may be made, with the blade movable
on a centre in the stock. The application of these, in drawing parallel lines on the
draught-board, is so obvious that I need not describe it.
In choosing a case of mathematical instruments, attention should be paid to its
containing the scales of equal parts on the thin ivory or box-rule ; as, in drawing the
four Orders of Architecture, they are all proportioned by such a scale ; which indeed
is the case with almost all Architectural drawings ; and with a little attention the
Student will generally be able to find a scale ready made, with greater accuracy
than he would be able to make one himself The case should also contain a bow-
pen or compass, a useful instrument for drawing very small circles. With these, a
small piece of gum elastic for rubbing out black-lead lines, a stick of Indian ink,
twocamels'-hair pencils, one large, the other small, and a black-lead pencil, will con-
stitute the instruments necessary in learning Architectural drawing. It may be
proper to observe, that no kind of ink should be used except Indian ink. For draw-
ing lines, this should be dissolved some time before it is to be used ; but for shading,
it Is best to drop a little water oii a plate or saucer, and rub the stick of ink in it till
it is of a proper shade.
5 B
6 THE YOUNG CARPENTER-S ASSISTANT.
I shall now proceed to explain some of the most useful geometrical problems,
which every Carpenter ought to be acquainted with.
To raise a perpendicular or plumb-line, from a given point on a
straight line :
Let n I), fig. E, be the line, and c the point given, from which the perpendicular is
to be drawn. Take any space with the compasses at random, asci; with that
space set ofl' c a and c b ; then place one foot of the compasses in a, and extend the
other beyond r, and describe a small part of a circle, as at d ; then, with the same
extent of compasses, place one foot in i, and make a part of a circle to cross the
other at d ; through the intersection of these circles, a line drawn to e, will be per-
pendicular or plumb.
From any given point over a right line, to let fall a line which will be
perpendicular to that right line :
Let c, fig. F, be the point given ; and a b the right line. With one foot of the
compasses in c, extend the other foot so as to describe the arc or part of a circle a
b; place one foot of the compasses at the intersection of this arc with the right line
at 6, and extend them so as to describe a small arc at d ; with the same extent of
the compasses place one foot in the intersection at «, and cross the arc at d ; draw
a line from r, through the intersection of the arc at 6?, and it will be perpendicular
to the right line a b.
D
On the end of a right line, to draw a line which will be perpendicular,
or at right angles with that right line :
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Let a i, fig. G, be the right line ; at some point over this line, as at (/, place one
foot of the compasses, and extend the other to the end of the line at i, and describe
the circle at « be; through the intersection at o, and the centre at d^ draw the line
a d c ; from c draAv the line c b, which will be perpendicular to the line o b.
To describe a square, whose sides shall all be equal to a given right line :
Let a b, fig. H, be the line given ; with one foot of the compasses on a describe
the arc/r b ; then with one foot in b describe ace; divide the space c b into two
parts at d ; with the extent c d in the compasses set off c/and c e; connect af,f
e, and e b, and the square will be complete.
To lay off a square with a ten-foot rod :
Let a b, fig. 1, be the given line ; with eight feet of the rod from b make a mark
at a ; with six feet from b describe an arc at c ; and with ten feet from a cross the
arc at c ; draw the line from the intersection at c to b, and it will be square with
the line a b.
PLulTE 2.
THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT. 7
Three points (not in a right hne) or a small part of a circle, being given to find
a centre which will describe a circle to pass through the point or complete the
circle :
Let a b c, fig. K, be the three points or part of a circle given ; to find the centre
of which, place the foot of the compasses in a and describe an arc at d and c ; with
the same extent place the foot of the compasses in b, and cross the arcs of rf and c;
and at the same time describe arcs at c and/; then with the same extent of the
compasses and one foot in c cross the arc at c and/; draw lines through the inter-
sections of the arcs at d and o to ^ ; and through the intersections e and /to g ;
the intersections of these lines at g is the centre by which a circle may be drawn
to pass through the points a b c.
To describe an Ellipsis mathematically to any given length and breadth :
Let A C, fig. A, Plate 2, be the transverse, and B D the conjugate diameters ;
take half of B D and set it in from C to o ; divide what remains from o to 3 into
three equal parts : set one of these parts from o to a ; make the distance from 3 to
b equal to the distance from 3 to a ; with the extent a b in the compasses describe
the arcs db c and d a c; these four points are the centre by which the Ellipsis is
drawn, and the dotted lines passing through them and touching the Ellipsis mark
how much of it is drawn by each centre.
To describe an Ellipsis with a trammel :
A B C D, fig. B, represents the trammel, being two strips crossing each other at
right angles and halved together. In the middle of these strips is a groove ; a d is
the tramel-rod, on which are blocks made movable like gauge-heads, with a pin
to each small enough to slide along the groove ; at J is a pencil ; fix the block or
pin c so far from d as to be equal to half the conjugate diameter, and the block or
pin b so far from d as to be equal to hajf the transverse diameter; place the pins in
the groove of the trammel, and on sliding them along the pencil at d they will
describe an Ellipsis.
An Ellipsis being given, to find the centre and two axes thereof:
Let A B C D, fig. C, be the Ellipsis ; draw a line at random, as a b ; through
another part of the Ellipsis draw d c parallel to a b ; through the middle of each of
these draw ef, on the middle of which is the centre of the Ellipsis ; on vvhich, with
an extent of the compasses of less than half the transverse and more than half the
conjugate diameters, describe the circle intersecting the Ellipsis in g h i and k ;
through the middle o( g h and i k draw the line A C, which is the transverse diame-
ter ; bisect or divide this at right angles, and it will give tl;e conjugate diameter.
To describe a regular Polygon of any number of sides, the length of
one side being given :
Let a b, fig. D, be the side given ; on one end, as b, with any convenient radius or
extent of compasses describe a semicircle ; divide the round of this into as many
8 THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT.
parts as the Polygon is to have sides ; leave out two of these parts, and with (he
length a b in the compasses set off from b to c, then from c to d, then d to r. When
this is done, place the compasses on a, set off af, ihenfg, connect g and c, and the
Polygon is completed.
PLATE 3.
To describe an Octagon within a square, fig. 1 :
Draw the diagonal a b, and with the extent b d draw the arc c dc : then will c / be
the quantity to lay off from each corner of the square ; or, if it is a piece of wood,
to set the gauge for the quantity to be taken off from each corner.
To describe a segment of a circle of large radius with a trammel, fig. 2:
Let a i be the chord, and d c the height of the segment ; lay a strip with a straight
edge from h to c, and then another from c to c parallel to a b ; fasten them together
and brace them with a lath ; fix pins in the points a c and b, and slide the frame or
trammel along these pins, and the angle of it will describe the segment required.
To draw a segment of a circle by intersecting lines, fig. 3 :
Let a b be the length or chord of the segment, and c d the height ; draw the chord-
line d i, at right angles to which draw be; through d and parallel to a b, draw/d e ;
divide f e and a b into any even number of parts, say 10, connect those divisions by
the line 1 1,2 2, 3 3, «kc. ; draw h b perpendicular to a b, and divide it into 5 parts ;
from the centre d draw lines to these divisions, and where these lines cross the lines
1 1, 2 2, 3 3, &c., are the points through which to trace the segment.
To di-aw the arches of a groin, so that they shall intersect or mitre truly together
over a straight line, from a given arch of any form, fig. 4 :
A is the plan to be covered, P» the arch of one side, which is here a semicircle ;
draw the chord-line a b, which divide into any number of parts ; from tlie centre
draw lines through those parts, touching the arch ; draw b c perpendicular to the
base-line, and from the crown of the arch at a, draw lines througli the points of in-
tersection of the former lines with the arch-line, to the perpendicular line b c ; lay
off the width of one of the other arches, as A r at C, being the width of one end of
the plan A ; set up the height of the middle of the arch the same as B ; draw the
two chord-lines (t b, and a c ; divide them into the same number of parts as a i in B ;
transfer the perpendicular line b c from B to C, draw lines from the middle of the
base through the divisions on the chord-line, and from the top of the arch to the
divisions on the perpendicular line, through the intersection of these lines, the arch-
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* Ionic, from Ion, the Son of Xuthus, who, building a Temple to Diana, invented this Order. The Ancients
generally made their Capitals in this (~)rder flat, and to face only one way ; but, the angular Capital being
thought by many more convenient, I have here given that.
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THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT. 13
Fig. 4 is the Ionic Modillion ; to draw which divide the bottom or projection into
six parts, as 1, 2, 3, &c. two and a half of these divisions up over a is the centre of
from a lob ; under 2 one and a half divisions down, is the centre of from h to c ;
and at two is the centre of from c to d ; the line e f from one centre to the other
marks the limits of each arc. Here I will take the liberty of remarking, that when
circles of different radii unite, and are required to appear smooth round, the two
centres and place of meeting should always be on one line, as may appear in the two
last examples.
Fig. 5 is the Ionic Capital on an enlarged scale, with a plan by which a clearer
idea may be had of angular volutes.
THE CORINTHIAN ORDER.*
PLATE 11.
The general proportions of this Order are, one-fifth of the entire height for
the Pedestal, one-sixth of the remainder for the Entablature, and one-tenth of the
height of the Column is the diameter. The column diminishes to 50 minutes at
its neck ; the Modillions are 1 1 and a half minutes wide, and 35 minutes from cen-
tre to centre of each ; the dentils are 3 and a half minutes wide, and the space
between each two-thirds of a dentil. For an enlarged Capital and Modillion, see
next Plate.
PLATE 12.
Fig. A is the Corinthian Capital ; the height being figured from the scale of
minutes is plain to inspection. To find the place for each leaf, draAv a semicircle,
as a 4 6, equal to the diameter of the neck of the Column ; divide the round of this
into 8 parts, and from each of these draw lines through the Capital ; these lines
mark the place of each stock, or middle of each leaf. It may not be improper to
remark, that the inner break in the abacus or upper moulding of the Capital should
not have as much projection as the outer one, as at d. If the real appearance of the
* The following origin of the Corinthian Order is given by Vitinu ius :
' A marriageable young lady of Corinth fell ill and died. After the interment, her nurse collected together
sundry ornaments with which she used to be pleased; and putting them into a basket, placed it near her
tomb; and, lest it should be injured by the weather, she covered it ^\■ith a tile, it happened the basket was
placed on the root of an Acanthus, which in the spring shot forth its leaves ; these running up the sides of the
basket, naturally formed a kind of Volute, in the turn given by the tile to the leaves. Happily Calimachus,
a most ingenious Sculptor, passing that way, was struck with the beauty, elegance, and novelty of the basket
surrounded by the Acanthus leaves ; and, according to this idea or example, he afterwards made Columns for
the Corinthiaiis, ordaining the proportions such as constitute the Corinthian Order.'
[Rtidiments of Ancient Architecture.]
D
U THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT.
moulding at d were given, it would be very near a straight perpendicular line ; but,
as that would not look well, a little liberty is taken to improve the appearance.
Fiff. B is the same subject shaded, for the assistance of Students.
Fio-. C is the Corinthian Modillion, the parts being figured from the scale of min-
utes ; fig. D is the eye of the Modillion on an enlarged scale ; the centres are num-
bered, each centre serving for one-quarter of a circle, and these quarters are num-
bered in the Modillion.
PLATE 13.
In this Plate is represented the Plancers of the Corinthian, Ionic, and Doric
Orders, at an external angle. The student may observe the Modillions in all cases
correspond with the Column; and in the Doric Order they are enriched with drops,
the shape of which is represented by the drops of the triglyphs.
PLATE 14.
Of diminishing Columns.
Columns are sometimes diminished from the bottom, and sometimes the diminish-
ing commences at one-third of the height from the base.
Fig. A represents a Column with the lower third-part undiminished.
Divide the upper two-thirds into any number of equal parts, say 5, as at 1 2 3 4
5 ; a i at top is equal to the full thickness below ; set in on each side from a and b
half the difference between the size of the Column at top and that at bottom, as a c
and /) d ; divide each of these into the same number of parts that the upper two-
thirds of the Column is ; draw lines from c and/ to each of those parts, and where
these lines cross the divisions, 1 2 3 and 1, will be the points through which to draw
the edge of the Column.
When Columns are made of plank glued up, the planks nuist each be diminished
before gluing, in the same manner as if they were each a complete Column.
Fig. B is a representation of a Column fluted.
Draw a semicircle on each end of the Column ; divide the round of this into 12
parts, and each of these again into 8 parts ; 6 of these go to a flute, and 2 to a
fillet. Observe, that a flute will always be exactly in the middle of the Column.
Fig. C is a fluted Column, shaded, to show the effect.
