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96 used for this purpose, fixing down the margins, and cutting and fitting in a bay as shown by the dotted line (Fig. 391). Once the spread of a bay is known, it is easy to space out the quantity for a room and

Fig. 396.—Section of Herringbone Patterns shown in Fig. 391.

ascertain how many of each length and shape are required. It is best to lay down all recesses like the one shown, and cut in all the blocks, specially marking them. To obtain the size of the recess, lay down the margin blocks tight between the walls, or frame a rough template to the opening. The herringbone pattern must always be laid square—that is, cut ends must be a mitre of forty-five degrees.

Designs of Wood-Block Floors.—Design Fig. 392 is laid similarly, beginning with the blocks No. 1 and following on with 2 and 3, etc. Fig. 393 is an easy design to lay when once the corner is passed; the numbers indicate the order of laying the blocks. Care must be taken to keep the sides of each tile in a straight line, and they should be tested occasionally with a straightedge. Fig. 394 is an easy design to lay, and looks very well in pitchpine. Fig. 395 is more elaborate, but very effective in two coloured woods, the darker one for the frames and the lighter for

Fig. 397.—Turpin's Patent Block Floor.

the panels. All of these designs are based on the right-angled triangle, and, given the size of the block, they can be readily set out to fit any room; each pattern being a repeat, one bay multiplied by the length and width of the room will show the quantity required. It may be mentioned that these blocks are usually sold by the hundred.

Jointing and Fixing Wood Blocks.—Fig. 396 shows the section of a wood-block base-

Fig. 398.—Duffy's Patent Block Floor.

ment floor with grooved and tongued joints. Fig. 397 represents a section of Turpin's patent interlocking system; here a tapering tongue with an undercut shoulder on the lower side is stuck on the solid all round one block, and a corresponding groove in the other, and when the two come together they form a dovetail groove into which the mastic is pressed when laying, thus forming a solid key with the bed. Duffy's patent is shown in Fig. 398, and consists in the connection of the blocks by means of dowels; these are supplied with the blocks and driven in as the blocks are laid. The holes are bored by machinery and are at exactly the same

Fig. 399.—Geary's Patent Block Floor.

distance apart, whether on the end or side, and therefore the blocks can be laid in several combinations. In Geary's patent (Fig. 399) each block is fixed to the mastic by means of two metal keys driven into the