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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
PHILIPPINE MAHOGANY TO THE FORE
Unusual Conditions in Lumber Markets Are
Bringing Philippine Wood into Favor
Since an acute situation has developed in the
mahogany market on account of war conditions
interfering with the importation of logs, ma-
hogany has advanced in price so greatly as to
turn the attention of the hardwood world to a
suitable substitute. This is being found in
Philippine mahogany, importations of which
have assumed considerable magnitude within the
past few years. The Pacific Coast has naturally
been the pioneer in the use of this wood, on
account of more favorable shipping conditions,
but the Atlantic Coast has also used it more or
less extensively, shipments arriving through the
port of New York before the Suez route was
closed.
The woods imported are handled under the
general description of dark-red and light-red
mahogany, and consist of Almon, Tanguile and
red and white Lauan. White Lauan and Al-
mon are the light-colored woods, while red
Lauan and Tanguile are dark. They are all
of the same general family, and when finished
present the same general appearance, it being
possible to stain the light woods so as to pro-
duce the dark mahogany color, or they may be
finished natural, giving the appearance of prima-
vera or white mahogany. When quarter sawn,
this wood shows a beautiful ribbon grain, and
for that reason it is readily accepted in prefer-
ence to woods which have been used as substi-
tutes for mahogany, and which show none of the
mahogany characteristics of figure.
Philippine mahogany is used for interior
finish, cabinet work, store and office fixtures,
furniture and, in fact, all the purposes for which
mahogany is used. The woods, while not as
hard as many of the species of African and
Central American mahoganies, are sufficiently
hard to take and hold a high polish, and, except
to the eye of the expert, when finished it is
impossible to distinguish them from the various
other mahoganies so long familiar to the public.
Philippine mahogany sawn veneer has been
used extensively on the Pacific Coast for panels
and veneered doors, and the wood has also t e e n
used in solid doors with excellent results. Suc-
cessful experiments have been made in slicing
thin veneer, according to a writer in Veneers,
but on account of the lack of slicing machines
on the Pacific Coast, up to the present time only
sawn veneers have been used.
All of the cities on the Pacific Coast are now
using Philippine mahogany extensively, but Los
Angeles probably has the lead in the consump-
tion of this wood, the importations through that
port running up to 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 feet per
year. Much of this quantity is used in Southern
California, but some of it is shipped by rail to
the Western and Middle States. Large impor-
tations are also made through the ports of San
Francisco, Portland and Seattle.
The rapid prominence attained by Philippine
mahogany has been greatly stimulated by its
comparatively low price, it being sold on the
Pacific Coast at prices lower than Wisconsin
birch, which, before the advent of the Philippine
woods, was widely used for interior finish. Be-
sides, on account of the large size of the Philip-
pine trees, it is possible to cut attractive widths
and lengths, the clears exported being largely
in dimension sizes, such as are furnished by our
The Ohio Veneer Co. |
CINCINNATI, O.
jj
Importers and Manufacturers of Figured j |
Mahogany and Foreign Woods for high- g
grade piano cases and cabinets.
1|
^^^^ mmmm New York Office and Sample Room
Grand Central Palace Bldg.
Lexington Ave. and 46th St.
G. H. VAUGHAN. Eastern Representative
g
own fir and yellow pine mills, thus materially
reducing shop waste. Add to this the inherent
beauty of the woods themselves, and the present
rapidly advancing cost of other mahoganies,
and it is readily apparent that the mahogany of
the Philippines is destined in the near future
to fill an important place in the hard-wood field.
WOOL IMPORT STATISTICS
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce
Issues Statistics on English Wool
According to a report recently issued by the
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, the
imports of wool into Hull in 1915 fell to 3,252,837
pounds, from 26,790,690 pounds in 1914 and
44,946,827 pounds in 1913, the decline being
attributed in great part to the closing of the port
of Antwerp and to the suspension of sailings
between Hull and Australia. The year com-
menced with prices in the primary markets
higher than could be obtained in the places of
consumption, but compared with to-day those
apparently high prices were very low. The re-
strictions on the exportation of wool seem to
have had little effect in keeping down prices.
On the outbreak of war crossbred wools suit-
able for military clothing advanced rapidly, but
carpet wools and fine merinos declined. Dur-
ing 1915, however, the latter advanced even
more rapidly than the crossbreds. By May 31,
1916, prices for wool tops had reached: For 36's,
53j^> cents per pound; for 40's, 55J4 cents; for
46's, 60 cents; for 50's, 66 cents; for 56's, 79
cents, and for 60's 95j/> cents. Yorkshire and
Lincolnshire locally grown wools in December.
