Kathi wrote:

Christmas Skyscrapers.pdf

Wow Howard I did a sketch of my own but mine is based on the Flatiron Clock house's horizontal bands and punched windows.
But there is a second skyscraper building on the right side of the photo.
Attached is my sketch of the two without dimensions yet. I need to find my pattern for the Flatiron building to get the right proportions.
Is anyone going to tackle this, or these, project(s)?

I like your version better than the sketch I did. Back to you later. Howard.

kathi...

my interest in making a skyscraper has grown since seeing your sketch...you've captured the look better than i did...i especially like the clock above the door, the balcony with a door and the front columns...keep us posted on what you are doing with this project...if you do decide to build one...i hope you'll consider posting a pattern...

somewhere in my files i have an image or two of a vintage marx toy lithographed tin skyscraper...i'm going to see if i still have them...there may be a design feature or two that may interest you when developing your plan...

my very best regards...howard...

Ya'll are right, this is an amazing photo. I asked Pete Oehmen if he had seen it and he said he had seen that photo and that he studied it for about an hour. He said he hopes one of these pieces will show up one day so it sounds like he's never seen one like these. I like both sketches of these putzs. I may try to make one next year once I develop some better skills are cutting a row of windows accurately - they would have to line up nicely on a piece like this. My halloween houses could be wonky and crooked so that it looked like part of the design process (even though it was a mistake).

Thanks everybody for sharing these photos and sketches.
Lucy

OK Howard,
This week is crazy busy, but a priority is going to be to get some dimensions down on paper for these skyscrapers. I have already done some test "ratios" based on an enlarged copy of the photo I printed out, comparing the heights of the windows and the front fence. Another collector loaned me her Flatiron Building a while ago and I took careful measurements. That building had little domes on top of the flat fence caps, and I think the flat-topped skyscraper has the same fence posts. However, the openings in this fence are vertical, which you see on some of the lakkies. I will post when I have more to show. Also, I have googled 1930's skyscrapers in NYC and have a potential model for the skyscraper on the right in the photo.

I just want to take a moment, as I type words like "Flatiron Building" and "lakkies," to remember the anniversary of Ted's passing this past Thursday. Without him, and his willingness to share his knowledge, and to build his website, and to gather together the folks who love cardboard Christmas houses, and without Paul's willingness to take on the website post-Ted, we wouldn't have this wonderful network of people sharing this delightful hobby. Thanks to Ted, Paul, and everyone!--Kathi

kathi...

please don't rush...or add another layer of "things to do" on my account...i googled 1930s nyc skyscrapers...it's a much better source of images than the marx litho tin one i was going to post...

are you going to do both looks like the sketches you posted?...the one on the left and the twin spire one on the right?...by the way...does this mean i have to make a "gorilla" flattie"?...

about paragraph two in your post...(hope this doesn't upset anyone)...i can only say one thing..."AMEN"...

my very best regards...howard...

I am very excited to see a putz "skyscraper" come to life out of this group. Even though I never knew "Papa Ted" personally, I have a few of his houses in my possession. "Amen" also Howard. In order to keep this precious part of Holiday history alive for future generations, we must "putz on!"...

Cheers to all,

Will

Yes Howard I will have measurements for both skyscrapers. One question to all who have studied that photo -- the towered building on the right seems to have some depth to the tower roof, as if it is a steep "mansard" hipped roof, not a pyramidal spire. Check out the inside of the left side of the roof. If it is a pyramid, it almost looks "curved" or bent on the inside face, and the only thing I could imagine is that there is a "ridge" to that portion of the roof, instead of what initially looked like a pointed spire. It almost looks like there could be a tiny dormer or even a door going out to the parapet terrace from the "penthouse". Check out the inside "mansard" portion of the left roof.
Gosh I wish we had other photos. But so interesting to imagine what is really going on with these skyscrapers based on other house types.
By the way, I was wrong in my earlier post. The round "domes" on the top of the fence posts are not on the Flatiron Bldg, but instead are on the Lakkie's fence that I am using as a model and measurement tool for the skyscraper fence. However, in carefully checking out the fence, I think Howard may be right about the openings in the fence. I don't think they are slots. I think they are either squares, circles, or rectangles. But I'd love to hear other opinions. What changed my mind was looking at the Lakkie fence. If there are only three openings between the fence post and the fence corner, then the building would be too narrow. The openings must have a wider dimension. But are they square, round, or rectangular? Any ideas? --Kathi

Kathi...

My tired old eyes see a pyramid spire...there is a soft shadow on the right side of the spire which hides the actual shape...and like you said...there are other details that can't be seen...we will never know for sure...but that's ok...

I'm so looking forward to building something using a plan I didn't have to draw!...but again...no rush...everything in time...

My very best regards...Howard...

I also see a pyramid spire. As far as the fences, I was sure they were circles, until I realized they look just like the windows on the building. In that case they must be squares or slightly rectangular. I tried a magnifying glass on the pic, but it's still not conclusive about the shapes.

I love this kind of back and forth.
I looked again and see that the spire pinnacle is actually in shadow cast from the top of the box it sits in. That explains the difficulty I had in seeing it as a spire. Thanks for that insight Howard and Laurie. I am now convinced the tower has a pyramidal roof. --Kathi