i8 



HARDWOOD RECORtr 



that llie ii-ar end ol' the saw placed towanls 

 the wall opposite the dryer would leave plenty 

 of room and a straight passageway for con- 

 vcyiug the veneers from the dryer to the saw, 

 and when trimmed, tied into bundles dirottly 

 behind the saws and loaded on trucks iilyiug 



to the shipping room door, either at the end 

 or side of the building, in any event a corner, 

 so tliat all stock awaiting shipment can be 

 stored contiguous thereto, and loaded aboard 

 cars or wagons for its final dcstinaticui witli 

 little further effort. 



Hardwood Heels. 



The making of the modern hardwood heel is 

 an interesting subject. Formerly, heels for 

 the common run of boots and shoes were man- 

 ufactured from almost any kind of wood, 

 either soft or hard. Knotty, poorly seasoned 

 and even cracked woods were often utilized, 

 with the result that the wooden heel came to 

 be used but little and then for only inferior 

 grades of shoes. By the introduction of mod- 

 ern machinery in the manufacture of hard- 

 wood heels and the use of only selected and 

 well-seasoned stock, new life was given the - 

 industry, and it is now of considerable im- 

 portance in certain localities. There are sev- 

 eral factories in Lynn manufacturing hard- 

 wood heels, as well as in other shoe-making 

 centers of ilassachnsetts. 



The annexed diagrams will assist in giving 

 an explanation of the process of making hard- 



VARIOrS TYPES OV lIAliUWUOlJ IIIIKLS. 



wood heels. Billets are usually turned out 

 from straight, selected lumber, as shown in 

 figure 1, after which a saw is used to cut 

 off the pieces. It is necessary that straight 

 well-seasoned stock be chosen, and material 

 not entirely free from flaws should be re- 

 jected. The billet is turned down in a lathe 

 and cut through the center, after which the 

 sides are shaped to the right form. The 

 original design of the heel is adju.sted at this 

 stage. The section now assumes the shape 

 shown in figure 2. 



There are types of so-called "built-up" 

 hardwood heels in which the process involves 

 the sawing off of thin disks as shown in fig- 

 ure 3. These pieces are cut straight across 

 the pattern, and are about the same thick- 

 ness as leather. The heel is built up of three 

 layers, just as a leather heel. Cement com- 



positions between the thicknesses or slen- 

 der wire nails are used to secure the layers 

 firmly together. Another design of hardwood 

 heel is shown in figure 4. This heel involves 

 sawing the sections off to full size; the shap- 

 ing is done afterward on the turning lathe. 

 Heels of this pattern are as a rule covered 

 with leather. Figure .5 illustrates a more 

 artistic form of the same style of heel. 



Heels are designed to suit the requirements 

 of the shoe of which they are to form a part. 

 There are heels with the circular layers art- 

 fully described, applicable to the most fan- 

 tastic shoe. Others are strong, cumbersome 

 and devoid of artistic lines. Indeed, there 

 is a wide variety of designs required of the 

 hardwood heel pattern maker. 



Figure 6 shows a style of heel used for cer- 

 tain fancy grades of ladies' shoes, as is also 

 figure 7. Figure S represents a process by 

 which the layers of hardwood forming the 

 heel are frequently attached. The various 

 thicknesses are bored with holes of sufBcient 

 size to admit a thin cylindrieally shaped piece 

 of wood which is glued in position after it is 

 driven in. As there are two such pieces the 

 Joining is firm and secure. Figure 9 is a 

 diagram of a popular design used on ladies' 

 footwear. 



Heels are not covered with leather by the 

 heel manufacturer, but in a separate shop. 

 Nevertheless, it is essential to understand how- 

 to finish the heel properly and to get the 

 wood foundation correct. The irregularities 

 and imperfections in a poorly constructed 

 wood heel cannot be hidden by simply cover- 

 ing the surfaces with leather, and it is there- 

 fore necessary that the wood foundation be 



perfect. Cutting trimmers must of necessity 

 be ground true, or the heels will not be uni- 

 form when finished. In some shops trimming 

 machines that trim heels and seat at same 

 time are preferred. 



, After the heels are finished they should be 

 kept in a dry place, to avoid warping or 

 swelling. The process of scouring heels is 

 intended solely to remedy these defects. Yet 

 in some instances heel cutters rely on the 

 scourers to rectify certain errors in shape. 

 Scouring is suitable for the work intended for 

 it, and for nothing else. The scourers them- 

 selves are not always above error. They some- 

 times eiuleavor to scour a concave heel on a 

 flat roll, or some other equally awkward 

 scheme, and, of course, a poor piece of work 

 results. 



The scouring is followi'd with a filler, after 

 which the heel stands for a time until thor- 

 oughly dry. It is then rubbed with emery- 

 cloth. Sizes run from 100 to 120 emery. All 

 scratches and abrasions are then worked out. 

 Revolving emery wheels are often used, and 

 while good work may be done, there is tenden- 

 cy to burn the wood by holding the surface 

 too long on the rollers. Next comes the ink- 

 ing process, which is effected by saturation 

 in tanks, or by the application of liquids with 

 hand brushes. Then follows burnishing on 

 rolls of felt, after which the heel is waxed 

 and brushed on a revolving bristle cylinder. 

 After the surfaces are ragged up the heel is 

 finished. 



Hardwood soles are not used in this coun- 

 try, but in Japan and other countries they 

 are not unusual. The common sole consists 

 of a piece of wood shaped as shown in figure 

 10, which is nailed to the uppers of the shoe. 

 This makes a very inexpensive foot gear. San- 

 dals are used very extensively in Japan, even 

 Americans may be seen there wearing them 

 about the house. They are cool and easy. 

 A common design is shown in the diagram, 

 figure 11. Hardwoods are used in nearly all 

 cases, although some few specimens are man- 

 ufactured from soft stock. 



Casket JM aiding in the Philippines. 



There are vast quantities of hardwoods 

 available in the Philippine islands suitable 

 for the manufacture of coffins. .Mtliougli 

 this is not a pleasant subject to deal with, 

 manufacturers are obliged to handle stock 

 intended for the nuinufacture of caskets for 

 the burial of the dead, as well as hardwood 

 lumber for the construction of ordinary arti- 

 cles. The church regulations in the islands 

 require that every body be enclosed within a 

 C(;flin of some form before it can be admitted 

 to the church for jiraycrs. In some sections 

 it is required that caskets be covered with 

 black cloth, but usually the finish of highly 

 polished hardwood is ample. There is a wide 

 variety of coffins manufactured in the islands, 

 from the cniilc one I'arvcd from a hardwood 

 log to the most claburatcly (iriislicil pri"l\iil. 



polished and carved at llie expense of much 

 time and labor. 



(ireat care is exercised in selecting the 

 wiiods to be used in the manufacture of 

 (askcts. Native lumbermen scour the forests 

 f(ir suitable timber. I^jirge trees are felled, 

 a few choice logs of the desired shape and 

 worth are selected and the remainder, large 

 qii.-intities of valuable woods, wasted. The 

 logs are taken to Manila or other commercial 

 centers, where they are sold to <'asket makers. 

 I'snally the logs are lloated to the market. 

 Inn ill some ca.scs they are hauled over the 

 roads on drag sleds. Manufacturers buy 

 the.se rich woods at ridiculously low prices. 

 Pieces (if linibci- tli;it would bring dollars in 

 .■\inenc;i air Mil. I t'cir as many cents in the 

 riiilippiiics. 



