124 Discussion of Industries 
other establishments have pattern departments for the exclu- 
sive use of their own plants. General foundries and railroad 
shops have thir own pattern departments. Much of the raw 
material consumed, however, is reported by the general manu- 
facturing establishments that have no pattern departments in. 
the strict meaning of the term. 
Pattern makers need a soft, workable wood for forms such as 
hat blocks and pressing blocks, and generally demand a high- 
grade stock of yellow poplar, basswood, or white pine. White 
pine contributes nearly 70 per cent of the raw material con- 
sumed in this industry and its average price f.o.b. factory is 
$72.21. It is used in every kind of establishment reporting 
and cannot be identified as particularly preferred as a pattern 
wood for any special kind of article. Yellow poplar, however, 
is especially suitable for hat blocks. The lower priced woods 
reported, such as beech, birch, and hemlock are used for the 
roughest purposes in connection with general foundry and 
machine shop work. 
Maple and white oak are used for all kinds of patterns and 
models because of their capacity to resist the wearing action of 
sand. Cherry is regarded as a high-grade pattern wood. The 
stock required for patterns is usually plain, rough, clear, 1 to 
2 inches thick, while the models demand a clear surfaced stock 
14 to 4 inches thick. There is comparatively little waste in the 
industry because dimensions include very short lengths. 
As in the trunk industry it appears that there is a notable 
falling off in the quantity of basswood used. This valuable 
species was once common in certain counties, such as Sullivan 
and Delaware. One manufacturer took pains to state that 
New York-grown basswood is superior in texture, color, and 
quality to that from northern, southern, or western sources. 
It grows faster and larger than that from Canada, finishes 
better than the “linn” of the South, and in drying loses 
none of its elasticity. Apparently this is a wood which New 
York woodlots should produce to great advantage. At present 
the freight charges on basswood from other States add $7.50 
per thousand to its cost. 
