42 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



On tho latter class the lac solution — commonly called French polish — 

 may have been laid with friction from start to finish : whereas on 

 the cheaper class of goods the greater portion of the solution would 

 be put with a camel's-hair brush ; but in neither case are the possessors 

 of such finished goods willing to describe it as Tarnished. 



Despite the many changes that hare talseu place in the method of 

 its application and finish, shellac still holds its own as the principal 

 ingredient ot the polish solution. 



In the earlier days other gums and resins were added in varying pro- 

 portions to the shellac, no doubt because it was not so pure as it can 

 be had today. Experience teaches that good worlj can be accomplished 

 by the solution of shellac and spirits only — raw linseed oil being used 

 in minute quantities with it to enable it to be more easily distributed 

 when it is applied with friction ; when applied by means of a brush no 

 oil is necessary. 



The polish is applied to the wood by saturating wadding with it, and 

 inclosing this in a piec'3 of fine, soft rag ; the latter acts as a filter 

 to the polish and prevents any loose portions of the wadding adhering to 

 the work. If the polish is thus applied in a straight direction it would 

 soon show up in ridges ; consequently it is applied with a circular motion. 



The wadding inclosed in rag is called a polish rubber. When ap- 

 plying the polish from it to the wood it requires only slight pressure 

 to cause the polish solution to ooze out of it through the rag ; and in 

 order to enable it to worli freely, without sticl^iness or a dragging feeling, 

 a spot or two of linseed oil is applied to the face of the polish rubber 

 each time it is charged with the lac solution. The circular motion 

 by which it is applied creates friction, and this constant friction, with 

 oil as a lubricant, imparts a gloss. The more tlie lac solution is ap- 

 plied the thicker a surface is built up, and the more the friction im- 

 parted the sooner the gloss becomes a shine. 



The inexi)erienced worker would find it an apparently never-ending 

 job thus to build up a perfectly level surface on woods of a coarse, open 

 grain, such as oak, ash, elm, rosewood, walnut, and some varieties of 

 mahogany : consequently it is a common practice for amateurs and 

 professionals to use a wood grain-filler first, the object of this being not 

 only to (ill up the open grain and thereby form a more solid foundation, 

 but to save an unnecessary quantity of liquid polish and tlie labor of 

 its application. 



There are several patented preparations on tlie market for this pur- 

 pose. A mixture of finely crushed whiting — made into a stiff paste, 

 like thick paint, and coloring pigments added to remove Its whitenes'!, 

 and more closely resemble the wood it is to be used upon — is also very 

 much u.sed. 



The liquid polish is generally about from four to six ounces of orange 

 shellac dissolved in one pint methylated spirit — n preparation which 

 answers well for the general run of furniture goods. On light woods 

 or work that contains inlaid designs — or for any other reason is desired 

 to be flnislied with a transparency free from the slightly orange tint 

 given by llu: Tise of orange shellac — a bleached shellac, commonly called 

 "white shellac," is used instead. 



Timber in Persia 



The extensive forest lands of Persia have for some time attracted 

 the attention of Russian timber handlers, a number of whom have formed 

 themselves into a company for their exploitation, says the Financier. 

 Persian timber extends from Astara to Barfush. The forest lands cover 

 a slope running parallel with the mountain range in the direction of the 

 Caspian sea, and the zone of the forest is about 10 to CO versts (verst= 

 0.66;i mile) wide. The principal trees that grow on that slope are oak, 

 walnut, palm, etc. The first Russian timber enterprise in Persia took 

 form in 1880, although not much has been done with It since. Russians 

 are paying particular attention to the number of palm trees there, and 

 a parcel sent into I2urnpe fetched very good prices. The company named 

 is negotiating with the Persian government for a 25-year monopoly in 

 the exportation of this wood. At the same time other timber handlers 

 are exporting tfc Russia and Europe generally walnut and oak staves, 

 but the opening of this business did not prove particularly profitable. 

 The oak timber and staves sent to Europe had to compete with Hungarian. 

 Roumanian, Turkish, and other relatively cheaper woods. The demand 

 was not strung and the freight was high. 



In the year 1006 a group of timber dealers, who had leased a con- 

 siderable quantity of good forest land in Persia, handed their business 

 over to a Vicuna syndicate called the Franco-Persian Syndicate. This 

 concern, however, did not succeed. In 1909 a scientific investigation of 

 the Persian forest lands took place, and the trees found there were 

 described and their qualities and quantities defined. One thing appears 

 to have been established by this investigation, namely, that the Persian 

 oak is interior only to the Siberian oak. 



A supply of oak is a question of particular interest, for the demand 

 has rapidly increased of late, resulting in the rapid diminution of the 

 growing supplies, so that further reserves, such as those disclosed in 

 Persia, awaken a widespread Interest. The cubic foot of oak wood, 

 which once sold at 13 or ir> cents, now sells readily at 30 or 36 cents, 

 and a thousand oak staves at .$9T.33 to .$99.76. I'ersian timber may be 

 divided into two categories, from the exploiter's point of view. The first 

 lies In a zone of from 20 to 25 versts on the Caspian sea, and the second 

 from 20 to 26 versts farther Inland. This latter must wait the laying 

 of railways before It can be turned to profitable account. 



