THE conservatory and stand are made chiefly of wood. The dimensions of the timbers should be varied from those mentioned, if, in practice, it is found convenient to do so, the object being to have as portable a construction as possible, and one in which the strength is not sacrificed to slenderness.
Stand. The more rigid this supporting stand is, the better. The legs may, however, be made
to fold, or be taken apart from the top framework, if, by means of iron stays, the stand is quite rigid when erected.
Screwed sockets may be sunk into the framework of top of stand into which studs screw tightly, fitted to top ends of table legs. Thin steel rods passing through the legs near their lower ends, and held in place by fly nuts, will help to keep the legs rigid.
Alternatively, the legs could be hinged to fold flat against the underside of table, the legs being strained apart by iron rods when stand is erected.
Strong angle plates are fixed to front side of front legs of stand to secure them to stage (by stage screws) so that the stand cannot be tilted over by the weight of load on shelf at rear when same is outside the conservatory. The table legs to be about 2-1/2 inches square, slightly tapered for neatness.
Top framing of stand 3 x 2, arranged to permit protruding portion of bearers (which carry shelf when outside conservatory) to fold in flush with back of framework.
Table-top of 3-ply wood in three panels (between ends of stand and bearers) so arranged as not to interfere with shelf being pushed into conservatory, i.e. groove left clear for flange on shelf.
Bearers. These have to be so placed that when the shelf is loaded the shelf will not sag. The
bearers are each in two portions (a) the fixed portions inside conservatory—which also act as stiffening pieces for the framework of top of stand and (b) the portions which protrude to carry shelf when same is outside. The latter portions may either be pivoted to the rear framework of stand so as to fold flush after shelf has been pushed into conservatory, or, if better in practice, secured to the rear framework by very long strap hinges with the same object, i.e. to fold against rear framework.
The bearers are fitted at intervals of about six inches along upper edge with rollers, and the protruding bearers are arranged with a slight tilt so that there is a tendency for the loaded shelf to run into conservatory of its own accord when permitted to do so. Bearers about same dimensions as framework of stand top (3 x 2).
Small steel rails are screwed to one side of each bearer (the inner face in each case) to form a groove for flanges which are screwed, to suit, on under side of movable shelf. These act as guides, enabling the shelf to be held in place while resting on the rollers on bearers. The rollers are so placed that the shelf always rests on two of them—on each bearer.
Shelf. To be of stiff plywood (5-ply) or other suitable stiff timber shaped at rear side to save
angle views as much as possible when fully drawn back, as in plan. The small steel flanges are screwed to underside to register with groove formed by edge of bearer and steel rail screwed to same. The shelf rests on the rollers (on the bearers) and the flanges are merely provided to prevent shelf moving sideways and to enable it to run back and forth as re- quired. A sheet of thin iron will assist in preventing this thin shelf from sagging with weight of load.
Stops. Metal “stops” are provided on the fixed bearers inside conservatory to limit the for-
ward run of shelf, and also at the outer end of protruding bearer to prevent shelf running off bearers, when drawn out of conservatory.
A catch, or stop, is also necessary to keep shelf from running forward when loaded, until the desired moment. This stop may be released by “load” assistant.
Note. A point that is not at present clear is the form the framework of top of stand will take.
The bearers with their rollers must be flush with top of framework to allow shelf to run for- ward and straight into conservatory. If they are flush with top of framework, the latter will have to be recessed (see Figure 2) to permit the protruding portions of bearers to fold in flush with the rear line of conservatory.
If, on the other hand, there is no objection to the folded bearers projecting (as Figure 3), the framework need not be recessed as in Figure 2.
Conservatory. To be as slender in appearance as possible and made up in separate panels
for bolting together (for portability). The gabled—or pointed—end panels in one piece. Screwed studs project from framing of the end panels and pass through holes in framing of top, front and rear panels when assembled and secured together with fly nuts.
The rear panel of conservatory made up of three panels; two single-pane portions (one at each end of rear side) and a six-pane portion hung on pivot fittings to enable same to swing outward porn the top (see Figure 4) to admit load. Note.—The shelf must be pushed suffi- ciently far into conservatory to enable pivoted “sash” to swing back into place after “load” assistant is inside, i.e. the stops on inner bearers must be placed to suit this. A catch or turnbuckle will be required to prevent pivoted sash swinging open before required move- ment.
Electric Light. The interior of conservatory is lighted with lamps in lampholders fixed to a
removable batten at the apex of conservatory. The cable passes out through a hole in framework of one end panel, which is also fitted with a plug for stage lead.
Glass. To save weight, the glass of the conservatory is replaced by the non-inflammable
transparent material used for windscreens of cars. The triangular panels of two end frame- works are filled in with dark blue similar material to be semi-transparent.
Roller Blinds. Neat close-rolling spring blinds are provided to top, front, and two end pan-
els (to the square part of latter, hence the dark blue filling of triangular portion), As the long panels are 7 feet long, these surfaces have to be covered with two or three blinds in the length (meeting above sash bars) so as completely to hide the interior when the blinds are drawn. (See Figure 5.)
A means of releasing all the blinds so that they fly up simultaneously may be devised.
Note re Bearers. The simplest method of arranging these would appear to be to have the
rear framework of stand continuous in its length to give strength (i.e. not recessed). The inner bearers flush with the top of framework help to stiffen the framework.
The protruding bearers strongly strap-hinged (specially made) to the outside of the frame- work (see Figure 1), a stop being provided at X to prevent bearer opening at a greater angle than a tight angle as shown.
This arrangement does not permit the bearers to fold absolutely flush with rear framework, but the total projection of the bearers when folded will not be more than 6 inches.