Report · of H. T. Didesch

Exccrf11s fro111 t/11· report of Jllr. IT. T. Didl'sc/1, Sccrctary-Managn, before th e Third Quartrr/y Meeting of thP Mi/lwork Institute of Colifomia, at S011ta Crw::, August 22nd.

NI r. President, of the Institute and Guests:

This meeting. the third quarterly of the Millwork Institute of California, is one of great significance to both you and me. For me it means, submitting to you my first report, an honor all the more marked s in ce it involves presenting an outline of the aims and objects of the Institute, and a definite working program for their attainment. Your task w ill be that of the high court, to carefully analyze my recommendations and then accept or reject them as your judgment dictates What we shall accomplish in the future depends largely on how we ll we do our respective jobs today and tomorrow, and T therefore urge each man pr ese nt to contribute the best there is in him.

The Mission of the Institute

As to our a ims and objects. I offer this definition of the MILLWORK INSTITUTE OF CALIFORNIA, and request your approval to pr int it on the bottom margin of our stationery:

"An educational organization of independent and competing operators devoted to elevating the status of the indu stry a nd pledged to deliver to the consumer the highest quality of product at the most economical cost."

That pronouncement to my mind, sums up what should be our Creed and Ten' Commandments, and it should be looked upon, n ot as a cloak for unmoral acts, nor merely as something that sounds well, but as an emphatic declaration of what we stand for and will religiously adhere to. I feel so strongly on that point that I urge the immediate expulsion of any member who refuses to subscribe to it.

Service for Architects l\'fy first discussion shall dea l with a service for architects. I wonder if you realize just what the architect is up against. He designs the structure and is virtua ll y the supreme dictator as to what is appropriate in design and construction. Theoretically at l east, to properly discharge his obligation t o his client, he shou ld be an expert in every trade involved in the erection of a building. We need not consider how much or how little he knO\n of other lines but I'm su r e as pertains to millwork, we can agree that the average architect is a fit subject for intensive education.

That that is his condition. and is costing this industry huge sums every year is not his fau lt. It is our own because \\'e have clone practically nothing to assist him \Ve have been deplorably deficient but it need not continue and I propose, that we lllaugurate for the architect's benefit and ours. the following program:

1. A monthly Bulletin Service.

2. A se ri es of joint meetings of local architects and millmen.

3. Plant visits by groups of architects.

4. A Manual of Millwork.

The bulletin service. plant visits and joint meetings can be put into practice a lm ost immediately, but the comp ilati o n of a Millwork Manual wo uld require a year's t im e at le ast.

The bulletin service shou ld co nt a in such information as cu rr ent lumber va lu es. something about the waste occasioned in working the lumber into millw ork, the proper manner of specifying materials. what grades and kinds of lumb er a re most suitable for this or that purpose, a nd so on.

How many architects apprec iate the fact that to produce a thousand board feet of

Quartered Oak trim from the best grade of lumb er obtainab le. "first and second clear," requires that we cut up approximately 1400 board feet? Very few indeed. How many of them have more than the haziest idea of the enormous loss of production due to mach in e set ups? Not the majority certain ly. \,\/hy gent l emen,. I know of one job of millwork-a residence bill costing in the neighborhood of $10.000-wherein the arch it ect had designed mouldings and stickings to the extent that by ac tual count -+ 6 1 machine set ups a n d knife changes of one kind or another were required. That is an extreme case of course, but it is illustrative , and it is with the intent of bringing the architect to realize just what we are up against that I suggest inv itin g them to Yisit our plants in groups and study our operations at first hand. Such ':isit s s h ou l d " l earn them" a l ot.

The Manual

The pub li cation of a "Manual ot Mi ll work" 11as been one of my pet ideas for a considerable period of time. I know of no other one thing that we might undertake that would be more constructive and far-reaching. The manual should be a technical book-not a catalog. It shou ld be a digest of our accumulated exper iences in the production of millwork. It should show construction detail s, drawn to scale and accompanied by exp lanatory texts. for everything from basement frames to mantels and stairways. Each

WHAT HAVE WE ACCOMPLISHED TO DATE?

