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Hardwood Flooring 



SHOUU) NOT A BIG FOREIGN TRADE BE DEVELOPED? 

 American manufacturers in many lines have about concluded that 

 in order to give to their business the stability and even volume which 

 is essential to an enterprise of any considerable proportions, they 

 must attend to the possibilities of the foreign field. The varying 

 problems of export trade are being investigated in many lines, especi- 

 ally as it is realized that the home market has been in a way over- 

 worked, and that the plethoric business which was done in 1906 and 

 1907 can hardly be expected to be the usual order of things, but only 

 the rare exception. 



Tf there is any line which could profitably be sold abroad it is 

 hardwood flooring. Some American manufacturers have been working 

 this tratle in a small way, but it is safe to say that the surface has 

 hardly been scratched. A few eases now and then has constituted 

 the extent of the trade, most of which has been handled through the 

 big export houses, and which, therefore, has not been touched directly 

 by the manufacturer. This business has been welcome enough, but 

 it lias been secured in such a way as not to give the flooring man an 

 opportunity to develop it upon his own initiative. 



A big flooring manufacturer was walking through his warehouse 

 the other day with a representative of H.\rdwood Record. The ware- 

 house, covering an area of nearly an acre, was jiiled high with floor- 

 ing, high-grade, well-manufactured and carefully selected stock, which 

 would have adorned any building in the world. The manufacturer 

 had been answering some questions as to processes used in the mill 

 and in the warehouse, and had listened to some warm expressions of 

 admiration for the stock itself. 



"Yes, it's good stuff," he admitted, without enthusiasm, "But, 

 to tell the truth, I'd much rather have the ,$200,000 that this ma- 

 terial is worth than to have the statement in the offife that the floor- 

 ing is out here in the warehouse, ' ' 



Then he pointed to several big crates which were lying at the 

 door of the building leading to the freight platform. 



"That stuff," he said, "is destined for a South American port. 

 Buenos Ayres and some of those other big cities below the equator 

 are rich as Croesus, and are buying the finest products of American 

 mills and factories. Automobiles, dress goods, jewelry, etc, are 

 being sold there, and we are getting our finger in the pie to the 

 extent of an occasional order for flooring. This particular shipment 

 is not large, but it helps some, and we should be glad to have a 

 lot more from the same pJace. ' ' 



The remark made by this manufacturer, who, in the middle of 

 rather dull domestic trade, sees the opportunities which would be 

 offered by well developed foreign connections, suggests that it would 

 pay American flooring interests to begin a careful investigation of 

 the possibilities of foreign markets, No one manufacturer would 

 perhaps be finaneiallj' strong enough to make the necessarily detailed 

 and careful inspection of the needs of the South American and 

 European consuming markets, but several could combine to secure 

 the data which all could use to advantage. 



And the data would, as suggested, have to be exact, detailed and 

 absolutely dependable in order to be of any value. The chief trouble 

 heretofore has been that efforts have been made to make sales abroad 

 without knowing the situation, without investigating the exact needs 

 of the consumer and without understanding the kind of competition- 

 that is to be encountered. 



For instance, it must be known just what thicknesses are in 

 demand in the various markets. In England, according to reports 

 which some flooring men have, 5/16-inch Stock is the staple, and 

 when prices are quoted and sales attempted there, this should be the 

 standard in mind. It should also be remembered that there is to be 

 expected competition with German and .Austrian oak in England and 

 Europe, and the prices which would be met in trying to get that 

 trade should be considered and remembered in» bidding for business. 

 The flooring manufacturer referred to said that he had discovered 

 that one of the most important features consists in proper packing. 

 His own goods, following detailed instructions, were carefully crated 



with strong oak strips, and the flooring proper was protected by bur- 

 lap snugly wrapped and sewed. The package was so firmly put 

 together that it would have taken a lot of bumping to break it, and 

 that is the thing to be remembered in making foreign shipments. 



