May 25. I9lf 



Hardwood Record — Veneer & Panel Section 



plant and find thin airplane plywood being made under 

 specifications which call for poplar centers and mahog- 

 any faces. These are called for because thost- writin-j; 

 the specifications know that mahogany, when well 

 seasoned and properly finished, will stand up against 

 changing temperatures and moisture conditions. They 

 are not sure about other woods aside from mahogany 

 and walnut, consequently they specify mahogany. Now, 

 if we can develop information that will show that under 

 proper treatment red gum. birch or any other native wood 

 can be made to stand up the same way and give satisfac- 

 tory results it certainly means something worth while 

 to the veneer industry. 



Here we get an indication not only of the benefits that 

 may come from positive knowledge of strength, but it is 

 also a part of the answer to the question of benefits that 

 will come from a more thorough knowledge of drying 

 and seasoning methods, of gluing and of filling and 

 finishing. 



While no one will feel inclined to question the quali- 

 ties of either mahogany or walnut for airplane work, 

 all who are familiar with the woods and the industry 

 realize that the supply of these woods is limited and that 

 other woods are of a necessity going to be required. The 

 sooner we know more about the other woods in a positive 

 way of their adaptability for the different classes of air- 

 plane service the better it will be for the veneer industry 

 as well as for the airplane program. 



The thing in mind here at the present time is not so 

 much what may be developed in the way of beneficial 

 results in using native woods for airplane work, and 

 doing airplane work generally, as what benefits may re- 

 sult to the veneer and panel industry as a whole through 

 the influence of the aircraft work. That aircraft work 

 will have a deep and more or less wide-spread influence 

 is plainly evident. The veneer industry will not be as 

 it was before, but when it is all over we will find that a 

 great step forward has been made and that out of it all 

 great improvement has come. 



For one thing we will learn to draw much finer distinc- 

 tions as to thin veneer and thin built-up work. Hereto- 

 fore there has been much complaining about thin face 

 veneer. It started when we reduced from 1 I 6 to 1 20, 

 and we heard from it again when we reduced from 1 20 

 to 1 28, yet today we have some airplane veneer reduced 

 to I 45, and three-ply work which must finish to 1 16 

 of an inch. This is cutting it much finer than was 

 dreamed of a few years ago. It will likely mean that 

 in the future we may not only use thinner face veneer, 

 thus spreading the fancy wood out over more surface, 

 but we will likely also use much thinner ply work for 

 panels of many kinds; work that will probably be more 

 carefully and scientifically put up and in which half the 

 weight and quantity of wood will render more satisfac- 

 tory service than was obtained with the heavier wood 

 work previously. This is one line of possible influence 

 and developement, a line that is just as logical, too. as 

 was the passing from the old thick, solid woodwork and 



MaJe in St. Loui.i Ay 



St.louis Baskets Box Co. p 



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 

 ch. Yellow Pine, 

 S y c a m ore, Cotton- 

 wood, etc. 



