Theatre Design & Technology - Dec 1965 - 11

basic component is 0 wooden beam 2" x 3" in crosssection, joined by carriage bolts. That fastener's
inherent disadvantage for th i s appl icat ion can be
appreciated by anyone who has encountered a concealed carrioge bolt shonk whose socket is worn
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round so that its nut cannot be tightened
Where development of a system is impractical, and a
short-term need for a collapsable platform exists,
commercial construction scaffolding systems include
demountable feotures which allow for variation in
height and length, for guard rails and limited cantileveringuall assuming the willingness to work with a
system not particularly compatable with 1" x 3"
wood frame construction practice. The scaffolding
is usually based on a tubular steel or alumi.lum
section, and is less likely to help solve such inherently theatrical problems as irregular configuratiuns
and facing of onstage surfaces, than is a system
developed for stage use.
A survey was conducted by Cobes at Ohio State in
1961, into available pipe and angle fittings potentially suited for stage use. Several of these were
found practical and, although no platforming system
was developed, some suggested applications were
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proposed.
David Hale, In 1960, developed a partially demountable system at Yale University, which is based on
tubular steel and angle iron. A relatively sophisticated scheme (which was named "Trusstage")' it
involves considerable welding and could only be
considered practical for commercial production.
Significantly, it embodies a workable solution to the
problem of ramping an inclined plane. Being only
partially demountable, it shares with construction
scaffolding the inherent ease and rapidity of assembly, while sacrificing the possibility for more complete demountability.

SYSTEM NUMBER ONE

More recently, Gene Parola at Indiana University ha,s
worked on a disposable system using reinforced
Upson board ("beaver" or "profile" board: compressed paper fibre). This ingenious solution is
based on a 48"-square truncated pyramid inside of
a dutchman-hinged parallel. The inexpensive Upson
board is used for both basic support components,
under a 12 " plywood top. Paro la' s scheme demonstrates an unusually imaginative use of novel materials and techniques.
New Solutions: (System Pl) A single prototype platform was constructed at the University of Pittsburgh
in 1961, to meet specific problems: disassembly to
the smallest possible components (because of acute
storage problems), and exclusion of commerciallyfabricated components, or machine work not possible
in the theatre shop-;both for economic reasons. The
result is a surprisingly rigid unit based on common
black iron water pipe, employing a sleeve fitting
with a larger section of pipe to make leg height
adjustments. (Figure 1). A separate set of legs is
neces sary for each twe Ive inch es of pi atform height,
which increases by three-inch increments (possible
platform heights of 12, 15, 18, inches, et cetera). A
strong positive feature of this system is the sliding
strap clamp joint between pipe and strap iron braces,
allowing all bracing tobe handled witha single strap
and two dri lied holes. The brace joins the platform
top by means of stock 1" x 2" perforated shelving
angle, simi lar to Dexion s lotted angle 1'140, which
remains fastened to the five-ply top after disassembly. The whole platform employs two bolt sizes.
It was judged not particularly rapid to assemble, and
the legs could be clamped in a truly vertical position
only by checking with a framing square at each
assembly. No provision was developed for facing
the sides or joining adjacent platforms, since the
effort was abandoned in favor of a more versati Ie
solution.

(pipe and slatted angle) Two views

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O[C[MB[R 1965

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