30 



SELLING LUMBER 



Prepare 

 to Meet 

 Criticisms 



Limitations 

 in the 

 Use of 

 Shingles 



As to the history of the shingle, it might be interesting to you 

 to know that it has been used for centuries ; that there still are in 

 England, and perhaps other places, good shingles on many of the 

 old towers shingles that were put there in pre-Norman times. 

 There is no question about the durability of the product, properly 

 made, properly applied and properly protected. I do want to ask 

 of the salesmen to post themselves thoroughly concerning the 

 merits of. this product, and to be prepared to meet the criticisms 

 that you will hear and that are largely suggested by our friends, 

 the substitute manufacturers. Prepare yourself to meet those 

 criticisms and to give the builder and the consumer the facts. 

 Urge the builder especially to post himself as to the right kind 

 of shingle to have ; the specifications under which it has been 

 made, and manner in which it shall be applied. There is just 

 coming before the grading committee the question of specifying 

 the grade of roofing strip. Sap lumber has been used for that 

 , purpose, but it does not possess the requisite strength. The tend- 

 ency has been to apply those strips carelessly, and the result has 

 been very bad. We have to include in our grading rules specifi- 

 cations that will do away with that. Shingles have been laid too 

 much to the weather. They have been laid on roofs that are too 

 flat. There are limitations in the use of the shingle which we 

 must recognize and avoid. These are mistakes which have in the 

 past cost us so much, and which are likely to cost us so much more 

 if we don't take the trouble to correct the errors. We hope that 

 the salesmen, whether or not their mills manufacture shingles, will 

 interest themselves in this feature of their business, and post 

 themselves concerning the facts, and will go out prepared to de- 

 fend yellow pine shingles especially against the attacks of the sub- 

 stitute manufacturers. Our product does not carry that great 

 percentage of profit which makes possible an unending advertis- 

 ing campaign, such as the substitute people are able to carry on. 

 Their product is rags and paper covered with tar, and conse- 

 quently they are able to spend a great deal of money in adver- 

 tising; and those statements that they are making, appearing day 

 after day in the newspapers and in their printed matter, are bound 

 to influence the minds of builder and consumer. The only way 

 we can meet that is to post ourselves and become prophets of the 

 yellow pine shingle. That is what we want to ask of you. (Ap- 

 plause). 



(Mr. Eddy's written address will be found on page 189). 



