HARDWOOD RECORD 



25 



Eouter, clearly illustrates this method. In 

 this conmeetion attention is also called to the 

 oToup in which is shown the bottom of a 

 curved tread, grooved by the same machine to 

 receive the riser, and dovetailing of steps for 

 balusters. Another cut shows mouldings on 

 newels and stringers, done over a wooden pat- 

 tern. 



selecting boards, particular care is exercised 

 to insure proper matching of the figure on the 

 four edges. The corner joints are mitred and 

 glued, a spline being set in each to insure 

 greater stability. Bailing manufacture is 

 probably the most intricate of any, owing to 

 the many different designs, and hence the ne- 

 cessity for shaping. The usual rail is made 



SECTION OF STAIR COXSTRUC 

 TIOX, SHOWING HOUSING 



In the case of the other type referred to, an 

 entirely different method is employed; each 

 tread is in two pieces, there being a lip at the 

 outer end joined with a mitre to the main 

 step. Before installing, the steps are dove- 

 tailed on this end to receive the dove-tail 

 always turned on the end of the balusters. 

 Reference to the group before mentioned will 

 help to explain this method. Here are shown 

 the balusters in place, and the lip, with the 

 mitre at one end, before being nailed against 

 the step. 



Little attention need be paid to the manu- 

 factiu-e of balusters, the round type being 

 merely turned on a standard lathe. The use 

 of veneer for wide panels has been previously 

 mentioned, but it is not always used for fac- 

 ings, especially where there are no large panels 

 embodied in the design. Solid lumber is used 

 for this type of stairs, and where a curve is 

 required, the facings are sawn at frequent in- 

 tervals along the back, and bent over a form 

 to the required shape, being then held by 

 gluing on strips. When, as often happens, this 

 same operation has to be performed on string- 

 ers which must carry a load, the curve is held 

 by inserting wooden keys in the saw cuts and 

 securing them with glue. 



The last step to be considered is the con- 

 struction of railings and newels. The modern 

 newel differs greatly from the old-fashioned 

 post turned from solid wood; it is usually 

 square and always of box construction. In 



with a solid core, on the outside of which is 

 glued the facing. While the largest part 

 of the shaping process is done automatically — 

 the completeness depending upon the efficiency 

 of the operator — there is considerable left to 

 be worked down by hand, an operation requir- 

 ing skill and care. Bent railings are not used 

 except in expensive dwellings and similar struc- 

 tures, the curve ordinarily being obtained di- 

 rectly from the saw. High-class work, showing 

 the proper grain, is only secured by bending, 

 which is done by different means in the various 

 factories. 



The accompanying cuts were obtained from 

 the Kelley Electric Machine Company, 36-38 

 West Seneca street, Buffalo, N. Y., and show 

 specimens of work done on that concern's 

 .\utomatic Electric Router. 



The Red River Ijand Company 



.\ new bai-dwood concern to be known as tho 

 i;pd River Land Company lias been organized by 

 tile SheiTill interests in the Shenill-Russell Lum- 

 ber Company, and the Sherill-King Mill Com- 

 pany of Paducah, Ivy., and V. J. Blow of the 

 Hiram Blow Stave Company of Nashville and 

 Louisville. The concern has purcbased 10.000 

 acres of white and red oak, ash and cypress tim- 

 ber in Rapides Parish, near Colfax, La. The 

 company has taken out articles of incorporation 

 but has not yet elected officers. Stockholders 

 are C. A. Weis, well-known egg case manufac- 

 turer of Decatur, Ala. ; V. J. Blow of Nashville 

 and Louisville, C. H. Sherrill and A. Sherrill of 

 Paducah. Ky. 



The company will put in an eight-foot band 

 mill to cut the timber on this tract, and ex- 

 pects to have the plant in operation by Septem- 

 ber 1. It is proliable that A. Sherrill will as- 

 sume control of the operation at Colfax. The 

 timber suitable for staves on the land will be 

 cut by the Alexander Cooperage Company of 

 Alexandria, La., one of the several big Blow 

 operations in Louisiana. 



This institution is but another link in the 

 chain of operations which the Hiram Blow 

 people are carrying on in the state of Louisiana 

 and elsewhere. It is reported that the timber on 

 the property purchased is of excellent quality, 

 the white and red oak and cypress running to 

 large size suitable for quarter sawing. The com- 

 pany will follow the policy of taking off only 

 the high-grade timber at first, leaving the gum 

 and such wood to be cut later. 



The Sherrill-Iving Mill Company and the Sher- 

 rill-Russell Lumber Company are both very suc- 

 cessful enterprises. Their principals are men of 

 progressive ideas who are now branching out in 

 larger fields of hardwood operation. 



DOVETAILI.VG AND MOLDING IN STAIR WORK. 



