38 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



maliogany has maintained an unbroken price 

 for the past twenty years also finds ex- 

 planation in this fact; if any doubt exists 

 as to a material cheapening of mahogany 

 products it would be quickly dissipated 

 by a visit to Mexico and an inspection of the 

 difficulties surrounding the industry. Such a 

 visit is not without its pleasant features, as 

 there is the recreation of tarpon fishing and 

 hunting, as the deer, wild turkey and tarpon 



are numerous all through this locality. 



Native labor is satisfied with accommoda- 

 tions and food which would not be possible 

 for a white man to submit to for an extended 

 period, but roughing it for a few weeks in 

 this climate is enjoyable. It is rare that 

 white labor is encountered in this section. 



The artistic wood lover who has seen the 

 gradual extinction of the San Domingo ma- 

 hogany looks with regret on the present situ- 



ation in Mexican mahogany, which is rapidly 

 approaching the point where this beautiful 

 w-ood will be but a memory. 



The accompanying view was made from a 

 photograph taken by Mr. Thompson on his 

 recent visit to Mexico. It is especially inter- 

 esting as showing some handsome mahogany 

 logs as they lay at the logging camps of 

 Mexico. 



Utilization of HardWoods 



ARTICLE XXXIIl 



Dining Tables 



Among the different uses to which hard- 

 woods are put today none shows a keener 

 observance of quality than dining tables, 

 the manufacture of which has reached a 

 prominent place in the furniture world. 



There are only two styles of dining-tables 

 on the market, pedestal and extension tables. 

 In reality there is only one, the pedestal, 



AiNOTHER COLONIAL TABLE, VEXEEIilOI). 



COLONIAL STYLE I'EDESTAL TABLE 



since the manufacturing ratio is about ten 

 to one. Ten years ago the extension table 

 occupied the first position, but in the same 

 degree that other varieties of furniture 

 have changed so has the dining-table. 



The reason for this is wholly economic. 

 On every hand the primary object has been 

 to utilize space, without affecting the artistic 

 appearance of the piece. The extension 

 table was long, always expressionless and 

 invariably bulky. The pedestal table is 

 precisely the reverse. In the first place, 

 when not in use, it can be put into compact 

 form because of its roundness. While in 

 use it serves all and more purposes than 

 the extension variety, which necessarily 

 must have five legs, which very often inter- 

 fere with the comfort of those seated 

 around the table. 



The better grades of pedestal tables are 

 made of quartered white oak, plain oak being 

 used on the extension kind. Ash figures 

 considerably in the manufacture of tables, 

 especiallj' when given a mahogany finish. 

 Walnut, both Circassian and domestic; birch, 

 maple, gum, elm and mahogany in a variety 



of finishes are among the popular woods used. 



For the most part the designs are plain. 

 The tendency is decidedly in that direction 

 even among the most beautiful and ex- 

 pensive pieces. Carved pedestals are also 

 popular. The plain tables are usually 

 veneered, while the carved work is, of 

 course, solid wood. 



Only the better grades of hardwoods are 

 used. The tendency is so manifestly toward 

 the best hardwood that little if any cheap 

 timber figures in the manufacture. 



The construction work on tables has been 

 improved upon to the extent that they are 

 now perfect, so far as an_ything is perfect. 



Two of the illustrations accompanying 

 this article show a veneered and carved 

 table manufactured by Louis F. Nonnast of 

 Chicago, one of the oldest manufacturers of 

 dining-tables in the West. The other illus- 

 tration is from a popular table made by 

 Niemann & Weinhardt, also of Chicago and 

 one of the prominent manufacturing con- 

 cerns in this line. 



HAND-CARVED PEDESTAL TABLE. 



