Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume III

BUILDING THE STATUE OF LIBERTY. 253 them. Upon these the copper was moulded by blows from mallets assisted by levers, the fine finishing touch being given with small hammers or rammers. This copper shell, owing to its thinness, Jacked rigidity, and it was necessary to in- crease the stiffness of every piece, particularly separate parts. It was essential that these should be assembled together in the workshop to see that they fitted exactly. A huge iron frame, designed \he $yPPort“ by M. Eiffel, the builder of the Frame* Eiffel Tower, was made, and to this the numerous sections were fitted. It consisted BEATING PART OF THE COPPER SHELL OF THE STATUE INTO SHAPE ON WOODEN MOULDS. Internal Stiffening’ Bars. those of large size, by means of iron bars secured to the interior surface. These bars were so bent as to conform closely to the curves in the copper, to which they were fas- tened by copper bands ; their ends were riveted to the shell, and were so disposed and united to each other as to form a most intricate network of bracing, covering and strengthening the entire statue. The statue was made in no less than 350 of four massive angle-iron corner posts, united by horizontal angle pieces, dividing it into panels, which were strengthened by steel struts and braces, arranged diagonally, and possess- ing side extensions to approach more closely to the contour of the figure. The smaller frames supporting the head and the extended arm of the figure were of lighter construction than, but similar to, those of the main frame. The shell, or monument, is, of course, bolted to this iron framework. By assembling the