The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Fences

A RATHER complicated but interesting gate from the days of the horse and the surrey with the fringe on top. It was self opening but apparently not self closing. When the buggy wheel struck the vertical trip it was pressed down into the box, throwing the rod which lifts the upper hinge backward, allowing the gate to swing open, which, being so hinged, it did on being unlatched. Note the turned gate posts and caps, and the special picket fence. It all bespoke an owner of means. But even that might not make it work in winter.

The lower drawing is self explanatory and shows a neat latching device for a wooden gate. Unhappily most such conveniences were usually less practical than ornamental, and needed constant adjustment and repair.

A SURPRISING carpentry achievement of the last century, showing a neat and well constructed pair of wooden posts and caps, with moulded panels, all fastened stoutly together with wooden pegs and hand wrought, square-headed nails. The fence and gate were closed deeply at the base with wide boarding to keep out small animals from the gardens and flower beds, whilst the whole was surmounted with a narrow, slanting board to keep off the moisture.

Painted, and well maintained, and not backed into by trucks and small boys too often, it would outlive most of us.

THESE fence posts show originality and pleasant design. The cast iron post was a favourite in its day, and was usually painted a gay and lively green. It was a city or town dweller, of course, and has, all too sadly, almost disappeared.

All in all, fence posts often show great ingenuity of design, as in the case of the wooden ones illustrated The four upper, graceful specimens are tops of turned wood on solid, round posts. The lower one makes use of a solid urn or vase motif as a finial set upon the projecting cap of a square or boxed post.