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THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT. 15
Door (from the Saxon dor), tlie gate of a house, or the passage into an edifice,
apartment, &c.
The construction of doors naturally divides itself into two branches, viz. the form-
ation and proportion of the aperture, or opening, which in outer walls belong to
the mason or bricklayer, and forming of the gate or leaf, by which the entrance is
to be secured, together with its appurtenances, which appertain to the Carpenter's
department.
The proportion of the aperture must always be according to the size and intention
of the building, and should be attended to above every other consideration : in gene-
ral, the dimensions may be in the ratio of one to two for large doors, and from
three to seven in those of less size.
Entrances are of two kinds ; doors and gates.
The former are used only for the passage of persons on foot ; the latter admit
horsemen and carriages. Doors are used for churches, public edifices, dwelling-
houses, and apartments ; gates serve as inlets to cities, fortresses, parks, gardens, &c.
Apertures of gates, being always wide, are usually arched ; while the figure of doors
is generally a parallelogram.
Public buildings, palaces, and noblemen's mansions, where a great concourse of
company may be expected, should have doors of much greater dimensions than those
of other buildings ; from six to twelve feet may be taken for the width of the outer
entrance, and from four to six feet for those in the interior : in private houses, the
latter, if they have but one leaf, should never be more than three feet and a half in
breadth, nor less than that of the windows. In all cases their height should be pro-
portioned to that of the story in which they are placed, except whei-e they are used
for laving two apartments into one ; in which case they will be of a height less than
double their width.
Vitruvius, in his fourth book, has prescribed rules for Attic, Ionic, and Doric doors,
all of which have their apertures wider at the bottom than at the top ; examples of
this shape may be seen in the ruins of the temple of Minerva Polias at Athens, and
the temple of Vesta at Tivoli, and in other Greek and Roman remains. These doors
possess the advantage of shutting themselves, to which tiiey probably owe their in-
vention ; and they may be conveniently adopted in modern houses, as they rise in
opening and will clear a carpet, though, when shut, they go close down upon the
floor.
The principal entrance to a building of any magnitude should be in the centre, as
productive of the greater symmetry of appearance, and as communicating more
readily with the various apartments of the interior. In the principal rooms, the door
should be two feet, at least, from the return of the wall, to admit of furniture being
placed close up in the corner.
The lintels of exterior doors should always range with those of the windows.
Apertures placed in blank arcades, are usually placed at the same height as the
springing of the arches: when they have dressings, the head of the architrave, or
cornice, is generally on the level of the impost.
10 THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT.
The decorations of a doorway commonly consist either of an architrave sur-
rounding it, with or without a cornice, or with a complete entablature ; consoles are
sometimes introduced, Hanking the architrave jambs, and supporting the ends of the
cornice. When the architrave jambs arc flanked with pilasters, whether of the orders,
or of some emblematical form, the projections of their bases and capitals are always
less than those of the surrounding- architrave, and the architrave over the capitals
is similar to that over the door itself. Doors are sometimes decorated with one of
the five orders, and, in very considerable buildings, the entrance is adorned with a
Portico, so as to resemble an ancient Grecian temple. In embellishing the piers of
gates, or outer doors, it should be remembered, as a general rule, that as the pier is
itself only an inferior building, it should never be richer than the front of the liou?e.
As, where the front of the latter is ornamented with Doric columns, the Ionic should
not be found in the piers ; and it would be better to omit columns altogether, than
use the Tuscan order for piers in any case. If the Ionic or Corinthian orders be
used in the front of the house, the Doric or Ionic may be with propriety introduced
in the piers. Niches are almost always inti'oduced into piers, for which reason the
columns do better on pedestals, because the continued mortising from their cap
forms an agreeable ornament under the niche.
The wooden closure by which the apertures are opened or closed, come within the
province of the Carpenter ; these are properly the doors, and arc either framed, bat-
tened, or ledged, as hereafter described. In ordinary and even in good houses, frequent-
ly the doors are of pine ; in first-rate mansions they are often of mahogany, solid or
veneered, and sometimes of wainscot, especially where the building is of the antique
style. Apartments reserved for the reception of money, plate, jewels, &c. are usu-
ally secured with iron doors ; and in the descriptions of ancient temples, we read of
doors of ivory, brass, silver, and gold.
Batten doors, though formerly much in use, are now confined to buildings in the
pointed style of architecture. They consist of boards glued together to the size of
the aperture, with styles, rails, and munnions, made of battens nailed upon them, so
as to give the appearance of a frame door. This may be done, either on the one or
both sides; and the door is accordingly denominated single or double battened. The
vertical joints should be hid by the munnions of the framing, and the latter, instead
of being glued, should be bolted through to a framing behind, which will make them
very strong. The large gates and doors of ancient British edifices are thus con-
structed. The practice of imitating the framing of Grecian and Roman doors, is
not, however, to be recommended in modern times, especially if no bolts be used ;
for the stuff, though never so well seasoned, will be subject to the influence of the
atmosphere, and shrink or swell as the air is dry or damp. It is scarcely necessary
to remark that this evil will be enhanced in proportion as the wood is less season-
ed. Framed doors, which are cither single, folding, double, or double margin, are
employed in all description of building, and consist of styles, rails, panels, and in
most cases, of munnions also. The framing includes all parts but the panels, and is
held together with mortises and tenons. The styles are the vertical parts of the fram-
ing at the sides. The rails are the horizontal pieces into the styles. Munnions are parts
of the framing tenoned into rails. The panels fill up the whole left in putting the
framing together; and are let into grooves cut in the internal edges of the styles,
rails, and munnions. Doors are generally framed into rectangular compartments :
THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT. 17
though other forms, as circles, ellipses, lozenges, &c. may be adopted, according to
the will of the proprietor, or taste of the builder. Framed doors are either square
or moulded ; the former are used only in common houses. Mouldings are of various
forms, some confined within the framing, and others projecting beyond it. The
mouldings and form of the panels of the door, generally regulate those of the win-
dow-shutters. Folding doors, or doors of communication, are made in two breadths
and have a pair of styles to each leaf.
Double-doors are contrived to close against each other in opposite directions, the
one opening outwards, and the other going inwards, in order to keep the apartments
warm : the inner door being generally covered with green baize.
Double-margin doors, are single doors, with a broad piece running vertically down
the middle, called the staff-style, imitating the two internal styles of folding doors
when shut.
Whatever kind of door be adopted, it should, for the sake of uniformity, be used
in all the apartments of the same story.
Architrave of a door, a collection of members surrounding the aperture of a sec-
tion similar to the architrave of the Ionic, Corinthian, and Roman Orders. The
head or lintel is called the traverse, and the sides the jambs. Vitruvius calls the
jambs the antepagmenta, and the head or traverse the supercilium. In the remains
of the edifices at Balbec and Palmyra, and in the palace of Diocletian at Spalatro,
the architrave jambs are often flanked with consoles, which gives an apparent sup-
port to the cornice, and the cornice frequently rests upon the traverse, without the
intervention of frieze ; but the flank pilaster under the consoles is scarcely to be
met with among the ancient ruins, though practised by the modern Italians, and
represented in their works. This is however an improvement, as it diminishes the
apparent weight of the top, by spreading out the lower part. The proportion of the
architrave to the aperture, in ancient edifices, is very various : the usual proportion
given by the moderns, is from one-seventh to one-sixth part of the opening. When
the architrave jambs are flanked with pilasters and consoles, the breadth may be one-
seventh of that aperture, and the breadth of the pilaster two thirds of that of the
architrave ; but when it is unaccompanied with these ornaments, it ought not to be
less than the sixth part of the aperture.
In the ruins of Roman and Grecian buildings, the architrave rests upon the flooi-,
and has no flanking consoles : but in the ruins of Balbec they arc supported by
phnths.
When there is too much surface of naked wall on each side of the architrave
jambs, the sides of the architrave may be flanked with pilasters, and consoles, in
order to reduce the naked, and proportion it to the dressing of the front. The dress-
ing of an aperture may be heightened by adding a cornice, or a cornice and frieze,
as the space above will admit : and if the space above requires further diminution,
the altitude of the dressing may be still further increased, by surmounting the
cornice with a pediment.
When the material of the architrave is stone, the jambs are either built in heights
corresponding to the course of the naked of the wall, or if stone can be procured
each jamb is made of one entire piece, or sometimes in two or three, according to
the difficulty of raising them from the quarry.
When they are coursed with the work, every alternate stone should be a bond-
E
18 THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT.
stone, and, if the jambs are in one height, or not couri^cd, every alternate stone
in the altitude of ti'.e naked, adjoining each architrave jamb, should be a bond-stone :
the fewer pieces the architrave jamb consists of, the more beautiful will the work
appear ; therefore one is preferable to several.
In the arcades of ancient buildings, the jambs are seldom or never moulded as an
architrave, but the arch is frequently ornamented with members of an architrave
section : these members are called the archivolt, which always rests upon imposts.
The imposts project in most cases from the naked of the wall, and in a few cases
from the capital of pilasters upon the jambs.
Architrave in Carpentry, is one constructed of wood. Architraves may be worked
out of a solid piece of wood ; but this, however, would be attended with a waste of
both stuff and time. The best method is to glue it up in two or more longitudinal
pieces, as may be judged proper for the combination of its parts.
Jib-doors are used to preserve the uniformity of a room, or to save the expense of
a corresponding door.
Doors ought to be made of clear good stuff, firmly put together, the mitres or
scribings brought together with the greatest exactness, and the whole of their sur-
faces perfectly smooth, particularly those made for the best apartments of good
houses. In order to effect this, the whole of the work ought to be set out and tried
up with particular care ; saws and other tools should be in good order ; the mortis-
ing, tenoning, plowing, and sticking of the mouldings, ought to be correctly to the
gauge hues ; these being strictly attemled to, the work will of necessity, when put
together, close with certainty ; but if otherwise, the workman nmst expect a great
deal of trouble in paring the different parts before the work can be made to appear
in any degree passable: this will also occasion a want of firmness in the work, par-
ticularly if the tenons and mortises are obliged to be pared.
In bead and flush doors, the best way is to mitre the work square, afterwards put
in the panels, and smooth the whole off together, then marking the panels at the
parts of the priming, they agree to take the door to pieces, and work the beads on
the styles, rails, and mountings. If the doors are double margin, that is represent-
ing a pair of folding doors, the staff style, which imitates the meeting-styles, must
be entered to the top and bottom rails of the door, by forking the ends into notches
cut in the top and bottom rails. We shall here make a few observations upon, and
give some rules for, hanging of doors, so as to clear the ground or carpet.
Firat. Raise the floor under the door as much as may be necessary, according
to the thickness of the carpet, &c.
Secondly. Make the knuckle of the bottom hinge to project beyond the perpen-
dicular of the top hinge about the one-eighth of an inch : this will throw the door off
the floor.
Note. The centre of the top hinge must project a little beyond the surface of the
door, if the hinge is let equally into the door and into the jamb ; otherwise, if the
centre lie in the surface of the door, it ought to be placed at the very top, which is
seldom done, except when hung with centres.
Thirdly. Fix the jamb, on which the door hangs, out of the plumb line, so that
the top of the jamb may incline to the opposite jamb about one-eighth part of an inch:
this will contribute to the effect of clearing the door from the floor.
DOOR.
PLATE 15.
Desu/ijeu f:mvir>: iy JJjai'Uuiid.
Jnt'?tfs
Srale.
J^eer
DOOK.
PLATE Id.
.v/ y dratrn- h^ J.Bi^i&uul.
En^nwcd h Jyktger.
Scale.
THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT. 19
Fourthly. Make the door, when shut, to project at the bottom towards the inside
of the room, about one-eighth of an inch, which may be effected by giving the rebate
the quantity of inchnation requisite.
Note. Although any of the above methods, properly applied, will make a door
swing sufficiently clear of the floor, yet as each one separately will require to be
done in so great a degree as to offend the eye, I do not recommend if in nice work,
but would rather advise a combination of them all, to be used thus :
Raise the floor about one-eighth of an inch under the door ; make the jamb on
which the door hangs incline to the opposite jamb about one quarter of an inch ;
make each rebate that stops the door project at the bottom one-eighth of an inch to
that side of the room on which the door opens. Now these several methods practised
in the above small degrees, which will not bte perceptible, will throw the door suffi-
ciently out of the level, when opened to a square ; that is, it will be at least half an
inch, when the height of the door is double its width.
Fifthly. An invention has been introduced called rising hinges, which are made
of a spiral groove winding round the knuckle ; this construction of hinge requires
that the door should be bevelled at the top next to the ledge or door-catch, as much
as the hinge rises in one quarter of its revolution.
Sixthly. This may also be effected by adopting a door in the form of the antique
doors ; that is, the bottom to be wider than the top, the jambs having the same incli-
nation.