The "Price" Fallacy 



A concern that buys machinery on price alone, invariably regrets the 

 bargain. Machinery manufacturers cannot do business at a loss. They 

 must get a price that will allow them a fair profit. A man that buys! 

 on price generally gets just what he pays for. 



It is the experience of the most successful buyers that the high-priced 

 articles are the biggest values, according to Berlin Quality. Many things 

 are to be considered in buying a machine besides its first cost. There 

 is the quality of work, the speed at which it can be produced, the daily 

 upkeep expense, the ability of the machine to stand up to a daily strain 

 covering a period of .years. 



Many machines are now sold on a 30-day trial basis. This applies to 

 the cheapest as well as the higher priced article. Here's where the buyer 

 often makes a mistake. He installs a cheap machine on account of tlie 

 30-day trial agreement. The reliability and durability of a machine can 

 only be determined at the end of the life service of any tool. That is a 

 matter of history that every buyer sliould take into consideration — the 

 reputation on which a quality machine stands. 



Some months ago a woodworking concern was In the market for a 

 moulder. Inquiries brought a number of salesmen to their office. After 

 the buyer had listened to each man, he finally placed his order for the 

 lowest priced machine. His reason for doing this was that tlie manu- 

 facturer agreed to a 30-day trial, guaranteeing the too) to do as good 

 work as any other on the market. 



In due time the moulder was installed and for thirty days it worked 

 satisfactorily. But after ninety days the machine showed its true worth. 

 The strain caused by forcing it to produce as much and as good work as 

 higher grade machines, resulted in a weakening of the different parts. 

 In a short time the machine was full of vibration — and required the con- 

 stant attention of the operator to keep it in alignment. Six months after 

 the bu.ver had placed his order for this low-priced tool he gave an order 

 to another manufacturer for a high-grade moulder. This time he did not 

 let price warp his judgment. 



Xo manufacturer of machinery will deliberately place a prohibitive 

 price on his product. When a firm refuses to sell you a machine at a 

 price as low as some will, you may depend upon It that there is some- 

 thing in that machine Ihat the other has cot. 



Manufacturers ot high-grade machinery are equipped to mauufacture 

 at less cost than those who make a specialty of building tools to seli on 

 price alone. Therefore, every dollar Invested In a high-grade machine 

 returns a dollar's worth of quality. 



Hardwood 'News Notes 



:-< MISCELLANEOUS y 



The Long-Bell Lumber Company, Kansas City. Mo., has iiled statement 

 showing an Increase In capital slock from .$10,000,000 to $15,000,000. 



The Jasper Purnilure Compauy, Jasper, Ind., Is enacting an addition to 

 its factory. 



The Ray H. Iltnnett Lumber Company, Inc., has been organized at 

 North Tonawanda, N. Y., the capital stock being $200,000, The imor- 

 porators are; R. H. Bennett, II. F. Schad, North Tonawanda, and 

 H. E. Webster of Buffalo, N. Y. 



The Rocky Creek Lumber Company will rebuild the burned plant at 

 Pansy, Ala., at a cost of $.50,000. 



The Porterwood Lumber Company, Porterwood. W. Va.. was incorporated 

 with a capital stock ot $100,000 to develop 5,000 acres of hardwood 

 timber, and will erect a sawmill ot about 35,000 feet daily capacity. 



The Kentucky Log Company, Cincinnati, O., lias been formed by Edward 

 O. Robinson, Frederick W. Mowbray, James A. Walsh. Arthur Earl Hart 

 and Harry N. Welling. Capital stock is $30,000. 



The Howell-Gilmore Manufacturing Company has been organized at 

 Lomax, III., with a capital stock of $50,000. The company will manu- 

 facture .agricultural Implements. 



The Fidel Ganahl Lumber Company of St. Louis. Mo., has changid its 

 name to the Ganahl Lumber Company. 



The Bishop-Whaley Lumber Company has been organized at St. Louis. 

 Mo., to do a wholesale haidwiiud lumber business. The company is cap- 

 italized at $0,000 and will have offices In the Benoist building. 



The John Theurer Wagon Works have been incorporated at New York 

 City with a capital stock of $20,000. 



The Appalachian Lumber Company has been organized at Asheville. 

 N. C, with $12,000 capital. 



The Kanawha Lumber & Woodworking Company has been iueorporiiti'd 

 at New York City with a capital stock of $6,000. 



The Eli P. Miller Company, niamil'acturer of folding beds, located at 

 Evansville. Ind., filed a petition lu bankruptcy, the assets being $34,000 

 and the liabililles $47,000. It is expected the company will pay fifty cents 

 on the dollar. 



The Clark-Moreley Compauy has been incorporated at Grand Rapids, 

 :\Iicli.. with a capital stock of $75,000. 



The Cape Baker Hardwood Lumber Company is the style of a newl.v 

 organized concern at Ava, Mo. 



