HARDWOOD RECORD 



33 



VENEERS 



VENEER IN PICTUEE FRAMES 



The artibtic results obtained by the im- 

 proved methods of photography made it 

 imperative to supply a type of frame which 

 would not only have a distinct beauty in 

 itself, but would harmonize with the rich, 

 sepia tints now so popular. The old-fash- 

 ioned, gaudy composition frames are cer- 

 tainly not suited to show up this kind of 

 a portrait to best advantage, and the same 

 can be said of those of metal and painted 

 wood. About the only available material 

 which would answer all requirements is 

 wood in a natural color, selected for grain 

 and figure, from among the rare species of 

 commerce. 



A wood which probably finds more exten- 

 sive employment than any other in this line 

 of manufacture is Circassian walnut, the 

 figure of which, with its natural rich, 

 lirown color, blends perfectly with sepia. A 

 favorite style of frame is a veneered Cir- 

 cassian, trimmed with a thin ebony or 

 ebonjzed edge. Mahogany, of course, is 

 extensively used for the face veneer, and as 

 in all articles of decoration is always popu- 

 lar. About seventy-five per cent of the 

 modern all-wool picture frames are made 

 of built-up stock, and the two woods men- 

 tioned form the bulk of the material used 

 for finish. Veneered frames are consider- 

 ably more expensive than are the solid 

 wood type, owing to the large labor item 

 entering into manufacture. American wal- 

 nut is used to great extent in making solid 

 frames, and when finished up presents a 

 strikingly rich appearance. The usual style 

 of walnut frame is a narrow moulding, often 

 oval shape, made to represent the styles in 

 vogue years ago. The other woods enter- 

 ing into the veneer construction are cherry 

 for the core and poplar for crossbanding. 

 Cherry is selected because of its hardness 

 and close even grain; when trimmed it pre- 

 sents a clean surface at the first cut and 

 further waste of time and material is elimi- 

 nated. The stock is bought in 1-inch, %- 

 inch and resawed thicknesses, and in long 

 or short lengths, depending upon the price. 

 The picture frame manufacturer has an ex- 

 cellent chance to shop for what he wants. 

 Common cherry and poplar are of course 

 used. The veneer is bought in regular sizes. 

 Some idea of the number of frames manu- 

 factured can be gotten from the fact that 

 in the plant of one concern, the Mahogany 

 Novelty Company of Chicago, about $4,500 

 is spent annually for raw material. This 

 represents an output for labor of $12,000 

 for the same period, which accounts for the 

 exceedingly high price of veneered frames. 



There is nothing materially different in 

 the process of manufacturing picture frames 

 from the i:sual methods employed in similar 

 industries. The veneered frames are of two 

 kinds, the one-piece, and that made from 

 four pieces with mitered joints. The former 



method is used in making the smaller 

 frames, five-ply stock being glued up, then 

 trimmed to approximate outside dimensions 

 and jig-sawed for the opening. The next 

 operation shapes the edges according to 

 pattern, of which there are many in various 

 sizes. The crozing to receive the picture is 

 also done on this machine. The most im- 

 portant step of all is sandpapering. To 

 turn out a good class of article, hand finish- 

 ing is required, as the average sanding ma- 

 chine is not sufficiently accurate to put a 

 good surface on all the edges, and into the 

 moulding. The other type of frame is made 

 in a different way; four solid pieces are first 

 mitered and then glued together and 

 trimmed to about the proper dimensions. 

 The veneer is not applied until the core is 

 thoroughly dry and then the pattern is 

 worked as usual in the shaper, and the sand- 

 ing, as in the other case, is done by hand. 

 The Kecokd is indebted to the firm above 

 mentioned, the Mahogany Novelty Com- 

 pany, for the information contained in this 

 article. This firm turns out about 125 dif- 

 ferent patterns of frames, each of which 

 can be had in nine different finishes. 

 « « « 



D. J. McMillan, of Watha, N. C, is plan- 

 ning the erection of a plant at that place 

 for the manufacture of veneers from native 

 hardwoods. Building operations will begin 

 as soon as arrangements can be completed. 