PLATE 15.
A design for a single door, in proportion with a house from eighteen to twenty-
three feet front, in the modern style of finish. The proportions of its several parts
can be ascertained by referring to the annexed scale of feet and inches.
PLATE 16.
A design for an external folding door, calculated for a double house, drawn to a
scale of inches and feet.
PLATE 17.
Two designs for the dressings of internal doors. The Fig. 1 is adapted for the
parlor and drawing-room floors; and the example Fig. 2 most appropriate for the
chamber rooms. The doors may be arranged with three, four, or five panels, to corre-
spond with the bold or light style of its adjoining features ; and the folding doors of
the same room would look better to be finished with the additional height of a panel
ranged with those of the single doors.
20 THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT.
PLATE 18, 19.
Ten designs for the pilasters of parlor and chamber doors, drawn full size.
PLATE 20.
Five designs for the architraves of internal and external doors, showing their pro-
files, full size.
PLATE 21.
In this Plate are given the lines of a pitch pediment frontispiece. In this the
column is made ten diameters in height. This is on a supposition that the door is
for a town house with a narrow front ; in which case the true proportion of the
Orders may be dispensed with, and regard had to the general proportion of the build-
ing ; but in country houses, where the front may be well proportioned, the nearer
we adhere to the Orders, the better will be the appearance in general. In fixing
on the size of a door for the front of a house, it is better to make it rather too
large than too small, as few things will make a house look meaner, than a contract-
ed front door ; and, where it will admit of it, the door should be as wide as half its
height.
PLATE 22.
In this Plate, the foregoing subject is shaded. I will here observe, that the light
should always come from the left side, and at an angle of forty-five degrees, or on a
mitre both horizontally and vertically, by which the shadows of projecting moulding,
&c. will be always equal to their projections. This will be better understood, by
examining the Plate.
As in geometrical drawings, the relief or projection of the object can only be shown
by the shading, the Student should make it his business to understand the efiects of
light and shade. In those parts that stand forward, or project, the shade should be
strong, and the part receiving the light should be bright ; and, as the distance in-
creases, both lights and shades should be weaker. All moulding, whether swelling
or coving, will have both a stronger light and shade, than plane surfaces exposed to
an equal degree of light ; and all surfaces on the same plane, not in a shadow, should
have the same tint or degree of shade.
DOOK.
PLATE 17.
Fitj.l.
Fill. :•'.
Siiiiife
Ill «iii|;;::| ■'"; "
J *:i4iSlKltJOUIf
Jjcstonai'i dr^u*i A. 'f^^mJoTu^.
DO OK.
PLATE 18.
Fill. o.
Jy:Sh/nr;t ^i' ^it/ii'/l by JMuvU.ifUl .
Fi.
Fid- J.
Fi,!. 4.
Fill. 5.
Tn-si{"u'd it drawn by ■/^oyiiotui.
PL. ATE 21.
« .<- 6 3 ,.
I . I
JV- / L !■:
PLATK :>■,>.
OltiMI. M
ii:A«m/i>
PLATE ■■>::.
S C.I I. K
FLATE ^4.
jr. linnijj /(.
THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT. 21
PLATE 23.
In this Plate is given a flat pediment frontispiece. The observations made on the
preceding example, with respect to general proportions, Mill apply to this.
After tiie Student lias fixed on the size of his door, he will draw the arch, and
divide the half-round of that into six parts ; one of which is the width of the key
at bottom, and two of them will be its height, which is also the top of the col-
umns. He may then find the diameter, and make a scale for proportioning the
mouldings.
PLATE 24,
Is the foregoing, shaded.
Wr^
Windows (from the Danish vindue, or the Welsh wynt-dor, a passage for the
wind), those apertures in walls through which light is transmitted to the interior of
the building. Windows are generally of a rectangular form, the sides or jambs being
vertical, and the bottom and lintel horizontal. Semicircular windows have a very ele-
gant effect, particularly in circular buildings, as was generally the practice of the Ro-
mans ; but those that are finished with segments, or semi-ellipses, are not so beautiful ;
and much less so are such as are constructed of entire circles or ellipses, for which
few or no precedents are to be found in the buildings of the ancients. Windows must
be proportioned in height and width to the principal rooms. The dressings of win-
dows are the sill, and the insisting architrave, surrounding the upper part, crowned
by a cornice and frieze. The breadth of the architrave may be one-sixth of that of
the aperture ; the frieze the same ; the height of the cornice will depend upon the
number of mouldings ; if very few, it may be of less height than the cornice, Win-
dows should be so placed with respect to the principal rooms, or dining and drawing
rooms, as to be equally distant from each end of the apartment, and equidistantly
distributed in the principal front, of one size, with their edges or sides in the same
vertical lines. This adjustment will frequently be attended with difficulties ; and to
accommodate the principle, an alteration of the proportions, in a small degree, will
sometimes be necessary. In houses of the middle class, where economy is an equal
consideration with elegance or beauty, the windows frequently reach as high as the
cornice, or even so high as to cut the cornice, wholly, or in part ; a mutilation that
destroys the beauty of the finishing. In such cases, it would be better to have more
lofty stories or lower windows. In large edifices, where proportions are considered,
the spaces above the windows are more ample, and allow a more elegant finish, with
a greater repose for the eye.
F
22 THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT.
Windows ought to be made vertically one above the other, and not too near the
angles of the building ; and in large edifices where the m alls are thick, their jambs
ought to be splayed or bevelled, for a more full distril)ution of light. Lofty w indows,
descending to the floor, or nearly so, with a projecting balcony in front of the build-
ing, defended by a railing of cast or wrought iron, are both healthy and agreeable.
Sky-lisJits, in cold climates like ours, are productive of many inconveniences, as
they admit of cold air, damps, rain, and snow, and thereby waste the heat generated
in the house. They ought therefore never to be admitted, except for stairs and halls :
v.hen this admission is necessary, their apertures should increase in dimensions, so
as not to hinder the passage of the rays.
Sash (from the French chassis, a frame) a chequered frame for holding the squares
of glass or windows, and so formed as to be let up and down by means of pulle3's.
Sashes are either single or double hung.
Sash-Frame, the wooden frame in which the sas-hes are fitted for the convenience
of sliding up or down, or side-ways, as the nature of the apartment to be lighted may
require. When one or both sashes are to be moved vertically, they are commonly
equipoised by weights ; and the weights are made to run in vertical trunk?, or cases,
formed in the sides of the frames, which are therefore said to be cased ; but when
the sides are not made hollow for weights, the frame is said to be solid. In a sash-
frame, the under side of the head is most commonly disposed in the same surface as
the soffit, or intrados, of the stone or brick head of the window on the outside ; con-
sequently, it partakes of the shape of the head of the window, whether straight or
circular. In a cased sash-frame, each case consists of four pieces ; the inside piece,
on each side, or that next the aperture, is most commonly disposed in the same plane
with the jamb of the stone, or side of the aperture, on the outside, the tw o sides
forming parallel : these two pieces are called Pu/lei/-Picces, from their containing
pulleys, over which the ropes pass, by which the sashes and weights are suspended. The
other three parts of each trunk are called linings ; that parallel to the pulley-piece,
and next to the jamb, on either side, is called the back lining; the one next the out-
side, and parallel to the face of the wall, is the outside lining ; and the remaining one,
next to the inside of the room, is denominated the inside lining. The best made
sash-frames have the pulley-pieces tongued into the outside and inside linings : the
back lining is generally tongued into the outside, and nailed to the edge of the inside
lining : on each pulley-piece two channels, of equal breadth, for the edges of the
sashes to run in, are formed by nailing a slip of wood round the inner margin of the
pulley-piece, and suflering the outside lining to project within it; between which a
narrow slip is inserted in a groove, left in the middle of the intervening space. As
the edge of this slip is generally rounded, it is called the parting bead ; and the inner
slip, for the same reason, is termed the inside bead; while the edge of the outer
lining is called the outside head. Within the case, there is also a vertical slip, sus-
pended from the head, and passing longitudinally through the middle of the hollow
space, for separating the two weights, which is therefore called the parting slip. The
head, sill, and inside linings, have generally each a groove next to the inside of the
room ; the groove in the head and sill is commonly three-eighths of an inch from the
edge next to the opening ; that in the head is for inserting the edge of the soffit, and
that in the sill for receiving the edge of the capping bead, upon the upper edge of
the back. The grooves, in the inside lining, are for the edges of the back lining of
THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT. 23
the boxing ; the distance of these grooves from the inner edge of the inside Hning,
depends upon the depth of the boxing and the distance of each line of hinges from
the inner edge of the inside hning, or of that next to the opening. The hne of
hinges is generally about the eighth of an inch from the inner edge of the inside
lining ; so that the shutters, soffit, and capping bead, may have tiieir terminating
edges with the sash-frame of the same margin all round ; that is, at the same dis-
tance as the inner edge of the sash-frame : this, however, is not positively neces-
sary ; but may be varied at the discretion of the architect, or workman.
The line of hinges being determined, the depth of the boxing is found by adding
to the thickness of the wall, that of the inside finishing, whether of plaster alone, or
of lath and plaster (the former requiring about an inch, and the latter two and a
quarter inches) ; and subtracting from the sum, the thickness of the sash-frame, and
its distance from the outside of the wall ; then, if the remainder be equal to, or exceed
half the distance of the hinge-line, such half distance is the breadth of both the box-
ing and the shutter: it must, however, be observed, that the outer edge of the
shutter must not be rebated, as that would prevent the edges of the lathing coming
close to the architrave, or margin style, which forms the side of the boxing, opposite
to the inner lining of the sash-frame, when each shutter consists of one piece only ;
to remedy this, each shutter must consist of two folds, viz. a front part, and back
flap ; and the breadth of the boxing must be contracted, either by introducing a
margin style at the edge of each boxing, or, if one was necessary before, by making
it broader: then the thickness of the two folds will be the neat distance of the
groove from the line of hinges. If, on the other hand, the remainder before men-
tioned be less than the half distance of the hinsfe lines, it is the breadth of the boxing :
divide the half distance between the hinge lines, by the breadth of the boxing, and
the quotient will give the number of folds ; and if there be a remainder, there must
be one fold more than is shown by the quotient.
The aggregate, or sum of all the folds, is the neat depth of the boxing: but, in
order to make the folds clear each other, and the back of the boxing, add the
eighth or tenth part of an inch for each fold. Thus, suppose the wall to be of
eighteen-inch brick-work, and the finishing, within, to be lath and plaster ; suppose,
also, the breadth of the window to be four feet, the sash-frame six inches thick,
and its distance from the wall four inches : then 20i inches is the thickness of the
wall and finishing ; the thickness of the sash-frame, and its distance fi'om the face of
the wall, are together 10 inches: this, taken from 20] inches, gives lOj inches for
a remainder, which is the breadth both of the boxing and of the shutter, because
lOf inches are less than 24 inches, the half distance between the lines of hinges:
IOt is contained twice in 24 inches, with a remainder ; there are, therefore, three
folds, viz. a front fold and two back flaps : suppose the front fold to be lA inch
thick, each back 1 j inch thick ; then li + li + 1| = 4 inched ; and because there are
three folds, add 3-10 of an inch more, and the depth of the boxing v.ill be 4J inches.
24 THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT.
PLATE 25.
A design for a dormer window.
PLATE 26.
A desiorn for a single window with its external shutters, showing the manner of
finishing the panels, &c. on both sides.
PLATE 27.
Five designs for sash window bars, full size : —
Fig. 1. Gothic astragal and hollow bar.
Fig. 2. Simple metal bar, for shop fronts.
Fig. 3. Quirked astragal and hollow bar.
Fig. 4. Cima recta and square bar.
Fig. 5. Quarter round and square bar.
Fig. 6. Section of the meeting bar, with a small proportion of the style fixed
to each.
Fig. 7, shows the method of joining the intersecting bars, with the method of
doweling them together.
Fig. 8, the elevation of the intersection, showing a part of each branch or bar.
PLATE 28.
A design for a Venetian window : the panel and pilaster represented in the lower
front, show the interior finish, and are of course omitted on the external side.
PLATE 29,
Is a dormer window. The circular part of the sash is Gothic ; in drawing which,
the compasses should be kept at the same extent as in drawing the arch, and the
centre carried out on the top of the impost. If fluting or dentils are used for dor-
mers, they should be larger in their proportions than in common work ; and the pitch
of the pediment may be rather steeper than in frontispieces, as the height will take
otr something from the pitch.
window:
PLATE 25.
Design^. ^ ^atrn kjJ.3cJ>Uand.
EnffTcofedfy JYiiMj'
WINDOW
I'LATE '*(•».
Si;Utf.
n.
