GOOD GATE LATCHES.
latchFig. 246.—Gate Latch.
Fig. 246.—Gate Latch.
Fig. 246.—Gate Latch.
gate catchFig. 247.—Spring Gate Catch.
Fig. 247.—Spring Gate Catch.
Fig. 247.—Spring Gate Catch.
Some cows become so expert, they can lift almost any gate latch. To circumvent this troublesome habit, latches made as shown infigure 246will fill this bill exactly. It is a piece of iron bar, drawn down at one end, and cut with a thread to screw into the gate post. A stirrup, or crooked staple, made as shown, is fitted by a screw bolt and nut to the bar. A small bolt must be driven in to keep the stirrup from being thrown over. A projecting slat on the gate, when it is shut, lifts the stirrup and holds the gate. This latch is too much for breechy cows, and they are never able to get “the hang of it.”
A simple catch for a gate may easily be made from apiece of seasoned hickory, or other elastic wood, cut in the shape as shown atainfigure 247. This is fastened strongly to the side of the gate, with the pin,c, working through the top loosely, so that it will play easily. The catch,b, is fastened to the wall or post, as the case may be. The operation will be easily understood from the illustration, and it will be found a serviceable, sure, and durable contrivance. The gate cannot be swung to without catching, and it may swing both ways.
gate and latch piecesFig. 248.—Latch In Position. Fig. 249. Fig. 250.
Fig. 248.—Latch In Position. Fig. 249. Fig. 250.
Fig. 248.—Latch In Position. Fig. 249. Fig. 250.
A very simple and convenient style of fastening is illustrated infigures 248to251. It can be made of old buggy springs, or any flat steel, and should be one inch broad by three six-tenth inch thick, and about eighteen inches long, at the distance of four inches from the lower end. The lever is slightly bent, and has two screw or bolt holes for fastening,figure 249. Eight inches of the top portion is rounded and bent at right angles. The upper part passes through a narrow mortise in the head-post of the gatefigure 248. A flat staple, large enough to go over the spring holds it in place. An iron hook,figure 250, driven into the post, holds the latch. A wooden lever, bolted to the top board of the gate,figure 251, enables a person on horseback to open or close the gate. This latch can be applied to any kind of a gate, and is especially desirable in yards or gardens, when, by the addition of a chain and weight, one may always feel that the gate is securely closed. The latch does not cost more than fifty cents, and if properly made and put on will last as long as the gate.
gate with latch leverFig. 251.—Latch With Top Lever.
Fig. 251.—Latch With Top Lever.
Fig. 251.—Latch With Top Lever.
latch close-upFig. 252.—Gate Latch.
Fig. 252.—Gate Latch.
Fig. 252.—Gate Latch.
Infigure 252is represented a style of gate latch in use in some Southern States. It possesses marked advantages,for certain purposes, over others. It holds to an absolute certainty, under all circumstances, and by allowing the latch pin to rest on the bottom of the slot in the post, it relieves the hinges and post from all strain. The latch may be formed by a common strap-hinge, made to work very easily, and the pin should be either a strong oak one or an iron bolt or “lag screw.”
latch and pin close-upFig. 253.—Latch And Pin.
Fig. 253.—Latch And Pin.
Fig. 253.—Latch And Pin.
Figure 253shows a latch which cannot be opened by the most ingenious cow or other animal. The latch of wood slides in two iron or wood bands screwed to thegate. It is moved by a knob between the bands, which also prevents it from going too far. The outer end is sloping and furnished with a notch. It slides through a mortise in the gate post, indicated by dotted lines. When the gate is closed, the latch is slid through the mortise, and the drop-pin, which plays vertically in two iron bands, is lifted by the slope on the latch, and drops into the notch. It can be opened only by lifting the drop-pin, and sliding back the latch at the same time.
latch componentsFig. 254.—Gate Latch.
Fig. 254.—Gate Latch.
Fig. 254.—Gate Latch.
Figure 254shows a very ingenious and reliable form of latch. The curved tail must be thin enough and sufficiently soft to admit of bending, either by a pair of large pincers or a hammer, just so as to adapt it to the passage of the pin bolted through the front stile of the gate. As the gate closes, the latch lifts out and the tail-piece advances. The catch-pin cannot possibly move out, unless the whole end of the gate moves up and forward.