1915, were 38^4 cents per pound, and on May 30,
1916, 40y 2 cents.
In 1915, 1,442,300 pounds of British wool and
935,712 pounds of foreign wool were exported
to the United States; in 1914, 274,000 pounds of
British and 4,663,880 of foreign. Some wool
transshipped at Hull on through bills of lading
is included in these figures. Restrictions on the
export of wool have been in effect, and a census
is being taken to determine the quantity now
available in the country.
LUMBER EXPERTS NEEDED
Men Wanted to Investigate European Markets
for American Lumber Interests
A thorough sounding of European markets for
American lumber is about to be undertaken by
the United States Bureau of Foreign and Do-
mestic Commerce in co-operation with the Lum-
ber Manufacturers' Association. Men familiar
with the lumber trade are wanted immediately
to go abroad and lay the ground work for post
bellum export trade in this line.
Salaries not exceeding $10 a day in addition to
traveling and living expenses are offered to ap-
plicants who pass the examination scheduled to
be held in all large cities on September 22. The
expenses of this canvass of European markets
will be borne jointly by the Federal Govern-
ment and the Lumber Manufacturers' Associa-
tion.
57
And when you're satisfied
that we've the best punch-
ings on the market, cut
clean and accurately from
the best of material in cellu-
loid, cloth, felt, fibre,
leather, paper, rubber or
whatever you want, give
us credit and send your
orders to
C.F. GOEPEL*C0
137 E A S T I3 T -* ST.
NEW
YORK.
DEALERS PRAISE^TANDARD ACTIONS
Standard Player Action Co., in Receipt of
Numerous Letters from Manufacturers, Deal-
ers and Tuners Regarding Quality of Their
Actions—Some Recent Examples of Interest
The Standard Pneumatic Action Co., New
York, manufacturers of the popular player ac-
tions of that name, are constantly in receipt of
highly significant letters from manufacturers,
dealers, tuners, etc., commenting on the ar-
tistic value of their product and its lasting dura-
bility.
A well-known North Carolina dealer recently
states: "The Standard player action needs no
guarantee, as it is as near perfect as anything."
A large New York State piano dealer writes:
"There are a number of player actions now on
the market, and after testing many of them,
we are pleased to state that the Standard player
action still maintains its place in the front
ranks."
A prominent Illinois tuner declares: "I have
been a constant reader of the Standard Player
Monthly since the first number was published.
Having had but seven years' experience, I
am not yet a veteran.
Several years ago,
however, I became familiar with the Standard
player action, and my experience with it veri-
fies all the claims made in our publication as
to its efficiency, durability and all-around trust-
worthiness.
From a tuner's standpoint, the
Standard always wins because its parts are all
so 'get-at-able.'
We tuners appreciate just
that sort of co-operation on the part of manu-
facturers."
DEATH OF CHAS. F. KOESTER
Chas. F. Koester, a salesman for the Amer-
ican Felt Co., for a number of years, and well
known in the piano trade, died last week at
his home in this city. Mr. Koester had re-
tired from active business about two years
ago. The funeral was attended by many of his
former associates in the trade.
LONDON WOOL AUCTION PRICES
LONDON, ENGLAND, September 13.—The offerings
at the wool auction sales to-day amounted to
8,780 bales.
Greasy clips continued in de-
mand and were firm. New Zealand crossbreds
sold at 2s. Tasmanian merinos, 2s. 4j^d; Vic-
torian, 2s. 2^d., and West Australian 2s. 3d.
Scoureds were irregular.
BRANCH OFFICES:
The Superior
Points of
Invisible
Hinges
are Apparent
Some of the sizes shown indicate the
variety of " S O S S " Hinges which we
manufacture for use on pianos, player-
pianos, talking machines and music
cabinets.
There is a particular " SOSS" Hinge
best suited for your requirements.
Our illustrated catalog " S " gives
complete and interesting information.
Write for a copy and for quotations on
four particular requirements.
Sost Manufacturing Company,
435-443 Atlantic Are., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Chicago
160 No. Fifth AT*.
San Francisco
164 Haniford Bldg.
Lot Angelei
224 Central Bldg.
Minneapolis
3416 Second Ave.,So.
Detroit
922 David Whitney
Building