A. J. Koll Pioneer Los Angeles Planins Mill Man

Has Been in Business for Holf a Century

A. J. Koll, president of A. J. Koll Planing Mill Ltd., Los Angeles, is the oldest planing mill operator in Los Angeles, having been in the business there continuously since 1883.

Born in Denmark. he came to the United States in 1875. He first settled in Chicago, and after working there for a few years came to Los Angeles in 1883.

Mr. Koll recalls that when he arrived in Los Angeles he stayed at the old Pico House, on Main Street and the Plaza, then the leading hotel in the city. At that time there was a one-horse street car that ran from the Plaza to Washington Street on Main Street. There were no paved streets in those days, and Los Angeles had a population of only 13,00O.

He went to work in the Mechanics' Mill on Alameda Street, near First Street, and remained there from 1883 to 1888. He says that S. C. Dodge, who was the foreman of the Mechanics' Mili at that time, is still in Los Angeles, and is 84 years of age.

In 1BBB Mr. Koll started for himself in the planing mill business at Second and Los Angeles Streets, and in 1890 built a new mill on Second Street, between San Pedro Street and Central Avenue. In l9l2 he moved to his present location at 421 Colylen Street.

Western Pine Annual February 17

The annual meeting of the \Mestern Pine Asso,ciation will be held at the Hotel Portland, Portiand, Ore., on i'ebruary L7.

A. J. Koll Planing Mill Ltd., with a background of half a century of selvice, was recently incorporated. Its founder is the president, his son, Milton L. Koll, is vice-president, and in charge of sales, and his son, Walter A. Koll, is secretary and mill superintendent.

The mill makes a specialty of all types of turnings, including the internationally known Koll patent lock joint column. Koll columns have been used in many of Southern California's fine homes, such as that of Miss Marion Davies, the Al Christie home in Beverly Hills, and the home of the late E. L. Doheny. Columns up to 30 feet high and 38 inches in diameter are not unusual sizes to be made by this mill.

The company carries a complete stock of embossed mouldings and carvings and is equipped to do twisting, fluting and automatic turnings of all kinds up to 10 inches in diameter.

Much of the carving is used in motion picture studios on their sets. The company has an exhibition room with all sizes and designs of mouldings both carved and inlaid, where visitors can inspect carving for their prospective homes.

Stuart Smith In Northwest

Stuart C. Smith, Kelly-Sm;th Co., los Angeles, is on a trip to the Northwest where he is calling on their mill connections.