the back it is finished with small moldings top and bottom, which return as indicated by the dotted lines n. The dome plates are mitered at the angles and paneled on the inside face. The miters are covered by bronze spool-and-reed moldings, and the panel molding is decorated with a leaf link. The dome plates are secured to the vertical leg of an angle o, which is riveted to the top of the cornice of the car; and the cast-iron cornice of the dome is supported by these dome plates. The soffit of this dome cornice is decorated with a guilloche and flower rosette, as shown at p in the plan; while its facia and corona are supported on modillion brackets, as shown at q. The dome griller is designed suggestive of the usual treatment of a ceiling, being first divided in panels, which are afterwards filled with a circle, and the circle with a quarterfoil of scrolls. This grille is set in an angle-iron frame, which is bolted to the cornice. The swinging door shown in the plan at s is seen in elevation at (d). The pivots s are riveted to the frame of the grille, the top one being inserted in the cornice and the bottom one in the pivot plate t. The top and bottom of the post u are fitted with spring bolts, which are withdrawn when the section is to be opened. By a careful inspection of the details of the preceding examples, the construction of elevator cars should now be fully comprehended; and, as such work does not differ materially, the student should be able to design the construction details of any car required. 55. In Fig. 76 is shown a design for an elevator car entirely of wrought iron. The grille differs from the previous examples, as it has no border, but is divided into a dado, field, and frieze. The dado is composed of an interlaced leaf; the field has a cartouche with a fleur de lis in the center, and the frieze with an interwoven pattern ending in scrolls. The panels which take the place of the cornice are filled with scrolls, and decorated with leaves having a flower or bud at the center. The grille of the dome is in motive similar to the honeysuckle-link decoration used in classic architecture. The car illustrated at Fig. 77 is wrought iron; the dado is a diaper of basketwork. The grille by the arrangement of the scrolls does away with a border top and bottom, but, as it is divided into three panels having the bars gathered reed fashion, it is necessary that a border be provided to close the space at the sides. The rods form ing the reeds are separated by button washers and riveted together. The dome of this car is circular in plan, divided into a series of radiating panels finished at the bottom with a link-scroll design and at the top with rings. The crown of the dome has the scrolls so arranged that they form a natural continuation of the panels. LEAVES AND FOLIATED WORK. 56. All the work considered up to the present time has been purely structural. Such ornament as has been necessary in elevator fronts or office partitions has been of a conventional character, and is confined to strap-iron grilles. Now, however, we come to the consideration of another kind of ornamental ironwork-the execution of leaves and flowers in sheet and bar iron, by means of forging and working the metal. No machinery is required for this work but man's own ingenuity and skill; however, artistic intelligence and dexterity of hand in the use of simple tools are indispensable in the production of satisfactory results. In this branch of wrought-iron work, the designer must be intimately acquainted with his material; he must know how much working his metal will stand under certain conditions, and how much working his design will require to bring it into shape. He must know at what point and under what conditions forging will be necessary, how much of the work can be formed cold, and what details will have to be executed with the metal at a red or a white heat. Wroughtiron leaves are usually executed in sheet metal and hammered into shape; flowers sometimes require both sheet and bar metal; while designs of foliated grille-work require sheet, bar, and strap iron in varying quantities, according to the character of the work. FIG. 78. 57. In Fig. 78 is shown a finished leaf as it would appear when placed in the position it was to permanently occupy. To reproduce this leaf in iron, it will first be necessary to make a developed drawing of it-that is, a drawing of the leaf as it would appear if flattened out to the original shape of the metal when first cut out, before working in any manner. It is hardly possible to lay it out exactly-and, in fact, such accuracy is not required, as, the general dimensions being correct, the other parts may be worked into shape in subsequent operations. In Fig. 79 is shown the general appearance of the developed drawing. This drawing should now be carefully traced on the sheet metal and cut out. The crude iron leaf is then placed upon a block of soft metal, such as lead, and cold hammered into the general shape required. As constant hammering is likely to make the metal brittle and hard, it is s met.mes necessary to anneal the iron in the forge several times before the leaf is finished. Special forms of hammers are used to shape the work, two of which are shown in Fig. 80. The one at (a) is flat on both faces, and is used in the general shaping of the leaf; while the one at (b) with its spherical head is used to produce the curves of the lobes TT (a) FIG. 80. (b) FIG. 79. and indentations, and to bring the leaf to its finished form. The flared face opposite the spherical head is brought into service when sharp indentations or veins are to be expressed, though other tools and punches are used in connection with the work for this purpose. |