62 



THE BOOK OF THE LANTERN. 



having them constructed, and as they answer their purpose 

 most perfectly, I will describe them. 



They are what are called skeleton-boards ; that is to 

 say, they consist of frames filled in with sail-cloth. This 

 mode of construction saves a great amount of weight. 

 The wood- work is of best pine, 1J inches thick, and is 

 mortised at every joint. Referring to fig. 27, it will be 

 seen that the upper frame is furnished with a couple of 



A 



FIG. 27. 



FIG. 28. 



hinged shelves, between which the weights are placed. 

 These shelves are made of hard wood, so that they will 

 not readily break. The lower frame (fig. 28) has let into it 

 a smaller frame, which, when the boards are not in use, is 

 bolted into the main frame for travelling. But when in 

 use, this lower frame is caused to fall downwards, so that 

 it acts as a support for the pressure-boards, keeping them 

 at the right angle. The hinges which connect the two 



