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Post by lurp173 on Aug 6, 2023 9:38:15 GMT -5
Sherlock, I may be misunderstanding your question, but the bottom morticed recesses on the two sections are for connecting them to the rungs on the other sections as the ladder is assembled. The holes for the pegs are also there. See attached drawing of the ladder sections.
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Joe
Lt. Colonel
Posts: 2,652
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Post by Joe on Aug 6, 2023 10:38:42 GMT -5
Hi Joe, Yes, a cherished suspicion goes out of the nursery window. I had considered the possibility of Bornmann, finding the attic floor intact, had sawn off an 8 foot length of board leaving S-226 in place. He then made a new “rail 16” for the trial using Hauptmann’s tools. This matched S-226 because it had been part of the same board. Michael’s remarks on shadowing and the Springfield photo almost convinced me that this had not occurred but until this excellent posting by Miakat It was still a niggling stone in my shoe. In fact I was about to suggest this - a search of newspaper archives - as a potential topic for Michael’s new book. It can now be removed from my long list of unanswered questions which continue to plague this case. Probably irrelevant, but while I’m on: I noticed while re-reading Kelvin Keraga’s report that Koehler’s diagram of Rail 16 (Fig 19) shows four morticed recesses to accommodate the rungs. However in the photo showing the three ladder sections leaning against a wall (Fig 1: presumably the ladder “as found”) there are only three rungs on the section built with Rail 16. The top rung is missing. Why? Sherlock You're not alone Sherlock, as I entertained serious suspicions about the potential illicit insertion of Rail 16 into the attic floor, when I first began studying this case. My concern revolved around the possible use of a wood filler agent to eliminate what might have been previous nail holes, thereby allowing a "clean slate" for new holes to be created where desired in Rail 16 and through to the attic's hemlock joists. That notion evaporated just as quickly with my first viewing of the Springfield photo and also the understanding that there would have been duplicate holes already in the joists from the previous nailing of that section of attic floor toe board.
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Post by Sherlock on Aug 6, 2023 14:41:14 GMT -5
Hi Lurp 173, Gotcha! Thanks for your clear explanation of the missing rung which isn't missing. What threw me off was the placing of ladder section 3 against the wall in it's upside down position giving the impression that when fully assembled the top (highest) rung was absent. Now all is clear. Sherlock
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