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BALLOON FRAMES. 



Balloon Framing is not, howevor, a manner of effecting by machinery what 

 has formerly been done by hand, but embraces a series of improvements in the 

 art of buiitlinjr, which time and experience have shown to be thorou<^hly 

 practical — that which has hitherto called out a whole neighborhood, °vnd 

 required a vast expenditure of labor, time, noise, lifting, hoisting, and the 

 attendant danger, can, by the adoption of the balloon frame, be done with all 

 the quietness and security of an ordinary day's work. Ji man and boy can 

 now attain the same results witli ease, that twenty men would on an aid fash- 

 ioned frame. 



Suppose we compare the heavy, cumbersome barn frame of to-day with the 

 barn of fifty years agO; with its rotton tenons, bulging sides, and broken- 

 backed roof. Can we see one single mark of improvement? Has fifty years 

 advancedthe art of building frames? What change is there for the better? 



What is demanded, is something in keeping with the progressive spirit of 

 the day. We want really better and stronger frames, and we want them to 

 cost less. If our houses, barns and out-buildings can be built for less money, 

 and be just as good, as convenient, and as safe, it is an improvement that will 

 suit us. 



The Balloon Frame answers these requirements. It has long since ceased 

 to be an experiment ; and where its principles are understood, no other style 

 of frame is used. 



Fig. 1.— Isometrical Perspective View of the Balloon Frame. 



The engraving shows a portion of a Balloon Frame, drawn in isometrical 

 perspective. This is sufficient to show the whole manner of construction, the 

 other parts of the building being a repetition. The manner of securing the 

 diflferent timbers is shown in figs. 2 and 3— the nails being driven diagomilly, 

 and in a manner to secure the greatest amount of strengtii. 



The sizes of the different pieces of timber in a frame of this size, are sills 

 3 by 8— corner studs. ^ by 4— other studding. 2 by 4— plate, 1 by 4— side 

 strips, or side girts, 1 by 4— rafters, 3 by G. or 2.1 by 5 will do— coifars, 1 by 

 4, floor joists, 3 by cS, or may be 2 by 7. Rafters, studding and joists, are 16 

 inches between centers. 



Small buildings of this character, not calculated for heavy storage, may 

 have all timbers two feet between centres. Small buildings of one story, as 

 tool-houses, granaries, cottages, &c., will be perfectly strong and secure, if all 



