GGs

I just downloaded W E Bells, Carpentry Made Easy (Chicago 1857);
http://tinyurl.com/mj4ucxb

On page 47 he mentions marking out the plates for studs at 14 inches apart,
or 16" centres. He then goes on to say that the end spacing might be more or
less than 14" but that 'it is better to have the odd space all at one end
for the plasterers in lathing.'

To me this suggests that laths came in stock lengths back then, maybe in
easy to handle bundles 4' long.

Btw. The common drywall hammer is a descendant of the lathing hatchet used
to chop laths to length.

Page 9 has a telling section title, 'Why Apprentices do not Learn'.

Mick Dowling
Melbourne
Member, Hand Tool Preservation Association of Australia Inc.