Duck, GooseDuckGoose
DuckGoose
The body may be cut from 3/8" stock, or from heavier material if so desired. It may be whittled to natural shape with a pocket knife before fastening it onto the platform.
The bill, eye and feet are colored yellow, throat, breast and tail red, head and wings dark green, and platform blue.
The construction of this problem is similar to that of the goose. Her feet and comb are colored red, body white with black trimming, beak and platform yellow.
Wild Duck, HenWild DuckHen
Wild DuckHen
The stock is 3/8" thick, the grain running vertical. It should be mounted on a wheel base 3/8" by 2" by 5-1/2" (Fig. 7). The deer is colored reddish brown, but nearly white under the body and on the lower parts of the legs. Color the base black and the wheels red.
Fig. 7. Wheel Base.Fig. 7. Wheel Base.
Fig. 7. Wheel Base.
DeerDeer
Deer
The stock is 3/8" thick. The grain of the wood should run vertical. The cow should be mounted on a wheel base 3/8" by 2" by 5-1/2". Wheels are 3/8" thick, 1-1/2" diameter. This is a Jersey cow, and should be colored accordingly. The base may be colored green, and the wheels red.
CowCow
Cow
This little creature is wary and swift as lightning in its movements.
The stock should be 1/4" thick, the grain running lengthwise of the body. It may be mounted on rocker base 1/4" by 1-1/2" by 5" (Fig. 8. See text on "Minstrels,"page 30). It is reddish brown with under part of body light.
Fig. 8. Rocker Bases.Fig. 8. Rocker Bases.
Fig. 8. Rocker Bases.
WeaselWeasel
Weasel
This may be treated in the same way as the weasel except the coloring. Examine a tiger in the zoo, or look up some colored pictures of tigers so you will know just how to draw his stripes and just what color to make them.
TigerTiger
Tiger
The rhinoceros should be cut out and colored and mounted on a platform which has rockers fastened to its edges (Fig. 8).
Hold the animal in the vise, head down, and nail thru the platform into the feet.
Rocking RhinoRocking Rhino
Rocking Rhino
The stock for the two minstrels, the platform and the rockers is 1/4" thick, with the grain of the wood running lengthwise in each object.
The bottom of the feet of the figures should fit squarely onto the platform. The rockers are laid off with the compass. The center of the arc is on a separate piece of wood of the same thickness as the rocker.
When the rockers are accurately finished and nailed to the platform, a center line is drawn along the under side of the platform, and points located to match the position of the feet of the figures. Use 3/4" brads and drive them thru the platform. Hold the figures, heads down, in the vise, or in clamps, and, in turn, drive the brads thru the feet and into the legs so that the figures will stand in an upright position. They are then colored in such brilliant attire as is becoming two gay minstrels.
MinstrelsMinstrels
Minstrels
The squirrel is generally regarded as being wary and wild. Still, by wise and kind treatment, its timidity can be overcome, and it may become quite tame. All parts of the squirrel may be made from 1/4" stock. Saw out the body, two fore, two hind legs and a nut.
Hold each pair of legs together in boring holes thru them. Smooth the parts and assemble them by firm movable joints.
Color throat and breast light gray, and the remainder brown.
SquirrelSquirrel
Squirrel
This problem is worked out similar to the squirrel. It may be colored red, black or white, with large spots.
PigPig
Pig
This animal has its home in Australia, where the birds are songless and the trees give no shade.
It has a very powerful tail which serves with the two long hind legs as its support and for making enormous bounds. The fore legs, much like arms, are used with surprising dexterity by this strange animal. The nose, throat and breast are very light, the rest of the body is reddish brown.
KangarooKangaroo
Kangaroo
It is with significance that this beast is called the ship of the desert. Like a ship crossing a wide ocean of water, the camel travels across a great expanse of sand carrying heavy loads of freight.
It has a wonderful endurance and can go for a week without drinking, subsisting on the coarse grass of that waste region, and the water stored up in its humps. Its dreamy eyes, sullen nature, angular figure and neutral grey-brown color—all seem to resemble the rocky desert itself.
CamelCamel
Camel
This creature (Fig. 9) is, unquestionably, the tallest of all the beasts of the forests of Africa. It does not stoop to obtain its living from the ground, but browses on the tops of trees.
It is also called the camelopard, suggesting a resemblance in shape to the camel and in color to the leopard.
