Furniti Kk For Small Houses Furniture for Small Houses

Furniti Kk For Small Houses

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:35:12 | Furniture for Small

can be both " cheap and good," and are ready to encourage any effort in that direction. In pursuance of this policy the-Association has taken a first-hand interest iri this experimental furniture. The suggestion that paint would make a better and brighter finish for furniture was immediately taken up, and the Association obtained permission from the KC.C. to carry out experiments at. the Brixton School of Building. The two painted bedroom sets are a result of these experiments in combed paint. Many of the other designs in the book could be treated in a similar manner. The Association secured the loan of the furniture for exhibition purposes, and arrangements are being made with firms to put the articles on the market.

The author gratefully acknowledges the generous co-operation of the Principal (S. Hicks, Esq.), Miss 11. J. Piowright, and members of the Staff at the Shoreditch Technical Institute.

II. TABLES,

Tin; "Gate-Leg" Table—Leaf arid Extending Tables—Round and KHiptic Tops—The "Kitchen" and Dining Table—Types of Construction —Small Tables.

For nearly three hundred years the old-time "Gate Leg" has held its own as a popular and useful type for the cottage or the modern dining-room. It has been made in all sizes and shapes : round, elliptical, square, oblong, and octagonal. The 3egs have been turned, twisted, and moulded, chamfered or left quite plain and square. Its outstanding virtue over other types is the ease by which it can be changed from its full size to nearly half, and again to a still smaller dimension. No other type of table is so easily packed away when the floor of the room is required. It has also one other quality which flap tables as a rule do not possess—namely—it cannot be tipped over, for the flaps have a downright, support. The one objection to the gate table is that it has too many legs which are said to get in the way of the sitter. This objection applies chiefly to the end iegs of the centre frame, but the hindrance is rather in the bottom rail which prevents the feet being put under the table, '['he photograph in Plate IV clearly shows this objection. These low under-rails were originally used to rest the feet upon when floors were of stone or were strewn with rushes. As these foot rails are not necessary now there is good reason for changing the construction of the table in such a way as to remove the obstruction to comfortable sitting. The design for the gate table on Plate XIII shows the rail set back from the legs, and as the top projects a good six inches there should be room for knees and feet, provided the table legs are far enough apart to take them. The setting back of the rails also involve some slight alterations in fixing the gate. The table in Plate IV shows the old form of construction where the rails are halved out to take the shutting

ITKNITUKK l'OR SMALL HOUSKS

leg, which, when closed, is flush with the outside legs. In the new design the short rail which supports the gate is halved into the long rail and projects beyond it. to take the pin upon which the gate swings. The top pin swings from a hole under the table top or from a piece screwed on to the rail. The top of the table must project far enough to take the thickness of the leg and leave a clearance tor the flap to fall at right angles. In adopting this method there is no need for the halving of either the leg or the long rail. The plan of the top of this table is round, but as a rule an elliptical form is acknowledged to be the best and most serviceable shape. The table in Plate IV shows an oblong with round ends. The dimensions are 5 ft. by 2 ft. io in. and the top and framing were made of white deal, which necessitated a wide clamp on the flaps.

In its origin the "Gate I .eg" was essentially a kitchen or "living" room table, associated with the cottage or farm-house. Though extremely useful in the way already described, it is costly to construct owing to the double number of legs. This fact alone may explain the reason for its decreasing use in the smaller homes. The ordinary kitchen table made of deal, with a drawer at one end, has long since taken its place. On the same Plate (XIII) as the gate table are two diagrams and details of useful table flaps fixed to the wall. The larger one is supported by two braced brackets fixed to a wall batten. Such flaps are extremely useful for temporary purposes and take up but. little room when closed.

The well-known types of common kitchen Cables are in two forms of construction. One, called the "Pembroke," with turned legs, has a flap to each side which is supported on brackets. The centre part is narrow, and consequently when the flaps are up the table is easily tipped over. The second type is usually made of white deal. The legs are tapered 011 the inside or turned ; there is a drawer at one end, and the top is generally made of three-quarter inch stuff thicknessed up at the ends. In thousands of small houses it is the table at which all meals are taken, and there is no reason why its design should not be improved without increasing its cost. A turned leg increases the work of dusting, and it costs more than a plain taper. To thickness up a thin top takes time and material. The drawing on Plate X shows an attempt to make this common table a little more interesting and pleasant in form.

The top—not thicknessed up—is rounded on the ends. The legs are tapered on the inside and a chamfer run down each corner anil along the lower edge of the frame rail. In the drawer are two divisions (see plan) which can lie removed if required, but it is reasonable to suppose that any housewife would welcome such a simple arrangement as a knife box. With these new details and good proportions this table, see Plate V, would not be so easily stamped as "common," or only good enough tor the kitchen. On Plates IV arid X an alternative design is given. The legs are square with chamfered edges and under rails are introduced. The design is suitable for a large table five or six feet long. Drawers could be added if desired, but it should be noted that they always add considerably to rhe cost. In all the table designs the tenons are shown as being pinned through the leg. This precaution increases the strength of the frame and is particularly desirable in a table which is subject to a good deal of moving. Details of moulded edges and chamfered or rounded legs are given with the designs.

On Plate VIII are three small tables. Thev can be made in hard or soft wood. A is suitable for a small parlour as a tea or card fable. B is suggested as most useful as a bedside table. C would serve as a side-table for writing or for extra things at meal times. The flap is supported by two 14 thumb;> brackets which work on a centre and are pulled out as shown. Two of such small tables are given in Plate VI.

Extending tables are made in various forms, the best-known types being the telescope " or tray frame," methods which are used in the heavier and larger kind of dining tables. Another method is based on the Elizabethan " shovel-board" or " drawinge : table, but. all these methods are expensive. On Plate IX a form of extension is shown which is applied to a plain table. Two sliders pull out at. each end and support a leaf. By a simple arrangement of rails the leaves can be slipped underneath the top. The section shows the leaves in position when packed away. To keep the leaves flat a dovetail key can be run through on the under side or they can be clamped. A short dowel to drop into each slider will keep the leaves in position. One leaf in use will increase the table room for two people. It is quite impossible to have a drawer in this table, although a leaf extension can be applied to a table with a drawer which can be used to support the leaf, but the leaves cannot be packed away underneath when not in use. The safest principle

FURNITURE FOR SMA1.L HOUSliS

is to accept the limits of construction and confine them to one or the other, the leaves without a drawer, or vice versa. The extension table closed, is shown in Plate VI.

On Plate XI another form of leaf extension is shown. The method is similar to the last named, but the leaves are applied to the sides of the table instead of the ends, an arrangement, which prevents the leaves being packed away as in the former design. A detail shows the section of the sliders held in position by a thin metal slip. This

table without the leaves would be quite strong and serviceable. The top hangs over at the ends a sufficient length to ensure a comfortable sitting and the under rail should be high enough to allow for it. A photograph of the table made in oak without leaves is given in Fig. 1.

The " trestle " type of table is illustrated in Plate XII. Made in oak, deal, or birch it is quite strong, but drawers cannot, be fitted to it. The small table in the lower corner of the page is very simple in construction, the struts taking the place of long side rails.

A framed-up table where the legs are tenoned into a foot piece is shown in Plate VII, The top is rounded on the ends, and although a little more costly to produce, this type makes a good centre table for a living room. This table, and the one with extension leaves, are shown in Plate VI.

Plate IV