The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-06
MODERN SAMPLE ROOMS.
One way Of Displaying Such PrOsaic Things
as Builders Hardware.

A man who was seeking information concern
ing u certain item Of builders hardware found
himself incidentally in some sample rooms. that
were very different from anything that he
would have expected. II he had given any
thought 20 the subject at all. he would have
looked for astore or lofts, or both. with sampies
displayed on the counters or tables, and perhaps
hung on the walls or placed on sllel yes; but here
were seen two rooms, one perhaps thirty by
twenty feet and the other a continuation or
the first. The flooring Of these two rooms Is OF
chartered oak rubbed down 10 "A beautiful de-
gree Of smoothness. In each room there Is a
great rug, dark green in its prevailing color.
Standing in the middle OF each room. and cor
responding in shape with the rooms outlines, Is
a massive table, like a great. handsome library
table. There may, indeed, be on one or the
other. or on each of these tables. a book or two,
but these are catalogues of the goods or which
samples may here he seen. Scattered about
the rooms there are chairs, solid and handsome
in appearance. and at the same time very com
Portable. The walls Of these rooms are carried
up a height Of twelve or fifteen feet with a con-
~struction Of dark-red East Indian mahogany,
within which, in one wav and another' 'he
many thousands Of samples here Kept are
contained. In one side Of the larger room
there is made in the mahogany construction a
deep recessed, cushioned seat, guarded at the
front by two big electric torches, whose bulbs
are torChlike In form and OF opalescent glass.
The rooms are lighted all around with lncall-
descent lights of the same design, with the
sample holders all closed these two rooms thus
equipped, might not reveal az an 70 me chAiue
observer the purpose for which they were de-
signed. but they could scarcely fal 10 impress
upon him their simplicity, beauty and archi-
~teCtural dignity. q,
The whole construction. however. around
both rooms, and from top 70 bottom is hned
with samples. From the floor 10 a height
Of about four feet oil around there rise with
placed horizontally and pulling out IN the Or
binary manner. The construction abov" the
drawers is set back all around, a foot or more,
the rooms, over the drawers. The samples
contained in the shallow drawers can an Dc
plainly sGen when me drawer Is pulled OUT
While the drawers lie fiat and pull ont in
the ordinary manner, the greater number OF
the many samples contained IN the npper rart
are placed vertically. and With their edge 10
the front. ON the front Of each board, or
the front edge Is a handle; by means Of its
handle II can be pulled straight 20 the front
Each board is hinged al its back edge. 80 that
Sh len 1T M,l Ga a, w eGfn pqiRl ss . oHai Il can on both oe ' side.'
Pushed back into place again this board con-
tanning manv samples takes up only so much
room as u requires lbI lT uWH. liuthlir,o uhu
that OF the samples attached 10 it all on edge,
and there is seen Of the board nothing at all.
but only the narrow and more or less orlla.
mental woodwork attached TO lie front that
now forms a part OF the panelling around the
room.
Hinges Of the odd or ornamental designs
In which they are made are shown secured
to the mahogany leaves OF what might be de-.
scribed ms great albums, books with leaves OF
wood. these books being secured IN place with
their back to the wall. The front Of the closed
book Is covered with n panel mat is part OF
the general wood construction, This panel
thrown back, the first leaf is reached. and the
leaves. with sample hinges on both sides, may
be turned in succession Just as the leaves or
any great book that had been similarly Sc
cured might he.
Everything in these sample rooms In fact
is most i~ngeniously contrived with, a view to-
the showing ofthe samples in the fullest and
most convenient way. and to the greatest ad
vantage. and at the same time TO carrying
them all within the smallest possible space,
The great economy in space effected has doubt
less made these fittings, costly "a they were.
profitable as well as convenient.