As Editor of one of the most popular building journals in the United States (“The National Builder”), I have frequently been asked by readers of that journal, "if there were any books recently published in America devoted entirely to the science of heavy and light timber framing!” In every case I have been compelled to answer these queries in the negative, but in all cases I made it a point to inform my correspondents of the existence of such works as "Bell's Carpenter,” published in 1857, "Hatfield's American Carpenter,” published in 1880, and of the excellent work published in England under the authorship of Prof. Tredgold, and I also advised them of the current articles that were running through the pages of “Carpentry and Building” “ Architecture and Building” “The Builder and Wood-workers” “The California Architect” and "The National Builder” all of which papers contained a number of excellent treatises on Balloon Framing, and the framing of heavy timber; and in many cases, one or the other of these treatises sufficed to satisfy the requirements of the querist. Many readers, however, were not satisfied; they wanted something more comprehensive and more compact - something where they would not be compelled to wade through volume after volume to find the material they wanted - and in order to meet this condition I have made this present endeavor to collect together, and put in a handy form, most of the good and useful articles on framing and timber construction that would now be difficult to find by the workman of the present day; and the work herewith presented to my readers is largely made up of matter that has appeared in some form or other, in the books mentioned in the foregoing, or in the journals named, all of which have been thoroughly overhauled and put in such an up-to-date shape, as will suit the requirements of present day conditions.

“Is heavy timber framing a lost art?” is a question that has been asked dozens of times during these few years by hundreds of young workmen -  and old workmen, too - in the South and West, and particularly in the Pacific Coast States, and North-west Canada. The art of heavy timber framing is not lost by any means, for there yet remains in some of the New England States, and in New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and many other of the Western, Southern, and Middle States, hundreds of old framers who are capable of taking the timber from the stump, hewing, counter-hewing, and framing it into bridges, trestle-work, mills, factories, barns and houses, or into any other structure that may be required. If there was a demand for such skilled workmen, I feel asured the men would soon be on hand - providing of course a suitable compensation was offered for their services.
In the larger towns and cities, the introduction of steel structural work has in a great measure superseded the use of heavy timber work in buildings of any pretensions. Floors, roofs, bridges, trusses, and all such similar work, are now made of steel, thus displacing timber. Without entering into a discussion on the merits of steel, or claiming for it any superiority over our old timber friends, it is easy to see that steel structural work has come to stay, and though it may be many a long year before its free use will make much headway in localities where timber is cheap and plentiful, it will in the end crowd out the extensive use of timber for structural purposes.

"While the main object of this book is to give instruction in framing, it will also be within its purview to illustrate and describe designs in timber-work of all kinds, including roofs, domes, framed walls, bridges, towers, centers, spires, and other similar work, and in order to be able to deal with these works is an intelligent and efficient manner, I think it wise to give, as an introductory chapter, a short treatise on joints in woodwork, with an explanation of their uses and qualifications for the work for which they are intended.

These joints, as illustrated in this work, are applicable to either balloon or scantling framing or to the framing of heavy timber, and for almost any kind, style, or shape of work, so that the work- man will find, in some one of the examples shown, something suitable for the work in hand.

The examples of balloon framing shown are of the latest and most approved designs, such as experience has proven to be the best for the purposes to which they are applied, and I am sure those of my readers who have not had a training in balloon framing, will have but little difficulty in following them in actual work, and the older hands who have worked for years on balloon work will also find many things in this book that will be of advantage to them in many ways.

With regard to heavy timber framing I have endeavored to follow the best known methods, to which I have added something gained by an experience of ov.er thirty years in the designing, superintendence, and building of heavy structures in wood, both in Canada and the United States. Forty years ago, when timber framing was in "flower" and grain elevators were built of timber, I had considerable experience in that line, and in other railway structures and similar work, and have ever since, in connection with my business, been kept in touch with timber framing of more or less magnitude, and this experience, along with the book knowledge I have gathered together, leads me to think I can place before my readers the subjects under consideration in a clearer and better light, than they have ever before been rendered. At any rate, I venture to launch this little book on the same sea of public opinion that has always received my books heretofore in an appreciative spirit, and if it meets with the same favor as my other writings and compilations, neither my-self nor my publishers will have any cause for complaint.

Fred T. Hodgson,


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