35-Year Old Salvaged Maple Flooring Re-used in New California Schools

Old flooring remanulactureil into blocks on machines shipped to Calilorna from Memphis,

Stories of the great durability of maple flooring are numerous. Countless times it has outworn the buildings in which installed, stood up in places where concrete and other similar materials would not. But the story of the salvaging of the maple flooring in the Long Beach, California, schools is so incredible that the photographer was called on to prove it. So, as you read on, let the pictures show you exactly what happened.

About two years ago a program was started to rebuild all school buildings in the Long Beach City School District. This meant that 60 buildings in 35 units were to be torn to the ground and modern, earthquake-resistant structures erected. Naturally it was almost inconceivable that the flooring in the old buildings could possibly be re-used. However, the original specifications for most of these buildings had included Northern Hard Maple Flooring, and on examination revealed that this flooring remained in excellent shape, despite the fact that it was from 5 to ctose up aiew ol *"":Jtl:o"n f::l:r.o'o'n floors tai'd' in 35 years old and had been subjected to the constant wear and tear of many millions of footsteps.

At the time of the dismantling of the old buildings, this flooring, which had been installed by nailing, was torn up with crowbars and the nails pulled out. It was piled in the open and allowed to remain there, exposed to the elements, for months before a decision was reached as to what would be done with it. It was obvious that this flooring was far from being worn out, but the problem was how to relay it into smooth, presentable floors that would be in keeping with the magnificent new buildings. Incidentally, in some of these structures which had concrete sub-floors, it was impractical to attempt to relay the flooring by nailing.

The architects on the schools knew that Bruce Maple Blocks were the ideal type of flooring for schools, being easily laid in mastic over concrete or wood sub-floors and providing a warm, sanitary and resilient floor. But it was

Flooring torn lrom olil buildings still fit lor ad'ditionnl seruice. a long cry from old strip flooring to blocks, with the nearest machines for manufacturing Unit-Wood Blocks located at the Bruce Plants in Memphis.

At this point the Los Angeles representative of E. L' Bruce Co. made the suggestion that an entire block manufacturing unit could be shipped from Memphis to Long Beach and transformation of the old strip flooring into new blocks could be handled "on location," as they say in California. This was done.

Back From Northwest

Floyd W. Elliott, manager of the San Francisco office of Schafer Bros. Lumber & Shingle Co., and Chas. T. Gartin, salesman for the company, have returned from a tenday trip to the head office at Montesano and the mill at Aberdeen. Wash.

The "nent" or made-ooer blocks were instal'led by layins in mastic.

In six months' time, most of this maple flooring has been salvaged, remanufactured into approximately 400.000 ft. of Bruce Blocks and installed in the new buildings. To look at these floors, most people would think they were new, as you will see from the picture at the right. The architects on these jobs and the officials of the Long Beach City School District are more than gratified with the results.

OREGON LUMBERMEN VISIT S. F.

E. D .Kingsley, president, and G. A. Kingsley, vice president of the West Oregon Lumber Co., Linnton, Ore', were recent visitors to San Francisco, where they made headquarters during their stay at the offices of the WendlingNathan Co., California representatives of their company'