February 25. 1922 



Hardwood Record — Veneer & Panel Section 



35 



Rotary Cut Box Lumber Outlook Is Hopeful 



Business in the box lumber manufacturing industry is beginning 

 of late to turn the corner of the erstwhile depression right sharply 

 and the general outlook for gradual but steady improvement to a 

 very substantial degree over conditions prevailing within the past 

 year or more is regarded as being very well founded. Operating 

 conditions are fairly good, prices are firm with prospects for im- 

 provement in the not far distant future and demand is believed to 

 be on the verge of a substantial increase. 



At least, such is the view of present conditions and the general 

 outlook for the trade taken by approximately a dozen leading 

 manufacturers from as many broadly scattered regions throughout 

 the South in attendance at the regular monthly meeting of the 

 Rotary Cut Box Lumber Manufacturers* Association, held at the 

 St. Charles Hotel, New Orleans, Wednesday, February 15. 



The attendance, though not large, was thoroughly representa- 

 tive, and the session was very brief — lasting only from 10 a. m. 

 until I 2 noon — but it was highly interesting and instructive. 



E. D. Martin, Pascagoula, Miss., who is chairman of the associa- 

 tion, wielded his trusty gavel with characteristic vigor and de- 

 cisiveness, and brief, informal talks or rather "remarks" were inter- 

 spersed here and there throughout the session by leading n\anu- 

 facturers from many different states. 



J. M. Pr it chard, Memphis, Tenn., who is secretary of both the 

 American Hardwood Manufacturers' Association and the Rotary 

 Cut Box Lumber Manufacturers' Association, which is a subsidiary 

 of the former, delivered an inspirational talk anent the general 

 outlook for trade association activities in view of the hardwood 

 decision by the United States Supreme Court. Briefly summed up, 

 Mr. Pritchard's message to the box people was: "Have no fear." 



"What can w^e do now^?" was the ineffaceable interrogatory 

 written boldly across the countenance of every delegate over the 

 probable limitations upon association activities set by the open 

 competition decision, and Secretary Pritchard admitted that inas- 

 much as U. S. Attorney General Daugherty himself had so far 

 been unable properly to define the legitimate sphere of club ac- 

 tivity he (Mr. Pritchard) did not feel safe in attempting to do so; 

 concluding, however, that he w^as sure there was no possibility of 

 the box lumber manufacturers transgressing the much narrow^ed 

 path of the anti-trust laws. 



Chairman E. D. Martin w^as unanimously selected by the asso- 

 ciation to be its delegate and representative to the big conclave of 

 the American Hardwood Manufacturers' Association to be held 

 in Louisville, Ky., March 7-8. 



R. S. Bacon Company Announces Changes 

 in Personnel 



Important changes in its personnel have been announced by the 

 R. S. Bacon Veneer Company of Chicago. Frank H. Scott has been 

 made secretary and treasurer; Joseph F. Mertes, vice-president and 

 John B. Edwards, secretary. 



The R. S. Bacon Veneer Co. was started in November, 1900, 

 by the late Robert S. Bacon. Mr. Scott, the present head of the 

 business, joined the company in April one year later and later 

 became treasurer of the company. John B, Edwards joined the 

 company in July. 1921, and in several years became secretary. 



The firm handled principally mahogany and walnut and also 

 carried a considerable stock of plain veneer. About ten years ago 

 machinery was installed at the plant at 2 1 3 North Ann street to 

 manufacture Circassian and American walnut and mahogany. 



In 1914 Mr. Bacon, owing to ill health, moved with his family to 

 Quincy, 111., and practically retired from active duty in the busi- 

 ness. Mr. Scott then took up the direction of the operations. Mr. 

 Bacon died at his home in Quincy on Oct. I, 1921. In January of 



this year, at the annual meeting of the firm Mr. Scott became presi- 

 dent and Mr. Mertes, who had been connected with the company 

 since 1913 as a salesman, became a partner and was elected vice- 

 president. 



The company has always carried a large stock of both mahogany 

 and walnut and during the Circassian days was one of the leading 

 manufacturers of this wood. The company now specializes in the 

 manufacture of figured woods in walnut and mahogany. 



Perkins Wins Two Victories in Patent Suits 



Two recent victories in the litigation which it is conducting to 

 protect its patent from alleged infringement are announced by the 

 Perkins Glue Company of South Bend, Ind., in a circular issued to 

 the trade. The circular follows: 

 To the Trade: 



We send this circular letter in order that the trade may be more 

 fully advised of recent developments in the litigation on our Let- 

 ters Patent for vegetable glue. 



The suit against the Holland Furniture Company of Holland, 

 Michigan, was tried in June, 1921. The vegetable glue material 

 used by the Holland Furniture Company was mostly obtained from 

 the Kane Manufacturing Co. In July. 1 92 1 . the Court rendered its 

 decision holding the patent valid and infringed by the Holland 

 Furniture Company and referred the case to the Master for an ac- 

 counting and to report the gains, savings, profits and advantages 

 which the defendant Holland Furniture Company received or which 

 accrued to it through its infringement and to assess the damages 

 suffered by plaintiff by reason of such infringement. 



In the suit against the West Michigan Furniture Co. the appeal 

 taken by the defendants has been dismissed for lack of prosecu- 

 tion without prejudice and the U. S. District Court has confirmed 

 the Master's report and entered its final decree by which it was: 



"Ordered, Adjudged and Decreed that the plaintiff do recover 

 of the defendant West Michigan Furniture Company as the profits 

 and savings made by the defendant by reason of its infringement 

 of the Letters Patent in suit, and as the damages sustained by the 

 plaintiff by reason of such infringement, the sum of Fifteen Thou- 

 sand Four Hundred Ninety-four and 46 100 Dollars ($ 1 5.494.46) , 

 together with Five Hundred Fifty-seven and 35 100 Dollars 

 ($557.35), being five per cent (5'') interest thereon since April 

 5, 1921, and also plaintiff's costs and disbursements herein to be 

 taxed, together with interest thereon at the rate of five per cent 

 (5'^f) per annum from the date of the entry of this decree; and 

 that said plaintiff have judgment and execution for the same here- 

 in to be paid to it by the said defendants." 



In the suit against the Standard Furniture Company of Herkimer, 

 N. Y., the Court has now rendered its decision holding the patent 

 valid and infringed by the fluid glue made by the Standard Furni- 

 ture Company from starch base. The Standard Furniture Com- 

 pany used starch base known as "Viscamite" put out by the Victor 

 G. Bloede Co. The opinion of the Court so clearly sets forth 

 Perkins invention and the various defences which have been urged 

 against the Perkins Patent, that we enclose herewith a printed 

 copy which we believe you will be interested in reading. 



We hereby again call upon all infringers to promptly cease their 

 infringement and settle with us therefor. 



(Signed) Perkins Glue Company. 



Kentucky Veneer Works Has $60,000 Fire 



Loss of approximately $65,000 resulted from fire breaking out 

 in the plant of the Kentucky Veneer Works, Louisville, Ky., on 

 February I I, before daylight. The blaze started in a dryer, and 

 got a big start in one of the large buildings, resulting in heavy 

 loss of walnut and mahogany veneers, machinery, etc., although 

 the company was well insured, and will not be hurt. After the 

 fire a valve to the automatic sprinkler in the dryer was found to 

 have been shut off, according to the report by the firemen, al- 

 though employes of the plant, stated that the sprinklers were work- 

 ing early in the fire. 



