Curved Handrailing

Yes, very nice work indeed...

A slight correction though on your use of the term "tangent rail".  Tangent handrail refers specifically to the process of making "wreathed" or "helical" handrail from solid stock (no strip-laminating of any kind) and by the geometric layout methods of enclosing the plan curves into tangent planes.  These tangent planes are then used to develop the required face molds and bevels which are the patterns for cutting the curved and twisted handrail from solid planks of wood (this is my business so I'd like to draw the distinction).   

The books which have been mentioned are all about this subject and are well worth the trouble of decryption.  As a point of fact, the only part of your railing which might be improved upon (in my opinion) is the bisected/angle, mitered joint which you've used to change pitch/direction (both on the handrail and sub-rail).  The tangent method could have been employed here to produce a smooth or flowing transition without the miter.

Anyway, I enjoyed the video and do compliment your work.     
 
And yes. I do have both of those books plus several others.  The Mowatt brothers were English science academy masters (cir. 1900) and their stuff is a real rat-maze of lines, better suited to a drafting class than a workshop.  All of it works though including their "normal section system" (which is anything but normal).  This variation of the tangent system is found almost no place else and has some distinct advantages (along with disadvantages).  I think however I would forgo this text unless you're a serious student. 

Do however continue to study your DC book, you'll be a better stairbuilder for it.

 
Wow! that is something.  This two-tiered, elliptical stair (1808) represents the "state-of-the-art" stair building  during its' golden age (no LJ bender-rail on this project).

I would say that the "no-nails" notion is a bit of a misconception... nearly all of the fastenings for fine stair construction like this would always be concealed.  What would really be fun however would be to knock some of the plaster off the bottom of the stair and take a peek inside (do you think they'd allow that?).   

And, "nobody knows who built it?"... maybe the same "mystery" carpenter built this one and then ran over to the Loretto Chapel Stair job?  (google that one).

Either way, it's a bit humbling as well as inspiring for any festooler. 
 
Hey Alan

Isn't that the one you copied for the stairs at the undertakers chapel?? [tongue] [tongue]
 
On the Loretto Stair

"No nails?"
This means no visible nails.  Hand forged, square nails of the era would never have been used anywhere through exposed or finished facings.  This is no miracle, just professional staircase joinery (then and now).

"No glue?"
That's bull,..  typical Hyde glue of the time must have been used extensively on this project (or it really wouldn't be standing).  Just like the nails though, this is not something you'd expect to see unless you took something apart.  

"Unidentified wood and not found anywhere near by?"  
Come on, give me a break!  There were I suppose, horses, wagons, trains, mail and other city services (including a lumberyard) somewhere on the planet?  Near where I live in rural southern Utah, glass for the windows in early Mormon pioneer homes and churches built in the 1870's, were routinely ordered from New York City and shipped around Cape Horn to San Fransisco where it was then hauled by freight wagons over the Sierra Nevada Mountain ranges and across the deserts.  Miracle? No, just business as usual.

"No possible engineering explanation?"  
Well maybe not from an architect but certainly from any civil engineer.   These types of wood or steel stairs are still being constructed today and often require complete structural engineering specifications.

"No record of payment to the vanishing carpenter"  
Now that might be considered a miracle except it's happened to me often enough.  The truth is, this carpenter left the job (abandoned the project) before the balustrade was erected.  This stair without it's railing is completely unusable.  The one Sister who ventured up the shaky structure without its guardrail was scared out of her wits!  The craftsman who built this stair was definitely a professional stairbuilder but probably not a handrailer.  These were at the time separate labor divisions within a typical stair shop.  The woodturning for example, was almost certainly done by another craftsmen.  

"Miraculous answer to prayers?"
Yes, definitely!  and still a wonder to look upon (BTW, it's not free).

 
Jim Baldwin said:
What would really be fun however would be to knock some of the plaster off the bottom of the stair and take a peek inside (do you think they'd allow that?).     
Click to expand...

In fact they do have some of the plaster removed from the back of the stairwell so you can see underneath.  I didn't see any coke cans or cigarette butts (unlike the walls in my house)!
 
cnewport said:
Jim Baldwin said:
What would really be fun however would be to knock some of the plaster off the bottom of the stair and take a peek inside (do you think they'd allow that?).     
Click to expand...

In fact they do have some of the plaster removed from the back of the stairwell so you can see underneath.  I didn't see any coke cans or cigarette butts (unlike the walls in my house)!
Click to expand...

Beat me to it cnewport.  I really wish I could have sneaked a picture of it.  But I definitely didn't see any nails/fasteners, just joinery.  What's really amazing, or different is that the curved railing is really a ton of mitered pieces (about 5-6 long, I'm guessing). 

Really a beautiful piece of work.

Jon
 
Jon, What do you mean by mitered pieces? 

This stair built in 1808 actually predates "tangent rail" which would typically be seen as butt-jointed handrail segments.  Before that, curved handrailings were laid-out using simple (orthogonal) projection lines and the joints were often left as "plumb" cuts (the factory rail-bolt hadn't been invented yet for practical butt joints).

Another older method yet would be a curved rail cut from stacked, raked timbers.  This would appear as a continuous helical rail with no visible joints other than long over-lapping lines. 

Just curious...how large would you say is the opening in the plaster soffit and is it located along the edge or middle of the stair?

Gee, I wish I had taken the time to see this house and stair when I was there a year ago.
 
 
Jim Baldwin said:
Jon, What do you mean by mitered pieces? 

This stair built in 1808 actually predates "tangent rail" which would typically be seen as butt-jointed handrail segments.  Before that, curved handrailings were laid-out using simple (orthogonal) projection lines and the joints were often left as "plumb" cuts (the factory rail-bolt hadn't been invented yet for practical butt joints).

Just curious...how large would you say is the opening in the plaster soffit and is it located along the edge or middle of the stair?

Gee, I wish I had taken the time to see this house and stair when I was there a year ago.
 
Click to expand...

I say mitered, but you are correct.  They were butt joints, not mitered, and I imagine they were plumb. (sorry, not a stair person so the terminology, like the craft, eludes me).

The opening is about 15 high by about 30 wide in the middle of the stair, and they even put a flourescent light in there so you can get a good look at it.  From what I understand the house just underwent a large restoration, and maybe this opening is new?

Jon
 
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