This Substantial Swing Guards the Youngsters from Injury by Brushing against the Brick Walls
A narrow space between two city houses was used to erect a swing, as detailed in the illustration. A piece of 2-in. iron pipe, A, was cut 1 ft. longer than the space between the walls. Two pieces of 2¹⁄₂-in. pipe and a 2¹⁄₂ by 2¹⁄₂ by 1¹⁄₄-in. tee, as shown in the detail, was slipped over the 2-in. pipe, which was built into the walls. A 1¹⁄₄-in. pipe, B, 20 ft. long, bent as shown, was joined to the tee, and a seat, C, was attached. The construction of the seat is shown in detail, being fixed to the wooden part with washers, nuts, and a threaded nipple, D. A cushion and a removable safety bar, E, were also features. This swing is safer than one of rope, and will stand much greater wear.—James N. Reed, San Francisco, Calif.
Door Bumpers Raise Height of Chair
Four wooden door bumpers, of the rubber-tipped knob type, fastened to the lower ends of the legs of one of the kitchen chairs, make an almost indispensable high chair, which will bring the table work to a more comfortable height than the ordinary chair does. The young child also will appreciate such a chair at the dining table. When it is no longer needed, the knobs can be unscrewed quickly.—J. E. McCoy, Philadelphia, Pa.
A Homemade Hawaiian Ukulele
By S. H. SAMUELS
The one-string banjo, the cigar-box guitar, and similar vaudeville favorites are giving way to the tantalizing ukulele, and the home mechanic, to be up to date in his musical craftsmanship, must fall in line. The size of this instrument makes it especially suited to the cigar-box type of body construction, as detailed in the several sketches and shown in the photograph reproduced. This neat ukulele was made at a cost of 30 cents, by careful selection of materials from the shop scrap stock.
This Cigar-Box Ukulele Cost the Maker 80 Cents, and Affords Him the Pleasures of a More Expensive One
A cigar box of good-quality Spanish cedar, about 2¹⁄₂ by 6 by 9 in., as shown in [Fig. 1], is used for the body. Remove the paper carefully, so as not to mar the surface, soaking it if necessary. Take it apart, and if the nail holes are too numerous, or broken out, trim off the edges. Fit the parts of the body together, as shown in [Fig. 2], the top and bottom pieces resting against the side and end pieces, and the latter between the sides. Cut the 2¹⁄₂-in. hole in the top piece, as shown, 3³⁄₄ in. from the neck end. To reinforce the body make strips A, ¹⁄₄ in. square, and fit them to be glued into the corners at the top and bottom. Make strips B, ¹⁄₄ by ⁵⁄₈ by 4¹⁄₂ in., and glue them under the top and on the bottom as indicated in Fig. 2. The final assembling and gluing of these parts, using animal glue, should be done after the bridge C is in place, and the other parts are made. The bridge is of hard wood hollowed underneath the notched edge, as detailed, and is fitted with a metal string contact.
