The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-08-13
ImprGvcment in ScafoldinC.

RUTLAND La Sale Co, Aug |, 1879.
EplToR FREE TRADEE-SIR: 1t seems that
in this age Of mechanical contrivances,
something better than the common me
thod of scaiio!ding might be put into prac-
t!ce by some ingenious carpenter, for the
purpose of laying cornice, fitting siding,
hanging window blinds, and all other work
upon the walls of buildin:.too high TO
reach from the ground Every carpenter
knows what labor and trouble it is 20 build
scafold. around large building. TO say
nothing of waste Of nails AID lumber at
tending it.
Acting upon the above presumption |
have attempted to construct something
that would answer this end ! have sue
ceeded IN a manner equal to my most san
guine expectations. Ny machine Is de-
scribed below:
Two double crosses are made. each by
haivinc, or rather one-thirdinc three
pieces Of scantiing, nine feet long, toce-
thcr, the notch being so rear one end Of
one of the pieces as 10 admit being laid
near the wall The upper surface Of one
piece is now about !, inches above the
other two and the crosses are four feet
apart. Two scantling are now placed up
right on the crosses, and are held four feet
apart by means of Stats inserted into NOR
tees and pinned on the outside; on the tc!'
Of the uprights Is an axle carrying Crooy-
ed pulley at each end. These uprights are
held firmly to their places with long bra
ces. which reach from nearly the top to
the eXtremities Of the crosses. They may
be made of strips - inches square, and
firmly fastened with headed pins, or what
would be better, small iron bolts About
three feet from the bottom Of the uprights
is windlass, nearly three inches in dia-
meter \ platform ia now made some
VIVA; like a suspension bridge. 1t may be
made 10y cutting notchcs near the ends Of
two long by scantiings, and bending
.--o s.!.~- scantling and plac.n. their ends
in the uo;ches; afterward lot small strips
be nailed across TO truss them Provide
now q number of cross pieces, about i've
! feet long, with notches four feet apart,
made TO fit accurately over the top Of the
trussed scantling. These are for the pur-
/ pose Of laying the floor Of the platform up
/ on. Ropes are now fastened to the ends
/ of the tru>sed pieces, passed over the
/ grooved pulleys and round the windlass to
| elevate the platform to any height tina,
may be required. The swinging platform
is held steady Icy means of small braces
! from it 10 the uprights.
/ The advantage of the above continuance
consists in having the scaffold at a couye
nient height to enable one to work easy
1t may be elevated from one story TO ano
ther in moment; it saves nails and ma
terials which are destroyed III abundance
the common way 1t is all excellent con
trivance for elevating lumber and single!
to the roof of two story building. For ;
house painter it will be seen to possess pc
culiar advantages.
On the off side small work bench i
placed, to lay the joiner tools upon that i
may be necessary to use. Also, ii will b'
well to have plumb line to each of the
uprishts to make them truly perpendicu
lar, when set for use.
1t will be seen that the continuance may
easily be taken apart and moved from
place to place. WASHINGTON BRUMBAcH.