Fig. 150. A box for drawing instruments
A box for drawing instruments is shown in [Fig. 150]. Its outside dimensions are 9 × 51⁄4 × 21⁄2 inches. Our boys made theirs of gum wood because of the beauty of its colouring and its suitability for carving. The joints used and the method of construction were the same as in the handkerchief box, but it was provided with a tray for the instruments. This was one inch deep over all, and rested on two thin strips fastened to the ends inside. These strips were 41⁄4 × 1 × 1⁄4 inches, and, by raising the tray one inch from the bottom, left a space convenient for holding triangles, protractors, pencils, etc. The cover was decorated with a border and centre piece in chip carving.
The making of dovetailed boxes is taken up in Chapter [XXXV].
[XXVIII]
BRACKETS AND BOOK RACKS
Brackets are often required about the house for many purposes, and their size, shape, and decoration are infinite. There is even more fun in designing them than in making them. Tastes differ in this respect, as in everything else, and, given the problem, no two people will bring out the same design unless they simply copy something they have seen, which is not designing.
When our boys started to make brackets in response to urgent demands from the family, Ralph blocked out the sketch shown in [Fig. 151] at a.