It is cream-colored with a shower of dark-brown spots on its back and sides.
Fig. 9.Fig. 9.
Fig. 9.
GiraffeGiraffe
Giraffe
All the parts may be made from 1/4" stock. The two sides are made like the pattern. The seat is 2-1/4" wide, the back 2-1/2". Both are 3" long, and serve to unite the two sides.
When the parts are finished and ready for assembling, mark on the sides the exact location of seat and back; also the position of each nail on all parts. Hold the two sides together and make small holes thru them where the nails are to be driven. Nail, in turn, the seat and back to the first side, and then to the second side.
Color white and decorate appropriately.
Swan RockerSwan Rocker
Swan Rocker
Saw out the shape of the fowl as outlined in the drawing.
There is good chance for display of fine color in dark-green and blue. The breast should be colored brown.
Make a small stick about 2" long for a perch. Drive a small nail into each end of the stick, and tie the ends of a fine cord to each nail. Press a brad thru the middle of the stick up into the foot of the peacock. It may then be hung up by the long loop of the string and swung freely.
PeacockPeacock
Peacock
This dog may be made of 3/16" or 1/4" stock. When put together, the two pieces for the body are separated by the head, tail and two circular pieces. The legs are fastened to the outside of the body by two long nails that reach thru the five thicknesses. The ends of the nails are bent back.
Smooth the parts and color white, with large black spots on head, back, tail and legs.
Toy DogToy Dog
Toy Dog
This animal has two pieces for the body. The head and two circular pieces hold these two pieces apart. The head and legs move on tight joints so that the bear will stay in the desired position.
Teddy BearTeddy Bear
Teddy Bear
This may be made of 1/4" stock. The base has two holes bored thru it for the uprights with fit tight into the holes (Fig. 10). The perch is 2" long and has a brad in each end to swing on. These brads fit loose thru the uprights near the top ends.
The parrot is sawed out, and a 3/4" brad driven up thru the foot which also fits into the hole in the middle of the perch.
The parrot may be colored white with black trimmings, yellow beak and eyes, red crest, tail and foot. The wings are green.
The stand should have a green base, red uprights, and yellow perch. The bird should balance well and swing freely.
Fig. 10.Fig. 10.
Fig. 10.
ParrotParrot
Parrot
The two body pieces of the horse with rocker are sawed from 1/4" wood. The seat and back are made alike, as are also the shelf and foot-rest. The ends of these four pieces should be at right angles to the sides, and the edges should be slightly rounded.
Mark carefully on both side pieces where the cross-pieces are to be fastened. Hold the two together and make fine holes thru the two thicknesses where the nails are to go thru. By driving the brads thru these holes, fasten all the cross pieces to one side, and watch that the brads go straight. Then fasten the other side in a similar way.
Color the horses white, rockers red, and seat blue.
Dolls Hobby HorseDoll's Hobby Horse
Doll's Hobby Horse
This boat is sawed out according to the drawing, and notches cut on the arms at the stern as a place for the rubber band which serves both as axle and motive power. The paddles are sawed out to fit together to form a stern wheel with four paddles.
The elastic is made in a double loop of four thicknesses, one of which is placed in each of the four angles of the paddle. By twisting the elastic band, power is stored up sufficient for the boat to attain a fair rate of speed. A spool serves as smoke-stack.
Paint the boat white and smoke-stack red.
This fowl may be made of 3/8" stock; a shingle will do. Let the grain run vertically. The perch may be made of similar stock, triple thickness, with the middle piece short to allow room for the foot of the rooster. The piecesare securely fastened together with nails, and a hole bored in the other end of the perch for a metal pivot, on which it should swing to tell the way the wind blows. Give it two coats of paint, using brilliant colors.
Stern Wheeler, Weather CockStern WheelerWeather Cock
Stern WheelerWeather Cock
These two doll's chairs are similar in construction. Make them from 1/4" wood. Saw out two sides, a back and a seat for each chair. Have edges finished accurately. The seats are alike for the two chairs. The backs, also, are alike, except that the one for the rocker is 1/4" longer than the other. Assemble as shown in dotted lines, and fasten with 1" brads.
The chairs may be colored white or mahogany. With due care and skill, this furniture may be made very attractive and valuable.