The daily consular reports issued by the government at Washington 

 occasionally suggest business opportunities, and anyone interested 

 in the question of getting business abroad would do well to ask his 

 name be placed on the mailing list. The consular service will also 

 be glad to furnish additional information bearing upon trade con- 

 ditions abroad. These should not be depended upon absolutely, but 

 simply used as a general guide. While brokers in the different sea- 

 ports of Germany and other European countries can be resorted to 

 as a means of selling flooring, the situation should be sufficiently 

 investigated to enable the manufacturer to have a definite view of 

 conditions Itefore he ships his product. 



One thing to be strongly emphasized is that the manufacturer who 

 goes after foreign business should be willing to give it permanent 

 and careful attention. The trade which is to be used simply as a 

 filler-in for dull seasons here is not likely to come back after orders 

 have been held up in order to take care of trade nearer home. But 

 as a fair share of the business of a large manufacturer should be in 

 other countries, so as to make him largely independent of the fluctua- 

 tions of business in the United States, so should he be prepared at 'all 

 times to take care of the wants of his customers over-sea. 

 CHANGE IN OAK FLOORING GRADE TERMS 



Thero has been a change in the nomenclature of oak flooring, but 

 no radical change iu grades. These changes have been made to 

 clarify the meaning of the various terms in the minds of users. In 

 the future there are two quarter-sawed grades. In place of being 

 known as clear and sappy clear, they will be known as quarter- 

 sawed A grade and quarter-sawed sap clear grade. In plain sawed 

 stock the term clear gives place to " A " grade ; select to " B " 

 grade ; No. 1 common to ' ' common, ' ' and the term ' ' factory ' ' grade 

 will remain unchanged. 



Specifically the grades are recited as follows: 

 Quarter Sawed 



"A" Grade (Clear). — Shall have one face practically free of defects, 

 except % of an inch of bright sap : the question of color shall not be 

 considered: lengths in this grade to be 2 to 16 feeT. not to exceed lO'i 

 under 4 feet. 



Sap Clear (Sappy Clean. — Shall have one face practically free of 

 defects, but will .idmit unlimited bright sap. The question of color 

 shall not be considered. Lengths iu this grade to be 1 to 16 feet. 



Plain Sawed 



"A" Grade (Clear ». — Shall have one face practically free of defects, 

 except % of an inch of bright sap : the question of color shall not be 

 considered: lengths in this grade to be 2 to 16 feet, not to exceed 107o 

 under 4 feet. 



"B" Grade (Select). — May contain bright sap, and will admit piu-worm 

 holes, slight imperfections in dressing : or a small tight knot, not to 

 exceed 1 to every 3 feet in length : lengths to be 1 to 16 feet. 



Common (No. 1 Common). — Shall be of such nature as will make and 

 lay a sound floor without cutting. Lengths 1 to 16 feet. 



Factory. — May contain every character of defects, but will lay a 

 serviceable floor with some cutting. Lengths 1 to 16 feet. 



The specific uses to which the different grades are best employed 

 are recited below: 



"A" Grade Quarter-Sawed. — High class residences, hotels, apartment 

 houses and club houses. 



Sap Clear Quartered. — .\n economical substitute where a dark tiuisb 

 is desired. This grade is equally as durable a floor as the clear grade. 



"A" Grade Plain Sawed. — High cla.ss residences, hotels, apartment 

 houses, churches and club houses. 



'*B" Grade I'lain Sawed. — Medium priced residences, hotels and apart- 

 ment. Schools, office buildings and stores. 



Common. — Cheap dwelling, tenements, stores, high class factories and 

 manufacturers' buildings. 



Factory. — Warehouses, factories and cheap tenements. 



The standard thicknesses in the future are reduced to 13/ltiths 

 and 3/8ths, and the standard widths of the former will be 1%", 

 2" and 2%," face, and in the latter IVii" and 2" face. All stock 

 will be tongued and grooved and end-matched. 



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