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Preface The following pages in stair-building and handrailing are taken from the actual working drawings of practical handrailers and stair-builders. The first division is, in a great measure, the work of George Langstaff, New England, and is considered by expert workmen to be one of the best treatises of the kind, with regard to the stairs dealt with. Of course there are only eleven kinds of stairs, but they are so arranged that any person mastering to the full extent these eleven would find no insurmountable difficulty in dealing with stairs of other kinds. It
must be remembered that the reader of this book is supposed to
have a considerable knowledge regarding the various methods of
building the stair proper in all its different forms, for
without this knowledge it will be impossible to understand the
method of laying out and constructing a rail, even for a
straight stair having a ramp at the newel post. That is the
publishers' reason for including a valuable treatise on that
subject, which teaches, in a very simple manner, the proper way
to lay out the carcass of a stair, and all new beginners who
have not obtained a fair knowledge on the subject will
appreciate this addition, which, in The greater portion of the first division was published in "The Builder and Woodworker" many years ago, and afterwards, in a very much amended form, in "The National Builder," and is now in book form for the first time. The second division which contains some excellent examples is the work of several contributors, who worked under a like system. The methods of obtaining the wreaths and twists are worth studying, as they show how these can be lined out with the greatest of ease when the subject is understood. This method is nearly complete in itself. The third division is perhaps the most complete of the three, as about any kind of a rail can be obtained by the use of this system. While not exactly like the system of the late Robert Riddell, it approaches it so nearly that ordinary workmen would scarcely know the difference, but there is a difference, and Mr. Wilson, who has helped to work this system out, deserves much credit for simplifying the whole scheme. The science of handrailing was never reduced to such simplicity as now, and it is claimed for the three divisions shown in "Common-Sense Handrailing" that the latest and simplest methods are shown therein, and this, too, at about one-fifth the cost of the older and more elaborate methods. In saying this we do not mean to belittle the larger and in some cases the more extended works of Nicholson, Graff, Reynalds, Sherrett, Monckton, Secor, Riddell and others. Each and every one has much to recommend it, and the expert handrailer will no doubt have copies of these larger works on his shelves. To the first and last of the names given in the foregoing belong the greatest honors in this science, the first for his invention, or rather discovery, of the true geometrical principles involved, and the latter for divesting the science of its crudities and reducing it to more simple conditions. Nearly all improvements in the science are due in large measure to the methods employed by Robert Riddell. The prismatic solid when thoroughly understood will show to the student pretty nearly everything required in handrailing, and it is the advice of the writer that this solid should be analyzed by the young man who wishes to become an expert, and the study will neither be tedious nor uninteresting. In all cases a stairway should be commodious, inviting and easy of ascent, and when winders are used they should extend past the spring line of the cylinder, so as to give a fair wreath at narrow end of tread and to bring the rail as near as possible to the same pitch as rail over square steps, and when the hall or space is sufficiently wide should not be less than 3 feet 6 inches in width; 4 feet would be much better, then two persons can pass each other. The height of riser and width of step are governed by the space allowed for the stairs, but as a general rule the step should not be less than 9 inches wide and the riser should not exceed 8 inches in height. Seven inches rise and 11 inches tread make a very easy and good-looking stairway. If the width of tread is increased the riser must be correspondingly reduced. The tread and riser together should not be over 18 inches or less than 17 inches. Of course there are occasions when this rule cannot be employed, and the workman will be called upon to exercise his own judgment, but the closer he keeps to this rule the better will be his stair so far as comfort and convenience are concerned.
This little book contains over 240 illustrations—all of a
practical nature—and it is hoped the text describing them is
sufficiently clear, and that the student will have no difficulty
in understanding what is meant and in being able, after
understanding them, to construct a handrail over any flight of
stairs that he may be called upon to erect. This is the ardent
wish of the writer. FRED T. HODGSON.
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