HARDWOOD RECORD 



Utilization of HardWoods 



ARTICLE XXXVIII 



SPORTING GOODS 



The manufacture of bats, golf sticks, In 

 dian clubs, dumb-bells and similar articles 

 used in the athletic world, furnishes a source 

 of consumption for a considerable amount of 

 lumber each year, and as most of the con- 

 cerns involved have no timber holdings of 

 their own, it is an item of no small import- 

 ance to a certain class of hardwood pro- 

 ducers. 



Perhaps no other line of manufacture de- 

 mands such a strictly high-grade quality of 

 stuff. The unusual requirements of this class 

 of article, as to durability and strength as 

 well as to elasticity, toughness, and absolute 

 clearness of material used, necessitate a 

 most rigid inspection of shipments. Mate- 

 rial which passes muster is consequently of 

 greater value than the ordinary run of lum- 

 ber, and the houses turning out products of 

 this sort are usually willing to pay well for 

 suitable stock. 



The standard inspection rules are not rec- 

 ognized by the athletic goods houses, who 

 insist upon absolutely clear, straight stock; 

 that a stick is sound is not sufficient to 

 enable it to pass the individual inspection 

 to which each car-lot is subjected. As a con- 

 sequence many lumbermen who have been 

 accustomed to selling under National or 

 Manufacturers' inspection, are disappointed 

 in having shipments, which would usually 

 be considered excellent stock, rejected on 

 account of sound knots or similar imperfec- 

 tions. In the manufacture of bats only is 

 lumber of this type accepted, and then only 

 to a limited extent and when the imperfec- 

 tions occur near enough to the end to allow 

 of trimming, when the piece goes into the 

 second grade and is made into cheaper bats. 



Sapwood is used entirely in bat manufac- 

 ture and in all similar lines. Clear-second- 

 growth ash, as a consequence, is greatly pre- 

 ferred to old trees. The obvious reason for 

 this is that there the sap greatly predomi- 

 nates over heartwood, and also that young 

 growth possesses superior toughness and elas- 

 ticity. As the manufacturers have facilities 

 for properly caring for stock during season- 

 ing, they prefer having shipments sent di- 

 rectly after cutting. All material is cut 

 to dimension before delivery, the standard 

 bat stick being 38 inches long by 2% inches 

 square at one end and 2^4 inches at the 

 other. The second-class sticks are 32 inches 

 long and 2^4 inches square, without taper. 



The majority of ash for bats comes from 

 the forests of Ohio, and to a more limited 

 extent from Tennessee. On receipt at desti- 

 nation, the sticks are piled regularly with 

 plenty of air space for circulation, and are 

 given one year seasoning in the open before 

 being used. A sufficient quantity must be 

 kept on hand continually to insure a steady 

 run. After proper seasoning — the wood must 



be in an absolutely dry condition — the bats 

 are turned out in a regular lathe to standard 

 pattern. Models named after certain base- 

 ball celebrities have attained wide popular- 



ity. 



The so-called willow bats also provide a 

 considerable market for hardwood, although 

 to a more limited extent than the other type. 

 In reality these bats are made from bass- 

 wood, most of which comes from Ohio. This 

 also is cut to dimension before shipment, 

 and is selected for absolute clearness and 

 straightness, and is shipped green. The 

 rough sticks are a little longer and larger 

 than the ash sticks, being 40 inches in length 

 before dressing. A few months of good 

 weather suffices to thoroughly season them, 

 after which they are turned in the regular 

 way. 



Maple is used entirely in the manufacture 

 of standard Indian clubs and the northern 

 forests are the principal source of supply. 

 As in the other eases, clear stock is insisted 

 upon and is sawed in standard manufac- 

 turers' lengths (even feet), in square sticks 

 2Vii to 5 inches thick, and shipped green to 

 the factory, where it is seasoned for a year. 

 In this line of manufacture there is consider- 

 able waste both in turning and in trimming. 

 The short ends are utilized when of sufficient 

 size for the manufacture of dumb-bells. The 

 lathes used in Indian club manufacture differ 

 in no essentia! from standard types. 



In the manufacture of golf-stick shafts 

 above all other lines, perfection of stock is 

 pre-eminently essential, the reason being too 

 obvious to dwell upon. Clean second-growth 

 hickory sap is the only material considered, 

 and is shipped in carload lots without pre- 

 vious seasoning, each stick being cut to 

 dimensions of 1 inch square by 4 feet long. 