Fit/. 7.
Fit/, o.
J)csigrud jddrGMn- iy J.Bay i/tnu^
4
WINDOW.
PLATE 'J6'.
t'>.f'-.iv.\i /y J.yca^e>-
Scale.
-PLATE J').
■Sett/v if'-Z^rrt
o /:■ ./ffrAi^
-''''III'"! T""! 1
riATE ,{0.
--vp
THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT. 26
PLATE 30,
Is a Venetian window of the Ionic order. In giving a design for a window of this
kind, the size of the glass should be made to correspond with the entablature, so
that it will be equal in height to one or two lights ; and the sashes in the side-
window, to range with the middle one.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
The four Orders of Architecture have been selected from such of the remains of
ancient buildings, as are supposed to be the most beautiful ; and Palladio has been
generally allowed to have been the best judge among the moderns, who have given
the proportions of the remains of Antiquity. The proportions in this book are
pretty nearly the same as his. The differences are principally these : There being
no remains of Antiquity in the Tuscan Order with an entablature, and Palladio
having given a very poor one ; succeeding Moderns have given that Order an entabla-
ture near the proportion of the others, which I have adopted. The Doric Order has
no example of a Pedestal among the Ancients ; and in the most admired buildings
of Antiquity, in that Order, the Columns have no base; and I believe there is no
example remaining of the Ionic Order having modillions, but dentils only ; though, of
late, modillions have been as frequently applied as dentils. In the foregoing
examples, I have given to the Tuscan and Doric Order one-fifth of the height, exclusive
of the Pedestal, for the entablature ; the Ionic and Corinthian each have one-sixth.
In situations where there are one or more Orders over another, this proportion in
the upper should be altered ; the richer Order always being uppermost. The Ionic
and Corinthian may then have one-fifth, for the entablature. These proportions are
all for small buildings ; but if the buildings are large, exceeding 40 feet in height, the
entablature should increase proportionally. If one Order only is used, the Tuscan
and Doric may have one-fourth ; Ionic and Corinthian, one-fifth ; and if several
Orders are used, the Ionic and Corinthian may have each one-fourth of the height
of the Order, exclusive of the Pedestal, for the height of the entablature.
©Mamsf^T^^i®©:
As the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans, to whom architecture is so much
indebted in other respects, lived in warm climates, where fires in the apartments were
seldom or never necessary, they have thrown but few lights on this branch of archi-
tecture : amongst the antiquities of Italy, I do not recollect any remains of chimney-
pieces. Palladio, indeed, mentions two, the one at Baise, and the other near Civita-
G
S6 THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT.
Vecchia, which stood in the middle of the rooms, and consisted of columns support-
ing architraves, whereon were placed the pyramids, or funnels, through which the
smoke was conveyed, much after the manner of the fire-place in the Rotunda of
Ranelagh Gardens. Scammozzi takes notice of three sorts of chimney-pieces used
in Italy in his time. One of these he calls the Roman, the aperture of which is
surrounded only with a clumsy architrave: another he calls the Venetian, which is
likewise adorned with an architrave, upon which are placed a frieze and cornice, and
on the sides thereof are pilasters with consoles ; the third sort he calls a padiglione.
This last he particularly recommends when the walls are thin, it being not hollowed
into the wall, as both the other sorts are, but composed of a projecting entablature,
supported by consoles, termini, or caryatides, on which the pyramid is placed. This
sort of chimney-piece is still very common in Italy ; the Dutch are very fond of it ;
and we find it in many of our old English country-houses. Neither the Italians nor
the French, nor indeed any of the continental nations, have ever excelled in the com-
positions of chimney-pieces. I believe we may justly consider Inigo Jones as the first
that arrived at any great degree of perfection in this material branch of the art.
Others of our English architects have, since his time, wrought upon his ideas, or fur-
nished good inventions of their own ; and England being at present possessed of many
ingenious and very able sculptors, one of whom devotes himself to the execution of
magnificent chimney-pieces, now happily much in vogue, it may be said, that in this
particular we surpass all other nations, not only in point of expense, but likewise in
taste of design, and excellence of workmanship. Scammozzi mentions a chimney-
piece in one of the public buildings at Venice, executed from his design, as a most
uncommon piece of magnificence, having cost upwards of a thousand crowns.
The size of the chimney must depend upon the dimensions of the room wherein
it is placed. In the smallest apartments, the width of the aperture is never made
less than from three feet, to three feet six inches : in rooms from twenty to twenty-
four feet square, or of equal superficial dimensions, it may be four feet wide ; in
those of twenty-five to thirty, from four to four and a half; and in such as exceed
these dimensions, the aperture may be extended to five, or five feet six inches ; but
should the room be extremely large, (as is frequently the case in halls, galleries, and
saloons,) and one chimney of these last dimensions will neither afford sulliciont heat
to warm the room, nor sufficient space around it for the company, it will be much
more convenient, and far handsomer, to have two chimney-pieces of a moderate size,
than a single one exceedingly large, all the parts of which would appear clumsy and
disproportioned to the other decorations of the room.
The chimney should always be situated so as to be immediately seen by those who
enter, that they^ may not have the persons already in the room, who are generally
seated about the fire, to search for. The middle of the side partition wall is the
properest place in halls, saloons, and other rooms of passage, to wliich the principal
entrance is commonly in the middle of the front, or of the back wall ; but, in draw-
ing-rooms, dressing-rooms, and the like, the middle of the back wall is the best
situation, the chimney being then farthest removed from the doors of communication.
The case is the same with respect to galleries and libraries, where doors of entrance
are generally either at one or at both ends. In bed-chambers, the chimney is always
placed in the middle of one of the side partition Malls; and in closets, or other very
small places, it is, to save room, sometimes placed in one corner.
THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT. 87
Whenever two chimneys are introduced in the same room, they must be regularly
placed, either directly facing each other, if in different walls, or at equal distances
from the centre of the wall in which they both are placed. The Italians frequently
put their chimneys in the front walls, between the windows, for the benefit of look-
ing out while sitting by the fire : but this must be avoided, for by so doing, that side
of the room becomes crowded with ornaments, and the other sides are left too bare ;
the front walls are much weakened by the funnels ; and the chimney shafts at the top
of the building, which must necessarily be carried higher than the ridges of the roofs,
have, from their great length, a very disagreeable effect, and are very liable to be
blown down.
In large buildings, when the walls are of a considerable thickness, the funnels are
carried up in the thickness of the walls, but in small ones this cannot be done; the
flues and chimney-pieces must necessarily advance forward into the rooms, which,
when the break is considerable, has a very bad effect : and therefore, when room can
be spared, it will always be best, either in show or state apartments, to make niches
or arched recesses on each side ; and in lodging-rooms, presses, or closets, either
covered with the paper, or finished in any manner suited to the rest oi' the room.
By these means, the cornice, or entablature of the room, may be carried round with-
out breaks, the ceiling be perfectly regular, and the chimney-piece have no more
apparent projection than may be necessary to give to its ornaments their proper
relief.
The proportion of the apertures of chimney-pieces, of a moderate size, is gene-
rally near a square ; in small ones a trifle higher, and in large ones somewhat lower.
Their ornaments consist of architraves, friezes, cornices, columns, pilasters, termini,
caryatides, consoles, and all kinds of ornaments of sculpture, representing animal or
vegetable productions of nature ; likewise vases, patera?, trophies of various kinds,
and instruments or symbols of religion, arts, arms, letters, and commerce. In design-
ing them, regard must be had to the nature of the place where they are to be em-
ployed. Such as are intended for halls, guard-rooms, saloons, galleries, and other
considerable places, must be composed of large parts, fe\v in number, of distinct and
simple forms, and having a bold relief; but chimney-pieces tor drawing-rooms, dress-
ing-rooms, bed-chambers, and such like, may be of a more delicate and complicated
composition. The workmanship of all chimney-pieces must be perfectly well fin-
ished, like afl other objects liable to a close inspection : and the ornaments, figures,
and profiles, both in form, proportion, and quantity, must be suited to the other parts
of the room, and be allusive to the uses for which it is intended. All nudities, and
indecent representations, must be avoided, both in chimney-pieces and in every other
ornament of apartments to which children, ladies, and other modest, grave persons
have constant recourse; together with all representations capable of exciting horror,
grief, disgust, or any gloomy, unpleasant sensations.
Chimney-pieces are made either of stone, marble, or of a mixture of these, with
wood, scagliola, or moula, or some other unfragile substances. Those of marble are
most costly, but they are also most elegant, and the only ones used in highly finished
apartments, where they are made either of white or variegated marbles, sometimes
inlaid and decorated with the materials just mentioned. All their ornaments, figures,
or profiles, are to be made of the pure v. hite sort ; but their friezes, etablets, panels,
shafts of columns, and other plain parts, may be of particolored marbles, such as
28 THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT.
the yellow of Sienna, the brocatello of Spain, the jasper of Sicily, and many other
modern as well as antique marbles. Festoons of flowers, trophies, and foliages, frets,
and other such decorations, cut in white statuary marble, and fixed on grounds of
these, have a very good effect. But these should never be more than two or at the
most three different sorts of colors in the same chimney-piece ; all brilliant, and
harmonizing with each other.
PLATE 31.
Fig. 1.
A design for a console mantle
Fig. 2.
A design for column mantle.
Fig. 3.
Profile of fig. 1.
Fig. 4.
Profile of fig. 2.
The roses in the square of the console, and feet on the frieze of the column, ex-
ample, may be made of cast metal, such as brass or iron ; and inserted in the aper-
ture, if the mantles are made of marble ; if of wood, the whole, including the en-
richment case, should be formed out of the same material.
PLATE 32.
Elevations and profiles, full size, of two roseates for the blocks of pilaster and
architraves.
Fig. 3. Profile of fig. 1.
Fig. 4. Profile of fig. 2.
PLATE 33, & 34,
Are four examples of Mantles. In ornamenting a Mantle, the young Carpenter
would do well to endeavor at an imitation of something natural, and not to cover
his work with unmeaning holes and cuttings of a gouge.
Mantles and all other Architectural objects should always have a due proportion
of plain surfaces, as a contrast of the ornamented parts. With strict propriety, the
faces of Architraves should never be fluted or carved. It very rarely occurs among
the beautiful remains of Antiquity, whose Artists seem to have understood true
taste much better than those of the present day, or their works would not have
excited the admiration of so many ages. The use of composition ornaments, on
Mantles, if judiciously chosen and placed, may have a very good effect ; but care
should be taken, not to overload the work with them ; and that there be a proper
connexion between the ornaments on different parts.
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THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT. 29
PLATE 35.
Of Intercoluviniation.
This Plate represents two Porticos ; one Doric, and the other Corinthian. It is
necessar)^ in all Orders where there are modillions, that the column should be
exactly under a inodillion. The Doric Order does not admit of the columns being
coupled, as they are in the Corinthian ; the space from centre to centre of the mo-
dillions or triglyphs being but 75 minutes, when two columns, with the bases touching,
would be 80 minutes from centre to centre. The examples in the Plate are both
of small Porticos ; and, to admit of a convenient space between the columns, the
intercolumniation, or space between the columns, is greater than it should be when
the Porticos are large, and a graceful appearance is required. To admit of a free
passage to the door, the middle columns are placed further apart than the others;
though this is sometimes dispensed with, and the spaces made uniform.
PLATE 36.
Of Roofs.
This Plate gives three examples of framing for principal rafters for Roofs. In
designing these, the material for the covering should be considered ; whether it would
require a strong frame and steep pitch, as tile or slate, or whether shingles, or any
kind of metal is to be used. Both the strength of framing, and the pitch of the
examples, in the Plate, are calculated for shingles.
It is a considerable improvement in framing principal rafters, to keep them below
the purlins, and to let the jack-rafters lie on the purlins ; the Roof, besides being
much stiffer, being easier regulated, or kept straight on the top ; and the feet of the
rafters are brought so far from the end of the girder as to be much stronger in their
footing ; the dotted lines, at the foot of the rafter, show the shape of the tenon, which
should be about half the thickness of the rafter, and the ends to fit hard in the mor-
tise. A screw-bolt, to go through the girder up into the post, is a better way of
supporting the girder than a strap ; the nut is let into the post in the same manner
that a bedstead screw is.
The customary pitch for Roofs, which are covered with shingles, is, one-third of
the span for the height ; and to find the length of the rafter, take half the span and
square it, and the whole height and square that ; add the square of these two
together, and from that sum extract the square root, which will be the length of the
rafter.
H
30 THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT.
EXAMPLE.
Suppose a Roof to span 45 feet, to rise one-third, or 15 feet.
Half of 45 is 22.5 The height 15
22.5 15
112 5 75
450 15
450
Square of half-span 506.25
Square of the height 225.
