CHAPTER III

MOTOR-CAR (PLATE VIII), SWINGING CRADLE, DECK-CHAIR

A piece of flat wood 2-1/2 inches by 5-1/2 inches forms the bottom of the car. Two pieces of wood, 5-1/2 inches by 1 inch, are marked out and sawn as in Fig. 287. If it is found too difficult to saw out the corner pieces E F G and H K L, piece A E C M can be cut right off, by sawing along a line E M; G M H N can be cut off by sawing along lines G M and H N, the same with L N B D.

The corners E, F, G, H, K, L should be rounded with a file, as shown in the plate. The two side-pieces are then glued at each side of the bottom. Front and back pieces are then cut, and fitted between the bottom and sides; also a top to fit over A E, and seats to fit over G H and L B.

These seats are then provided with backs and arms as shown in the plate. Axles and wheels should be made and put on as described in Part I, Chapter XIII. The wheels should be 1/2 an inch thick and have the edges rounded to represent the tyre. Lastly the steering pillar, with cardboard wheel attached, is fixed into bottom.

A drawback to this toy is that it is made of so many separate pieces of wood, but children delight in it and can make it most successfully. Children from nine to twelve have turned out most effective motor-cars.

=A Swinging Cradle= (Fig. 288). The _cradle_ is a wooden box, 5 inches by 2-3/4 inches, and 2 inches deep. Before nailing this together, holes must be drilled in the two short sides, large enough to take a wooden axle about 1/4 inch in diameter.

A and B are two pieces of stripwood 1/4" × 1/2" × 5"; their tops are rounded and holes similar to those in the cradle are drilled in them about 1-1/2 inches from the top.

A is fastened to E, which is 4 inches in length, by means of triangular pieces of wood, C and D, which are glued and nailed to A and E.

F and K are wider pieces of wood, 5 inches by 1 inch. E is glued and nailed to F; a wider space must be left on one side of E so that the supports, H and G, can be fastened securely to F. G and H are 5-1/2" × 1/2" × 1/4".

For the axles on which the cradle swings two pieces of stripwood, 1/4" × 1/4" × 1-1/4" must be cut and rounded, passed through holes in A and B, and glued securely to the holes in the sides of the cradle.

=A Deck-chair= (Fig. 289). Two pieces of stripwood, 1/4" × 1/4" × 6", A B, C D, are taken. These are nailed and glued to E and F, each 2-1/4 inches. E and F should not be placed too near the ends of A B and C D, as the wood may split when the nails are driven in. E and F may be rounded. For the smaller frame of the chair, cut two pieces of stripwood, 5 inches in length. To get the measurements for the bars, M and L, place G H and J K inside A B C D as in Fig. 289, and measure distances G J and H K. This must be done very accurately. Before nailing G H and J K together, notches must be cut in them as in Fig. 290. The wood is partly sawn through at N and O, and the notch is then filed out, the safe edge of the file being turned towards N and O. To make the support, two pieces of wood are cut 2 inches in length, Q R and U V in Fig. 291, which shows how the length of the piece of wood S, which fastens Q R and U V together, is obtained. Frame G K is now nailed to frame A D (Fig. 289). Fix the point for the nail at T about 2 inches from H and B. When hammering the nail in at T, the bars A B and G H should rest upon the edge of the bench or table.

From A and C measure distances of 2-1/2 inches to R and V respectively. To these points nail the arms of the support, Q R and U V.

A piece of coloured print or casement cloth is fastened to E and L.

Other toys which can be made in a similar manner are a camp-stool, a clothes-horse, a screen.