 Of particular importance is it that this stock 

 be shipped as quickly as possible from the 

 woods to the consumer, as hickory is es- 

 pecially susceptible to worm injury and the 

 manufacturers of golf sticks have proper 

 means of guarding against the ravages of 

 this insect. 



After a preliminary seasoning of about a 

 jear, in the square, the sticks are rounded 

 off without taper, and are stored in kilns 

 for three months' redrying. Here they are 

 stacked in laj'ers of five, with numerous 

 cross sticks between the tiers to prevent 

 warping, and are weighted on the top with 

 six to seven pounds per superficial foot. 

 When removed from the kiln the rounds are 

 turned to pattern in a Chapman automatic 

 lathe, which provides a maximum of output 

 and efficiencj', with a minimum of labor and 

 time. The sticks are fed automatically, 

 being piled six or eight deep in a rack, and 

 feeding from the bottom. No centers or 

 hand operated cross-heads are required in 



this type of machine. After shaping, a sini 

 pie lathe is used to turn the small end for 

 receiving the iron collar. 



The usual finish for bats and Indian clubs 

 is shellac over an ordinary filler. In the 

 case of golf-stick shafts various finishes are 

 used to satisfy different tastes, varnish being 

 usually required. 



Hardwood Eecord is especially indebted 

 to the A. (J. Spaulding Manufacturing Com- 

 pany of Chicago, large producers of this 

 class of goods, for information furnished in 

 connection with this article. 



The Wood Carving Industry in Switzerland 



The following discussion of wood carving in 

 Switzerland and its gradual decline was taken 

 from the report of Consul-General R. E. Mans- 

 field of Zcrick in the Daily Consular and Trade 

 Reports: 



"Wood carving, tor centuries an important na- 

 tional indu.stry in Switzerland, has suffered a 

 crisis during the past year which threatens to 

 affect the business permanently, following upon 

 practically a monopoly and a long period of pros- 

 perity. These carvings have been especially 

 popular with tourists, hundreds of thousands of 

 whom visit Switzerland every year, and a large 

 export business has been established with other 

 countries, including the United States. This is 

 especially true as to church emblems and articles 

 representing historic scenes and events. 



"An important Swiss wood-carving center is at 

 Einsiedeln, a historic village in the mountains in 

 the canton of Schwyz, where there is a celebrated 

 pilgrimage, a wealthy Benedictine monastery and 

 a splendid church. The industry centers in the 

 Bernese Oberland, where wood carving is the 

 chief occupation. The church emblems of Ein- 

 siedeln, the bears of Berne, the lion of Lucerne, 

 the St. Bernard dogs, cows, and the quaint Swiss 

 chalets are all reproduced in wood and sold at 

 the curio shops. These objects have found their 

 way into practically all continental towns, and 

 Swiss wood carvings are almost as well knowi 

 In other European countries as at home. 



"Various circumstances have contributed to 

 the present crisis, among which is the increased 

 cost of raw material, much of which is imj»orted, 

 making it necessary to advance selling prices 

 without increasing real values. This has invited 

 competition from other countries, especially 

 Austria and Germany. Furthermore, Austria re- 

 cently placed a heavy import duty on souvenirs, 

 under which wood carvings are classified, and 

 in France they must be stamped 'imported.' 

 which, it is alleged, has affected the sale to such 

 an extent that the imports from Switzerland have 

 been greatly reduced. 



"The passing of the Swiss wood-carving indus- 

 try is further evidence that industrial progress 

 is gradually eliminating from the commercial 

 world rural industries built up and maintained 

 where wages are small and the expense of living 

 low. Modern machinery and methods, increasing 

 competition and the inexorable laws of trade are 

 driving out primitive concerns, or forcing them 

 into combinations. This is cause tor regret, as 

 many of the people living in the Bernese Ober- 

 land have for generations depended upon wood 

 carving for maintenance. They have acquired 

 great skill in this, and, being slow to accept 

 innovations, it will be dilficult for them to adopt 

 new methods." 



Manufacturers of tight cooperage v.ill be in- 

 terested in the extensive experiments now being 

 conducted at Ziirlch with a view to substituting 

 aluminum tor wood in the manufacture of boor 

 kegs. One Ziirlch firm is said to have placed a 

 large order for this new article. Detailed in- 

 formation of this, which promises to be at hast 

 an interesting departure, is not at hand. 