Rocking Chair, Arm ChairRocking ChairArm Chair
Rocking ChairArm Chair
Every little girl loves to own a cradle for her doll. Here is one that is strong and pretty, and can easily be made from thin wood about 1/4" thick. Saw out the two ends after tracing the outline from the full-sized drawing. The two sides and bottom have their dimensions given. When properly shaped and smooth, the bottom is fastened with 1" brads between the ends. One-inch brads are driven thru the sides into the edges of the ends. Be careful when driving the brads that the sides do not split and that the brads go straight.
Paint the cradle white on the outside and violet or pink inside.
Dolls CradleDoll's Cradle
Doll's Cradle
This is a problem that will appeal to the little girl. It is also needed to complete the set of doll's house furniture. It is made of 1/4" wood and fastened with 1" brads. The grain should be run from top to bottom in the ends of the bed and lengthwise in sides and bottom.
The parts should be cut out of paper full size and placed on the wood as patterns. In cutting out the ends, fold the paper on the vertical center line so as to cut the two halves at the same time. When all parts are sawed out, fasten the bottom to the two ends, and then put the sides in place. The bed is colored like the rest of the furniture.
Dolls BedDoll's Bed
Doll's Bed
This table, being part of the furniture set, may be made from 1/4" stock. The four pieces comprising the legs are made from two paper patterns that are laid out to measure, folded on the vertical center line, cut out symmetrically, then traced on the wood, sawed out, smoothed and fastened together with 3/4" brads. The top is drawn directly on the wood with compass and fastened with 3/4" brads, centrally on the legs.
It is colored white, brown, mahogany or some other shade to harmonize with the general color scheme of the Doll's House and its furnishings.
Dolls TableDoll's Table
Doll's Table
Kite-flying is known the world over. Every boy wants to make and fly a kite. It is a sport that is almost limitless in its possibilities.
Kites may be made any size, of almost any shape and with all sorts of decorations. The two models here presented are types of practical fliers and are easily made.
One needs a tail to steady it in its flight, the other is tailless, but has the cross rod sprung by means of a string into the shape of a bow. The wind is caught against the convex surface and renders it steady. In the making of kites, it is essential that a few things be observed:
If the size be changed, the same proportions should be maintained. Make the wooden stays as light as possible consistent with strength.
Be sure to preserve balance both in distance and weight of the various parts. Make the cross-lap joint secure by driving a light nail thru the several thicknesses and bending down the end; then tie them together with strong twine. Cut a notch in the outer ends of the stays and in stringing the twine taut prevent it from slipping by tying a knot around the stick and thru the notch. The paper should be very light and strong. It is doubled over the string and pasted together.
The guy-strings are fastened to the ends of the wooden stays and the anchor line securely tied to them with several knots directly opposite where the stays cross. A few adjustments in point of balance and of the weight of the tail may be necessary in starting to fly the kite, but after they are made, it should rise to a great height and maintain a steady flight.
KitesKites
Kites
The stock required is 1/4" thick. Two bodies, two arms with axes, and two bars are needed for this toy. The upper bar has a place 5/8" from its center which is widened to resemble a tree stump an inch high. The pairs of parts are held together while holes are being bored thru them. The shoulders of the men and arms should have small holes to make a fixed joint while the men's legs and the bars should have holes closely fitting 1" nails.
Both bars are located on the side of the men on which the arms are fastened.
Color the coats, hats and sleeves blue, boots and axes black, arms, fingers, faces pink, and trousers red, bars green, and stump brown.
Wood ChoppersWood Choppers
Wood Choppers
From 1/4" stock, saw out two bodies, as shown in the full-size drawing, and two bars shown in the dimensioned drawing. Place the two bodies together and bore holes in the hind legs, as shown, for 1" nails. Do likewise with the two bars. Color the goats white, with large brown spots on their backs, necks and legs. Color the horns and hoofs black, and the bars gray or brown. Fasten with movable joints, one bar on each side of the goats, having them cross as indicated in the assembled drawing.
