Whiting-Mead Co. Holds Open House at Ncw Office and Store Building in

Recent completion of a new building to house the general offices, display rooms and plant of the Whiting-Mead Co. at 2263 East Vernon Avenue, Los Angeles, was marked with a formal opening on Saturday, October 16. About one thousand visitors inspected the modern building material store during the day. The company was the recipient of many beautiful floral pieces from friends.

The new structure has a frontage of 14O feet on Vernon Avenue, with a total floor area of 16,000 square feet. A novel architectural treatment was employed. The walls are of reinforced concrete with brick veneer. Eaih pilaster is on a different angle ,which is conducive to a clearer view of the interior of the store, and the windows are recessed to assure maximum light and minimum glare. There are 10 large display windows, 8 x 13 feet.

The main entrance is modernistic, with heavy Oak double doors, framed with rippled Louvrex glass on each side.

The ceiling of the general office is insulated with Fir-Tex Ivrykote Tile, and Fir-Tex low density acoustical tile is used on the ceilings of the private offices. The walls of the four

Los Angeles

private offices are paneled with Philippine Mahogany with Walnut finish. These are occupied by the general manager, vice-president, merchandise manager, and controller.

An air conditioning system that furnishes a complete change of air every three minutes has been installed.

Daylight fluorescent lighting is used thorughout the general and private offices. Regular incandescent lighting is used in the store.

A prominent feature of the store is the electrical supplies and fixtures department, comprising a very large assortment and a special display occupying four of the display windows.

The store handles both plumbing fixtures and roughing in materials; builders' hardware of all kinds; a full line of Pabco and Martin-Senour paints and accessories; Pabco and El Rey roofings and roofing accessories; Gypsum and' .fibre wall boards, including Schumacher plaster board, U. S. G. knotty pine and mahogany patterned wall board, and FirTex and Celotex insulating wall boards.

The lumber department handles both rough and finished

Building nrqterials eection cnd pcint depcntrnent. lumber, specializing in supplying' materials for the War Housing Program. The sash and door department carries normally one of the most complete stocks of window screens in the city.

Whiting-Mead Co. has served the builders and home ovrrners of Southern California since 1898, and their slogan, "Everything For Building," has been lived up to for all of these 45 years. In addition to its main plant the company operates nine Southern California branches. Whiting-Mead service includes a complete service to home owners and

Dirplcy oI lightilg lixturee. contractors in the sale of building materials, planning and estimating service and financing.

The company has cooperated fully in the war efiort, and is having a successful year.

Willis H. Mead is president of Whiting-Mead Co. Fernand Vigne, Jr. is vice-president. E. A. Reading is general manager, and George E. Howard is assistant general manager in charge of merchandise and sales.

Perry Whiting, who was associated with Mr. Mead and Mr. Vigne for many years, has retired.