FEATURE Archive
20 The Woodworker & Good Woodworking August 2019 http://www.getwoodworking.comLoitering within tent
Robin Gates is off to the beach with his bucket and spade, but not before he’s built
a timber-framed canvas bathing tent from the August 1930 issue of The WoodworkerS
un hat, sun cream, shades, towel,
trunks, bucket, spade, latest issue of The
Woodworker – have I forgotten anything
for my trip to the beach this afternoon?
Yes, the bathing tent! I’ll need something safer
than a slipping towel while getting changed,
and not one of those pop-up plastic affairs
designed for garden gnomes, later to be found
in pieces littering the dunes and spilling around
bins along the promenade. I’m talking about
proper accommodation with standing headroom,
for which we need turn to our August 1930 issue
of this journal, page 229 (pages were numbered
consecutively through the year in those days;
each issue was about 30 pages).The satisfaction of a job well done
In the context of traditional wooden deck
chairs and a solid clinker-built boat drawn up
on the beach, this stripy four-square structure
looks perfect. Just out of view, I’m sure there’s
a paddle-steamer coming alongside the pier,
while the dulcet tones of a silver band drift down
from the esplanade. We want nothing rushed,
nothing simply cheap and convenient; it’s quality
we’re after, and the satisfaction of a job well done.
For materials we’re looking at around 16m
of 25mm diameter wooden rod, some 9sq.m of
canvas, various metal ferrules, screw eyes, spikes,
perhaps 10m of three-strand line, four toggles
and four pegs. Although, wooden pegs in shifting
sand are unlikely to prove successful, so perhaps
substitute four canvas bags to be filled with
pebbles to serve as anchors. Now it occurs to
me that, despite the author’s assurance, it’ll
be ‘light and may be packed up quite small’
this portable bathing tent will either require
a porter to assist with carrying it to the beach,
or we’ll have to construct a small trolley or sled
for the purpose.
But it’ll be worth it, because as the author
also says, the tent may be used for a lot more
besides bathing. As a bijou retreat from the
burning midday sun, for example, a latrine
at the campsite, or perhaps as a bird hide
if clothed in a more subdued fabric.
Before construction begins, we might ask,
would it actually make more sense to opt for
modern materials? Ultra-lightweight struts,
Nylon fabric, clips and line? In my opinion, no.
Having seen, indeed been the cause of some
near-catastrophic events involving lightweight
tents, if we were to build this design to minimum
weight I fear that, in any kind of a sea breeze,
we’d soon discover we had a large and unwieldy
box kite taking to the skies.
Getting down to business, it’s fairly self-explanatory how the thing goes together.
Just three points to add. First, behind the few
words ‘A canvas covering is made to fit over the
frame’, I suggest there lies a good deal of careful
measuring, cutting, and heavy sewing with twine
and needle. Second, for eyelets, where the spikes
pass through the canvas, I’d suggest holes be
sewn around to prevent tearing, otherwise fitted
with metal grommets. And third, regarding the
spikes themselves, hammering the suggested
long nails into small diameter wooden rods
could lead to the kind of side-splitting results
that aren’t funny. I’d either use screws in pilotholes, with heads subsequently filed off,
or drill holes for dowels to be glued in place.
One more thing, perhaps as revealing about
me as about tents per se – they’re also great
for eavesdropping. There’s nothing like the thin
sound-permeable wall of a tent to lull people
into a false sense of confidentiality, whether
sheltering behind it or merely passing by.
The things I’ve heard!
Well, sad to say the sun’s gone in and the
tide’s gone out now that we’re finished, but
they’ll be back again tomorrow, and the forecast
is looking even better.