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Use of Red Gum for Fixtures 



lajpSBuJs^ 



i 



Tlic meaning ■■: 

 the word "tU 

 turcs," US it 13 a). 

 plied in modern 

 building und maiui 

 focturc, is bri«;i'l 

 enough to include :i 

 considerable range- 

 of articles. It is 

 rustomary to divide 

 the industry iiit" 

 fixtures for oflice-. 

 banks, stores an. I 

 saloons, and the 

 term is frequent Iv 

 applied likewise to 

 those for churches 

 and private resi- 

 dences, as well as 

 for halls and lodge- 

 rooms. 



The articles arc 

 more numerous 

 even than the 

 classes into which 

 the industry as a 

 whole is divided. 



The banks' fixtures, for instance, are quite different from those 

 for a saloon. The bank has counters, desks, cabinets, seats and 

 partitions to separate one department from another; but these 

 articles must be made for and remain in particular places. If they 

 are so arranged that they may be readily moved about, they, 

 become furniture. The very name, fixtures, implies that they are 

 buUt where they arc intended to remain. However, they may be 

 taken down and moved without much damage to the building 

 where they are first placed. This fact differentiates fi.xtures from 

 interior finish which cannot be removed without defacing or 

 destroying the room's interior. 



Some of the Items 



The chief items making up the ordinary list of fixtures of the 

 nrious kinds are as follows: 



For saloons : Bars and back bars : cabinets for display of bottles ; fixed 

 seats and benches ; free lunch counters. 



For stores ; Counters, show cases, display racks, window seats, shelving, 

 and various kinds of cabinets. 



For churches and ball^ : Rostrums, pulpits, railings, and often pews and 

 seats. 



For residences : Cabinets, buUt-ln bookcases, cupboards, and sideboards, 



this 

 t F,vanston. 111. 



The Wood's Fine Qualities 



Bed gum possesses qualities which fit it for this use. When it has 

 been thoroughly seasoned, which can be easily and successfully ac- 

 complished if done with care, it lends itself to nearly every purpose 

 to which the fixture maker wishes to put it. A perfect polish may 

 be given it, and it can be finished in its natural color and grain, 

 or it lends itself to imitations more readily than any other wood. 

 There are few cabinet materials which it cannot be made to imitate; 

 though many of the best friends of red gum are of the opinion 

 that the wood ought to be used under its real name, and its own 

 figure, rather than as an imitation of other woods, 



The accompanying illustration tells the story of red gum 's 

 possibilities as a fixture wood. There is no imitation. It speaks for 

 itself. Of course, the print is in black and white and does not do 

 justice to the delicate and pleasing tones and colors of the wood 

 itself. 



Stands Like Mahogant 



The wall seat has been in place several months, subject to the 



li'iii|>eraturc una 

 dry nir of the 

 room. It is n 

 severe tCBt of the 

 standing qualities 

 of any wood. It 

 huB stood the test, 

 and has acquiltix] 

 itself with credit 

 und honor. Ma- 

 hogany, which is 

 t; e n c T a 1 1 y t ho 

 standard with 

 »lileh all cabinet 

 Aoods arc com- 

 pared, could not 

 have behaved bet- 

 ter. Not a joint 

 has yielded, not a 

 crack has opened. 

 The panels have 

 remained as true 

 ;ui a spirit level. 



There is no visi- 

 ble indication of 

 checking in the 

 broad pieces where 

 chocks might be expected to put in an appearance, if anywhere. 

 Increasing Demand 

 Tliere is an increasing demand for red gum by manufacturers of 

 fixtures, though until a few years ago it was scarcely so used at all 

 in this country. It was erroneously supposed that in the long and 

 broad dimensions demanded, it would not meet requirements. The 

 fact was, no one had ever given it a fair trial. But when the trial 

 was finally made, and was successful, the demand grew at once, a» 

 the following table shows: 



Annual Vse of Hed Gum for I'ixtdbes 



Quantity 

 .State. Feet B. M. 



Tennessee 13,510,000 



Kentucky l.SliO.OOU 



Mlrhlcan 1,130,000 



Illinois 451,000 



North Carolina 



Missouri 



New York 



\N ATTRACTIVK WINDOW .SKAT .MADE OF RED GUM 



Average 



Cost per M. 



«14.55 



24.7 ft 



27.70 



Ohio 



Texas . . . . 

 .Minnesota 

 Virginia . . 

 Wisconsin , 



South Carolina 



280,000 

 254,000 

 168,200 

 145,000 

 72,000 

 65,000 

 25,000 

 21,000 

 10,000 

 5.000 



36.75 

 31.22 

 30.62 

 24.00. 

 33.24 

 24.00 

 20.00 



'J'otal 17,921,700 



All of the states are not included in the above list. There are 

 no available statistics for the missing states, but it is doubtful if 

 complete figures would add many million feet, because it is known 

 that those which are given are the largest users of red gum for 

 fixtures. Tennessee leads all the other states in amount. That 

 might be expected from the fact that much of the country's best gum 

 timber grows in territory convenient to Tennessee's manufacturers. 

 That state not only uses most of the gum that goes into fixtures, 

 but buys at an average price below that obtaining in any other state 

 included in the list. 



Forms op Material 

 Red gum is the greatest veneer wood in this country, and probably 

 in the world. This veneer is made into innumerable commodities, 

 ranging from the cheapest berry basket to the highest-priced furni- 



