74 



Many go as far as to turn the dimensions on lathes after bolting and sell them 

 in that form to chair factories ready to assemble. In the case of the lumber- 

 men, frequently small crooked logs, tops, wind shakes, cut offs, which can be 

 worked for sale in no other way, are thus disposed of. The chair makers, 

 therefore, play an important part not only in lending to the industrial de- 

 velopment of the State but also to the movement of conservation in their ef- 

 forts to encourlage utilization or waste. One manufacturer purchases hardwood 

 slabs and edgings from a nearby sawmill and transports this material to his 

 factory for turning handles and chair stock. Another purchases part of the 

 refuse of hardwood stave manufacturers, selects the core and other large 

 pieces, and converts them into chair dowels and rungs. 



Chair dimensions include stock of various sizes and kinds for the large 

 number of different designs the chair manufacturers turn out. Table 51 shows 

 the Dumber and kinds of woods that were used in Pennsylvania. Not all 

 chair material is in dimensions by any means. Because seats and backs are 

 altogether cut out of plank ranging from 1| inches to 24 inches thick and be- 

 cause the factories are not able to secure enough dimension and turned ma- 

 terial to meet their requirements, they are compelled to buy large quanti- 

 ties of plank and rip them up into squares for posts, pillars, spindles, 

 rounds, dowels, etc. The chair stock is always seasoned before used, but 

 those producing squares and turned stock often use unseasoned wood allow- 

 ing it to air-dry under cover after being manufactured. To prevent loss 

 caution is taken to make allowance for shrinkage and the producer is particu- 

 lar to see to it that the chair stock is straight grained, practically free from 

 defects, and accurately manufactured to conform to specifications. 



Perhaps the largest part of the wood used in Pennsylvania is required for 

 turned chairs but quantities are also demanded for straight line designs where 

 the parts are cut considerably wider than they are thick. The demand for 

 these in late years has been on the increase and has led up to the mission 

 patterns in which the stock is still wider and heavier. 



Unlike the parts of turned chairs, the manufacturers do not buy their 

 material for the square designs to any extent in the form of dimensions 

 but usually cut them from plank. This is unfortunate because the sawmills 

 have a considerable amount of waste which it is practical to cut into dimen- 

 sion stuff suitable for this line of manufacture. Millmen should note this 

 opportunity and consider negotiations for furnishing this material from 

 waste; and, on the other hand, the economy to the manufacturers should 

 induce the latter to consider the advisability of making overtures to the mill- 

 men. Oak, both red and white, ash, and chestnut are the principal woods 

 for chairs of square and mission designs. Other woods like red gum, birch, 

 and elm are used and a figure is stamped on them resembling oak, mahogany, 

 and other woods. That the better grades of chairs are made in Pennsylvania 

 as well as cheaper ones, is evident by the quantity of mahogany brought into 

 the State each year to meet the demand. Birch is most used for imitating 

 mahogany. Woods used for various parts of chairs are as follows: 



CHAIRS. 



Arms. Backs. 



Mahogany. Birch. 



Red gum. Elm. 



Soft maple. . Mahogany. 



White oak. Red gum. 



Red oak. 

 Soft maple. 



Bent arms. White oak. 



Elm, Yellow poplar. 