Bucking GoatsBucking Goats
Bucking Goats
Saw out two bodies and four legs for the two hens. Hold two legs together and bore five fine holes thru them as shown in the drawing. Then place one of these with each of the unbored legs and bore these, using the first pair as template for boring the second. Also bore holes in the two bodies together, saw out the two bars and bore the holes thru the two together. Saw out the upright and the tilting pans; bore holes, and fasten together with a loose joint. Enlarge the two lower holes in legs of the hens to thesize of a 1" nail. Fasten two legs to each hen with three 3/4" brads, and clench. Finish the parts in appropriate contrasting colors. Place the two bars between the legs of the hens and insert thru the holes 1" nails, bending their ends back to form a loose joint. Take the upright and the pans, and fasten the lower end of the upright to the middle of the upper bar so that each pan will tilt when the hens peck.
Pecking HenPecking Hen
Pecking Hen
The body, arms and legs are made of 3/16" wood. After the acrobat is sawed out and holes are bored, paint the parts in gay colors. Assemble with loose joints. The two upright sticks are fastened to the cross piece by two 1" brads at each end, after the two holes are bored in the upper ends for the cord. It is colored green or black. Insert a strong double cord thru the frame and the hands of the acrobat. There is a twist in the cord when the legs are down, but it is straight when the arms point down.
AcrobatAcrobat
Acrobat
This nimble tar climbs a rope according to a style that is all his own. Pull on the string, and the friction on the two nails between his legs being greater than that between his hands, his hands glide upward. Let go, and the elastic band between his legs and arms pulls his legs up, and he thus gets a fresh grip.
Saw out of 3/16" stock one body, two arms and two legs. The arms are fastened to the body with three 3/4" brads and clenched. The legs have a loose hip joint on a 1" nail with the end bent back. The rubber band is held between arms and legs by two nails. The string is held between two thicknesses of felt or cardboard that are fastened between the hands with two brads to produce the required friction. Bore holes to avoid splitting. The string passes down between the two legs around two nails that pass thru both legs but do not pull them together. Color the cap white and suit blue.
Climbing SailorClimbing Sailor
Climbing Sailor
The wood should be 3/16" thick. Two of each pattern is required, except the head, which may be made of slightly thicker stock.
Bore the holes as shown to form loose joints.
Color the cap and body blue, thighs and upper arms yellow, calves and fore arms pink, and shoes brown.
Insert small nails into edge of arms and thighs at the points where the strings are to be attached. Take two pieces of string, two feet long; tie the ends of one to nails in the arms, the ends of the other to the nails in the thighs. Insert 1" nails thru one of the body pieces; drive 3/4" brads thru it and the neck; place arms and legs in position; adjust the strings to proper lengths, and tie a knot on them. Place the other body piece in position. Bend back the ends of the nails, making loose joints, and drive the brads thru the neck into the second body piece, and clench. Fasten the legs together with loose joints, and all should work freely.
Jumping JackJumping Jack
Jumping Jack
The body may be sawed from 3/8" stock as outlined in the drawing. Find its center of gravity by balancing it on a knife edge, crosswise, and then lengthwise. Draw lines along the knife edge where it balances. Where these intersect is the center of gravity. Bore a hole at this point of intersection perpendicular to the body, and so as to fit tight on a 1/4" dowel rod. Make two discs 1" diameter, 1/4" thick, with a hole to fit tight on the dowel on each side of the man.
Color his shirt red, hat and trousers blue, arms and stockings white, and dowel, shoes and parallel bars black.
The frame on which the man should balance (Fig. 11), with his head just a little the lighter, is made of seven pieces. The base, 1/2" x 2" x 12"; the fouruprights, 1/4" x 1" x 5-3/4", and the two bars, 3/8" x 3/4" x 15", are firmly fastened together so that the two bars will be parallel and horizontal.
When the man is properly balanced, which may be accomplished by whittling off a little stock where needed, he should roll from end to end of the bars by giving the dowel a twist between two fingers.
Fig. 11.Fig. 11.
Fig. 11.
Balancing BarristerBalancing Barrister
Balancing Barrister
All parts of the body are of 3/16" stock. When sawed out, the parts are colored separately and assembled. All joints should swing without friction. Therefore, bore all holes larger than the nail, thru all thicknesses, except the one nearest to the point of the nail. At elbows and knees have the heads of the nails on the inside. At the shoulders place a small wheel between the arms and body, and use a 1-1/2" nail for pivot, with plenty of play. The platform (Fig. 12) is of thin, springy wood, 1-1/2" wide and 9" long. The upright post is of 1/2" stock about 6" long and securely nailed to the platform and braced with a small block. Holes are bored into Rastus' back and the post so as to fit tight on No. 16 spring brass wire, 5" long. Put a weight on the rear end of the platform, let the front end project out over the edge of a table and set it vibrating. This should cause Rastus to swing legs and arms in a merry fashion.
