There are as many ways of building a platform as there are of building a
house, but in both cases the great essential is that the finished
structure shall not collapse, and at least shall stand fair usage.
The method shown in the diagrams may seem somewhat elaborate for a back
drawing-room, but it is safe over a small or a large area, even using
the same sections. Like the ‘book-case,’ it grows with your aspirations;
you simply require more tressels and more platform sections, and you
could extend your platform over an acre, if so desiring.
The tressels are rectangular frames of 2½ by 2 in. wood, with struts in
the centre, 5 or 6 ft. long by 3 ft. to 3 ft. 6 in. high; the ties are
long pieces of 3 by 2 in. wood, holed at intervals for bolt. The
flooring is simply a number of planks nailed on a 4 by 2 in. wood frame,
and having strengthening joists at intervals (see drawing). These
floorings can be of the most convenient size for storing, as they only
form sections of a whole.
[Illustration: How to put tressels together ready for platform Portion
of Platform ready made up Sketch View of Platform erected or ready for
stage]
Being provided with the necessary number of pieces you commence to build
the platform by spacing out the tressels and fixing the tie-bars to them
by means of thumb-screws; the tressels should also be bolted together
end to end.
This now forms a firm foundation for reception of the flooring. The
sections are laid in position, and should be bolted through their outer
frames to each other, so that they form actually one piece. Attach
brackets for a curtain-rod to the front and sides, and provide a
sheet-iron box, with one side away for your footlights, paint black
outside and white in, and string a safety wire the whole length. The
platform is now ready for the erection of a stage.
The triangular feet in the drawing of the tressels can be dispensed with
in most cases, but they entirely obviate any tendency of the structure
to rock from back to front if the tressels’ bolt holes were loose, for
instance.