UTILIZATIOK OF BASSWOOD. 41 



reason much smaller quantities are now used in this industry than 

 formerly. Red gum has been very largely substituted in embossed 

 work. Basswood is still used to a large extent for plain moldings 

 which are to be painted, and also as core material for moldings finished 

 in highly figured veneers. It is said to be the most satisfactory core 

 material available for this use. It is also well liked for carved mold- 

 ings, because it cuts so well with tools. Illinois and New York were 

 the principal States reporting basswood for these products. 



MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. 



Basswood enters very largely into the manufacture of musical in- 

 struments, chiefly pianos and organs. It is used mainly for interior 

 small parts, for which its light weight and ability to hold its shape 

 make it suitable. It is also much used for piano and organ cases. 

 For organ bellows, wind chests, and swell boxes it is especially suited, 

 because of its lightness, good working qualities, and freedom from 

 warping. Basswood is the choice wood for piano and organ keys 

 because of its whiteness, light weight, and good staying qualities. 

 Only the highest grade of the wood, however, serves as piano-key 

 stock. This is selected white wood which is seasoned with much care, 

 since a small amount of warping in the key may interfere with its 

 action. 



Basswood also goes into the construction of phonograph cabinets, 

 in the form of cores for the panels finished in mahogany, walnut, and 

 oak veneers. Stock of small dimensions can often be utilized in this 

 way. 



Basswood is employed for necks of mandolins, for violin cases, and 

 for other such uses. The principal States using basswood for musical 

 instruments are New York, Illinois, Connecticut, Michigan, and Ohio. 



The highest average cost reported for basswood by the industry 

 indicates that a high grade of stock was purchased for this class of 

 uses. This average cost was more than double that reported by the 

 box-and-crate and woodenware industries for basswood, and nearly 

 50 per cent more than that reported for furniture. 



Basswood is highly valued by toy makers because of its good 

 working, staying, and finishing qualities, on account of which it is the 

 principal wood used in the United States, both for toys made entirely 

 of wood and for the wooden parts of metal toys. It is not only used 

 in greater quantities, but enters into the manufacture of more kinds 

 of toys than any other species. Among the most common toys are 

 wagons and buggies, in which basswood is used for the bottoms. 

 Other toys in the same class which use much basswood are sleds, 

 automobiles, and wheelbarrows. Hobbyhorses and small toy ani- 