"In addition to the purely physical accomplishments we have attaiined something that is a more vital adjunct to bui lding any permanent assoc;ation -the very mortar, in fact, that binds the structure togeher I mean, we now know each other fairly well; certainly more so than six months ago. The suspicions which existed thenthat some of us were equipped with horns and a tail and the appertaining temperaments - through acquainrtance have proved unfounded and are now replaced by the knowledge that we all are a rather decent lot; all in the same boat and equally sincere in w:shing to prevent anyone from kicking a hole in the bottom. That confidence and friendliness is more important than a numerous membership or a healthy surplus, and it must be further expended; not only within our own circle but on the outside as well , for we must realize that our work does not concern millmen alone, but that we have an obli gation to meet with the architect, the contractor and the consumer."

detai l shou ld represent the best trade practice known, a nd the text should, ,,·here any question might exist. exp lain why the co nstruct ion shown is best. The manual should include c h apters devoted to kinds and grades of lumber. They shou l d give the botanical and commercial names for each wood. and sho uld a l so mention the territories in which the woods a r c grown: the idea being that that informatio n \\·oulcl tend to increase the consumption of n2tive woods. There sho uld be color plates show ing photographic rep r oductions of wood finishes. a nd aut h o r itative c h apte r s devoted to gluing and veneerin g. These s hould exp lai n when to veneer and w h en not to veneer and what thick- nesses of veneer are most suitab le. Other chapters shou ld deal with the ca r e of finished millwork, emp h asizing such points as applying a coat of good paint to the top and bottom edges of a ll veneered and exterior doors, and that all veneered doors shou ld be given a coat of stain, filler and she ll ac i mmed iat ely after delivery to the job. Backpainting trim, in the more expensive hardwoods, shou l d be encouraged, etc.

Every paragraph and illustration in the manual shou ld be in effect, a plea for conservat ion and simplification. For instance. there is absolute ly no sense to so li d 6 x 8 transom bars, imposts, etc., in store front construction. They shou ld be boxed up. I consider it a ridiculous waste of lumber to manufacture treads and risers and base for residences, when the expensive hardwoods are used, from solid lumb er. Those items in the interests of conservation, should be fur!lished veneered. The result would be a more artistic and a more practica l product. Most designs of base, chair-rail, casing, etc used in office buildings, hotels and the lik e, could be ve n eered construction. Eventually we are comi n g to that point, and the manual could very nicely pave the way. The manual should of course, contain a glossary of millwork terms and should estab li sh grades. There should also be a very thorough cross index so that the reader could easi ly locate the information sought.

I should make the book so comp l ete that an architect could refer to it for a definite answer to any question concerning millwork construction. I should make it a book that wou ld be a part of every architectura l student's eqpipment at co ll ege, and I sho uld supply it to architects, engineers, contractors or anyone desiring it. Such a publication would even provide a liberal education for many mill owners, and just consider how helpful it would be in educating millwork estimators and detailers. If Mr. Davis had it right now for his University Course in Millwork, about one-half and perhaps twothirds of the proposed course would be a reality.

I do not feet that the manual should be distributed gratis, but believe it shou ld be sold through the Institute at a cost that wou ld return the expense of printing, and perhaps pa rt of the compilation expense. The presentation of a manual will be no easy matter. It will involve much r esearc h and laboratory tests. and will r eq uir e an expe nd iture of abou t four or five th o u sand dollars annua ll y to carry on the wo rk. However. the expense and time involved shou ld not deter us, for the results will amply justify th em.

Peddling Bids

1Iost of you, I assume. h ave read of the resolution adopted by the Pacific Northwest Mill work Association with reference to the tendency of many contractors to peddle bids after the ge n era l contract has been awarded. The gist of the resolution is as follows:

"That when plans and specifications for proposed wo rk are composed and submitted to the genera l contractor for figures, that the architect sha ll approve th e names of the mill men whose proposal sha ll be considered; and

That at the time of the opening of the bids for the general contract the arch it ect s hall require the general contractor to designate the mill man, w h ose bid he has u sed and which sa id name must be one of those previously approved by the architect. and that the award ing of the ge neral contract s hall carry wit h it the award ing of the mill- work 'sub-contract; and be it further resolved

That we will , in the future, dea l on ly with those contractors who comp ly with these just demands, ignoring those who fai l to do so, and deal direct ly with t h e architects and owners as separate contracts."

