November 10, 1918 



Hardwood Record — Veneer & Panel Section 



31 



{Continued from page 26) 

 the same thickness as the metal ones, so don't take up 

 much room, and they are very tough so they don't get 

 dented easy. The worst thing about them is the way 

 they w^arp if we are not careful to keep them flat when 

 not in use. These cauls are cheaper than the metal ones 

 by a big lot. 



I never saw^ any paper cauls, but a drummer was tell- 

 ing me they are used a lot. He said they are thin like 

 the fiber ones, but hold their shape a little better. Only 

 he said they have to be treated carefully or they stick to 

 the panels and tear the veneers loose. 



Just the same 1 rather have the good five ply maple 

 caul, even if it is a little bulky and helps fill up the press 

 quicker. I like to see the press filled up quick so the 

 pressure can be put on, and if the cauls help that part, 

 so much the better. 



Well, Jim, we'll have a good gab fest when I see you. 

 My regards to Min. I bet she and Sue hits off good 

 together. 



Your friend, 



HENRY FLASCH. 



if^' 



Regarding Veneer Thicknesses 



Examination of a government report on the veneer industry 

 in v^^hich there is a classification by thicknesses, shows that thirty- 

 five different thicknesses were named between 5-16 inch and 

 1-40 inch, with three more thinner than that, making thirty-eight 

 in all. This investigation was made following an order cutting 

 furniture patterns down 50 per cent and forbidding the intro- 

 uction of new patterns during the war period. The object was 

 to get at some idea of the possibilities for cutting out unnecessary 

 thicknesses of veneer. The cutting down of furniture variety 

 Tielps some toward standardizing and simplifying the veneer and 

 panel industry, but there is a much bigger chance for improvement 

 right in the veneer industry itself. 



The veneer industry could easily cut out half the prevailing 

 thicknesses and then have more left than there is really justifica- 

 tion for. If you are skeptical on this point just take a look at 

 some of the many thicknesses found listed. Here they are: 5-16, 

 13-42, 9-32, 1-4, 7-32, 1-5, 3-16, 5-32, 2-13, 1-7, 1-8, 1-9, 1-10, 

 ^-32. 1-11, 1-12, 1-14, 1-15, 1-16. 1-17, 1-18, 1-20, 1-21, 1-22, 

 "1-24, 1-26, 1-27, 1-28, 1-30, 1-32, 1-33, 1-34, 1-36. 1-40, 1-50. 

 1-100, 1-110. A few have been left out, but this will give an idea 

 of the many thicknesses within a narrow range and the usefulness 

 of many of them. 



Every veneer machine is provided with gear changes for the 

 range of thicknesses the owner thinks he may need, and some have 

 had special gears made to scant this thickness or that one a little. 

 It would be a wonderful thing for the industry if half or more of 

 these gears for thickness changes at the rotary were sent in as 

 junk to help cut down the shortage in metal. It would mean less 

 confusion, greater efficiency, lower cost and a better utilization of 

 timber to cut out half the present thicknesses. And it is some- 

 thing the trade should do voluntarily for the good of the business 

 as well as for the good of the country. Other lines of the wood- 

 working industry have found more satisfaction and profit from 

 junking about half the patterns heretofore made and the veneer 

 industry can do the same thing. 



For sonje time there has been a noticeable tendency among the 

 leaders in the industry to concentrate upon a few thicknesses as 

 a sort of standard and let the others pass. They have had the 

 right idea, but it hasn't been pushed far enough nor hard enough. 

 The time is here now for the entire industry to make vigorous use 



AU Three of Us Will Be Benefited if 



VENEERS FOR 



AEROPLANE CONSTRUCTION 



A SPECIALTY 



WRITE, WIRE OR TELEPHONE 



BIRDS EYE VENEER COMPANY, Escanaba, Mich. 



Made in St. Louis by 



St.Louis Basket & Box Co. 



WE MANUFACTURE 



a complete line of 

 Built-up Stock in most 

 any size or thickness, 

 including Walnut* Ma- 

 hogany, Quartered 

 and Plain Oak, Ash. 

 Gum, Plain or Figured 

 Birch. Yellow Pine, 

 S y c a m ore, Cotton- 

 wood, etc. 



ESTABLISHED 1880 

 WRITE for COMPLETE PRICE LIST 



of the pruning knife and to cut out anywhere from 50 to 75 per 

 cent of the listed thicknesses in veneer. Let us standardize a few 

 thicknesses and eliminate a whole lot. 



Veneer Association to Meet 



December 10 and II have been set as the date for the next 

 meeting of the National Veneer and Panel Manufacturers* Associa- 

 tion. The convention w^ill be held in the Auditorium Hotel, Chi- 

 cago, and it is confidently expected that it will prove to be one 

 of the most interesting occasions in the history of the association. 

 The program has not yet been announced. The nature of the 

 program w^ill depend to a considerable extent upon wrhat progress 

 shall be made in the immediate future in bringing the war to a 

 close. Veneer is a w^ar essential. Panels for airplanes are being 

 produced in large numbers, and if that output is to decline, it may 

 be expected that a corresponding increase will take place in the 

 production of panels for commercial work. Provision w^ill be 

 made on the program for discussion and consideration of that 

 feature of the situation. The membership of the association has 

 shown a material increase since the previous meeting in June. 



Veneer manufacturers cut more red gum than any other wood 

 for two reasons. First, the stock is handsome and s^ervfceable, 

 and second, the timber is abundant and the trees are symmetrical 

 and logs can be reduced to veneer with a minimum of w^aste. 



You Mention HARDWOOD RECORD 



