12 or 15 pupils. This form of ladder may be set horizontal or inclined, as shown in the illustration. The outer end may be set on the rounds of the stand so that the shorter pupils can easily reach its rounds, or the outer end may rest on the floor and be inclined as desired, so that the ladder may be adopted either for suspension from its under side or balancing movements by walking up the rounds on the outside, or it may be hoisted up entirely out of the way, a desirable feature in gymnasiums. Climbing apparatus is specially desirable in school gymnasiums. Climbing ropes FIG. 14.-Climbing apparatus. are made of four-strand selected manila, generally finished with a large leathercovered Turk's head on the lower end, although this adds considerable to the expense. They may be smooth or have braided rings or wooden balls secured about 8 inches apart. The plain form is most commonly used. Plain climbing ropes, with knot, 18 feet long, cost $5.62; without the leather knot, $3.75. Climbing poles are an economical form of apparatus. They should be made of tough, well-seasoned wood, and finished smooth and free from splinters. A pole 18 feet long, with proper fixtures, will cost $3. All climbing apparatus may be arranged to swing up out of the way when the room is desired for other purposes. Apparatus for leaping and vaulting can be used to its full advantage only on the ground floor. However, with the aid of mattresses, the jar of leaping or jumping nay be so far absorbed as to be of little annoyance in other rooms. Jump stands: Fig. 15 represents upright poles with holes bored one inch apart to sustain a cord having weights on the ends, or a straight stick to gauge the height of the jump. These may be used in connection with flying rings to obtain a swing and jump, or with climbing ropes. A stand 6 feet high and low enough for indoor gymnasium use costs $5.25, with cord and bags. The uprights of vaulting bars may also be used to hold the cord or stick for jumping, thus saving the cost of jump stands. Vaulting bars: This piece of apparatus (Fig. 16) is desirable for advanced gymnastic work. The variety of exercises that may be performed on it is infinite, although the name given to it would indicate that its purpose was for vaulting or leaping over with the assistance of the hands. It may be used, when placed low, as a balancing beam, or when placed high, as a horizontal bar for hanging, swinging, and turning. It can also be used, if properly placed in the gymnasium, as a rest for the lower end of the adjustable ladders, thus dispensing with the foot piece. The bar can be removed and sticks or cords placed across the pins for jumping, taking the place of jump standards. As ordinarily used in the gymnasium it consists of two upright standards fastened at the bottom to the floor, and at the top to the ceiling of the room, or to braces extending from a gal FIG. 15.-Jump stand and mat. lery or the side of the room. It is sometimes arranged to swing up out of the way. For school gymnasium work the standards should be independent of any fastenings but that of the floor, and arranged to be taken out of the way, leaving the room clear for marching and calisthenic drill. The bar is generally made of hickory, with a steel core extending through it from end to end, and has iron caps at the ends arranged to fasten to the uprights by means of pins passing through holes in the caps and the aprights. This is the only form that can be depended on as being absolutely secure, and all frictional means of fastening the bar to the uprights or clamping to the uprights or other ways should be avoided, as they are liable to cause serious accidents. Each bar, with its pair of uprights, will cost from $25 to $40. Balancing apparatus.-Apparatus for balancing is much used in gymnasiums for girls. Its use makes them sure-footed, and by practice in keeping the equilibrium gives them confidence in their own powers. Its exercises also strengthen the spine and make young girls walk with a graceful poise of body. The adjustable ladder, illustrated previously, in some of its positions, is a desirable piece of apparatus for balancing. A balancing beam is a straight plank, held firmly by feet, with its edge upward. It is about 12 feet long. Several of them should be provided for a large class. They cost $4.50 each. Parallel bars are sometimes used in a school gymnasium, although from the difficulty of storing them out of the way, and the fact that the exercises on them are quite arduous, they are not so popular as other apparatus. [It will be observed that the writer of the above omits all reference to the vaulting horse, buck, quarter-circle, and other machines commonly found in American gymnasiums. The reasons for the omission are probably similar to those indicated in the remarks on the parallel bars.-ED.] Apparatus for Swedish gymnastics. Although in the lower grade of schools no apparatus is used for Swedish gymnastics, in the more advanced work apparatus is as desirable as in any system. The apparatus described below is made FIG. 16-Horizontal bar. by the Narragansett Machine Company under the supervision of Mr. Nils Posse. FIG. 17.-Swedish bar stalls and bench. The following pieces of apparatus would be necessary in furnishing a gymnasium suitable for a high school or smaller institution: Bom or horizontal bars.-This piece of apparatus is somewhat similar to the vault ing bar, but it has two bars, neither of which is round. One of them is in shape nearly like an isosceles triangle with its angles rounded off; the broader edge, the base of the triangle, may be turned upward and used as a balancing beam, while the other edge, the apex of the triangle, affords a better hold for the hands. The other bar is shaped somewhat like a conventional heart, but, of course, without angles. The grooved or double edge may be turned up for those with small hands, or to allow a different grasp. These bars are quite long, from 12 to 16 feet, from 6 to 8 inches deep, and 3 or 4 inches thick. Three or four students can vault, jump, They are generally arranged so as to or otherwise exercise on the bars at one time. be taken down out of the way if desired. Ladders.