I believe that the Institute shou l d adopt a similar resolution, but it appears to me that it would be beHer to delay action for from three to six months. The i nte r im wou ld provide time to get the ex istence of the Institute before the architects and to render them some tangible service before demanding the adoption of what m ight now strike them as being a rather drastic policy.

"tlfa n y of the ills we are heir to are attributable to the contractor. and we should not over l ook him in our work of education Like the architect he must be so l d on Listing Bureaus and undoubtedly much of the information compiled in the month ly bulletins to architects can be duplicated in another series for contractors. Our educational program with the architectura l profession wi ll automatica ll y e l iminate many of our problems with contractors, but to h asten the job it will be well to give them some direct attention also.

Advertisi n g

Mr. Stickney will address us this afternoon on the subject of the National Campaign, and •I sha ll therefore , refrain from any comment other than to say, that any local advertising effort that does not tie in with the good will and prestige created by'1the National Campaign, falls far short of its mark.

I do wish however, to say something about another kind of advertising: name ly, to present for your consideration the idea of establishing permanent millwork exhibits under the jurisdiction of the various loca l branches. It is a deplorable fact that most millwork offices are anything but an advertisement for the business, and therefore a permanent exhibit is our on ly opportunity to display our products in a proper environment and at a minimum expense.

Cost Studie s I have already suggested by circular letter. a mail service for members to be known as "Cost Studies." It will function in this manner: Members will be sent a questionnaire asking for their cost experience on this or that item of millwork. These experiences wi ll be worked up into a composite cost and a copy of the result mai led to the membership with a request for their experience on some other specified item. It will be the aim to secure actual cost reports from cost keeping members in advance of sending out the questionnaire, so that the composite experience of the membership may, in each case, be accompanied by proved cost records and whatever comment may be appropriate. It is my idea that all members be supplied with a post binder and departmenta l indexes so that the Cost Studies may be proper ly fi l ed for future reference.

I should like the advice of the Cost Finding Committee as to whether or not the questionnaire should l ist each operation or whether there shou l d be merely a segregation of the total machine time and total bench time.

That, gentlemen , with the exception of a short poem credited to Kip ling, completes my report. The poem follows-I need not explain its moral.

Now this is the law of the jung lesAs o ld and as true as the sky; And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper. But the wolf that sha ll break it must die. As the creeper that girdles the tree trunk, The law runneth forward and backFor the strength of the Pack is the Wolf. And the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.

(Continued from Page 39 )

