The Wheeler, Osgood Company and Their New Product, "Laminex"

'Ihe Wheeler, Osgood Company, Tacoma, Washington, pioneer manufacturers of Douglas Fir doors, have recently changed their marketing program. Where they formerly sold Woco doors and sash in competition with unbranded stock, they will in the future offer the purchasing world a tradernarked guaranteed door, promoted by a widespread campaign of advertising.

The Wheeler, Osgood Company are true pioneers in the manufacture as well as the advertising of the fir door. Their plant was the first door and sash producer in the great Northwest. Established in 1889 at Tacoma, Washington by W. C. Wheeler, G. R. Osgood and W. T. Ripley, it contributed to the rapid development of this great lumber center.

The first few years the new organization confined its work to filling local demands for doors, sash and mill work. But, with the advent of the panic of 1893 and the ensuing bad conditions in the West, the members of the firm began to realize the necessity of a wider, stronger market. To this end, Mr. T. E. Ripley carried their product to the mid-west and from there on to New England. A sales office was opened in Boston. Orders soon began to flow in. Finally, late in 1893, the orders of twenty different customers were pooled and the first car load of western doors invaded the eastern market.

. It is interesting to note that this first car of western doors passed en route the last car load in eastern doors ever shipped to the Pacific Coast. This was the turning of the tide. Door shipments since have flolved east instead of west.

Until about 1900 Wheeler, Osgood doors were made of cedar. When the supply of this'wood in commercial quantities began to ruh low the Wheeler, Osgood Company, like true pioneers. invaded another field. They produced the first practical door from Douglas Fir.

Year after year business grew and the Wheeler, Osgood plant grew to meet it. By 1903 they were turning out 300 doors daily; a few yea,rs later this had jumped to 1000 a day.

In 1911 another step in advance of the rest of the industry on the Pacific Coast was taken when the 3 ply veneer panel rvas introduced. In one year the production of veneer jumped to 25,000 square feet a day. Last year 90,000 square feet was the daily capacity of the plant.

Following the war the Wheeler, Orgood plant was electrified and in 1919 was turned to the exclusive production of standard doors and sash. Production increased rapidly with this change. In 1922 1,000,000 doors were built and in 1923 produbtion averaged 5,000 doors a day. In a single' 24 hours, a record of over 8000 doors has been reached.

But, continuing in spirit of the pioneer, The Wheeler, Osgood Company did not stop with this great accomplishment.

Again they forged ahead and, after much research and experimentation, are norv producing a vertical grain, builtup door-known as the "Laminex." It is the first door of its type to be marketed.

Trvo tests were devised to determine the real strength of the Laminex construction. Tl-re first rvas that of actual use in the severest climates of the country. The results were better than had been hoped for. Word came from .every section of America praising the excellent performance df l,aminex doors. For example, they stood perfect through the cold winter weather of l\4ontreal, in the damp, salt air of the New Jersey coast and were uneffected by the heat and humidity of New Orleans.

The second test lvas conducted by the Forest Products Laboratory of the University of Washington School of Forestry. There, too, Laminex doors proved themselves sturdier than average.

Three Laminex doors were soaked in water for 24 hours.

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