'Announces

Lumber Dealer ls Kcy To lts To Develop Prefabricated Houses Uring Expanded Builders' Hardware Program New Tvp" of Wood Veneer

Stamford, Conn.,-As a result of its intensive national market analysis recently completed, The Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, Stamford Division, is planning the largest market expansion program for its builders' hardware products in its 79-year history.

Mark A. Miller, assistant general manager of the Stamford Division who is directing this campaign, declared that the new marketing program is predicated on the basis that the country's largest market for building materials to equip the millions of housing units it is estimated will be constructed during the next decade will be the small towns of under 50,000 population. Furthermore, the most important distributing channel for building products that can be developed in the small towns, he said, is the retail lumber yard.

The importance of the small town lumber dealer in distributing building materials to the revitalized light building construction market is indicated, Mr. Miller declares, by the fact that 66/o o;,f. all new homes built in 1941 were located in 16,000 towns of less than 5O.000 population, and only 34/o in 200 cities of more than 50,000 population'

Yale & Towne's own investigation, which included checks of research findings by such agencies as the F. W. Dodge Corporation, the Federal Housing Administration, and the National Housing Agency, indicates that even if the most conservative estimates are used, the total building volume in the next decate will exceed the number of housing units of the most prosperous building construction period on record, that for 1920-n. fndependent statistical agencies estimate that from 820,000 to 1,250,000 new housing units will be built annually for ten years.

The small town, therefore, will probably account for at least 66% of these new homes, and that means 66/o of tll.e builders' hardware used in their construction.

Washington, D. C., February l3-Industrial research to develop prefabricated houses using a new type of wood veneer made from low grade and presently unused peeler logs is being sponsored by the Industrial Research and Development Division of the Commerce Department's Offic': of Technical Services, John C. Green, OTS director, announced today.

Under the terms of a six-month "actual cost" contract with the Elmendorf Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a private research organization, a complete model prefabricated structure incorporating the new panel will be designed, built, and tested under the specifications of the National Housing Agency.

Endorsers of the project include the Crawford Co., Baton Rouge, La., Harbor Plywood Corp., National, Wash., Plywood Research Foundation, Tacoma, Wash., Aetna Plywood and Veneer Co., and General Houses fnc., of Chicago, Ill. The National Housing Agency, the construction division of the Commer'ce Department's Office of Domestic Commerce, and the Forest Products Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture have also approved the project.

Successful completion of this project will help relieve current building material shortages,' release higher grade lunober for other purposes, and speed emergency housing programs, Mr. Green said.

The contract also stipulates that the Elmendorf Corporation will make available to all interested manufacturers a report containing detailed drawings of the proposed prefabricated house and its component parts, as well as full data on the necessary manufacturing processes.

According to the contract, patents or inventions arising out of the research or related to it, including patents covering the manufacture of K-Veneer for use in the projected housing structure will be available from the Elmendorf Corporation for licensing to manufacturers upon payment of a reasonable fee to be determined by mutual agreement.

Plywood Stolen From Los Angeles Ycrrd

Forest Products Supply Co., Los Angeles, reports that 226 pieces of plywood, 48" x96" x /4", vertical grain two sides, 5 ply, sanded two sides, and two trucks were stolen from the yard the night of February 13. The trucks were recovered a few davs later.

Snider Door Prover Good Prolit Itcm for Dealers

"Dealers say the Snider Door Unit helps them to recapture the market they have been unable to supply on account of the scarcity of door jambs and trim," ac.cording to a statement by a member of the sales department of Harbor Plywood Corp. of California, San Francisco.

"This unit enables their customers to complete houses that were held up for some time. The Snider Door Units are now available for immediate delivery. They include jamb, trim and first class hardware, and make a good profit item for dealers."

Harbor Plywood Corp. of California is located at 5210 10th Street, San Francisco 3. The telephone number is MArket 6705.

Lcnrd Plcrrning Consultcurts

Of FIIA Stcff Avcilqble

Land planning consultants of the Federal Housing Administration staff are available to assist in the planning of rental housing projects as advisers to, developers and builders, it was announced by John E. McGovern, district director, Los Angeles.

"Our consultants have had wide experience in land development and in planning subdivisions. f am sure that they can be helpful to builders and investors in rental housing," the Director said. "Good site selection and good land planning are essentials in the production of rental housing with continuing tenant appeal."

The provisions of Title VI of the National Housing Act authorize the Federal Housing Administration to insure mortgages for as much as 90 per cent of the necessary current cost of the completed property, including land and structures. Rental preference is giv€n to veterans of World War II.

In order to provide a volume of rental housing, it is anticipated that a considerable amount of new land will be developed. Site planning, streets, drainage, and other development features are important to both large and small projects of rental housing structurss. FHA requirements in this regard are applied individually to each project to fit local existing conditions.

Union Agcepts Contrcct

Eureka, Calif., Feb. l4.-Four hundred members of the AFL Lumber 'Workers Union voted tonight to end their 13 months strike against the Hammond Lumber Company here.

The workers accepted a contract giving them $1.20 hourly minimum pay and a modified union'shop.

Estcblishes Plyvtrood Wqrehouse In San Francisco

Dant & Russell, Inc. has opened a warehouse in San Francisco u.nder the management of Seth L. Butler, North. ern California sales representative, for the sale of plywood from the Coquille, Oregon plant.

Sales will be made through Mr. Butler's office at 214 Front Street, San Francisco, GA.tfreld 0292.

Wholesale to LumbGr Yards

Sash

Gasements - Doors, etc.

Our

Los Angeles County (IJnincorporated Area)