Square of the height 225
731.25(27.0 feet, length of rafter.
4
47)331
329
540)2 25
PLATE 37.
Of Domes.
A is the section and B is the half-plan of the framing for a Dome to have a vaulted
ceiling and an opening for a sky-light. This frame is taken from P. Nicholson, and
to me appears to be abundantly too strong. If we consider that the purlins form a
number of bands round a roof of this form, which must burst before the roof falls
in, we will find that we have little else to do but to connect the ends of the purlins
so as to form hoops round the Dome, and it is impossible for the roof to fall in,
wliile the hoops are entire.
PLATE 38.
Dome of hoards and plank.
Fig. A is the section of a Dome made with thin boards and small pieces of plank.
The principle of this form of roof consists in placing a number of hoops one above
the other, and of such sizes as, when properly placed, will form the contour of the
Dome. These hoops are here formed by pieces of plank, represented by fig. D at
the bottom of the Plate ; near each end of this is a pretty long mortise ; the position
FLATE .n
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THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT. 31
of these is shown in the section A hy d d d. Fig. C is one of the ribs or rafters
with a mortise in the middle of it long enough to receive two of fig. D, and at
each end a sliding mortise of half that length, represented in section A hy c c c.
When these are to be put together, the wall-plate (which should be of two thick-
nesses of boards, and made to break joint) should be first laid, and then a piece of
the rafter, fig. C, should be fixed upright in its proper place and secured by a tenon
at the lower end, which must go through the Plate. It should be observed, that the
rafters are of two thicknesses, which should break joint ; of course, one of the first
pieces should be but half the length of fig. C. When one set of the rafters are fixed
all round, the pieces, fig. D, which form the hoops, or which I shall call the purlins,
are fixed in them, and secured by wooden keys, which are driven, one on each side of
the rafter, through the mortise. By driving these keys, more or less, the hoop may
be lengthened or contracted, so as to bring it to the exact form or contour of the
Dome. After the first set of purlins are fixed and properly keyed, another set of
rafters are placed, and then another set of purhns, until the Dome is complete.
The figure in the Plate, for the sake of making its parts more clear, has been
drawn considerably out of proportion, the materials being much too large, and a
much greater number of purlins would be proper. This principle of covering may
be extended to a great span, and when the rafters come too close together, at the
top, every other one may be left out.
PLATE 39.
Hip-Roofs.
Fig. A is a square plan, to be covered with a Hip-Roof. To find the length of
the hip-rafter, draw the diagonals « b and c d, which will bisect each other at right
angles at e; make e/ equal to the height of the roof, and draw a f, which will be
the length of the hip-rafter. To find the bevel of the back, draw i k at right angles
with a e, to cut it in any point, as h, place one foot of the compasses in Ji and extend
the other to the back of the rafter af, and describe a semicircle to cut the base-line
a e at ^; then draw g i and g k, which will be the backing of the hip, as is shown
by the level at B. But the best way of working it is by the side-bevel at C, which
is made by drawing / k parallel to a e.
Fig. B is an oblong rectangular plan, to be covered with a ridge in the middle.
Make c d on the ridge equal to half the width a h, and draw a d ; at right angles to
which make d e equal to the height of the roof, and draw a e, which will be the
length of the hip-rafters. As these may also answer for sky-lights, and the hip-
rafters of those are sometimes mitred together, the bevel for the mitre is here given.
Fig. C is the same plan as the foregoing, to be covered Avithout any ridge. Draw
two diagonal lines to cross each other in the centre ate; draw c/ equal to the
height of the Roof and at right angles with a c, and draw a /the hip-rafter. To
find the backing, draw m b at right angles with a c, and proceed as in the former
cases, when the two bevels D and E will be found by making their stocks parallel to
32 THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT.
the base-line a c. At F is given the bevel for mitring hips for sky-lights, found by
drawing o p a.t right lines with the diagonal or base-hne.
Fig. D is an octangular plan. The hips are found in the same manner as the
preceding. By making the height a b at right angles to one of the base-lines, the
bevel is shown at E. -
Fig. E is the plan whose sides are parallel, but the ends out of square. To fiod
the hips, on each end, as a diameter, draw a semicircle, and from the two cenjfes
draw the ridge ; where the semicircles cross this, will be the points to draw the wise-
lines for the hips. The bevels F and G are found as before directed.
PLATE 40.
Centres for Arches.
In making centres, the manner in which the framing is strained should be well
understood, as frequently a piece of timber which is intended to form a tie, and
framed to answer the end of one, will, by an alteration of the pressure on the centre,
in turning the arch, become a strut ; and so vice versa, a strut become a tie ; and
joints, which it was expected would be pressed hard, have become open, and required
strapping to secure them.
Fig. A will explain a simple trussing for a centre. It is alwaj's expected that
the abutments for the arch are sufficient for the centre ; and that a tie beam across
the bottom is useless. Supposing the footing a and b are secure, any two pieces of
timber, as a c and c b, connected at c like rafters, and footing at a and b, will bear
any pressure at c, both acting as struts ; and, unless they bend, the centre will not
vary its shape at the point c. The same may be said of a d and d b, and also of a e
and e b.
It is on this principle the centre, fig. B, is drawn, a and b being the abutments,
and c d and e corresponding with the same letters in fig. A, the pieces/^ /* and i
are both ties and struts ; and the joining of k and / into h should be made like
the footing of rafters, as /i is a tie for them while it forms a strut in a line with
m and n to bear the pressure on the centre at c. In this frame the scantling is
all short. If timber could be procured long enough to reach the length of the
three pieces m h and n, it would be better to make it in one piece, and halve all
the joints ; the posts op and y might then be in two thicknesses, and notched out
to receive the frame between them, r and s arc the striking-wedges by which the
centre is lowered, after the arch is turned ; t and u the blocking by which it is sup-
ported.
It is of considerable importance, in making centres for large arches, that the prin-
ciple of equilibration or balancing of arches should be understood. By this is meant,
that the line of the arch should be of such a curve, as to have no tendency in any
part either to rise or fall. This curve is found by taking a chain of equal weight
throughout, and suspending it from two points placed as far apart as the arch is to
span, and allowed to sag till it touches a third point, placed equidistant from the
others, and so far from a right line connecting them as the arch is to rise ; the chain
PLA TE 40.
D
I '[.ATE 11.
t
S
^
PLATE 4'2.
Sca.lt • ^ f^ct jp
THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT. 33
will then describe the true curve of an arch, which, supposing the materials to be
all equal in weight, M'ill have no tendency to rise or fall in one part more than in
another. This is called the Catenarian Curve, and is represented by fig. C, a and b
being the points of suspension of the chain and the span of the arch, and c d the
rise of the arch. It frequently happens that the arch is loaded more in one part
than another, as in a bridge filling up over the haunches to level the road. To
counterbalance this, and preserve the equilibration of the arch, draw a section of
the filling up, but with the drawing turned with the upper edge downwards, as d ef,
fig. C; divide along this any number of equal parts, as at 1, 2, 3, &c., and sus-
pend to the chain a c b pieces of chain, of the same make from the points g h i k,
&c., so as they may fall over the divisions 1 2 3, &c. These chains being cut so
as to just reach the line of the road, d e f, will represent the filling in over the
haunches, and will make the chain a c b the form of an arch that will be equally
balanced.
In fig. D, I have given a curve which will be pretty near the Catenarian ; but
drawn from centres with compasses. « is the centre of the small part at top, and b
and c the centres of the other parts.
PLATE 41.
Of Stairs.
Fig. a is the plan of an open Newel Stairs, with two quarter-paces ; and B
is an elevation of the same ; C being that part which is between the two quarter-
paces.
To draw the Ramp of the Rail.
When a section of the steps is drawn, place the newel posts in their places, making,
them fair with the front edge of the steps, and draw the hand-rail, making it 2 feet
from the top of the steps to the top of the rail. Lay off the balusters, and let the
mitre or key of the rail come on the first baluster. This gives the height of the first
newel post. Make the othpr posts all the same height ; continue the line of the bot-
tom of the rail up till it strikes the edge of the newel post at a, fig. B ; place one foot
of the compasses on a, as a centre, and extend the other to b at the top of the rail
on the post, and draw the arc b c ; then draw c d square with the top of the rail till
it meets the level of the rail on the post continued, asb d ; then will d be the centre
for sweeping the Ramp.
PLATE 42.
A is the plan, and B the section or elevation, of a circular or geometrical
Stairs. In drawing the plan, I have made the circular steps to come beyond
the centre of the circular part the width of one square step. By that means the
I
34 THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT.
ends of the circular steps are made wider, and the difference in the rake of the
hand-rail, between the square and circular steps, is not so great as it otherwise
would be.
Fig. C shows the manner of drawing a bracket, for the ends of the circular steps,
which shall correspond with oae made for a square step, C is the square-step
bracket. Draw any number of parallel lines across this, as 1 2, and those par-
allel to it ; then, from the point c, draw c d at any angle, and equal in length
to the circular bracket ; draw ordinates from the lines in C, as 2 3, and those parallel
to it, touching the line c d; continue those lines at right angles with r rf, as 3 4,
and those parallel to it ; take the distance of the ordinates, from tke line e r to
the edges of the bracket C, and mark them on the corresponding line in the short
bracket, from the line d c, and through those points trace the form of the circular
bracket.
PLATE 43.
To draw the scroll for a Hand-rail.
Make a circle three inches and a half in diameter, as a b c d, fig. A ; within this
make a square, equal to one-third the diameter of the circle, as efg h; divide this
into 36 small squares, as is represented in fig. B on its full size, and laid in the same
position as in A, and with the centres numbered by which the scroll is drawn ; place
one foot of the compasses on 1 in the square, and extend them to c, and draw round
to 1 on the edge of the Rail ; then set the compasses in 2 in the square, and extend-
ing them to 1 draw round to 2 on the edge, and so on till the whole is drawn round
to 6. To draw the outside of the Rail, set in its thickness from 6 to 12, and go back
by the same numbers, and the scroll will be complete.
To draw the Curtail-step.
At i k, in fig. A, place the thickness of a baluster, and set out to / the projection
of the nosing ; with the same centres, used for drawing the scroll, draw this round
till it meets the nosing at the end of the step, drawn with the same projection. The
thickness of the balusters, being set off, may be drawn round in the scroll, and they
may be spaced off, making them the same distance apart that the other balusters
are.
To draw the Face-mould.
Draw the pitch-boar^ / k I, fig. A, making the base k I cut the scroll as near its
centre or widest part as possible. Draw ordinates or parallel lines, as m 7i, op, q r,
&c. across the scroll ; draw the line i I, in fig. C, and make the spaces I w x y, &:c.
in fig. C, agree with the spaces / lo x y, &c. on the line / /, in fig. A ; draw lines
through those points, in fig. C, at right angles with / /, as m n o p, &c. Take the
distances from the line k I to the edge of the scroll at A, and transfer them to C, as
m n, p, &c. taking to the edge of the rail, both inside and outside. Through these
points the Face-mould C may be traced with a steady hand ; continue the line of the
^^^TE -l^i^
^^.A TR 44.
'
(
«
1
i
■ M ! i
PLATE 45
THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT. 35
pitch-board in A up till it strikes the riser of the second step, as from 8 to 7, and set
that space off at C from 8 to 7; at Avhich place square over a strong mark, the use
of which will be explained hereafter.
To draw the Falling-mould.
Draw the pitch-board at D ; take off one-sixth from the bottom, and draw the line
116s; take the distance from 1 1 to 6 in A, and set it from 11 to 6 in D ; make the
distance from 6 to s in D equal to the distances round the rail from 6 to s in A (being
any distance beyond the first quarter) by tracing round with a small space in the
compasses ; divide the rake of the rail on the pitch-board, and the level of it out to
s, into any equal number of parts ; and, by drawing intersecting lines, the top of the
rail is given.
The Falling-mould for the outside is drawn in the same manner ; excepting the
distance from 12 to 9 is taken from the outside of the rail from 12 to 9, fig. A.
In applying these to use, the mark at 7 on C should be made to correspond with
the edge a 6 of the pitch-board in the Falling-moulds D and E.
PLATE 44.
In this Plate are given two more examples of scrolls of different sizes ; B and D
contain the centres for drawing, both figured. It may be well here to observe, that,
in drawing the scroll, a line should be drawn from the centre about to be used
through the one used last, out to the edge of the scroll. This shows where to com-
mence the sweep for that quarter. The dotted lines in A and C will make this
clearer.
PLATE 45.
To draw the Moulds for an Elliptical Stair.
