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Hardwood Record — Veneer & Panel Section 



March 25, 1922 



Use of Plywood Wall Panels in England Limited 



In view of the interest that has at various times been shown by 

 American panel manufacturers in the possibility of popularizing 

 the use of standardized plywood for wall paneling, a report on the 

 use of plywood wall panels in England may prove of value to the 

 trade. This report was made by Alexander V. Dye, American 

 Trade Commissioner in London, to the Lumber Division of the 

 Department of Commerce. In part Commissioner Dye said: 



"There is some use of plywood in the United Kingdom for wall 

 panels, but such use is confined to the new houses which are being 

 built by those who have lately acquired wealth. Consequently 

 such houses are built to individual design and specification by the 

 architects, and a standardized panel would not be of much use, 

 particularly as the high grade hardwood panels are already stand- 

 ardized with regard to size. In the houses for working men which 

 are being built with the assistance of Government subsidy, no ply- 

 wood is being used, the construction being ordinary brick or con- 

 crete, writh lath and plaster. 



"Speaking generally, there is far less standardization of any- 

 thing in this country than in America, even doors and sashes are 

 very little standardized. 



"The most common wood is alder, next birch, oak. mahogany, 

 walnut, poplar, pine, cedar. The ordinary usual panel is the 

 three-ply alder 4 mm. (3 16 inch) which comes in sizes 61x45 

 inches, 48x36 inches, 48x48 inches, 36x36 inches, 60x36 inches, 

 60x48 inches. Finnish birch comes in the same size boards, and 

 in addition 49x49 inches and 38x38 inches, the largest quantities 

 probably being in the 49x49 inches. There is considerable Dutch 

 poplar, which comes in sizes 47x20 inches, 47x25 inches, 47x36 

 inches, 47x47 inches. Red gum and American birch come in 

 larger sizes up to 76x42, and cedar particularly in the large thick- 

 nesses, up to 120x60 inches. The thickness of plywood runs all 

 the way from 3 mm. ( 1/8 inch) up to 26 mm. ( 1 inch) with from 

 three-ply up to nine-ply. A favorite plywood which comes from 

 Holland, is alder faced with a very thin veneer of oak, mahogany, 

 walnut or maple. 



"These panels are usually carried in stock by the lumber mer- 

 chants and purchased through the brokers in the usual way. 



"Plywood dealers in the United Kingdom consider this a fairly 

 good but small business, as, of course, it does not involve anything 

 like the quantities or the values of other lines of the lumber trade. 

 For instance, the importations were as follows: 



1920 1921 



Loads Values Loads Values 



1,422 £85.672 1.002 £56.171 



This is relatively a small part of the trade, as compared in 1921 

 with the total value imported of lumber of £30,039,165, of ties 

 value £3,252.348. and of total soft woods sawn of £ 1 7.43 1 .207. 



"After full investigation of this question both in London and 

 Liverpool. I do not believe that it is worth the time of the veneer 

 and panel manufacturers considering it, since, w^ith the present 

 prices and wages both in Holland and Finland, it will be difficult 

 for them to compete in the cheaper grades. There is, and always 

 w^ill be, a market for the better qualities of American birch and 

 other plywoods, principally because they are a finer quality and. 

 particularly, can be had in longer lengths. At the present time, 

 the price of Finnish birch is 22s/6d per 1 00 feet against the Ameri- 

 can 35s/ per 100 feet. The principal uses for Finnish and Amer- 

 ican birch of first quality are for high class shipbuilding, panelling, 

 and motor-body w^ork; alder, poplar, and the cheaper grades of 

 Finnish birch, are used for draw bottoms, furniture construction, 

 and other cabinet uses. Due to the high price of mahogany, there 

 is some use for cedar instead. Some of the very thick plywoods. 

 1 5 to 26 mm., are used in bulk head partitions, dash boards, and 

 table tops, where great strength and flatness are essential. 



European plywood is not in stock, delivery can be had within 



three weeks. This is another advantage which the manufacturers 

 of plywood in Holland and Finland have over manufacturers in 

 the United States, that for any special makes or sizes they can get 

 delivery more quickly. 



In this connection we would not want to discourage our Ameri- 

 can manufacturers from any field, but it is all a question of compe- 

 tition in price. 



1. X. L. Increases Capital Stock 



The 1. X. L. Furniture Company, Goshen, Indiana, recently 

 filed papers with the secretary of state showing an increase in its 

 capital stock from $36,000 to $200,000. 



The Indiana Quartered Oak Company at Evansville, Ind., has 

 increased its capital stock from $35,000 to $45,000. 



The Stephens Showcase Company has been organized at Indian- 

 apolis, Ind., with a capital stock of $50,000 for manufacturing 

 purposes. Roy H. Kenady, Arthur H. Darling and Arthur E. 

 Rouse are directors of the newly organized company. 



The J. B, Hamilton Furniture Company of Shelbyville, Ind., re- 

 cently filed papers with the secretary of state showing an increase 

 in its capital stock from $30,000 to $255,000, of which $170,000 

 is preferred stock. 



Kitchen Cabinet Company Sues Railroads 



The McDougall Company, of Frankfort, Ky., manufacturers of 

 kitchen cabinets, filed a petition recently with the public service 

 commission against the Baltimore & Ohio railroad company and 

 the Chicago, Indianapolis 6c Louisville Railway Company, assert- 

 ing that the McDougall Company had been subjected to the pay- 

 ment of unjust, unreasonable and discriminatory freight rates on 

 lumber shipped from Deputy and Lovett to Frankfort, from April 

 1, 1920, to October !, 1920. 



The petition says that at the time the lumber shipments were 

 moved, the rate applicable on the lines of the defendants from 

 JefTersonville to Frankfort was 12 cents for 100 pounds, as pro- 

 vided for in Agent Kelly's tariff, but that the kitchen cabinet com- 

 pany had to pay for the transportation of lumber from points 

 between JefFersonville and Frankfort at the rate of 1 3 cents for 

 I 00 pounds. 



Prospective Congressman Buys Furniture Plant 



Harry C. Canfield. candidate for nomination on the Democratic 

 ticket as Representative in the congress from the Fourth congres- 

 sional district of Indiana, has bought the controlling interest in 

 the Western Furniture Manufacturing Company's plant at Ver- 

 sailles, Ind., from William C. Schwier and son, William C. Schwier, 

 Jr., of Batesville, for $35,000. He will take charge of the concern 

 Monday as president, treasurer and general manager. As soon as 

 needed improvements can be made the plant will operate at its 

 fullest capacity. The company has a large number of orders on 

 file. 



The Fruit-Dairy Box Company of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., is the 

 name of a new corporation which has been chartered with a capital 

 stock of $50,000 to engage in the manufacture of cheese boxes, 

 berry boxes and crates and similar veneer products. The incor- 

 porators are James G. Martin, Otto Haack and W. E. Hagener, all 

 of Sturgeon Bay. 



At Burnside, Ky., the Burnside Veneer Company is a new cor- 

 poration. 



