The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-08-14
How the Great Statue Was Made.

HOW the treat statue WAS Maues
Charles Barnard contributed to st.
Nicholas a very graphic and popular
account of Bartholdi's great Statue OF
Liberty, from which we make the fol-
lowing extract: SIN the first place,
there had to be q sketch or model.
This was a 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 intended
statue.
"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-sized
model in plaster. But this had to be
made in sections. For instance, 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 a 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 of the way up to
the knee. In like manner, the whole
figure would be divided into sections.
1.-The quarter model was first di-
vided in this way. and then TO lay out
the full-size plan it was only necessary
to make q 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 q support of some kind, before
the plaster could be laid on. Having
marked on the floor an outline plan of
the enlarged section, wooden frame
work was built up inside the plan.
Then upon this framework plaster was
roughly spread. 1t soon resembled, in
q rude way, the corresponding section
of the quarter-size model, but was four
times as large. Then the workmen
copied in this pile of plaster every fea-
ture of the model section, measuring
and measuring, again and again, from
dot to dot, correcting by means of
plumb-lines, and patiently trying and
retrying till an exact copy-only in
proportion four times as large-was at
tanned
"The great irregularity of the drap-
cry made it necessary to put 800 marks
on each section, besides 1,200 smaller
guide-marks. in order to secure an ex-
act correspondence in proportion be-
tween the enlarged sections of the full
sized model and the sections of the
quarter-size model. Each of these
marks, moreover, 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.
when these sections in plaster had
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
n mold of a part of the statue, exactly
| fitting every projection, depression, and
curve of that portion of the figure or
drapery. Into these wooden models
! sheets of metal were laid, and pressed
or beaten down till they fitted the ir-
regular surfaces of the molds All the
| repousse, or hammered work was done
| from the back, or inside, of the sheet
If the mold Is an exact copy of a part
of the statue, it is easy to see that the
sheet of metal, when made to fit it,
will. when taken out and turned over,
be copy of that part of the statue.
These sheets were of copper, and
each was from one to three yards
| square. Each formed a part of the
bronze statue, and of course no two were
alike.
I'm this complicated manner, by
making first a sketch, then a 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 skeleton, bony struct-
ure inside, to hold it together. This is
of iron beams, firmly riveted together,
and making a support to which the
copper shell can be fastened"
Only Two Days Warming.