Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) to James Dinsmore re: building bed at Monticello, with sketches
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07509 Author/Creator: Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) Place Written: Washington Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1808/12/30 Pagination: 1 p. + addr 24.6 x 19.9 cm Order a Copy
Washington Dec.30. 08
Sir
By Davy you will receive a bundle containing 2. bells, & 4. bell-levers, the planes you wrote for, & 2 kneebolts. In a separate roll is the sand-paper you desired. The folding mahogany sash which closes the alcove of my bed is too heavy & troublesome. I wish you to make a folding frame to fit the alcove & to be covered with paper on both sides. The frame must consist of 3 parts united by 2 pr. of hinges [inserted: on each side] in this manner (observing first that it is to open vertically, and not horizontally as the mahogany one does.) The piece a is in place of a stud, only to be thin, & of such breadth as to give it sufficient strength & it will need very little. It is to be bolted at bottom into the floor, & at top into the rabbet of the architrave. To it are to be fastened on each side the two wings b & c [struck] by hinges on which these wings will open easily so as to let them get at the bed to make it up. When open they will stand thus the piece a remaining fixed. The two bolts which I send you were got for the piece a but by mistake were got as knee bolts, & therefore will not do. But I recollect to have seen in the stores at Milton & Charlottesville [inserted: round] bolts of the same kind, but not kneed, which therefore I would pray you to get. They ought to be much smaller than these. You will find paper for this object in my cabinet. There are 2 rolls & I think they lie on the book shelves of the Eastern angle. If not there, they are somewhere in the Cabinet. My best wishes attend you.
Th: Jefferson
Mr. Dinsmore
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