Millwork Ramblings

By Ed. A. Nicholson Pacific Door & Sash Company, Los Angeles

(Being the first article Mr. Nicholson ever rvrote for a lumber journal.)

Jack Dionne came in to see me the other day, and this is rvhat happened.

"Hello, Jick Dionne," I said. "Hello, Ed," he came back, "How are things going rvith you ? I am getting oll! my anniversary numbel, and thought maybe 1'ou rvouE like to get in an "'ad," as you always h-ave done. -Besides, I rvanted to have a talk rvith you ibout conditions in general, and the millwork industry in particular." "Come over here and take a seat where we will be more comfortable," I said.

After being seated he said, "Well?" and I returned, "Yes, well-what do you want me to talk about?" "Oh, anything," said the genial Jack. "Don't you know, Jack, the people, the purchasing public, don't know mqch about our game, and you as a publisher could do a great work in educating them. For instance, what do they know about wood? They seldom see it in its unfinished state, and after it is painted it all looks alike to them. Even if they did see some very high class, well figured hardrvood finished in thg natural, they wouldn't know whether it was Birch of Mahogany, Oak or'Walnut.

"That isn't the only thing about our industry they are not acquainted with. They do not realize its importance in the workaday world. They know more about the machine they drive than about the house they live in. They care more about the color of the dress or suit they wear, than the kind of doors and windows and trim of their home. They know little or nothing of the great captains of industry in our game, unless their names appear in the societv column. What does the world know about our Harry Mcleods, Henry Pattens, Frank Currans, Charley Lynches, T, L. Elys, and many others I could mention, who are managing some of the large retail organiZaiions in our midst; men who are doing a real service to humanity in supplying shelter in one of the most highly competitive markets in the world, where quality is of the highest, and variety of material furhished is greater than in any city of the union ?"

"Say, Jack, has it ever occurred to you that the mills in Southern California are in a class by themselves when it comes to furnishing variety? We have to please architects from all parts of the country, and they in turn have to satisfy the fancies and wants of people from all parts of the world. We use a greater variety of il'oods, a greater variety of design, and all of the very highest quality. For example, take the Roosevelt Building on Seventh and Flower, all finished in American walnut, you might call it the King of Woods. In many cities they would use gumwood, and stain it to resemble walnut. Go in and see that job, Jack. It's a credit to any mill. Or for that matter, go.into any of our finer buildings and you rvill see the highest grades of milhvork furnished in the country. I often li'onder if the material dealers themselves appreciate the high quality of millwork done in this vicinity?"

"But what of the future, Ed; what is the ansrver?"

"A hard question, Jack, but I see too much individualism and not enough cooperative effort. The steel industry is run by two or three men, and they have made rvonderful progress, while the woodworking field is composed of thousands of men who have their own pet ideas rvith no thought or little thought of the big viewpoint of the industry. We should consolidate or amalgamate. so that the waste would be taken out, and we in California should seriously consider this question for I believe this state will become the mecca of the millwork field. The hardwoods on the shores of the Pacific Coast, the Philippines,- fndia, Australia, Siberia, Japan, Alaska, and Central America, should meet the soft pines of California and be made into furniture, panels, cabinet work of all kinds, doors, and interior trim. You know, Jack, our soft California Pine is one of the best woods for cores in veneered work that is known. Our geographical position, ourclimatic conditions make this state of California the logical place to produce the woodwork of the world in veneered form. The veneered door in panel or slab form is the door of the future. Veneered inside trim is not an impossibility but very probable. Our domestic hardwoods are getting scarcer and it will not be long before they will have to be supplanted by other woods, and on the shores of the Pacific grow some of the finest woods, easily worked and with modern seasoning kilns can be made into many articles to serve mankind. Another advantage we have is that we have enticed to our shops many fine mechanics who work under the favorable conditions of the American plan or open shop with a 3OGworking-day year, living in the main in single dwellings, many of which are owned by the workers. Witness the result of their labors in the plane, "The Spirit of Saint Louis," the two planes our army fliers took around the world, and the automotive racing cars.

"Now, Jack, is it unreasonable to think we have the best of it in the rvoodworking field, for in short we have the raw products, the men, and the best living and rvorking conditions on earth."

I stopped for breath, and Jack horned in, "Well, Ed, you have made me a picture' I haven't thought of before. and I wish you would write it for me for our annual Birthday Number. f am going to tell you a story, and beat it."

So he told me the story about Big Boy. Get him to tell it to you, reader.

"So long, Ed."

"So long, Jack."

And THIS is the article he asked me to write.