"Uncle John" and the Knockdown Frame Proposition

By JACK DIONNE

No article that has appeared in these columns in a long time got us more direct response than did the one ,".r"r"ll issues since on the subject of Knock Down Frames. And all of the response we got was friendly and kindly. No one- took any exception to the boost we gave the new and rapidly growing depgrtment of the lumber and build.ing business.

One man, the head of a big string of lumber yards and a mighty good friend of mine, raised a unique. objection. He said: "Our frames are made here in the,yard by an Old worn-out carpenter, Uncle John.. you don't want to put Uncle John out of business, do you?,,

No, I have no desire to hurt Uncle John, or anyone else, for that matter, but it must be remernbered that the path of progress always encounters such exact instances. When the first linotype machines appeared the cry arose that thouSands of hand type setters would be'deprived of a liv- ing. Arrd every other labor-saving device or plan in this world"s history; ,has .to apparently,run over' borne Uncle Johns. It has alwbys been that way, and it always urill. j

Yet thoughts and things that improve codditions, pro: mote economy, increase efficiency, and develop industry and commerce, must go on in spite of the Uncle Johns of the world.

The proof of the nudding is, and will always be, in the eating. And no matter how efficient Uncle John may be, or what effort he makes to create frames out of retail yard stocks, be it droppings or otherwise, the fact remains that a modern KnockDown Frame plant can deliver their frames in your yard for a whole lot less money than it costs you to make them with Uncle Johns, and they will be far better frames in materials, workmanship, uniformity, and appearance, than those Uncle John makes

If in any possible fashion or from any conceiv3ble viewpoint this Knock Down Frame proposition stepped upon the toes of the retailer of lumber, it would be different- It is the lumber business tfiat we are trying to promote and help.

And f'rom the facts and figures I have been able to secure from retail lumber dealers and from frame factories, I am convinced that even though,the retailer uses. the mosi economical labor he can get, and the most economical lumber !F "* get from his stocks, he cannot get the frames as cheaply as he can buy,them; and I am further corwinced that even though he used his clear lumber stocks for materiaL-which of course he cannot or the cost would eat him up and his customer with him--he would not d.eliver o,n his building job as uniformly perfect, attractive, and valua,. ble a frame as the Knock Down trrame he can buy. ' ii';

.And, on tgp of that, wtrin he furnishes Knock Down Frames, he, has them'ready. fon,delivery on a moment's notice, ,A'few,well placed,'nai,Is;:and the frame is perfect, complete, and'waiting to go into the wall. He is enabled to grvq real bgilding seivrde to,his.trade.

And, he,keeps on hand a,stock item that he can constantly create a demand for; ,Ililheir,a:man buys a windor, he needs a frame. When the dealer sells a window, he says to the customer-"I{ere is a perfect Frame to put that window in. Let me show it to you. It is the bcsf lookiag frame you ever saw. ft will be ready for your wall in fivi minutes time. Take it along with your window".

Isn't that senrice?

Ifonest, it looks to me as though there were no good arguments against this Knock Down Frame propositionr, and many good ones in favor of it. It is just getting away from a slow, cumbersome, impractical, and uneconomical method of supplying a constant stock building nced, and replacing it with a system that is saving and practical in every particular. The dealer has less trouble, makes more nrofit, gives better service, and the customer gets a much better article and better service for the same money.