A MODEL WORKSHOP AND SOME USEFUL ARTICLES. 



lEW cultivators appear to 

 realize the value of a 

 convenient workshop 

 close at hand, in which 

 to do the many little 

 jobs of mechanical 

 work so often needed. 

 There are always arti- 

 cles getting out of re- 

 pair, and frequently the 

 delay in taking them to 

 a mechanic, or the loss from doing without them 

 when needed, amount to much more than the cost 

 of having them fixed. If a convenient place, with 

 a few ordinary tools is at hand, most of these things 

 may be done at home with but little loss of time ; 

 or at least a temporary substitute provided, until a 

 suitable time to have it done more satisfactorily. 



Besides this, there are many little conveniences 

 which one who is willing to give the matter some 

 thought, may provide for use about the place or in 

 the house. It is safe to say that the stormy days 

 used in making things of this kind will prove more 

 satisfactory than those spent about the village store 

 or other lounging places. 



The farm on which the shop described is located, 

 is remarkable for the number of things of this kind 

 to be found. It is also very noticeable how well 

 the owner, who is well advanced in years, is en- 

 abled to carry on his work, and at the same time, 

 how many leisure hours he finds to read his papers 

 and enjoy the comforts of life. At every turn 

 about the house, the barn, smaller buildings or 

 farm, are to be found tools or fixtures, the cost of 

 which was little or nothing, aside from the time ex- 

 pended in making them, and this usually applied 

 when least valuable. 



The workshop, a ground plan of which is shown in 

 Fig. I, has served as a factory from which nearly 

 all these appliances have sprung. It is simply a 

 cheap frame building 16x24 feet, boarded and bat- 

 tened, with an upper story high enough to be con- 

 venient for storing lumber or other things. At ./ 

 sets a high block with an iron or steel wedge driven 

 into the end (Fig. 2) ; something solid on which to 

 do riveting, and all sorts of pounding, is always 

 wanted. This answers the purpose admirably, 

 making a first-rate anvil for farmer's use. i? is a 

 cheap board bench which catches all the extra nuts, 



bolts and other pieces of iron which accumulate. 

 It is not very attractive in appearance, but has its 

 place, and quite an important one too, for often just 

 such a piece as is wanted can be here picked up 

 and a trip and fee to the blacksmith saved. A few 

 new bolts, rivets, etc., are kept ready for use when 

 occasion requires. Any piece of timber which has 

 been split may often be neatly repaired by putting 

 one or two bolts through it. Over the bench are 

 shelves for bits, drills, etc. 



A little ingenuity in working metal is always ser- 

 viceable and will lead the way out of many diffi- 

 culties. If a hole is needed through any light 

 piece of iron, a device similar to that shown in Fig. 



© 



Fir 



Plan of my Workshop. 



3 will greatly aid in drilling it. The cradle finger 

 broken out in the heavy lodged grain last fall is just 

 what is wanted, if you have saved it. Bore a hole 

 near each end, and fasten a piece of strong small 

 rope in the small end. Next, an old file ground off 



