The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-07-10
How the Great Statae Was Made.

How the Great Statae Was Made.
Charles BARNARD has contributed to
the 81. Nichoas very graphic and
popular account of BarthOldi's great
Statue of Liberty, from which we make
the following extract: ''In the first
place, there had to be sketch or
model. This was figure of the statue
in clay, to give an idea of how it would
look. The public approved of this
model, and then the first real study of
the work was made-a plaster statue,
just One-sixteenth the size of the in
tended statue.
1.-The next step was to make another
model just four times as large, or one
fourth the size of the real statue. This
quarter size model being finished, then
came the task of making the full-size
model in plaster But this had to be
made in sections. For instance, the
the first section would include the base
on which the figure stood, the feet and
the hem of the garment The next
section would Include 4 circle quite
round the long flowing dress, just
above the hem. The third section
would stand above this and show more
of the folds of the dress, and reach
part way up to the knee. In like man.
ner the whole figure would be divided
into sections.
The quarter size model was first d.
vided in this way, and then to lay on.
the full-size plan it was only necessary
to make plan of each section four
times as large as the section actually
was in the model. Every part of the
model was covered with marks or dots
for guides, and by measuring from dot
to dot, increasing the measurement
four times, and then transferring it to
the larger model, an exact copy just
four times as large was made. For
each of these large sections, however.
there had to be support of some kind
before the plaster could be laid on.
Having marked on the floor an outline
plan of the enlarged section, a wooden
framework was built up inside the
plan. Then upon this framework
plaster was roughly spread. 1t soon re-
sembled. in a rude way, the cores
ponding section of the quarter sized
model, but was four times as large.
Then the workmen copied in this pile
of plaster every feature of the model
section, measuring and measuring,
again and again, from dot 10 dot, cor
recting by means of plumb-lines, and
patiently trying and retrying till an
exact copy-only in proportions four
times as large-waS attained.
The great irregularity of the
drapery made it necessary to put three
hundred marks on each section. besides
twelve hundred smaller guide marks.
in order to insure an exact correspond
ence in proportion between the en-
larged sections of the full size model
and the sections of the quarter-size
model. Each of these marks, more
over, had to be measured three times
on both models. and after that came all
the remeaSurements, to prove that not
single mistake had been made.
"Whcn these sections in plaster hal
been completed, then came the work
of making wooden molds that should
be exact copies both in size and model
ing of the plaster. These were all
carefully made by hand. 1t was long,
tedious and difficult. Each piece was
a mold of a part of the statue. exactly
fitting every projection, depression and
curve of that portion of the figure or
draperv. Into these wooden mOlds
sheets OF metal were laid, and pressed
or beaten down till they fitted the ir-
regular surfaces of the moldS. All the
repOtSse, or hammered work, was done
from the back, or inside. of the sheet.
If the mold is an exact copy of part
of the statue. it is easy to see that the
sheet of metal, when made to tit it,
VIII. when taken out and turned over,
be Il copy of that part of the statue.
These sheets were of copper, and
each was from one 10 three yards square.
Each formed Il part of the bronze statue,
and of course no two were alike.
.In this complicated manner, by
making first sketch, then q quarter
size model. then full-size model in
sections, then hundreds of wooden
copies, and lastly by beating into shape
three hundred sheets of copper, the
enormous statue was finished. These
three hundred bent and hammered
plates, weighing in all lightweight
tons, form the outside of the statue
They are very thin, and while they fit
each other perfectly, it is quite plain
that if they were put together in their
proper order they would never stand
alone. These hammered sheets make |
the outside of the statue; but there must |
be also a skeleton, Il bony structure in
side, to hold it together. This is of iron
beams. firmly riveted together, and |
making support to which the copper
shell can be fastened"