The plan of the rail being drawn, and the ends of the steps being all of equal
width on the rail, it should be divided round into as many equal parts as there are
steps ; then take the tread of any number of steps, suppose 8, and let h h fig. H be
the tread of 8 steps ; on the perpendicular h m set up the height of 8 risers, and
draw the line m h which will be the under edge of the falling Mould. The Student
will observe, that this falling Mould will be a straight line, excepting a little turn at
the landing. Next mark the plan of the rail into as many parts as there are to be
pieces in the rail (in this there are three), then draw a chord-line to the joints, as at
E C and G ; also draw lines parallel to the chords to touch the convex sides of the
rail, Bishh; from every joint draw perpendiculars to their respective chords. Now, the
tread of the middle piece at C being just 8 steps, and the section H being for the
36 THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT.
same number, set up A m n in B equal to h m n in H, and make i A in B equal in
hei<^ht to i /i in H ; then draw n i and draw the ordinates 1 «, 1 2 6, 1 3 c, &c. con-
tinued till they touch the line n i ; prick off the ordinates on the face-mould from
the plan C agreeably to the figuring, and trace the Mould through those points, and
it will be complete.
The Moulds for D, and F, being only for 6 steps each, the tread of 6 steps should
be set off from i^ to H in fig. H, and the height H A: / set up from the chord-lines at
D and F. As for the rest, it is the same as B.
PLATE 46.
To draw the Moulds for glueing Hand-rails in Veneers.
Draw a plan of the rail, as A, on which mark the steps. The twisted part of the
rail, which is to be veneered, should reach over one of the square steps, both at top
and bottom ; make a 6 in fig. B equal to stretch out of the outside or greatest circle
in fig. A, and a c equal to the height of the rises ; again, rf e is the compass of the
lesser circle, set in the middle between a and b ; and d f \s the height of the steps
the same as before ; therefore the triangle a b c is the pitch-board for the inside
falling Mould, and 6 m o at bottom and i A c at top are the pitch-boards of two com-
mon steps ; which lines, when intersected, will give the under line of the inside falling
Mould. In the same manner df e, with the two common steps k g f at the top and
e I n Sit the bottom, will give the under line of the outside falling Mould. The top
lines are only drawn parallel of the under side to the thickness of the rail.
In applying them to practice, draw a line t p to touch the Mould in two places.
This will represent the edge of the plank. Next square over several lines, as p q,
where the Moulds intersect, and at / a r, square over on the plank-lines corresponding
with these, and mark oft^ from the edge of the plank the distances p q and / s on one
side, and t r on the other ; make the Moulds agree with these points, each one on
its proper side, and mark ofi' the rail. The plank, being of a sufficient thickness to
allow for the saw-curfs, will, when cut out, and twisted, become square, and of the
proper size.
PLATE 47.
In this Plate is shown the manner of drawing the section of an eave. After the
form of the cornice is fixed on, a section of it should be drawn, either by a proper
scale, or to its full size, and then the joist should be drawn with its lower edge on
the plancre. From the top of the cornice draw the pitch of the roof, and from that
set down the lath, rafters, &c. and it will show the proper place for the raising-piece.
PL A TE 46.
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THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT. 37
To proportion the Cornice to the height of the Building.
Divide the whole height into nineteen parts ; one of these will be the height of the
Cornice. This is a general rule, which may be varied to suit circumstances ; as in a
very high building, a steeple, for instance, it would be too much ; and in a very low
one, it would be rather too little ; and, as every thing is in some degree regulated by
fashion, this should be attended to. The present fashion would be something smaller
than the above proportion.
PLATE 48.
Drawing Plans and Elevations.
In this Plate is given a Plan and Elevation of a small house. The Student, in
drawing a Plan, will suppose the building to be raised just above the principal floor,
and the wall made level all round ; and draw his plan to resemble it as near as
possible ; placing the partitions, doors, and windows in their proper places. The
stairs should be drawn for the whole story, to show where the landing for the next
story will be. In drawing the ground-plan, it will considerably enliven the drawing
to give the appearance of a shadow on one side of the wall, by drawing one line
thicker than the other. To do this, he will suppose the light to come from the left
hand upper corner of the drawing, and make the lines on the right hand and lower
side of the walls and partitions thick, and the other sides thin lines. This will be
better understood by closely inspecting the Plans that follow.
PLATE 49,
Is a design for a large building. The dotted lines A B, C D, and E F show the
place on the ground-plan, through which the sections in the three following Plates
are drawn ; the letters on the sections corresponding with the letters on the plans.
The plan in this Plate is for the principal story or first floor,
and may be disposed of as follows.
n Portico.
h Hall. This is an octagon with the ceiling vaulted, and includes in its height the
mezanine, or small story between the two principal ones. See section of Plate 38.
c Vestibule. This is lighted from a sky-light, and at the second story has a
gallery which gives a communication with the different rooms. See section of Plate 38.
d Stairs.
e Saloon. This room includes in its height the mezanine, and has a music gallery.
See section of Plate 40.
y Dining-room, with a recess for a sideboard.
g Library.
h Breakfast-parlor.
/ Back-stairs.
K
38 THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT.
PLATE 50,
Contains a section of the same building as the foregoing, with the plan for
tlie cellar or basement story.
In drawing a section, the Student will pay strict attention that it agrees in all its
parts with the plans for the different stories, and that the section represents the
building, as it were, cut through from top to bottom, on the line of the plan, from which
it is taken. A little liberty indeed may be taken with stairs, as, when the section
cuts through them, to represent half of them would not be as clear as if all were
shown.
The plan of this Plate may be disposed of as follows, viz.
a Maid-servants' room. The small stair gives a communication with the mezanine,
and chamber over the library.
b House-keeper's room,
c Servants' hall.
d Back-stairs.
e Kitchen.
f Men-servants' room.
g h and i Beer and Wine-cellars, &c.
PLATE 51.
The same building continued. The plan is for the mezanine, or small story
between the two principal stories. Of this, a b c and d are the upper parts of the
saloon, stairs, vestibule, and hall ; the others are small rooms for servants, &c.
Mezanine stories, or, as they are sometimes called, mezetti, are of use in a large
building, where souie of the rooms are so large as to require more height than com-
mon rooms, to be well proportioned ; the mezanine being thrown into the height of
the large rooms. And they also afford convenient chambers for servants, more
particularly those whose business it is to attend on the Master and Mistress, by
affording a room immediately under the chambers occupied by them, with a private
stairs for communication. Were it not for this, in very large buildings, the Servants
would frequently be unavoidably lodged at a considerable distance from the Heads
of the Family.
PLATE 52.
The same continued. The plan is for the second story, in which
a is the vestibule, with a gallery of communication from the stairs to the different
rooms.
b and c two chambers, with each an antichamber or dressing-room. The rest are
private chambers ; except d and e, which are stairs.
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PLATE 50.
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THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT. 43
House, a habitation, or a building constructed for sheltering a man's person and
goods from the inclemencies of the weather, and the injuries of ill-disposed persons.
Houses differ in magnitude, being of two or three and four stories ; in the materials
of which they consist, as wood, brick, or stone ; and in the purposes for which they
are designed, as a manor-house, farm-house, cottage, &c.
Ancient Rome consisted of 48,000 houses, all insulated or detached from each
other.
It is a thing principally to be aimed at, in the site or situation of a country-house,
or seat, that it have wood and water near it.
It is far better to have a house defended by trees than hills ; for trees yield a cool-
ing, refreshing, sweet, and healthy air and shade, during the heat of the summer,
and very much break the cold winds and tempests from every point in the winter.
The hills, according to their situation, defend only from certain windt< ; inid if they
are on the north side of the house, as they defend from the cold air m winter, so
they also deprive you of the cool refreshing breezes, which are commonly blown
thence, in the summer. And if the hills are situate on the south side, they then prove
also very inconvenient. A house should not be too low seated, since this precludes
the convenience of cellars. If you cannot avoid building on low grounds, set the
first floor above the ground, the higher, to supply what you want to sink in your
cellar in the ground ; for in such low and moist grounds, it conduces much to the
dryness and healthiness of the air, to have cellars under the house, so that the floors
be good and ceiled underneath. Houses built too high, in places obvious to the
winds, and not well defended by hills or trees, require more materials to build them,
and more also of reparations to maintain them ; and they are not so commodious to
the inhabitants as the lower built houses, which may be built at a much easier rate,
and also as complete and beautiful as the other. In houses not above two stories
with the ground-room, and not exceeding twenty feet to the wall plate, and upon a
good foundation, the length of two bricks, or eighteen inches for the heading course,
will be sufficient for the ground-work of any common structure, and six or seven
courses above the earth to a water-table, where the thickness of the walls abated,
or taken in, on either side the thickness of brick, najjely, two inches and a
quarter.
For large and high houses, or buildings of three, and four, or five stories, with the
garrets, the walls of such edifices ought to be from the foundation to the first
water-table, the heading courses of brick, or twenty-eight inches at least; and at
every story a water-table, or taking in the inside for the girders and joints to rest
upon, laid into the middle, or one quarter of the wall at least, for the "better bond.
But as for the innermost or partition wall, a half brick will be sufticicntly thick ; and
for the upper stories, nine inches or a brick's length will suffice.
We cannot multiply rules for the different parts of a house ; since these must be
modified by a variety of circumstances, in which the skill and judgment of the archi-
tect must direct : but we shall conclude this article with expressing a wish that con-
trivers of buildings would avail themselves more of an important modern discovery
in natural history, viz. the superior levity of infectious and unwholesome air. The
44 THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT.
upper sashes in most houses are too frequently immovable ; in consequence of which,
no part of the foul air above the*level of the lowest rail of the other sash's greatest
rise can escape by the window ; and if it escapes by the doors, it is generally for
want of a vent in the highest part of the roof, merely to accumulate in the upper
story of the house, and add to the infection which the great quantities of old furni-
ture usually stored up there arc of themselves apt to create. Thus the chief advantage
to be expected from lofty rooms is in a measure lost, whereas, were the upper sashes
contrived so as to draw down, all the air might be easily changed, and that almost
insensibly, by letting them down an inch or two. The upper sash might be often
let down entirely, with less danger or inconvenience from cold, than the lower, thrown
up the tenth part of an inch : though the doing of the former would be infinitely the
most beneficial. It is perhaps on this principle that we are to account for the good
health enjoyed by the poor who live crowded in damp cellars, and often with great
numbers of rabbits, poultry, and even swine, about them. These cellars are open to
the street, with doors reaching from the floor to the very ceiling, but never so close
at bottom or at top as to prevent a free circulation of air ; in consequence of which,
that vivified fluid, as fast as it is spoiled by passing through the lungs of the inhabit-
ants and their stock, or is infected by their insensible perspiration, excrements, &c.
is driven out, and replaced by the fresh air.
PLATE 59.
Plmi and Elevation of a Design for a County Town House.
A, the porch. B, vestibule. C, saloon. D, best staircase. E, dining-room. F,
drawino^-room. G, library and study. H, private domestic staircase. I, china closet.
K, parlor or breakfast room. L, conservatory. M, servants' piazza. N, family
piazza.
PLATE 60.
Plan and Elevation of a design for a Country Bank thirty feet wide, by fifty feet
in length. •
A, the private entrance to the dwelling part of the Building, to be occupied by one
of its officers : the stairs communicate to a kitchen, parlor, and pantries, under the
rear of the banking-room and vaults. B C, also to a drawing-room and chambers
over the second floor, and domestic chamber of the roof. B, the note and specie
vault. C, the vault for the books and other valuable papers, and records. D, double
iron doors, formed on the most approved principles. E, niches for book-cases, &c.
F, a table. G, the counter, and location of the note-desk. H, the receiving teller's
desk. I, the paying teller's desk. K, the grate which admits the warm air frjora
a furnace below. L L, long tables, with drawers. M, the space or jiassage'of
access for business, to the several officers. N, president's room. O, cashier's room.
P, entrance, Q, steps to the entrance. R R, two descending sets of steps leading
to offices under the president's and cashier's rooms, as well as to the director's room
in the rear. It is here designed to form the floor and ceiling of the first floor fire-
HOrSE
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THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT. 45
proof, of brickwork ; the banking room M to be grooved, and all the other rooms to
be with barrel or cylindrical arches, and the roof covered with slate.