 The mill will have new machinery through- 

 out of the most up-to-date pattern, a hun- 

 dred horse-power engine, one hundred and 

 fifty horse-power boiler, spacious dry kilns 

 and every facility needed in this line of 

 manufacture. 



* w * 



The Goshen Veneer Company, of Goshen, 

 Ind., is making arrangements for the erec- 

 tion of a large addition to its plant. M. C. 

 Cow, Jr., is manager of the company. 



* « * 



Fessenden Hall, manufacturer of mahog- 

 any and veneers, at Philadelphia, has re- 

 ceived a cablegram from his agent in Rus- 

 sia, telling of the shipment of a number of 

 very fine Circassian walnut logs which were 

 contracted for last spring. These logs arc- 

 said to be larger in size than any received 

 at the Hall operations during the last three 

 years, and are remarkably free from sap. 

 The logs will be received at the mill about 

 the end of August, and will be immediately 

 turned into veneers and lumlier. 



* * * 



The business of the Ahnapee Veneer & 

 Seating Company, of Algoma, Wis., has 

 grown at such rapid rate of late that it has 

 been necessary for the company to again 

 enlarge its plant and increase its capacity 

 and facilities for production. The new addi 

 tion will be 40x160 feet and two stories 

 hitrh. The walls, floors and roof will be of 



concrete, and the window irames of steel 

 with woven wire glass panes. The struc- 

 ture will be fireproof throughout and a 

 model of its kind. 



Frank O. Eeagan of Brooksville, Fla., is 

 interested in a new organization, which will 

 install machines for the manufacture of ve- 

 nters, crates, hampers, etc. It is expected 

 that the machinery will be put in place and 

 the plant ready for operation within a short 

 time. 



The new veneer plant which is being 

 erected for the W. W. Wood Veneer Com- 

 pany, at Baymond, Wash., is about finished. 

 The structure is 40x140 feet, two stories 

 high, of durable material throughout. It will 

 have a capacity of about 100,000 feet a day. 

 Included in the equipment for the plant will 

 be a 100-inch machine which will take in 



, six-foot logs. 



* * * 



Sigler, Brorein & Co., of Parma, Mo., 

 whose plant was recently destroyed by fire, 

 are rushing the work on the construction of 

 the new factory which they expect to be 

 ready for operation the latter part of 

 August. All the machinery for the plant 

 is on the ground and is being installed as 

 quickly as possible. The machinery in- 

 cludes the latest type of Coe 76-inch veneer 

 cutter and a large Coe veneer dryer. When 

 completed the plant will have more than 

 double the capacity of the old one, and 

 will be as nearly fireproof as it is possible 

 to make such a factory. 



* # * 



The Barnes-Kelley Manufacturing Com- 

 pany and the Owensbdro Seating & Cabinet 

 Company, of Owensboro, Ky., have merged 

 into one corporation, which will operate 

 under the style of the Ohio Valley Manu- 

 facturing Company. Articles of incorpora- 

 tion have been filed for the new corporation, 

 placing the capital stock at $80,000. The 

 stockholders are A. P. Duncan, Waco, Tex.; 

 E. M. Barnes, W. A. Steele, S. R. Ewing, 

 J. G. Belker, D. H. Quigg, and C. H. Wells. 



Fire at Lansing, Mich., a few days ago 

 damaged the plant, machinery, stock and 

 buildings of the Lansing Veneered Door 

 Company to the extent of about $13,000. 

 The loss is partially covered by insurance. 

 The cause of the fire is unknown. The fac- 

 tory building, which was of brick, was com- 

 pletely gutted. H. H. Larned, head of the 

 concern, expects to repair the building at 

 once and put it in shape to resume opera- 

 tions. 



* * * 



Informalion has been received that 

 Jerome H. Sheip, of Philadelphia, has taker, 

 over the veneer plant of Bacon & Under- 

 wood Veneer Company, at Mobile. The fac- 

 tory is one of the leading establishments of 

 its kind in the South. Mr. Sheip is well 

 known in the hardwood trade. 