-Swedish ladders consist of a series of square openings about 20 inches wide, with rungs generally 3 inches in width, and as long or as wide as space and material will permit. They may be suspended on the ends or at the side, as desired. They are entirely different from the ordinary gymnasium ladder, as are the exercises on them. Bar stalls.-These are arranged to be fastened against the wall, as is shown in Fig. 17. The bench is used in connection with the bar stalls. Faulting box. This is a box about 5 feet long, having inclined sides and a padded top about 1 foot wide. It is raised or lowered by changing the sections that form the lower part. FROM A. G. SPALDING & BROS., PHILADELPHIA, PA. Our idea of school apparatus is that it should be light, strong, and portable. There are very few of the school-houses now built that have been provided with a special room for gymnasium work. In a great many cases the rooms have to perform a dual service of recitation room and gymnasium, or hall and gymnasium. The apparatus designed by us is of such a character that a fully equipped gymnasium can be moved inside of five minutes without marking or destroying the appearance of the room. Where the floors are perforated or drilled into for guys or stay rods we have a plate that is so constructed that as soon as the guy or stay is removed a spring disk fills the orifice. In regard to outdoor gymnasiums, we have found that the following style of construction has given every satisfaction: To make a frame work of either iron or wood, covering the space set apart for gymnasium use, the height of the frame being not less than 20 feet. From this can be suspended flying rings, traveling rings, rope ladders, climbing and knotted rope, giant stride, and a horizontal ladder. The ladder should be dropped within 8 feet of the ground. For floor apparatus, horizontal and parallel bars could be used; also vaulting horse and buck. As mattresses could hardly be used out in the open air, we find that tan bark makes a very desirable floor, there being enough spring in it to prevent any serious injury from falling. Where tan bark can not be procured sand is the next best thing. Of course, the number of duplications in the appended list of apparatus would depend largely upon the size of the grounds, the number of pupils, and the amount of money to be spent. In new school buildings, where it is the intention to build a room purposely for gymnasium use, all possible obstruction should be avoided, i. e., supporting posts and pillars through the center of the room. The heating apparatus should be arranged so that it will not take up valuable wall space. Where it is possible the heat should be conducted from below through registers, rather than using steamheating coils in the room itself, as the latter takes up a great deal of valuable space and are in the main very undesirable. Another improved feature would be to have the windows not lower than 5 feet from the floor. By placing the windows at that height from the floor you get the advantage of a solid wall space all around the room, and as wail apparatus of various kinds embodies the fundamental principles of "body building" a great deal of wall space is required. The height of ceiling PHYSICAL TRAINING. should not be less than 20 feet. A gallery encircling the room is very desirable, as the surface or top can be used as a running track. The underneath part can be used for suspended apparatus. The height of the gallery from the floor should not be less than 12 feet. In rooms not originally intended for gymnasium purposes we would suggest the following style of apparatus: Pulley weights; these to include upper and lower chest machines, chest developers and expanders, wrist-rollers, Where there is an instructor we would include in this If there is no instructor we would omit the traveling parallels, etc. horizontal bar; also parallel bar. parallel bar. In addition to the above named we would, of course, include mattresses, Indian clubs, dumb-bells, and wands; also inflated or lively striking bag. Where the room will permit it the suspended disk is preferable. The disk should not be less than 6 feet in diameter, and be made very stiff and strong; 7 feet 8 inches is Where the funds or room will not permit of this When struck it the proper height from the floor. style bag the suspended style can be used. This is hung between ceiling and floor, having about 18 inches or 2 feet of rubber at top and bottom. returns very quickly and affords both exercise and amusement. Suggested list of Apparatus for a Gymnasium for an average-sized Grammar School. 20 No. 3 Victor pulley weights. 2 No. 2 J Victor pulley weights (with backboard and rowing attachment). 2 No. 8 B Victor pulley weights (chestexpanders). 2 No. 8 Victor pulley weights (giant pulley). 2 No. 8 A Victor pulley weights (back and loins). 1 No. 401 Victor pulley weight (wrist- 1 No. 42 Victor finger machine. 1 No. 65 Victor wrestling machine. 1 No. 29 bateau board. 1 No. 0 vaulting horse. McCaffrey striking bag and disk. 1 No. 70 horizontal bar. 1 No. 82 suspended parallel. 1 set No. 104 breast bars. 1 24-foot horizontal ladder. 1 No. 109 vaulting standards. 1 No. 25 leaping board (for vaulting 1 No. 27 incline board (for traveling 3 No. 101 B mattresses (4 by 6 feet). 75 pairs 2-pound Indian clubs. 50 pairs three-fourths-pound dumb-belis (wooden). 75 pairs 1-pound dumb-bells (wooden) 6 dozen 5-foot wands. 100 sections Indian-club, dumb-bell, and wand holders. The above apparatus will be delivered f. o. b., Philadelphia, for $1,065. Suggested list of Apparatus for a Gymnasium for a High School. 20 No. 3 Victor pulley weights. 2 No. 2 J Victor pulley weights (with 2 No. 8 B Victor pulley weights (chest 1 No. 42 Victor finger machine. 1 No. 48 Victor traveling parallel. 1 No. 400 Victor sculling machine. 2 pairs No. 125 swinging rings. 2 No. 8 Victor pulley weights (giant 1 No. 8 D Victor paddle machine. pulley). 2 No. 8 A Victor pulley weights (back 7 No. 126 traveling rings. |