Replies

1. 
   DougR | Apr 12, 2005 05:39am | #1

   How was that curved handrail made? Is it laminated strips of wood like it would be made today, or something else?

1. 
   MikeSmith | Apr 12, 2005 05:46am | #2

   no... it's not laminated..

   View ImageMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

2. 
   MikeSmith | Apr 12, 2005 05:52am | #3

   here's some more views.....

   View Image

    

    the newel...

    and the turn viewed from the top

   View Image

   and my knee to show the height of the rail above the nosing

   Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

   Edited 4/11/2005 10:53 pm ET by Mike Smith

   Edited 4/11/2005 10:54 pm ET by Mike Smith

   Edited 4/11/2005 10:55 pm ET by Mike Smith

1. 
   DaneB | Apr 12, 2005 07:17am | #4

   And think of the work that was done ALL by hand.

   I like the way the first  tread was cut to fit around the newel.

   And the way the window trim was cut so the third tread could slide under it and on top of the window sill.

   Isn't it nice to be admiring somebody else's work 115 years later?  I hope that the guys that we have all met here, at BT, can  have there work admired equally as well 115 years from now.

   You say that the railing is short.  But if you stop and think about it, when you climbed those stairs your hand was out in front of you as you slid it up the rail.  Using the railing to help pull you up the stairs.  This would put the railing at a comfortable height.  As you came down the stairs, you more then likely didn't use the railing.

   Please tell the guy that allowed you to come in and take those pictures that we say "Thank You". for sharing that beautiful piece of art work with us.

   DaneI will always be a beginner as I am always learning.

1. 
   zendo | Apr 12, 2005 02:52pm | #5

   Dane,

   The profile of the rail would have been carved in sections and then pieced together.  Back then the chunks of wood that it took to get that kind of shape would have been a lot less expensive. 

   -zen

2. 
   basswood | Apr 12, 2005 03:05pm | #6

   Is it walnut? I just removed a rail that has the same profile and color that had been trashed in a rental. I resold it and reinstalled it in another house (the rental owner wouldn't pay for repair work--rental got a capped 1/2 wall).Edit to add: I just built up a casing to match the one used in those pics for another 1890's house. I'll take some shots of it this week.

   Edited 4/12/2005 8:11 am ET by basswood

1. 
   Philter | Apr 12, 2005 05:54pm | #7

   I love the curved skirt....mmmmmmm skirts......."If 'tis to be,'twil be done by me."

2. 
   rez | Apr 12, 2005 06:26pm | #8

   I transplanted a same profile and color rail into my place a few years back. I'd like to know what wood it is also. Could it be a mahogany?

   I took liberty of lightening some of mike's pic up a bit to show a little better detail.

   sobriety is the root cause of dementia.

1. 
   JohnT8 | Apr 12, 2005 06:40pm | #9

   Very good detail.

    jt8

   Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.  -- Leo Tolstoy

2. 
   BillHartmann | Apr 12, 2005 07:03pm | #10

   I think that the last one was bass wood, but I am not sure if I have the correct spelling.

3. 
   MikeSmith | Apr 12, 2005 07:49pm | #11

   thanks for highlighting those..

   it's the  handrubbed finish that brings out the beauty

    

   View ImageMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

4. 
   rez | Apr 12, 2005 09:03pm | #12

   I see the wavy lines on the trimcap there.

   I take it that is not the camera lens but the carpentry intention in design and adapting to the sway in the plaster walls?

   be seeing double

   sobriety is the root cause of dementia.

5. 
   jimblodgett | Apr 12, 2005 11:58pm | #13

   Yeah, I'm wondering if that could be rotated.