This building should be insulated at least twenty feet on either side, at S S, so as
to afford sufficient light to the main room M, and secure from fire of the neighboring
houses. A Bank has recently been executed by Mr. John Haviland, Architect, of
Philadelphia, the author of this work, at Pottsville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania,
and every feature of the front (not excepting the moulded cornices) formed of cast
iron, in imitation of marble ; and it is believed to be the first and only example of
this material being employed in the wholey«caf?e. The iron plates are cast in lengths
and form corresponding with the size and jointing of the stone-work, backed in with
masonry two feet thick, and secured to the same by wrought iron ties, two and three
to each plate : when finished, the whole was well painted and sanded with white sand,
which gave the surface a very beautiful and uniform texture of stone, free from gloss
and at the same time prevented its rusting. It is very much to be regretted that
this valuable material is not more frequently used, as a substitute for the more perish-
able ones of wood, and expensive one of marble, or cut free-stone. Iron is not
only more fire-proof, durable, and stronger, than wood, but also more economical
and favorable to embellishment, than the marble or cut free-stone. When duplicates
are required, the labor of carved and moulded work in one pattern, answers for all.
The following Plates I have been induced to give, as containing four difl^erent
varieties in Architecture. Of these, it is difficult to say which is the most perfect.
PLATE 61,
Contains a draft of the Frame of the Bridge constructed, by a Company incor-
porated for that purpose, over the Schuylkill, at the west end of High or Market-
street ; with a section of the Bed of that River.
The westernmost pier of this Bridge is sunk in a depth of water, unexampled in
Hydraulic Architecture, in any part of the world ; the top of the rock on which it
stands being 41 feet 9 inches below common high tides. Both piers were built within
Coflfer-dams. The dam for the western pier was of origyial and peculiar construction :
the design furnished by William Weston, Esq. of Gainsborough, in England, a
celebrated Hydraulic Engineer. An idea of its magnitude may be formed, when it
is known that 800,000 feet of timber (board measure) were unavoidably employed
in and about it. It was executed, under the orders of the Building Committee of the
Board, consisting of the President and four, and sometimes five, Directors (to whom
the master^workmen express great obligations) by Samuel Robinson, of ttyg* city.
Every disadvantage to which such difficult undertakings are subject (the rock being,
in sundry parts, nearly bare, and aflbrding no footing for the piles) opposed the
progress of this. So that it could not be ready for the commencement of the masonry,
until the 25th of December, when the first stone was laid ; and the work continued,
in a severe winter, to the height then proposed.
The stone-work was done by Thomas Vickers, under the orders, and with the
advice and constant attention, of the same Committee ; assisted, on emergencies,
by all the Members of the Board, and the Treasurer, who was eminently useful on
every occasion. The masonry is executed on a plan suggested to the mason, uncom-
m M
46 THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT.
mon, if not new. The walls of the Abutments and Wings a.xe perpendicular, without
buttresses ; and supported by interior offsets. These are found completely competent
to support the pressure of the filling, without haltering or contreforts. The Abutments
are 18 feet thick: the Wing-walls, 9 feet at the foundations; retiring, by offsets,
till at the parapets they are only 18 inches. The eastern abutment and wing-walls
are founded on a rock. Those on the western side, are built on piles. There are
upwards of 7500 tons of Masonry in the western pier. Many of the stones, com-
posing both piers, weigh from 3 to 12 tons. A number of massive chains are
stretched, in various positions, across the piers. These are worked in with the
masonry ; the exterior whereof is clamped, and finished in the most substantial
and workmanlike manner.
The Frame of the superstructure was designed and erected by Timothy Palmer,
of Newburyport, in Massachusetts. It is a masterly piece of workmanship ; com-
bining, in its principles, that of King-posts and Braces with that of a Stone arch.
Half of each post, w ith the brace between them, w ill form the vousseur of an arch ;
and lines through the middle of each post would describe the radii, or joints. The
letters a h c, &c, in the draught, refer to the same letters below ; where the manner
of connecting the timbers together, is shown on a larger scale. The position of the
letters is the same, with respect to each piece, in both places. Two of these, a and
6, are double, or in two thicknesses. There are 3 sections of the Frame, similar to
the one represented. That in the middle divides the space into two equal parts ; so
that those passing, in opposite directions, are prevented from interfering with each
other. The Platform for travelling rises only 8 feet from a horizontal line ; and the
Top or Cap-pieces, are parallel to this. Of the sections, the middle one has the
most pressure ; owing to the weight of transportation hieing thrown nearer to that
section than towards the sides ; to which the footways prevent its approach. These
footways are 5 feet in width ; elevated above the carriage-ways, and neatly protected
by posts and chains. T. Palmer is the original inventor of this kind of Wooden-
bridge Architecture. He permitted, with much candor, considerable alterations in
the plan, on which he had erected several Bridges in New England. These were
accommodatory to the intended Cover, and were so much approved by him, that he
considers the Schuylkill Bridge superstructure the most perfect of any he has built.
After the erection of the Frame, the Editor was employed by the President and
Directors to perform the workmanship of the covering, agreeably to a design fur-
nished by them to him. This design of the Cover being original, it is more surprising
that it has not many faults, than that few, if any, can be found ; especially, as an
accommodation to the Frame created unavoidable difficulties. The Editor was per-
mitted to make some additions, with the approbation of the Building Committee. He
feels Itself grateful for the assistance he has had ; and in participating with those
who preceded him, in the approbation of the work, by the Board and their Committee.
At their suggestion, the under-work of the side covering is done in imitation of
masonry, by sprinkling the work with stone-dust on the painting, while fresh. The
smalting or sprinkling was performed with so much ease and cheapness, that it is
hoped it will introduce a like mode of ornamenting and protecting the surface
of wooden elevations, of other descriptions, where protection and ornament are
required.
Commodious Wharves, on each side of the river, have been made by the Com-
pany ; not only to protect the foundations of the abutments and wings, but with a
/*
THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT. 47
view to profit. They co-operate with the other improvements, to give a new and
interesting front to our city.
It is a peculiar and interesting fact, that (except the vahiable assistance rendered
in its commencement by W. Weston, who was then about returning to England) no
scientific Engineer has been employed, in any part of this great undertaking. Neither
the Board, nor their Committee, who have been constantly and actively engaged in all
stages of the Work, profess a scientific knowledge of Hydraulic Architecture ;
thouorh they have now gained much practical experience. Yet difficulties have been
encountered, and overcome, which would have called forth the talents, and practical
knowledge, of the ablest Engineer. The Mechanics and W^orkmen (T. Palmer and
his Assistants excepted) had, from the beginning of the undertaking, new and
unknown branches of their business to learn. Even T. Palmer is self-tmigld in the
art of Wooden-bridge building ; though he has carried it to such high perfection.
It is, however, believed that this Bridge, in all its parts, both of masonry and wood-
work, will not suffer by a comparison with one, so composed, in any part of the
world. Its workmanship and materials will stand the test of the most rigid scrutiny.
Both the plan and its execution reflect credit upon those concerned in the enter-
prise. So far as I have information, this is now the oi\\y*covered wooden Bridge, in
any country, except, perhaps, one over the Limmat, built by the same Swiss car-
penter who erected that of Schaufl'hausen, since destroyed. I have frequently seen
and carefully inspected the draughts of this much-celebrated Bridge, and I am con-
fident that any intelligent and candid Architect, on examining the principles of both,
would give a decided preference to the Schuylkill Bridge. The design is more
simple, its strength is greater, its parts are better combined and more assistant to
each other, and there is no useless timber, or unnecessary complexity, in any part.
What I have just observed, as to those engaged in the direction or execution of the
work of the Schuylkill Bridge, is not intended as adulatory, or disparaging, to any
persons. But I have an ardent hope that others, in similar undertakings, will be
animated by their successful example ; when laboring under the same, or greater
disadvantages, arising from the want of experienced and scientific Professors of
Architecture ; although, where these can be had, for great undertakings, they ought,
undoubtedly, to be employed.
As a well-wisher to all public improvements, as a mechanic, and one employed to
close this eminently useful erection, I think it my duty to mention, and feel a
sensible satisfaction in adding to the foregoing account ;
That I have experienced the important advantages of ready and beneficial advice ;
clear, prompt, and explicit orders ; and timely and ample supplies. Not a moment
has been lost by delay and hesitation in directions, want of provision of materials,
or deficiency, in punctuality of payment. This has been constantly the case, through
the whole progress of the business, as the workmen, preceding me in its more
difficult stages, have testified. Though heavj' expenditures have been inevitably
required, the greatest attention to economy has been practised.
No interested or personal motives induce me to mention these circumstances.
They are exemplary ; and essential to insure the completion of any extensive enter-
prise. To them, I am persuaded, is to be chiefly attributed, the success of this
arduous work. From inattention, or incapacity in these indispensable requisites,
many public as well as private undertakings in all countries have failed ; and Com-
munities, and the individuals employed in them, have been involved in disappointment
and distress ; if not in irretriemj)le ruin.
48 THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT.
The Bridge was six years in building, and cost about 300,000 dollars, including
the cash-moiety of the purchase of the site ; for which 40,000 dolls, were paid to
the City Corporation ; half in cash, and half in Bridge-shares.
fl. in.
Length of the Bridge 550 00
Abutments and wing-walls 750 00
Total length 1300 00
Span of small arches, each 150 00
Ditto of middle arch 194 10
AVidth of the Bridge 42 00
Curvature of the middle arch 12 00
Ditto of small arches 10 00
Amount of toll, when the work began, for the year 1799, arising from the Floating-bridge - -$5,000
Present amount of toll on an average (1805) the rates of toll in several instances being lower
than over the old Floating-bridge 13,600
Tolls received for the year 1832 ♦ 22,049 29
ft. in.
Curvature or rise of the carriage-way or road 8 00
Height in the clear over carriage-way - - 13 00
Ditto from the surface of the river to the
carriage-way 31 00
Thickness of the pier 20 00
Length of ditto 62 00
Depth of water to the rock at the western pier 41 9
Ditto at the eastern pier 21 00
PLATE 62.
•■ The Bank of Pennsylvania.
This beautiful Building is entirely of Marble, and is a neat specimen of the Ionic
Order, taken from an ancient Greek Temple. The design was given by, and the
building erected under the superintendence of, Benjamin H. Latrobe. The front
extends 51 feet in width, and the whole building, including the Porticos front and
back, is 125 feet in depth. This building was three years in hand, and was finished
in the year 1799.
PLATE 63.
The Girard Bank.
This superb Building is an elegant specimen of the Corinthian Order ; the propor-
tions taken from a Roman Temple, called the Maison Quarree, at Nismes, in the
south of France. The front extends 94 feet by 72 deep, exclusive of the Portico.
The design was given by Samuel Blodget, of this city, and was built about the
year 1795.
PLATE 64,
Contains an elevation of the Steeple of Christ Church, in Second street, which,
for the justness of its proportions, simplicity and symmetry of its parts, is allowed
by good judges to be equal if not superior in beauty to any Steeple, of the spire kind,
either in Europe or America. It was erected in the year 1755, by Robert Smith,
who some time after took out the sills of the wooden part, which had begun to decay,
and replaced them by others.
The superstructure of this Steeple is composed of three distinct well-proportioned
parts of Architecture; the first story, with its small Pediments and Attics, forming
one ; the octagonal part, with its ogee-formed Dome, being the second ; and the spire
and its pedest^al, the third. These three parts are very dissimilar ; no one having
anything in it that is common to the others ; and yet they agree very well with each
other, forming one complete and consistent whole.
PLATE ai'.
Ji
PLATK 03.
INSERT FOLDOUT HERE
A DICTIONARY
TERMS USED IN ARCHITECTURK
ABA— BAL
A.
ABACUS, the upper member of a column, which
serves as a covering to the capital ; to the Tuscan,
Doric, and Ionic, *it is square ; to the modern Ionic
and Corinthian, each side is arched, or cut inwards,
and is decorated in the centre with a flower or
other ornament.
Acanthus, a plant, whose leaves form an ornament
in the Corinthian capital, and ai-e said to have
originally given rise to that order.
AcROTERiA, a kind of base, placed on the angles of
pediments, usually for the support of statues, &c.
Alae, Aisles ; also passages in theatres, houses, &c.
also in rooms, &c. the space between the walls and
the columns.
Amphitheatre, a place for exhibiting shows, very
spacious, of a round or oval figure, with many
seats rising on every side. The area in the middle
was called Arena, because it was covered with
sand, or sawdust, to prevent slipping, and to absorb
blood.
Annulet, a small square moulding;, which serves to
crown or accompany a larger, and to separate the
flutings in columns.
Ant^, a species of pilasters on the extremity of a
wall, usually having no diminution ; nor do the
mouldings of their capitals or bases always resem-
ble those of the columns.
AauEDUCT, an artificial canal, built for the convey-
ance of water from one place to another, either
running under ground, or rising above it.
Arch, part of a circle or ellipsis.
Architrave, the lowest principal member of an en-
tablature, lying immediately upon the abacus of the
capital.
Astragal, a small round moulding with two an-
nulets.
Attic Base, Ionic base.
B.