\ \'m. F. O'Keeffe, Roberts & O'Keeffe _ Stockton

F. Gauthier, Crescent Manufacturing Co Stockton

F. T. Fisher, Fishers Bros. Planing Mill Stockton

H. J. Quinn, Hubert Quinn Millwork Co Los Angeles

H. T. Didesch, Mill work Institute of California Los Angeles

James L. L. C lynick, Quantity Survey Bureau Los Angeles

\\·m F. Connor. v\Toodhead Lumber Co Los Angeles

E. R. Maule, Hammond Lumber Co ............•..... Los Angeles

] G. Pacific Manufacturing Co San Francisco

A. E. "tlforrill, Hammond Lumber Co Los Angeles

A. W. Bernhauer. Fresno Planing Mill Co.. Fresno

Owen S. King, Chas. R. McCormick Lumber Co San Diego

A. A. Arends, Peninsula Planing Mill. Redwood City

Gust Manuels, Peninsula Planing Mill ............. Redwood City

Hal M. Atkinson, Atkinson Mill & Manufacturing Co Oakland

Jos. Z. Todd, \Vestern Door & Sash Co Oakland

D. A. C lark, Western Door & Sash Co Oak land

\V. S. \Natkins, Anderson Brothers San Francisco

R;ilph J. Button, Button & :Manning San Francisco

E. J. Nutting, Spencer Planing Mill San Francisco

F. S. Spencer, Eureka Sash. Door & Moulding Mill San Francisco

D. 0. Druffel, Planing Mill Listing Bureau San Francisco

Harry W. Gaetjen, Empire Planing Mill San Francisco

Chas. F. Allen, Contractors & Bui l ders Supply Co Oak land

(;eo. \V. Kaiser, Lannom Bros. Manufacturing Co Oakland

0. N. Reynard, Ambrose Lumber Co Santa Barbara

C. I. Speer, Zenith Mi ll & Lumber Co Oakland

Clem Fraser, \Vaddell Lumber Co Alameda

R. P. Krantz, Fra n k Graves Sash, Door & Mill Co Los Angeles

H. E. Verble, Valley Lumber Co Fresno

C. D._ \Vestern Planing Mill & \Voodworking Assoc1at1on Fresno

\\ '. T ilden, Ti l den Lumber & Mill Co Oak land

G. L. Tuebner, Pacific Manufacturing Co Oak land

\« R. Kahler, Redwood Manufacturi n g Co Oak land

C. L Ingles. Jr., Oak land Manufacturing Co Oakland

\V. T. Atkinson, Atkinson Mi ll & Manufacturing Co Oak land

\ V. Goddard, East Bay P laning Mill Owners Association Oak land

F. L. Parker. Eureka Mill & Lumber Co Oakland

D. N. Edwards, Oakland Planing :Yfill Oakland

] Cuneo, White Brothers San Francisco

T. T. Branson, Me lrose Lumber & Supply Co Oakland

C. L. Miller , Pacific Door & Sash Co Los Angeles

E. W. King, King Lumber Co Bakersfield

E. A. Nicho l son , Pacific Door & Sash Co Los Angeles

T. J. Bridgeford, Bridgeford Planing Mill Sebastopol

Jam es E. Stickney, International vVoodwork Institute Chicago, Ill.

Edward P. Ivory, California White & Sugar Pine Association San Francisco

D. \11/ oodhead, Woodhead Lumber Co Los Angeles

L. M. Rosenberg, Hipolito Screen & Sash Co Los Angeles

A. B. MacAlpine, E. J. Stanton & Son Los Ange les

A. L. Bingham, Bingham-Wenks Planing Mi l l. Fresno

Vv. J. Hartman, American Manufacturing Co Los Angeles

A. B. Johnson, Jr., National Mill & Lumber Co San Francisco

C. S. Chipchase, Stockton Branch Mill work In Istitute of California Stockton

J. C. Mcintosh, Electric Planing Mill. Stockton

] A. Hart, Hart & Burmeister .......... . ... . ...... San Francisco

Phil B. Hart, California Lumber Merchant. Los Angeles

]. \V. Rodgers, Lassen Lumber & Box Co San Francisco

William ]. G lasson, Wm. J. Glasson Planing Mill. San Diego

Earl E. \Vhite, The California Door Co Folsom

W. J. Roth, Standard Planing Mi ll Co Oakland

C. F. Ricker, Sunset Lumber Co Oakland

Ed. Tennant, Los Angeles Retail Lumber Dealer's Association

Los Angeles

\Iv. J. Hudner , Materialmen's Association San Diego

A. R. \Vastell, Secretary California Retail Lumber Dealer's Association Los Angeles

\V. J. Roth, Standard Planing 1li ll Co Oakland

J. M. Chase. Hayward Lumber Co Los Ange les

Robert S. Grant, Ca l ifornia Door Co San Francisco

E. A. Paul, Madarys Planing Mill Fresno

C. C. Quinn, Oakland Planing Mill Co., Inc Oak land

Peter Simpkin, Hoo Hoo Saint Louis

A. G A. Mueller, Manager Big Tree Grove Felton

H. Riddiford, Lumbermen's Exchange Los Angeles

C. \ V. Pinkerton, Pi ,1kerton Lumber Co v\/hittier