It is well to agitate the fixture question in every proper way with the employer, and to try to obtain those that are necessary; and it is well, also, to keep an eye on the lumber pile, for with saw and hammer one can rig up fixtures with which he can make a creditable display of any class of merchandise, and at the same time train himself to become a man of resources; for, far and away ahead of all other gifts the successful trimmer is always resourceful, and the ability to hastily construct necessary fixtures is twin brother to the gift that enables a man to handle every kind of goods given him in all the ways it is capable of being displayed at short notice which is the characteristic stamp of the true artist, and determines his value to his employer as well as his standing in the profession.
Here are one or two illustrations:
IDEAS FOR HOMEMADE FIXTURES.
If you have been asked to show underwear, for instance, and metal fixtures are not obtainable, don’t entertain a trimmer get some curtain poles, saw into required lengths, procure some three-pronged metal towel racks from house furnishing department, screw them on pole, as seen in cut, and you have a fixture that the goods will sufficiently cover, so that no one will guess it was not originally manufactured for the purpose.
To make a very effective centerpiece for a linen or handkerchief window, cut from any old boards the shape of a vase, say thirty-six inches high. Pad one side of this to the shape of a vase with old papers, excelsior or any old rubbish; cover with muslin, then puff all over with cheesecloth; now two feet from your dark background stretch from floor to ceiling coarse, black tarletan; place the flat side of vase against this and pin your handkerchiefs or napkins on in vine and flower effect. The tarletan is entirely invisible and the goods have the appearance of “growing” right out of the vase.
To make an effective and artistic arch quickly, nail your uprights to the floor, cover with carpet padding; over this puff, pleat or stretch plain cheesecloth or whatever you wish to cover it with. Now get some flour-pail lids for caps, procure some barrel hoops, cut out about one-third and nail either end to the side of post caps. The space can be filled in by puffing or pleating.
These methods are shown in outline in the above diagram.
Another, more elaborate arch is made as follows: Go to the lumber room, where old boxes and barrels are kept, and there are usually a saw and hammer about the store. That’s enough. Remove the wooden hoops carefully from your barrels, and save the heads. If you have not enough pieces among the boxes to serve for uprights purchase a few 2 × 4s, and also a bundle of lath. If you wish to make an arch, use the 2 × 4s for uprights, run a board across the top, and nail blocks in such a position that by bending lath or light strips, and nailing them to the blocks, the circle of the arch will be formed. See illustration. Puff cheesecloth upon cardboard or the thin wood used for backing pictures, and fasten it to the circle of the arch, allowing it to run down as far as the pillow. Allow the top board to project a trifle beyond the face of the arch, and cover or puff this edge. For the pillars take heavy carpet paper, or roofing paper, and cut it the length you wish the height of the pillar to be. Cover the surface of this paper with cloth or velvet. Then bend the paper in cylindrical form, around the upright, fastening at the back with brass paper fasteners. It will have the appearance of a solid and substantial pillar. Twine smilax or ivy about this and you will be surprised at the effect.