on these squares is along the center of the back of the tongue, and gives the length of the common braces as shown in Fig. 11. Examples are shown in the blade as at the point marked 24 30, which means 24 inches on the post and 18 inches on the beam or girt, which make the brace 30 inches long from point to point according to the rule given. An application of this rule is shown at Fig. 12, where 36 inches are laid off on both post and beam, which gives the length of the brace from point to point 50.91 inches, or very nearly 4 feet 3 inches. Other dimensions are shown in the square. There is also a scale of one-hundredths, or one inch divided into 100 equal parts.

The octagon scale on this square runs along the middle of the face of the tongue, and is used for laying off lines to cut an “eight square” or octagon stick of timber from a square one.

Fig. 11.

Fig. 12.

Fig. 13.

Suppose the figure ABCD (see Fig. 2) is the butt of a square stick of timber 6x6 inches. Through the center draw the lines AB and CD parallel with the sides and at right angles to each other. With a pair of compasses take as many spaces (6) from the scale as there are inches in the width of the stick, and lay off this space on either side of the point A, as Aa and Ab; lay off in the same way the same space from the point B as Bd, Be; also Cf, Cg and Db, Dc. Then draw lines ab, cd, ef and gh. Cut off the solid angle E, also F, G and H. This will leave an octagon, or eight-sided stick, which will be found nearly exact on all sides.

The board measure, known as the “Essex Board Measure,” Fig. 13, is made use of in figuring these squares, and is used as follows: Figures 12 and 17 in the graduation marks on the outer edge represent a one-inch board 12 inches wide, which is the starting point for all calculations. The smaller figures under the 12 represent the length.

A board 12 inches wide and 8 feet long measures 8 square feet, and so on down the table. Therefore, to get the square feet of a board 8 feet long and 6 inches wide, find the figure 8 in the scale under the 12-inch graduation mark and pass the pencil along to the left on the same line to a point below the graduation mark 6 (representing the width of the board), and you stop on the scale at 4, which is 4 feet, the board measure required. If the board is the same length and 10 inches wide, look under the graduation mark 10 on a line with the figure 8 before mentioned, and you will find 6 8-12 feet board measure; if 18 inches wide then to the right under the graduation mark 18 and 12 feet is found to be the board measure. If 13 feet long and 7 inches wide, find 13 in the scale under the 12-inch graduation and on the same line under the 7-inch graduation will be found 7 7-12 feet board measure. If the board is half this length, take half of this result; if double this length, then double this result. For stuff 2 inches thick double the figure.

In this way the scale covers all lengths of boards, the most common from 8 feet to 15 feet being given.

This company also manufactures a square that is “blued,” or apparently oxidized, with all the figures on it enameled in white. This is really a handsome tool, and the white figures on a dark blue ground enable the operator to see what figures he is looking for without waste of time and straining of eyesight.

Fig. 14.

The bridge builders’ steel square, which is illustrated in Fig. 14, is also made by this company. This square has a blade three inches wide, which is made with a slot down the center one inch wide. The tongue is the same as in the No. 100 square, but has no figures for brace or octagon rules. It is not so handy for general purposes as the regular square, but for special purposes in bridge building, or for laying out very heavy timber structures it has special advantages, as 3-inch shoulders and 3-inch tenons and mortises can be readily laid out with it. Another square, shown in Fig. 15, known as the “machinists’ square,” is made by this company. It has a blade 6 inches and a tongue 4 inches long, and is very finely finished. This square is found very useful for pattern makers, piano and organ builders, and where other especially close work is required. A number of other squares are made by this firm, but as they are not intended for woodworkers’ use, I will not describe them here.

Fig. 15.

I would not complete this description of Sargent’s make of squares if I failed to make mention of their “bench square.” I give this name to it because of its fitness for bench purposes. The square referred to has a blade 12 inches long and 1½ inches wide, and a tongue 9 inches long and 1 inch wide. The figuring on it is divided into inches, half inches, quarter inches, eighths and sixteenths of an inch. This is a very handy square for bench and jobbing purposes, and can be used in many places where the larger tool is unavailable, and may on emergency be employed for laying out rafters, braces and similar work. A square that was quite popular some sixteen or eighteen years ago known as “The Crenalated Square,” an illustration of which is shown in Fig. 16, is still preferred by many workmen. The peculiarity of this square is that the inner edge of the tongue is notched or crenalated, as shown in the illustration, the notches being intended as “gauge-points,” where a sharpened pencil may be inserted, then the square may be drawn along the timber or board, with the blade held snug against the edge, as shown, and mortises or tenons can be laid out at will.

Besides being crenalated, these squares have all the advantages of other squares, and are well made and pleasant to handle. They are made by the manufacturers, The Peck, Stowe & Wilcox Co., of Southington, Conn., in polished steel,