1st Edition
Practical Masonry: A Guide to the Art of Stone Cutting
Regarded by many as the stonemason's bible, Practical Masonry has for many years been one of the best technical stone masonry books available for both apprentices and experienced masons. Originally written in 1896 and published by Crosby Lockwood & Son of London, it met with great acclaim and the correspondence received by the author was that of thanks and praise at such a well written and concise technical book. Following the constructive feedback W R Purchase wrote a second edition in which he included three more chapters: Roman and Grecian moldings (both illustrative) and a glossary of terms. This work was then followed by further editions and by 1904 when the fifth edition was published Purchase had added further chapters including: Masonry Estimating and Quantity Surveying; Building Stones, marble and granite (including detailed lists of specific stones available) and finally Tables of Diameters, Circumferences and Areas of circles. As with many technical books that go out of print it became more difficult for people to purchase this book as the years passed. This latest edition published by Donhead Publishing will ensure that the work of W R Purchase can again reach and assist all those who study or are involved with this ancient craft.
Tools and Appliances Squares; Mallet; Hammer; Chisels; Boasters; Claw-tool; Pitcher; Jumper; Drags; Dummy; Cross-cut saw; Pick; Axe; Patent axe; Spalling hammer; To frame up a saw, for hand sawing; To cope or split a block of stone or granite; Wedges; Plugs and feathers; Lewises; Dogs or Nippers; Trammel heads; Platform or drawing board; Sheet zinc. Arches and Joints Definition of arches; Segment arch, and joints; Semcircular arch and joints; Semi-oval arch and joints; Semi-elliptic arch and joints; Equilateral arch and joints; Lancet arch and joints; Drop arch and joints; Tudor arches and joints; Flat or straight arches and joints; Joggle joints, secret arch joint; Saddle or water joint in cornice; Rebated joint in coping; Bed joints in spires; Dovetailed joints; Dowels and cramps. Masonry Details To form a plane surface; To form a winding surface; To form a cylindrical surface; To work a length of cornice; Various examples of dressing stone; the entasis of a column, by two methods; To diminish or enlarge a section; To draw a raking mould; To draw a stretching mould; To set out the Grecian fret. Staircases Definitions of steps; Proportions of the tread and rise; To set out a spandril step; Plan of a good type of stair; Part plan of winders, and development; Bed mould, and well-hole mould; Working of the winders; A spiral stair with solid newel; A sketch of one of the winders; A spiral stair with open newel; Development of the winders; Bracketed steps; Solid steps; Treads and risers; Method of sawing spandrel steps. Circular Work (Ramp And Twist) A terrace stair, circular on plan, with raking balustrade; Plan of balustrade and steps; To set out the development of outside and inside elevation, and moulds for the same; To work the plinth block; A sketch of the finished plinth; To work the length of capping; A sketch of the finished length of capping; Section of the balustrade. ARCHES, CIRCULAR On PLAN A semicircular arch in a cylindrical wall, the soffit line at springing converging to a centre; To set out the plan and developed elevations; The bed and face moulds; Working of the arch stones, or voussoirs; A sketch of segment of hollow cylinder; A sketch of one of the arch stones; A semi-circular arch in a cylindrical wall, the soffit line at springing being parallel to the axis of cylinder; To set out the plan and developed elevations; The bed and face moulds; Working of the arch stones; Diagrams of the developments; Working of small models. Skew Arch And Niches To set out an oblique semicircular arch rib; Plan and elevation of the arch; The face and joint moulds; Working of the arch stones, or voussoirs; To set out a spherical niche, with horizontal beds; Plan and elevation of the niche; The bed and face moulds; Working of the stones; To set out a spherical niche, with joints radiating to a centre; Plan and elevation of the niche; The bed and face moulds; Working of the stones; A sketch of one of the finished stones. Cylindrical Vaulting To obtain the profiles of the rectangular and annular groins; To set out a rectangular cylindrical vault; The bed and section moulds; Working of the angular groins; Working of the key-stone; Sketches of the several stones; A sketch of the vault. Domes & Pendentives Definitions; A square area covered by a dome and supported by pendentives; To set out the plan and sectional elevation; The bed, face and section moulds; Working of the stones; A sketch of one of the stones in dome; A spheroidal dome; To set out the plan and section; The bed and section moulds; Working of the voussoirs; A sketch of one of the finished voussoirs; A sketch of the dome. Groined Vaulting A groined vault in four compartments, square on plan, and supported by a central shaft; To act out the plan (one quarter) of the vault; The bed and section moulds of the springers; Working of the springers; The bed and section moulds of centre key; Working of the key stone; A sketch of the rib; Working of the rib; A sketch of part of the vault; Skeleton plan of vault. GROINED VAULTING (Continued) To set out the plan (one quarter) of the vault and elevation of the ribs; Plan of the springer; The bed and section moulds of the bosses; Working of the boss stones; A sketch of part of the vault; Part plan of vault, Houses of Parliament. Tracery Windows Their infinite variety; Geometrical tracery, based on the equilateral triangle, the polygon and circle; Setting out windows generally; Constructional lines of equilateral window; Equilateral window completed; Constructional lines of circular window; Circular window completed; Constructional and completed lines of pointed window; The face and section moulds of springer; Working of the springer; Sketches of various cusps. Gothic Mouldings Their general characteristics; Profiles of the Norman period, 1066 to 1189; Of the Early English period, 1189 to 1300; Of the Decorated period, 1300 to 1377; Of the Perpendicular period, 1377 to 1547. Grecian Mouldings Their general characteristics; Types of mouldings. Roman Mouldings Their characteristics as compared with their Greek originals; Types of mouldings. Supplementary Matter. Masonry estimating and quantity surveying. Building stones. Lists of stones: sandstones, limestones, alabaster, marbles: foreign, British, Irish; granites Tables of diameters, circumferences, and areas of circles Glossary of terms used in masonry and stone cutting.
Biography
William R. Purchase
