Page 43 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

The Baker

168. The PRETZEL KNOT is too widely known to require much

description, but there are several varieties, and often nowadays the

pretzels are stamped out by machinery instead of being tied. The

GIANT PRETZEL KNOT is from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It is

about ten inches long.
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169. The OVERHAND KNOT appears to be the oldest form of the

pretzel.

• 170. A more sophisticated pretzel is a perversion of the FIGURE-
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EIGHT KNOT.

The Basketmaker

171. The SLATH or SLARTH KNOT appears at the bottom of splint

baskets. The stakes are opened up fanwise and the basket woven in

the regular "over-one-and-under-one" sequence that is known as the

"basket weave." The JOSEPHINE KNOT (~I 502) and the CROWN KNOT

(~670) are also used in commencing baskets.

There is a great deal in basketmaking that approximates l:l;1ot ty-

ing, but it constitutes a separate craft.

172 173 The Bell Ringer

172. The BELL RINGER'S KNOT is mentioned in Hutton's Diction-

ar of 18 I 5. It is actually the first half of the ordinary SHEEPSHANK

( 1153) and is probably a knot of considerable antiquity. Its pur':

pose is to keep a long end of rope from lying on the belfry deck

when not in use. The same knot is used in sail and rigging lofts and

in ship chandleries to keep the ends of new rope off the floor.

173. If the rope is long and heavy two hitches are sometimes used

instead of one, and, if necessary, several round turns may be taken

17"1' . 11 S- instead of the single turn illustrated.

174. SALLIES, SALLY TUFTS, SALLIE TUFTING: A chafing gear of

brightly colored yarns similar to "BAGGY WRINKLES" (~348 5) is rove

through the strands of a bell rope. These are packed hard and

trimmed evenly. Different bells have different colors to identify them.

The purpose of the tufting is to provide a pro er handhold when

ringing chimes. The SALLIES are usually several eet long, the length

depending on the swing 0" scope of the bell.
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n6 • • Tbt' Balloonist and Parachutist
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.1 175. The basket or carriage of a balloon is generall toggled

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I (~ 1922) to EYE SPUCFS on the as bag, so that the boon may
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easily be disassemblr.!d, or cast adri t from the basket.

The Bicyclist

Among the occasional knots in Chapter 26 is shown a method of

making an emergency, or jury, tire (~2028) out of a piece of old

clothesJ:'ne.

The Blaster

.i76. When a dynamite cartridge is to be ex loded with a fuse,

111 employ a CONSTRICTOR KNOT (~I 249 and ~ 12 5 2 . Pull the two ends

tig-ht and it will hold as if adjusted with a ratchet. The hole ill jo:;:

cartridge should be made with a stick of soft 'UJ44H. .• ;1lSe in-

3erted full length.