Progress of the Millwork Institute of California

By A. V. Bernhauer, Fresno Pl""i"g Mill, Fresno, President, Millwork Institute of Cdifornia

For years rve were in a deep sleep rvhich seemed perfectly healthful and natural but when we tried to arouse ourselves we found to our dismay that we had that dreadful modern disease known as "Sleeping Sickness."

For a long time we refused to call the "Doctor", thinking that good old "Mother Time" csuld cure all of our ills, but we continued in the firm grasp of this dreaded affliction. Some of our leaders became alarmed with the prospects of "death" close at hand and called in a "Specialist" even though many members of our family loudly protested. A careful diagnosis was made and the usual prescription followed. The "Doctor" was elated dt his apparent success, but lo-what a disappointment for the sickest members who. refused to take a "drop-of-cure" and are still sleeping on in this unhealthful sleep. A few have responded and are slowly co-nvalescing; in fact, some are now alvake and are cheerfully and generously offering to help others to recover. They have had the actual experience so we know their advice is sound. Will rve listen to them or rvill we linger on and "die"?

This may seem like an overdrarvn picture of the millwork industry, but is it? Let us take a little retrospective look.

A ferv years ago we were enjoying a good volume of business and wood products were used on every hand. What did we do to continue and advance our prosperity. Let us see.

The progressive architect looking for new and pleasing effects detailed special sash, doors, mouldings, etc., and immediately the cry went up on every hand-"Why can't you use STOCK? It is much cheaper and just as good." We had been running Plain Round Edge Casing for years so why grind special knives just to please some architect's whim?

trn keeping with the progressive development of our fair, State new types of architecture made their appearance. Our old style stock millwork did not fit in with this new type of construction. Some of our architect friends asked us to help solve this problem because they wanted to use wood to beautify their homes, offices, etc., but we were too busy making stock millwork and trving to increase our production.

The architect struggled on alone but he was confronted with so many problems that he came to us again for construction details and manufacturing standards, but we had nothing to offer. We had no State or National organization and as individuals we could not be bothered with such trifling details. About this time a third party appeared in the picture, "MR. SUBSTITUTE".

He had just "graduated" from college and was full of progressive ideas. He presented himself to the architect in a very definite and concrete rvay rvith ELABORATE DETAILS OF CONSTRUCTION, PHOTOGRAPHS OF POSSIBLE INSTALLATIONS. COMPLETE SPECIFI-

CATIONS and a comprehensive advertising campaign to advise the prospective home owner of the advantages of using his product. 'What would you have done under thesc conditionJ? Just what the architect did; accept the use of substitutes in preference to the old antiquated wood products that were being offered.

The millman has always had a price-complex, being afraid to charge a fair price for a product that is far superior and oftentimes much more enduring than the high-priced substitute. I say high-priced substitute advisedly, for example: How many steel sash would be sold if price alone was the determining factor? Actual alternate bids taken on numerous jobs has proven that the use of the highest quality wood sash in place of metal sash efiects a saving varying from 25 per cent to 100 per cent and on other metal substitutes this differential in price is even more. Let us sell our product on its merits and demand a price that will return i fair earning on our investment. Well-this is enough on the gloomy side of the picture.

I said that some of the leaders in our industry were awake to the present day opportunities. This is a most consoling and hopeful sign and if we will back them in this new pl n of STATE ORGANIZATION,

COMPILATION OF PROGRESSIVE AND TESTED STANDARDS OF CONSTRUCTION, SCIENTIFIC PRICING SCHED-

ULES AND CO-OPERATIVE EFFORT we will soon recover from the depression that has retarded our progress and brought disaster to some of our leading members.

The organization and continued activity of the Millwork Institute of California is the most progressive step ever taken by the industry but we need the co-operation and active support of every manufacturer of ARCHITECTURAL WOODWORK. A few operators cannot carry this load alone. The adoption of the Plant Certification plan, which will guarantee QUALITY to the architect, contractor and owner will do much to eradicate the cut-throat competition that we have had to contend with and will put ARCHITECTURAL WOODWORK in a class by itself and take it out of competition with cheap inferior millwork. Under this plan any plant can be certified by the Millwork Institute by signing a definite legal contract agreeing to manufacture according to the adopted published standards of the Institute and by furnishing satisfactory references. 'Wc are engaged in an industry that is worthy of our best. thought and e{Iort and no one can successfully dispute the superior quality of properly designed and well manufactured woodwork.

The architect and owner wants to use our product but we mu6t co-operate and assist in an active trade promotion plan which is only possible through a State Association iuch as the Millwork Institute of California. If we will "pull" together we will "get well" and prosper. If we follow our own selfish interests we will fail and "die".