Yup, Bell, while not the first to mention balloon frames, was the first to write
a book that everyone could understand! Just about that time there was
standardization of lumber sizes allowing for carpenters and builders to work
from pre drawn plans. Stock was real size, not planed size.

I’ve seen lumber bills that include specific sized lathe along with the framing
timber. I suspect this was to allow the carpenter to build according to the
plans that were purchased from the various companies that sold them to people
moving west.

That section on Why Apprentices Do No Learn is a gas to read! Bell was a
practicing builder for well over 40 years so I guess he had a right to be
grumpy.

Gary
...............................
Gary Roberts
http://toolemera.com
http://toolemerabooks.com

"I'ld rather read a good book, than write a poor one." Christopher Morley




On Apr 20, 2014, at 7:17 PM, Mick Dowling  wrote:

> 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.
> 
> 
> 
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