The hardwood stand for toast, etc., shown by Fig. 1, is simple, quaint, and useful. However it is placed, three of its legs must rest on the floor whilst the other three are ready to support the plate. Fig. 2, which is one-twelfth full size, is a section through the hub. This is a ball 2in. in diameter, and through it are bored two 1/2-in. holes, which cross at right angles. Four of the legs or spokes are fixed in these holes, and a third hole (shown in the centre of Fig. 2) is bored at right angles with the two former ones, for the two remaining spokes. Each of these is 8 in. long and 3/4 in. in diameter at the greatest widths; they are so shaped as to have some resemblance to racks, this preventing any article set on the stand sliding up either of the spokes, and thus getting tilted aside. A ring of soft metal round the middle of the hub is useful to prevent splitting. The same device might be utilised on a smaller scale for fancy articles; a stand thus arranged might carry a receptacle for odds and ends on a lady's worktable, or a smoker's ash-tray.

Fig. I.

A Tripod Plate-stand.