Baluster, a small column, or pillar, of wood, stone,
&c. used on terraces or tops of buildings for orna-
ment, and to support railing, and, when continued,
form a balustrade.
Banister, an improper name for baluster.
49 N
BAN— CAU
Band, a general term for a low, flat, or square
member.
Base, the lower and projecting part of a column and
pedestal, on which the shaft is placed,
Butment, or Abutment, supporters, or props, on or
against which the feet of arches rest.
Buttress, a kind of butment, built sometimes arch-
wise, as in Gothic buildings ; a mass of stone
or brick work, serving to prop or support buildings,
walls, &c. on the outside, where their great height,
or weight, requires additional strength.
C.
Capital, the uppermost member of a column, which
is a crown or head thereto, placed immediately
over the shaft, and under the architrave. No
column is complete without a capital, which has a
distinguishing character for each order. Tuscan
and Doric capitals consist of mouldings ; Ionic
and Corinthian capitals, of leaves and other orna-
ments.
Cartouch, an ornament in sculpture representing a
scroll of paper, &c.
Caryatides, a kind of order in Architecture, in
which a female figure is applied instead of a pil-
lar ; the origin of which is thus handed down by
Vitruvius : The inhabitants of Caria, a city of
Peloponessus, made a league with the Persians
against their own nation ; but, the Persians being
worsted, they were afterwards besieged by the
victorious party, their city taken and reduced to
ashes, the men put to the sword, and the women
carried away captives. To perpetuate the memory
of this victory, the Conquerors caused public edifices
to be erected, in which, as a mark of degradation
and servility, the figures of the Captives were used
instead of columns, thus handing down to posterity
their servility and punishment. When figures of
the male sex arc used, they are called Persians or
Perses.
Cavetto, a concave moulding of one-quarter of a
circle.
Caulicoli, the little twists or volutes under the flower
on the abacus, in the Corinthian capital, represent
50
TERMS USED IN ARCHITECTURE.
CEL— COR
the twisted tops of the acanthus stalks ; are called
also Helices.
Cell, in an ancient temple, is the inclosed space within
the walls.
Centering, or Centre, the support of an arch while
the Masons are building it.
Cincture, a ring, list, or fillet, at the top and bottom
of the shaft of the column.
Circus, a large building for exhibiting equestrian ex-
ercises in.
Coffer-dam, a large frame constructed for the pur-
pose of erecting works on the bottom of deep
waters ; the Coffer-dam being water-tight, and sur-
rounding the place intended to work on, is emptied
of the water, and leaves the bottom bare.
Collar-beam, timbers placed across a roof from the
middle of one rafter to another.
CoLLARiN, or Collari.no, the neck or frieze of a Tus-
can or Doric capital.
Colonnade, a series or continuation of columns.
Column, a round pillar used in Architecture, to adorn
or support. Columns arc of four kinds ; the Tus-
cati, Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian, each of which
has its particular proportion. The term includes
the base and the capital.
Conge, a small moulding which serves to separate
larger ones ; called also List or Annulet.
Console, an ornament cut on the key-stone of arches,
with a projection, capable of supporting, busts,
vases, &c.
Contour, the outline of a figure, or piece of Archi-
tecture.
Coping of a wall, the top or covering made sloping
to throw off water.
CoRBF.iLLE, carved work, representing a basket with
fruits or flowers, serving as a finish to some other
ornament. It sometimes is applied to the vase of
the Corinthian capital, the word originally meaning
a basket.
Corinthian order, one of the n)ur orders of Archi-
tecture.
Cornice, the upper assemblage of members in an
entablature, commencing at the frieze. Each order
has its particular cornice, with suitable enrichments.
To the Tuscan it is quite plain ; to the Doric are
added gutta; or bells in the sojit ; the Ionic has
plain niodillions ; the Corinthian is much enriched,
and has niodillions.
Corona, a large Hat and strong member in a cornice ;
Ctdled also the Drip or Larnwr. Its use is to screen
the under part of the work, and, from its shape, to
prevent the water running down the column. It
has always a large projection, to answer its pro-
posed use.
Corridor, a gallery or passage in large buildings,
which leads to distinct apartments.
CUP— FRO
Cupola, a round roof or dome, in the form of an in-
verted cup.
Cyma, Cima or Cymatium, a species of moulding,
which is generally the upper one to an entablature.
There are two sorts of Ibis moulding, the cyma
recta and cyma revcrsa, which is commonly called
an ogee.
D.
Dentil, an ornament resembling teeth, used in
Ionic and Corinthian cornices.
Die, the square or naked piece in a pedestal, that part
which is between the base and the capital.
Dome, a spherical roof. See Cupola.
Doric order, one of the four orders of Architecture.
Drops, or Guttce, in the Doric entablature, are small
inverted pyramids or cones, immediately under the
triglyph.
E.
Echinus, is properly the egg and anchor ornament,
peculiar to the Ionic capital. It is sometimes used
for the whole member, instead of ovalo.
Entablature, an ornament or assemblage of parts,
supported by a column or pilaster over the capital.
Each order of columns has a peculiar entablature,
divided into three principal parts ; the architrave,
which is divided into two or more yas«o, and rests
upon the capital. 'Yhe frieze is next, and may be
plain or ornamented. The cornice is the top or
crowning part.
F.
Facade, the front view or elevation of a building.
Fascia, a flat member in the entablature of an order,
representing a band or broad fillet in an architrave.
If divided, these divisions are called the first fascia,
the second fascia, &c.
Fillet. See Annulet.
Flutings, the hollows or channels, which are cut
perpendicularly in columns by way of ornament,
and which should always both begin and end in the
shaft, near the extremity of the aiwphyges ; though
there arc examples to the contrary. When flutings
are used, the capital should be enriched.
Foliage, an assemblage of leaves.
Fret, an ornament laid on jjlain narrow surfaces,
formed by one or more fillets running along in a
zigzag direction ; generally in right angles, and
keeping a S])ace between each fillet equal in width
to the fillet itself.
Frize, or Frieze, the middle member ofan entablature;
having the architrave below, and the cornice
above.
Frontispiece, sometimes signifies the whole face or
aspect of a building ; but is more properly applied
to the decorated entrance of a house.
TERMS USED IN ARCHITECTURE.
51
c
FUS— MOU
Fust, the shaft of a column, or that part which is
between the base and the capital.
G.
GlKDERS, large pieces of timber in flooring, laid from
one wall to another, when the distance is too great
for common joists.
Glyphs, the perpendicular channels cut in the tri-
glyphs of the Doric frieze.
Gothic, a peculiar style of Architecture, distinct
from the Grecian or Roman, derived from the
Goths, or rather from the Saracens.
Gcilloches, ornaments made by circular fillets cross-
ing and recrossing each other, generally encom-
passing a patera or flower.
H.
Hastmer-beam : when the ceiling of a large building
is vaulted, the tie-beam of the roof is broken in the
middle, and raised to admit of the curvature of the
ceiling ; the middle of the beam being secured to
the collar-beam, it is then called a hammer-beam.
I.
Impost, a facia or small cornice which crowns a pier
or pilaster, and from which an arch springs.
Insulated, standing alone, or detached from any
contiguous building, &c.
Intercohimniation, the space between two columns.
Ionic order, one of the four orders of Architecture.
K.
Key-stone, the highest stone of an arch ; to which a
projection is usually given, and which is sometimes
cut in ornaments.
King-post, the middle upright post in a set of princi-
pal rafters in large roofs ; being supported by the
rafters, it supports the middle of the beam, and
keeps it from sagging.
Lacunaria, panels or coffers in ceilings, or in the
soflits of cornices, &c.
M.
Metope, the interval or square space between the
triglyphs in the Doric frieze.
Mezzanine, or Mezzetti, small or low stories between
principal ones, used as servants' apartments.
Minute, an architectonic measure ; the lower diame-
ter of a column divided into sixty parts, each part
is a minute.
MoDiLLioN, an ornament resembling a bracket, in
■ the Ionic and Corinthian cornices.
Mouldings, those parts which project beyond the
base or perpendicular face of a wall, column, &c.
intended only for ornament, whether round, flat, I
MUT— PR!
or curved. The regular mouldings are 1st, the
list or annulet ; 2d, the astragal or head ; ."Jd, the
cyma reversa, or ogee ; 4th, the cyma recta ; 5th,
the cavttto, or hollow ; 6th, the ovolo, or quarter-
round ; 7th, the scolia ; 8th, the torus.
MuTULus, an ornament in the Doric cornice, answering
to a modillion in the Ionic and Corinthian entabla-
tures.
N.
Niche, a cavity or hollow in a wall for statues, &c.
O
Obelisk, a tall pyramid.
Ogee, a cyma reversa.
Order, in Architecture, a column entire, consisting
of base, shaft, and capital, with an entablature.
Ova, or omm. See Echinus.
OvoLO, a moulding which projects one-quarter of a
circle ; called also a quarter-round.
Pedestal, a square body on which columns, &c. are
placed.
Pediment, a low triangular ornament in the front of
buildings, and over doors, windows, &c.
Pier, a kind of pilaster or buttress, to support,
strengthen, or ornament. The pier of a bridge, is
the foot or support of the arch. The wall between
windows or doors. Also, square pillars of stone or
brick, to which gates are hung.
Perystylium, a range of columns or colonnade,
within a court or building like a cloister.
Piazza, a continued archway or vaulting, under
which to walk, &c.
Pilaster, a square pillar or column, usually placed
against a wall.
Pillar. This word is generally used in Architecture,
in common with Column ; though, strictly speaking,
they are different : thus, the supporters in Gothic
Architecture are pillars ; but can never be properly
termed columns, varying in shape and every par-
ticular from the latter.
Planceer, a reversed plan of a cornice or other
moulding ; or a view of the same from below.
Plat-band, any flat square moulding with little pro-
jection. The different fascias of an architrave are
called plat-bands ; the same is applied to the list
between flulings, &c.
Plinth, the lower member of a base.
Portico, a continued range of columns covered at
top, to shelter from the weather ; also, a common
name to buildings which have covered walks sup-
ported by pillars.
Prince-post, a post placed upright, in framing of
principal rafters, between the king-post and the
end of the tie-boam, giving additional support to the
tie-beam.
52
TERMS USED IN ARCHITECTURE.
PRI— SOF
Pbincipal rafters. Large roofs are supported by
sets of framing placed at from 8 to 10 feet apart:
these frames are generally composed of tie-beams,
king-posts, prince-posts, braces or trusses, and
rafters.
Profile, the outline or contour of any building, &c.
PiTRLiNEs, square pieces of timber laid from one set
of principal rafters to another ; on these are laid
the jack-rafters or small rafters to receive the
covering.
Pyramid, a structure which, from a square, triangu-
lar, or other base, rises gradually to a point.
Q.
Quarter-round, a moulding. See Ovolo.
Quoins, stones or other materials, put in the angles
of buildings, to strengthen them.
R.
Relievo, signifies the projection of any carved orna-
ment.
Rotunda, a building which is round, both within and
without.
Rustic. The term is applied to those stones in a
building which are hatched or picked in holes, re-
sembling ajiatural rough appearance.
S.
Saloon, a lofty, vaulted, spacious hall or apartment.
Scotia, a hollow moulding used in bases to columns.
Section of a building, represents it as if cut per-
pendicularly trom the roof downwards, and serves
to show the internal decorations and distribution.
Shaft, the trunk or body of a column, between the
base and the capital.
Soffit, the under part or ceiling of a cornice, which
is usually ornamented. The under part of the
corona is called the soffit. The word is also applied
to the ceiling of an arch, the under side of an
architrave, &c.
TEN— ZOC
T^NiA, the upper member of the Doric architrave ; a
kind of listel.
Tie-beams, large timbers forming the base-line of a
set of principal rafters.
Torus, or Tore, a large semicircular moulding, used
in the base of columns.
Transom, a piece placed over a door, when there is
to be an opening for light immediately over the door.
When the opening over is circular, it is generally
called an impost.
Triglyph, an ornament peculiar to the Doric frieze.
Truss, or Brace, pieces of timber used in framing, to
support the middle of any great span.
Tuscan order, one of the four orders of Archi-
tecture.
Tympanum, the flat surface or space within a pedi-
ment.
Vase, the body of a Corinthian capital ; also, an or-
nament used in Architecture, &c.
Vault, an arched roof, the stones or materials of
which are so placed as to support each other.
Volute, the scroll or spiral horn, used in Ionic
capitals.
W.
Wall-plate, a piece of timber laid on the top of a
wall, on which are laid the joists and framing of the
roof.
Z.
ZocLE, or Soccolo, a low square member, which
serves to elevate a statue, vase, &c. ; also, when a
range of columns is erected on one continued high
plinth, it is called a Zocle. It differs from a pedes-
tal, being without base or cornice.
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