Teamwork And Research Are The \(/atchwords

Bv C. Arthur Bruce, President National Lumber Manufacturers Association

What c;rr.r be the most prosperous era itr the history of the lumber industry opens 'ivitlr 1946. To realize its 'il hole potential, trvo factors must be exploited to the fullest: complete coordination betn een all elements of the irrclustry and unremitting research aimcd at improving our products and developing ne\\. ones.

The National Lumber Marrufacturers Association, with its affrliates and its si:;ter organizatior.r, the National Retail Lumber Dealers' Association, offer natural and established focal points for heading up industry efforts to improve the competitive position of lumber. Teanrrvork here is already established and deserves the support of the inclrrstrl' at large.

-'\t the recent arrnual meeting of NLMA, the board of rlircctors re-exurnined the association's scchedule of activitic:r arrcl reacljrrstecl the program to n-reet postlrrar conditior.rs nrtrst effectivell'.

Research has come to lumber to sta)', ;rnd on it hangs the futur-c of thc in<ltrstrv. In the face of fierce cornpetition ironr nen' zrn11 irlproved products of other materials n,hich, inciclentally, were <ler-elopecl or inrproved by research our industry rnust step-up ar-rd.speed-up its o\\rn program. A good sturt h:rs been made, but it is only a start.

Drrring thc t'cur l)ast seven hardrvoocl associlrtion:s ancl one u.ood office furniture group have cooperatecl irr cor.rtinuing the hardu.oocl research program t'hich rvas started in 1944. All the regior-ral associations contirruecl their financial support.

The projects undertaken inclucle impregnating rvood, cleveloprnent of b1'-products from rvood u':rste, devclopr.nent of "cigarette-proof" desk ancl table t<tps, <lcvelopmcnt of instantaneous setting glues, and cl.remiczr.l bending.

A list of 25O proposed research projects .rvas examinerl arrd priority given to studies aimed at incrc:rsing thc clirrrcnsional staltilitv of rvood and the development of economical metl-rods to reduce near ancl preverrt splitting o[ r,vood cross tie:;. The dimensional stability project is of clirect interest fo the retail clealer, a:s its solution rvill casc one of his most clifficult competitive proltlems. The cros,s tie project islr.s important to the railroacl lteople as to Irrmbermen, zrncl rve can re:rs()nably hripe for s-l.role-lreartecl cooperation from them.

Thesc arc promising an<l practical entcrpri:ses. I linr op, tirnistic. that manl' rnore u.ill lte larrnched cluring the cotnirg year :t'<1 that the progr.m *,ill contir-rre to expa'(l fr.r. vcar tri year rrntil lumber r:urks as the most prcigressir.c oi irr<lustries i'irrrPro'ing its products ancl br'acrenirg its 1'rclcl.

Telephones:

San Francisco Lumbermen Have F:ne Christmas Party

San Francisco Lumbermen's Club, sponsored by HooHoo Club No. 9, San Francisco, put on an enjoyable Christmas party and luncheon in the Concert Room of the Palace Hotel, San Francisco, December 2O'

There was an attendance of 83 at the luncheon' President Dave Davis presided, and Vice President Hugh Handley and the directors were in attendance'

Brief talks were made by President Davis and John Helm, president of Oakland Hoo-Hoo Club' Features of the party urere some good music and community singing, and valuable door prizes that were won by Edric Brown, Tom Hogan III, and "Sti" Stibich'

TECO Closes S. F. OlIice

Timber Engineering Company of Washington' D' C', has closed its San Francisco offrce, established 18 rnonths ago.

Alden K. Smith, who has been manager of western service and sales, in charge of the San Francisco ofhce, is returning to Washington, where he will have charge of the new Teco-Post Spindle system of construction'

The Teco distributor in California is the Timber Engineering Company of California, A. C. Horner, mana€Ier' Offices are at 268 l\{arket Street, San Francisco, and in the Chamber of Commerce Building, 1151 Broadr'vay, Los Angeles.