Popnlar Science Mnnihly

��677

��Sitting Down in Comfort on a Painter's Job

THK simple skill of the sailor evolved a seat in which he could paint the sides of his ship or repair his topmost rigging. It was merely a notched board set into a looped rope-end — a child's swing, except that it depended from one line instead of two. It was an uncomfortable, one-handed affair at best; yet it was, and is still, used by steeple-jacks, painters and .'^ such like, with small variation The inventive mind had passed it by until recently, when an employee of a New York electric company trans- formed the old swing into an aerial eas\--chair.

��� ���<^WW':*W.'yfy^''..

��*?'fm mii I

���The chains are braced just above the waist- line by a steel bar

��Short chains to hold pots and brushes depend from the back of the seat

��The seat is a form-fitting, pressed-steel affair sus- pended at four points to in- sure balance. The chains are braced at a point just above the waistline by a steel bar. This prevents pinching and gives the chair a better "hang." .Ad- justable chair-stirrups hang from the front of the chair

���Adjustable stirrups hang from the front of the chair and enable the painter to stand up when he wishes

and prevent the cramping strain of the weight of the legs and feet upon the under-thigh muscles. They also add tremendously to the flexibility of action. With these stirrups it is possible to straighten the body into a standing pos- ture and to maintain bal- ance. A belt fastens around the waist through the tri- angular links at the brace- bar and allows two-handed action under the most try- ing conditions.

This belt makes acciden- tal falling out of the chair an utter impossibility. The suspension-ring is equipped with a hook designed to simplify the hitching of the hauling-rope, and holds the hitch secureh'. Short chain.; depend from the back of the seat, on which pots, brushes or tool-kits ma\- be hooked. These chains arc equipped with "sister" or trap-hooks to secure the articles carried.

The painter simply ad- justs the seat, buckles the strap and pulls himself up to the desired height

�� �