The Dash-Board.—The dash-board is the next thing to be made, and then the seat. The hood, dash-board and seat are then soldered to the frame. Four imitation springs are then made and soldered to the bottom of the frame; holes are punched in these for axles; the wheels and axles are put in place, and the chassis of the truck is finished.
The dash-board may be formed in two ways; one way is to use part of a rolled-rim can, the rolled rim forming the top, and the other way is to fold over three edges of a piece of tin and form this into a dash-board. The first method looks better, but the last method is easier.
Select a large rolled-rim can, measure off 5¼ inches along the rolled rim and from each end of this measurement, run a line 2¼ inches down the side of the can. Then mark a line around the can 2½ inches down from the rolled rim and cut the can down to this line exactly as you would cut a can down to any line, see [Fig. 63].
Then cut out the piece 2½ by 5¼ inches including the rim. Use the flat-nosed pliers and break away the tin next the rim where the can was first opened with the can opener, just as you did when making a pail. Hammer down any tin left next the rim and then place the piece of tin on the bench or flat anvil and flatten it down, rolled rim and all.
Fig. 63.
Use the dividers to mark off ¼ inch along the two short ends of the piece at right angles to the rim, then use a file to cut off ¼ inch at each end of the rolled rim. Cut in on each of the darkened lines A A to the lines B just under the rolled rim, [Fig. 64]. Then fold the metal in between the lines B and C to give a rounded edge to the sides of the dash-board, as shown in [Fig. 65].
Place a piece of round bar iron or a pipe about 1 inch in diameter in the vise and round over each end of the dash-board so that the folded edges are inside as shown in [Fig. 65], and then round over the ends of the rolled rim with a flat file to make them smooth and the dash-board is finished.
