i8 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



■wide variety of timbers, but find that hick- 

 ory serves as well or better than any other. 

 Hence, while we find model motor vehicle 

 wheels exhibited as samples in all of the 

 shops which are composed of various woods, 

 when it comes down to utility strictly hick- 

 ory predominates. This article refers briefly 

 to the manufacture of the hickory wheel for 

 heavy transportation vehicles which are now 

 propelled by steam, gasoline, gas or elec- 

 trical power. 



The selection of the wood is made from 

 that part of the tree below the branches, so 

 as to avoid knots and make sure of even 

 grain. This valuable portion of the tree is 

 then barked and the hickory butts are made. 

 These butts are usually about thirty inches 

 long, this size being convenient for working. 

 They are out down to a size about the shape 

 shown in Fig. 1; then comes the riving 

 process, which calls for the insertion and 

 driving of wood or iron splitting wedges. 

 This work is done before the stock passes 

 to the manufacturers of the wheels in some 

 cases, while in others the stock is obtained 

 in the butts, which are halved, quartered 

 and split to the sizes required for wheel 

 spokes. Or if hubs are to be made, the 

 pieces are reduced only to the size required 

 for that part of the work. For felloes, still 

 another size is needed. 



After the splitting operation is finished, 

 the sticks have to be thoroughly aired be- 

 fore anything is done with them. They are 

 piled in the open air for seasoning. After 

 a complete exposure in this way, the pieces 

 are piled in a heating chamber, where hot, 

 dry air is admitted. A summer-heat ex- 

 posure of thirty or more days in a chamber 

 like that shown in Fig. 2 thoroughly dries 

 the stock. The dryer illustrated is built 

 with brick sides and back. The top, bottom 

 and door are of sheet metal, coated with 

 concrete. One of the splits is shown in 

 Fig. 3. 



The turning process, to get the spokes to 

 the form shown in Fig. 4, follows. The 

 lathe is called into service for this work. 



Machine model turning is employed in 

 some shops, while in others the modeling is 

 accomplished by hand. The rough sawed 

 and split hickory stick is quickly rounded 

 off into proper shape in the hands of the 

 experienced turner. Then comes the opera- 

 tion of buffing, which is done by various 

 methods. The sheet metal pattern of boxed 

 belt buffer is now used to considerable ex- 

 tent. This consists of a belt running in a 

 casing, as in Fig. 6. The operator simply 

 holds the stick to be treated on the mov- 

 ing surface of the speeding belt. The re- 

 volving belt, with the usual distribution of 

 adamas powder, will fill the pores of the 

 wood quite thoroughly. This powdered, 

 flint-like stuff gives the wood a smooth 

 finish. 



Further seasoning is required, however, 

 and once more the sticks go to the drying 

 chamber, after which the fine work is put 

 in on the spokes. The mortiser shapes the 



keystone base and throats out the neck. 

 He trues up the ends and puts on the shoul- 

 der, as in Fig. 5. He must shape the bulky 

 spoke so that it will look trim in the wheel, 

 and at the same time possess the necessary 

 strength. It will not do to shave down too 

 closely to make the spokes look well at the 

 expense of strength, since they are not for 

 the light wheels of speedy automobiles, but 

 for the slower, heavier, freight-loaded ma- 

 chines. Revolving discs are used to make 

 the ends true, and insure a uniform fit. 



The manufacture of hubs and felloes forms 

 almost another story, so important are the 

 details of their construction. The work of 

 setting up the wheel begins at the hub, be- 

 cause it is necessary that the adjustments 



^>g^6 



be absolutely exact in every part, although 

 the dies may have stamped out everything 

 in an apparently uniform manner. There 

 are machine-made wheels for heavy automo- 

 biles in which the setting-up work is done 

 on the'plan of putting it through with speed 



and cheapness. But the best firms do the 

 adjusting through trained men who fit each 

 identical part in place with care and judg- 

 ment. Slight turning off is done here and 

 there, while in other places a little building 

 up is done in order to get a perfect com- 

 bination of fit and balance. Nothing is left 

 to chance. Each part of each wheel is han- 

 dled and carefully adjusted by an expert. 

 The spokes are perfectly fitted into the hub 

 of the motor wheel. Numbered spokes are 

 used and pressure is applied to force each 

 into the place created for it. A hub thus 

 fitted is shown in Fig. 7. A band of iron is 

 then applied to hold the spokes in place 

 while the setting bolts are put through and 

 fastened. 



Another delicate piece of work is the fit- 

 ting of the felloes to the tongues of the 

 spokes. It must be done with great care 

 and accuracy and in a manner to avoid 

 any future looseness. The parts are forced 

 together to avoid play. After the felloes 

 are on, the whole wheel has to be trued. 

 A skilled workman is given charge of this, 

 and when he gets the rim right, the metal 

 tire is placed, as in Fig. 8, being first ex- 

 panded by heat, and in this condition 

 slipped over the rim. When cooling, the rim 

 of course contracts, and a proper fit results. 

 In Fig. 9 is shown an end view of the fin- 

 ished wheel, and in Fig. 10 a side view. 



The usual varnishing and striping puts the 

 wheel in order for the market. The interiors 

 of the hubs are usually fitted in other shops, 

 where the metal sleeves are adjusted, the 

 ball-bearing devices introduced, or the hub 

 keyed or set-screwed direct to the shaft, 

 which is arranged to revolve in journals of 

 its own below the bodv of the vehicle. 



Modern HardWood and Cement 

 Combinations. 



All workers in hardwoods have noticed the 

 increased demand for unique styles of deco- 

 ration for the interior of houses. The so- 

 called art iwuveau decoration is becoming 

 very popular, and the illustrations will give 

 an idea of the character of some of this class 

 of work. The list of hardwoods selected in- 

 cludes nearly all in the category. The deco- 

 ration devices include panels, grilles, arches, 

 cornices, and all kinds of household furnish- 

 ings; and the scope of the work is exceed- 

 ingly wide. 



On a recent visit to a well-known manufac- 

 turer the writer saw samples of hardwood 

 decorative material which had been purposely 

 charred for the sake of giving the desired 

 burned effect; also some pieces coated with 

 emery and others decorated with serial rows 

 of tacks. Oddity and originality are con- 

 stantlj' sought. Some of the panels are out- 

 lined with floral decorations; there are roses 

 and lilies and painted figures of Indians and 

 of animals; there are imitations of checker 

 boards and patterns that seem suitable for 

 the dime museum only. Yet these oddities 



are constantly called for and sell at good 

 prices, so that manufacturers will continue to 

 make them while the demand lasts. 



Many varieties of interior and exterior dec- 

 orations and fixtures are made along the lines 

 stated to be used in connection with concrete, 

 for there is a cement age at hand, as is well 

 known. Cement block buildings are going up 

 all over the world in considerable numbers. 

 Ingenious men combine woodwork for inside 

 and outside ornamentation with cement 

 blocks. The design shown in Fig. 1 is a 

 demonstration of this idea. The wood bracket 

 lines the interior surface of the concrete wall 

 and ceiling at intervals; on top of the cement 

 layer is wood again. 



Furthermore, there are combinations in- 

 cluding metal, as in Fig. 2. Cement is placed 

 in the tier shown, while the hardwood is next 

 to it, below. Then the iron brace is placed 

 in position. The object is to show the crude 

 concrete and the finished wood and iron 

 within the room. Just as the advent of fin- 

 ished hardwood beams became an important 

 factor in interior building some years ago. 



