Imagine ....a Curtain ....... It acts as a
scrim, then opens as a
tab ....[then].... opens all the way as a traveller.....
This is an interesting problem. My suggestions, and they are just that, suggestions, as I have never had the need to actually do this specific
gag, are as follows.
First, I'll "assume" (hate that word) (hate to admit that I sometimes "assume") that the
traveler action is bi-parting on center and not one-way or off center. Step one is to
layout and determine where the
tab action will be and where the pick points and rings will need to be located. At the
point where the
tab lift line meets the
track, insert a scenery
carrier between the two single carriers that hold the curtain. Both
ADC and H&H make versions. As you are on the west coast and I'm pretty sure there is an H&H dealer in Portland, that might be the best bet. Do not attach the scenery
carrier to the curtain. When the curtain is in the full closed position, it will rest against the nearest
carrier on the off
stage side. In the offstage or stacked position it will simply be between the respective carriers and increase the stack space by it's length. In motion it will ride with the other carriers as the curtain is opened and closed. Rigidly attach a pulley, about 2" to 3" to the
carrier in such a way it will not pivot. At the off
stage end, mount a similar pulley to the end of the
batten if it is beyond the end of the
track. Otherwise, rig a
batten extension that is about 12" to 18" past the end of the
track. Place additional scenery carriers on roughly 5' or 6' centers on the
track. Mount simple, smooth, zinc plated eye bolts in the carriers to act as guides and supports for the
tab op
line. The scenery carriers will simply act as slave carriers between the actual curtain carriers in both directions.
The
tricot fabric is probably too light to make the "
Tab" fully close and you may need to add a small sash weight to the curtain bottom hem where the
tab line attaches. In addition, when closing the curtain, the weight of the
tab line or friction in the rigging might cause the curtain to be slightly "tabbed" when it is closed. Working some slack loops into the
tab line before closing will cure this.
If the
tab line is released in a controlled manner as the
traveler opens, the curtain should self align, and with out too much slack loops forming the the
tab line. Otherwise, the
tab op
line should just form big swoops between the eye-bolt carriers if the curtain is worked as a draw curtain without tabbing first.
Hope this helps.