Fig. 12.Fig. 12.
Fig. 12.
Dancing RastusDancing Rastus
Dancing Rastus
The stock for all parts is 1/4" thick except for the oar and broom which should be 1/8" thick. Saw out the two figures, wheels and bars. Hold the two wheels together and bore two holes for the pivot nails. Do similarly to the bars. Assemble wheels and bars temporarily to mark places on the wheels where the feet of the figures will be fastened. Saw out the oar and broom. Color all the parts separately in bright contrasting values to bring out the outlines of the arms and other parts of the figures. Fasten the wheels to the feet, the bars to the wheels in loose joint, and the oar and broom to the man and woman in positions indicated by the dotted lines.
When properly put together, the figures should swing when the bars are moved back and forth, and the oar and broom go flying and strike with a rattling bang.
Spanking EsquimauxSpanking Esquimaux
Spanking Esquimaux
This toy is made so that the wabbler can go or glide down the ladder on his elbows. The ladder is made from soft wood 3/8" to 1/2" thick, 2-1/2" wide, and 20" long. The openings are cut as shown, and nails located and driven in exactly as indicated in the drawing. The ladder is then securely fastened to the base which is made of 3/4" wood, 3-1/2" square. The wabbler is sawed out of 1/4" wood. A full-sized drawing is shown. This is all one piece without openings. Features and parts of the body are to be worked out by using paints of different colors.
WabblerWabbler
Wabbler
The stock for the upright piece and end supports is 3/8" thick; that for the two boys and teeter-totter is 1/4" thick. The upright is made 2" wide and 28" long. On the center line lay off points 1-3/8" apart. With these as centers, draw semi-circles of 1" radius alternately on both sides of center line. From each center draw lines tangent to the circles, as shown in the drawing.
Saw to these lines and curves, and finish the edges so that they are smooth. Saw out two boys and the teeter-totter board (B,Fig. 13), cutting out the center opening accurately. Slip this board onto the upright, and watch it fall from top to bottom in a see-saw motion. If it fails to travel smoothly, see where the rub is and remove the obstacle. Fasten the two pairs of cross pieces to each end of the upright so that it will stand vertically on either end.
Give it a thin coat of paint. Color the boys and fasten them with a nail thru the body of each boy, fitting loosely, and driven into the ends of the board. When the see-saw is turned up-end down, the boys will swing on the nails and keep heads up.
Fig. 13.Fig. 13.
Fig. 13.
Falling Teeter TotterFalling Teeter Totter
Falling Teeter Totter
This problem is rather unique in its principle of operation and offers at once material for study and investigation. Like that of a circus performer, the combinations must be exactly right or the little fellow may fall on his head. In making the man, first bore the holes thru the block and take care to make them parallel. The openings into the holes from the ends must be in the same plane and made to slide over the rounds of the ladder without friction. The tumbler may be shaped and colored to look like a man. A base may be attached to each end, but on opposite sides of the ladder, so that Tommie may tumble in both directions.
Tumbling TommieTumbling Tommie
Tumbling Tommie
All parts of this article are made of 1/4" wood except the ears which should be 1/8" thick. Saw out one body, a pair each of fore legs, hind legs, ears and tail, and the push-rod and guide. The guide is made of four pieces and fastened together with glue and brads, as shown in the drawing. The two pairs of legs are fastened to the body by loose joints. Holes are bored thru one end of the push-rod and the forefeet; also thru the projecting end of the guide and hind feet. Fasten that end of the guide between the hind feet with loose joint (Fig. 14). Insert the push-rod thru the hole in the guide, which should slide easily, and fasten between the fore feet. By holding the guide in the left hand and working the push-rod back and forth, the dog should work freely and without a hitch in all the varied positions that it is possible for it to assume. With fine brad fasten the tail. Bore holes thru head and ears, and pivot them on a loose joint so that they will swing when the pup is busy scratching.
The pup may be colored white with black spots on neck, body and legs. The push-rod and guide may be finished in a dark color or black.
The stunts that this pup can perform are greater in number than one would suspect. Furthermore, they increase also in variety as the child acquires skill in manipulation.