April 25, 1918 



Now, a good way to bring them to time would be to substitute 

 gum veneer everywhere that birch is now being used. This would 

 give our southern mills the business that thry should have, for 

 gum will stand the test every bit as good as birch from wing ribs to 

 engine beds. 



The fact that our big mills in the South are not doing the rush- 

 ing business that they should, due to the depression in the furni- 

 ture trade, they could help speed up aeroplane production if the 

 use of gum was permitted. 



One of the worst delays in aeroplane construction today is due 

 to the veneer mills not getting out veneers fast enough. 



Hoping that this article will have its desired effect without any 

 extra red tape and that our southern friends will soon get into the- 

 game, for we need the aeroplanes NOW. 



Hardwood Record replied i\s follows: 

 Mr. J. .-\. Graf. etc. 



We have your letter, .April 20, enclosing article entitled "Aero- 

 plane Veneers." 



We do not agree with your article in any of the points made. 

 In the first place, we do not believe that (he birch people are in 

 any stronger position so far as the records are concerned, than 

 are the gum people. 



In the second place, we do not believe the birch people are not 

 willing to co-operate in every way possible in forwarding the 

 interest of war work. 



In the next place we do not believe that one of the worst 

 delays in airplane work is due to the veneer mills not getting out 

 stock fast enough. To the contrary, the veneer mills stand ready 

 to do the bidding of the authorities on airplane construction when 

 the authorities let it be known what their requirements are. The 

 veneer men have a very strong committee made up of northern 

 and southern men. who are doing everything they possibly can to 

 bring the authorities more closely in touch with the veneer situa- 



Hardwood Record — Veneer & Panel Section 



.. and are more than v 



33 



Uing to do everything within thei 

 power to speed up their end of airplane construction. Howevei 

 they cannot do more than the authorities make it possible for ther 



Did we belie% 



to bring them 

 not hold that b 

 We would be 

 this subject. 



any branch of the veneer trade were deliberately 

 the job of supplying the government with air- 

 re would gladly do everything within our power 

 3 shame and lo stir them up. However, we do 



lief. 



interested in receiving your further comments on 



VENEERS AND PANELS 



BROWN ASH 

 , GREY ELM . 



WISCONSIN VENEEER CO. 



MANUFACTURERS 



RHINELANDER, WIS. 



All Three of Us W.U 



HARDWOOD RECORD. 

 The above correspondence was submitted to the chair- 

 man of the War Service Committee of the veneer and 

 panel interests, who replied as follows: 



Hardwood Record, 



Attention Mr. E. W. Meeker. 



In reply to your letter of the 16th. 1 return the letter from J. E. 

 Graf of the Signal Corps, copy of the article which he asked you 

 to publish and copy of your reply of April 16. 



In regard to the birch situation, we believe the birch mills are 

 flooded with business and really have more orders than they can 

 take care of, and do not believe that they are assuming an undue 

 independent position, but their capacity is limited on account of 

 the supply of birch logs suitable for aircraft work. Naturally, any- 

 one selling birch or any other wood wishes to sell the veneer 

 so as to use up as much of the log as possible, and it is entirely 

 up to the purchaser to make his specifications so that he does 

 not buy too much poor stock and it is also up to the purchaser 

 not to accept poor stock if he buys good stock. A large amount 

 of the birch sold in the general market by jobbers and dealers 

 is log run stock and possibly some buyer has bought this stock, 

 expecting to receive face stock and the seller may not be to blame. 



Another point which possibly the Signal Corps do not appre- 

 ciate 13 that there is a tremendous amount of veneer in birch and 

 other woods that is purchased and contracted for for foreign ac- 

 count, and this means that a very large amount of stock is being 

 shipped out of the country, and a great deal of it is being used 

 for aircraft construction in England, France and Italy, which, of 

 course, is all for the general cause. 



It is our belief that the manufacturers of veneer in this country 

 are absolutely patriotic and will do everything in their power to 

 assist in furnishing stock required for this country's needs, but 

 the Signal Corps has not seen fit to advise the veneer mills or 

 this committee what its requiizments are or what they are even apt 

 to be, and, of course, without any definite information it is impos- 

 sible for the veneer mills or this committee to be of much assistance 

 to them. 



In regard to using other woods in place of birch, we under- 

 ;tand that the Forest Products Laboratory is making extensive 

 tests and we have recommended strongly that in testing other 

 woods that they pay particular attention to woods where there i3 

 a sufficiently available supply, instead of testing woods where 

 the supply is limited. 



In regard to gum, there has been quite a large amount exported 

 for aircraft work, and it is certainly u-ed in a number of parts 

 of aircraft, and we believe that when the users understand how 

 to handle gum and buy gum that is properly manufactured, its 

 use will grow the same as it has in the commercial uses of this 

 country. 



If the proper authority, whoever that might be, would advise 

 this committee of the requirements in this country for veneer, this 

 committee could undoubtedly be of considerable help to them and 

 it is very anxious to assist in any way it can, and we are abso- 

 lutely confident that the mills will back it up if the War Depart- 

 ment officials will only accept their assistance. 

 --^ The Signal Corps is aware of the existence of this committee 



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