Toy-Making at Home Part 4

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 49.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 50.]

_A Doll's Cart_ is also comparatively easy to make, the only really trying part being the cutting of the four wheels.

For the body of the cart use a cigar box which has been deprived of its lid, and planed down level round the edges. To the under side of this body, and about one inch from each end, glue two pieces of wood to which to fix the wheels. Strengthen these joins by means of short pins driven through. Fix the wheels to these pieces by means of pins (Fig. 51). In order to support these two wheel-holders, stretch another piece across the s.p.a.ce between them, at right angles to each, gluing it firmly to the two centres.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 51.]

The wheels should be cut with a fret saw, if you possess one. If you do not possess one, then draw out the circle on the wood, and cut the square containing the circle. Then saw off the corners to form an eight-sided figure, and go on cutting off corners until you get down to the circle, which you can finish off with gla.s.s-paper (Fig. 52).

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 52.]

A little hook or ring should be attached at the bottom of one end, in order that a string may be tied on, and the vehicle drawn along.

_A Jack-in-the-Box._--One of the most old-fashioned of toys, this never loses its interest. The box required for it is practically cubical: therefore 6 four-inch squares of cigar-box wood must be cut out. Two of these will need to be cut down to 3-3/4 in. in width, so that the four-inch bottom and lid will fit: so from two squares cut a strip 1/4 in. wide. Glue and pin together the two 3-3/4 pieces and two of the four-inch pieces to form a hollow square. To this will be fixed one of the other four-inch pieces to form a bottom; and at the other end the remaining four-inch piece will be hinged (or wired on like the lid of a chocolate box).

Before the bottom is finally put on, it will be necessary to attach the mechanism. For this you will require a strong piece of spring about 6 in. long when released, and a doll's head. One end of the spring must be fixed to the centre of the base. You can do this by means of tiny wire staples (bent pins with the heads nipped off) hammered over the wire into the base, and then bent back on the opposite side of the wood (Fig.

53). At the other end of the spring a piece of cardboard must be fixed, and to it the doll's head must be firmly glued. When the mechanism is complete, nail on the bottom, and fix the lid.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 53.]

Into the centre of the front edge of the lid drive a small nail, or stout pin, and on the box just below fix a revolving catch hook. This you can quite easily cut from an old piece of fairly thick tin (Fig.

54). In this way an effective means is provided of releasing the lid and enabling the "Jack" to shoot out suddenly.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 54.]

_The Jig-saw Puzzle_ was at one time a very popular toy, and there are signs that its popularity is being revived. If it does not interest you particularly, it will provide a little brother or sister with endless amus.e.m.e.nt.

In reality the puzzle consists merely of a picture (generally an interesting coloured one) glued very firmly to a piece of fretwood or cigar-box wood. This is then by means of a fret saw cut into a great many pieces, shaped as quaintly and awkwardly as possible (see Fig. 55).

These pieces are then jumbled up into disorder, and pa.s.sed on to the little one in order that the shapes may be fitted into place and the original picture reconstructed.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 55.]

Somewhat after the style of the "jig-saw" puzzle just described is the

_Geometrical Puzzle_ shown in Fig. 56. Each of these consists of a capital letter divided up by one or two straight lines into right-angled triangles and other geometrical shapes. While very simple to look at when completed, these little puzzles are by no means easy to solve when the odd pieces are given in a jumbled state. The capital letters should be drawn on a piece of cigar-box wood, and then carefully cut out with a fret saw, or, better still, with a tenon saw if you have one. If you cannot manage wood, then the puzzle can be done in stout cardboard and cut out with a sharp thin knife.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 56.]

Of other cheaply made puzzles

_The Reels and String Puzzle_ is highly entertaining. The only materials required for it are the lid of a cigar box, two cotton reels, two beads, and a length of smooth string or thin silk cord. The making is simplicity itself. All you need do is cut the lid in halves and bore three holes in a line in one of the halves. Of course you can ornament your wood as much as you like, but that will in no way increase or decrease the effectiveness of the puzzle.

When you have cut it out and finished it off nicely with gla.s.s-paper, thread the beads and reels as shown in Fig. 57. Take special care that you do not make any mistake in the arrangement, or your solution will result in a hopeless tangle.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 57.]

The object of the puzzle is to get the two cotton reels, which, as you see, are now on quite separate loops, on to one loop. To solve it proceed as follows: Take hold of the centre loop, and pull it down to its full extent. Now pa.s.s the right-hand reel through the loop. Taking care not to twist the cord, pa.s.s this loop through the hole on the right-hand side, over the bead, and then draw it back again.

Now if you follow the same procedure with the left-hand reel you will find that the centre loop is released and can be pulled through the centre hole. Then will the two reels slide down side by side.

One thoroughly entertaining and, to a certain extent, bewildering puzzle is

_The Three-hole Puzzle._--Really the puzzle consists of a piece of thin wood with three holes cut in it. These three holes are respectively circular, square, and triangular (Fig. 58). The problem is to cut one block of wood which will pa.s.s through each hole and at the same time fit the hole exactly.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 58.]

Can it be done? At first it looks to be quite impossible; but there is a very neat solution to the difficulty.

First cut out your holes. To do this get a cigar-box lid and draw out the three figures, taking care that the length of the side of the square and the length of the side of the triangle and the length of the diameter of the circle are equal. Now, using your fret saw, cut out these holes very neatly and precisely.

For the block you need a small cylinder of wood: an odd piece of broken broom handle will do admirably. This must be cut and finished with gla.s.s-paper so that it will fit the circular hole exactly. Now saw a piece just as long as the cylinder is wide. This looked at in one way gives an exact square which will fit the second hole. Thus two holes are catered for.

Finally, for the third hole the cylinder must be tapered on two sides.

To do this draw a diameter at one end and then gradually pare away a flat surface till the triangular section is obtained.

Fig. 59 shows how the block, when turned in different ways, fits the three holes.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 59.]

Another toy which can be made quite easily from cigar-box wood is

_A Model Signal._--First cut two strips of wood, half an inch wide and as long as you can get them, which will be 8 or 9 in. These will stand upright on a base board, and form the sides of the standard. Now between these two you must glue shorter pieces of half-inch strip, so as to make the standard solid at the top and bottom, and leave a hollow slot, 1 in.

long, in which the signal arm will fit and work up and down (Fig. 60).

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 60.]

Now cut out and paint a signal arm, about 2-1/2 in. long. Fix this by means of a pin pa.s.sing through the two sides of the standard, and through the arm about 3/4 in. from the square end. If it does not move easily in the slot, take off the top surface with gla.s.s-paper. Before fixing the signal arm in position, bore a small hole 1/4 in. from the square end, and knot in a piece of twine or thin wire to act as a connection between the movable arm and the controlling lever (Fig. 61).

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 61.]

At the base of the standard fix the controlling lever. This consists of a small strip, with a pin pa.s.sing through one end into the standard.

Adjust the length of the twine or wire, so that when the signal arm is down, the lever is horizontal; and when the lever is pressed down, the arm rises. You can make a little contrivance for fixing the lever by erecting a small post close to the standard, and gluing on two stops, under which to rest the free end of the lever in its two positions (Fig.

62).

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 62.]

If you prefer it, you can have the controlling lever at a distance from the signal post. You will then need a longer wire, and a little pulley wheel at the base of the standard. You must exercise your own ingenuity for this.

Another interesting little scientific toy, which has the additional advantage of being useful, is the _Weather House_, or the _Man and Woman Barometer_. This consists of a little house with two doorways, at which appear two figures, one in fine weather, and the other in dull (Fig.