Chapter 2

An architect cannot work to the best advantage without the best and most convenient appliances. It is true that sometimes the cleverest and most skilful draughtsmen appear least concerned about their instruments and materials, and often produce work showing wonderful dexterity and mastery of technique with the most imperfect working materials. But this is exceptional. After years of study and practice one may be able to produce with the sharpened end of a match, or with a toothpick, drawings which it would tax the skill of an ordinary draughtsman to approach with the best brushes and colors, but it is easy to see that this is no argument why the latest and most improved methods should not be employed.

Most architects still hold to the old-fashioned drawing boards supported upon trestles, and mostly from the simple inertia of custom. The improved Morse Universal Drawing Table, which is made in all sizes, with a single or double support, is conceded to be more convenient and ship-shape in all respects than the ordinary drawing board, and is only slightly more expensive in its first cost. The size which is shown in the accompanying illustration which has a board 30x36 inches, costs only $15 and is by far the cheapest and best device of its kind that we have seen. All of these tables are made to fold so as to occupy as little space as possible when not in use; will revolve or incline at any angle, and independently of the attachments below. They are built of the best materials (iron, brass, and wood) and are finely finished. The board can be made of either polished chestnut or unfinished pine if desired, and various additional attachments can be had for further convenience.

Architects and draughtsmen will be surprised to find what a saving can be made in time and trouble by the use of this most essential article of furniture, as well as the remarkably low price at which it can be bought.

Many other articles of furniture which are necessary for the proper equipment of an architect's office are also manufactured by the Morse Machine Company of Rochester, such as cabinets of various descriptions, desks, special drawing boards with a steel edge (a _sine qua non_ for the production of fine, accurate drawings), and special furniture of all descriptions. Architects will find it greatly to their profit, both in money and saving of trouble, to take advantage of the experience and facilities for manufacturing the best goods furnished by this company.

There are very few manufacturers of sanitary goods that keep up with the Dalton-Ingersoll Company in genuine improvements and novelties. Scarcely a month passes without something in the way of improvement emanating from this house; and the remarkable thing is the care and attention bestowed upon the minutest details, nothing about a sanitary fixture being considered too insignificant to command their best inventive genius. Their monthly announcement preceding our frontispiece is worth watching.

The palatial Jefferson Hotel at Richmond, Va., of which Carrère & Hastings are the architects, is built of a very fine _white clay_ brick manufactured by the Powhatan Clay Manufacturing Company of Richmond. The strong point of this particular brick is that it is made of a natural white clay, and is not subject to the discoloration of some bricks made by artificially whitening the clay.

The great success of the "Giant" Metal Sash Chain made by the Smith & Egge Manufacturing Company, has of course led to imitation and infringement of their patented methods of manufacture. Nothing is saved by specifying "cheaper" goods, for there really are no cheaper goods than the best; and when heavy sashes are to be hung "Giant" metal chain is the proper specification.

The expense of getting up a working model, bronze finish sash lock mounted on a base, for a paper weight, and sending this free to any architect who desires one would deter most manufacturers from taking this method of advertising. But the Ives Lock is such "a good thing" that it well repays "pushing." The model works so perfectly and is so simple and durable in construction that its introduction to architects throughout the country, occupying a prominent place on their desks, is securing the almost universal specification of the lock. Architects who haven't one of these paper weights will be well repaid for asking Hobart B. Ives & Co. of New Haven, Conn., to send them one. In this connection let us add that this lock secured the medal and highest award at the Columbian Exposition.

Personal.

Among the Americans who will return from abroad this summer are: Mr. Walter H. Kilham, the holder of the Rotch Scholarship, who has now been abroad two years; Mr. F. E. Perkins, who has been abroad three years; and Mr. W. Atherton,--all of Boston. Messrs. D. Hale, W. W. Knowles, G. O. Totten, Laflin, and Ramond, of New York, and Mr. A. D. Koch, of Milwaukee, also return this summer.

Mr. J. Greenleaf Thorp announces his removal to the Constable Building, 111 Fifth Avenue, New York.

In bringing the affairs of the Architect Department of the city of Boston to a final settlement pending its abolishment on July 1, Mr. Edw. H. Hoyt has been acting as City Architect Wheelwright's assistant, in place of Mr. Matthew Sullivan, now abroad, who has most acceptably filled that position during the whole of Mr. Wheelwright's term of office. In future the work of the city will be distributed among private architects.

Mr. Frank E. Wallis has gone into partnership with Frank E. Freeman, and opened an office on West Twentieth Street, New York City.

Mr. Harold Magonigle, the Rotch scholar who has now been abroad a year, has during the last few months been doing important work in the way of measuring and drawing Roman and Renaissance monuments in and near Rome. Some of his later drawings will presently be published in _The Architectural Review_.

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS

The letter below was written after a three months' trial advertisement

Rochester, N. Y., July 27, 1895.

BATES & GUILD, 6 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass.

_Dear Sirs_: Yours of the 26th received. In reply will say that we desire our advertisement to continue in the Brochure Series, and will state that this advertisement has given us better returns than any other we are carrying. We think that a magazine similar to yours is very much better than a trade journal, because the Brochure Series will be preserved, and will therefore be permanent.

We were tempted recently to put an advertisement in the Architectural Review on account of the good results received from the Brochure Series. Please send us the bill for our account for the first quarter, so that we can have it audited and send you a check.

Very truly yours,

Dic. W. F. M. MORSE MACHINE CO.

The advertisement which brought these results _is on page XV_

It costs $72.00 a year