Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR VENEER WORKERS
The Changes to Which the Art of Veneering Has Been Subjected by Modern Practice Pointed
Out by W. M. Hummel—Some Faults That Have Developed in Late Years and Their Remedy
do your work, good results ought to be the
Application of knowledge in the formation of
answer, unless the fault lies with the stock.
things, means art in one sense.
W e used to
But too often we hear, "Never mind the stock
have experienced c a b i n e t m a k e r s to do veneer-
—get the work out." The manufacturer is the
ing, when veneering- was considered a part of
loser by this policy in the long run. He cannot
the furniture trade. Veneered masterpieces are
make the sun rise earlier to #uit his own con-
not so n u m e r o u s in this m o d e r n age.
Twenty-
venience, and he cannot do veneering in an
five to thirty-five years ago the apprentices in
unnatural way. You cannot veneer a board
the G e r m a n w o r k s h o p s w e r e justly proud of
that is winding in itself, and then expect it will
their handicraft in veneering. I was told once,
be straight after it leaves the press. The ve-
says W . M. H u m m e l , w r i t i n g for the F u r n i t u r e
neer problem is no longer in the hands of the
M a n u f a c t u r e r and Artisan, to be well aware of
cabinetmaker, being now a specific part of the
the fact that a person must know that a fit
u n d e r s t a n d i n g is to be had before applying it. furniture trade in itself.
T o apply knowledge after it's "fitted" will in
Hurry-up shop practice is to have the glue
m a n y cases result in veneer trouble of which
red hot. Some people think that by having the
we so often h e a r — " I t does not fit, you cannot
glue in this condition they can do more work
apply it."
because the glue remains hot longer, while the
truth of this matter is that they lose more
Many suggestions come to manufacturers, but
than they gain. When that hot glue is applied
nearly every one needs a separate remedy. I
find that too often a manufacturer w a n t s to do on the first dozen pieces or so, the wood ab-
m o r e than his facilities will admit.
L a r g e sorbs it as if poured on a hot sponge, and the
latter pieces when pressed down will cause the
hydraulic presses and glue spreaders are put
into operation without the stock being in p r o p - glue to come out in bubbles, while when dry
it will be like cinder—very brittle. The least
er condition.
You know that you "receive as
dampness will cause it to peel off.
you give."
By that, I mean that an imper-
If the floor of the veneer room is warm, time
fect piece comes back to you in its original
condition.
While, if the preliminaries are and money is saved. It is better to have a tem-
perature of 70 degrees on the floor than 150
right, the finish will be satisfactory.
degrees around the men's heads.
Put your
If a m a n u f a c t u r e r installs a large press to
heating facilities as near the floor as the law
increase his output, he is obliged to increase his
will allow you, and the rest of the room will
floor space for the veneered stock after the
take care of itself. Protect the doorway by
chains are put to it.
T h e r e is a difference
having a screen around the entrance way down
of opinion on presses in regard to which is
to the floor. In this manner, when the boys
best—that is, the easiest to operate, makes the
least w o r k for the men and is the m o s t eco- are spreading glue, the cold draft from the open
door will be cut off from direct action on the
nomical in every way.
F o r instance, t h e r e is
work. The room itself should be such that it
the press at which three men can w o r k all day
can be ventilated in a manner that it will not
doing a good day's work w h e n filled and then
interfere with the work or with the health of
take the veneered stock out next m o r n i n g . An-
the men. No man can do justice to his work
other is a form of press in which you put t h i r t y
without fresh air. To be boxed up for ten
or forty pieces and h a n g your chains on rods,
hours makes a man drowsy, dull and careless
tighten up, relax your press, back up your truck,
long before the night whistle blows. Fix some
take away and start the operation over again.
of the windows so that a few may be opened
Personally, for w o r k up to six feet in length,
at the upper part of the sash. To do this it
w h e r e there is but one change a day and the
is best to apply the V system by putting the
work is taken out hut once a day, I prefer a
hinges at the bottom part of the frame. This
continuous press.
It is not always t h a t the
" b i g fellow" does the most and best work. will cause the draft to go upward, so that it
will not be directly on the men or on the work.
T h e press idea should not be considered as a
Efficiency will thus be increased so as to greatly
m a t t e r of style, but r a t h e r in its application.
influence
the work done.
T h e veneer man of to-day should be one w h o
Before attaching any blame on the veneer
can see and do things for himself.
H e must
room it is well to keep a close eye on the other
have good j u d g m e n t and foresight in order to
departments.
My experience has been that
avoid the trouble that can often be traced to
much of the trouble originates in the initial
the e m p l o y m e n t of men not having a practical
knowledge.
If an efficiency system is to be stages of operation, and at that point I believe
is the proper place to trace and improve the
applied to increase output, it's up to the men
work of veneering.
that work in the d e p a r t m e n t .
W h e n such a
system is started the average man balks.
A
well-known writer said, "Applying system is POPULARIZING WALNUT PIANO CASES
like p u t t i n g a bridli; on a wild bronco-—it meets
American Walnut Association Helps Create
with opposition."
W h y not say, instead of
Demand for Pianos in Black Walnut
system, you are g o i n g to put b e t t e r w o r k i n g
conditions into the glue r o o m .
It is m o r e ac-
There has been a movement on foot for two
ceptable, for then you touch the soft pedal.
years, by a large body of men in Louisville,
System m e a n s to the average man m o r e work,
Ky., to popularize American black walnut fur-
t h o u g h your intentions are to make it easier
niture, and it has now resulted in a big demand
for him.
Real system means to produce m o r e with less
e n e r g y and less time, therefore facilities come
first and men second.
If you have facilities
that actually fill your w a n t s , and good men to
III!
The Ohio Veneer Co.
CINCINNATI, O.
Importers and Manufacturers of Figured
Mahogany and Foreign Woods for high-
grade piano cases and cabinets.
^^^^^^™JV«u> York Office and Sample
Room
Grand Central Palace Bldg.
Lexington Are. and 46th St.
G. H. VAUGHAN, Eastern Representati
for black walnut veneered piano cases.
The American Walnut Association, composed
of some of the largest timber merchants in the
Middle West, was organized a little over two
years ago, and started a big campaign. Walnut
was extensively advertised through the lumber
and furniture trade journals, and pressure
brought to bear on the furniture manufacturers.
The result was that American walnut shortly
became more popular, and the timber buyers
began scouring the country for walnut logs. It
was at first thought that the walnut tree had
become scarce, but a number of want ads in the
various papers and magazines produced such an
avalanche of logs that the buyers were forced
to let up somewhat on their buying.
In the meantime the furniture manufacturers
began to feature walnut furniture, which had
been passe for many years, and the result has
HEED OUR
ADVICE?
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
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C E GOEPEL&CO
137 E A S T I3 T -* ST.
NEW
YORK.
been that many of the very best homes are now
fitted out in walnut, and the demand is rapidly
swinging around to walnut veneered piano cases
to match up with the walnut furniture.
Whereas, a few years ago there was no de-
mand for walnut veneered piano cases, it was
stated by a number of Louisville piano dealers
that to-day mahogany veneered piano cases
stand first, with walnut veneered cases a good
second. Oak is now in third place, and the
cheaper veneered cases run to birch and gum,
although many gum veneered cases are made in
imitation of Italian walnut, which has been very
popular as an inside house finishing material.
Brown mahogany is also used to match up this
interior gum. Circassian walnut is still popu-
lar, but ever since Europe closed down on ex-
porting this veneer timber, many so-called Cir-
cassian piano cases are merely handsomely
figured gum.
DISCOVER COPPER DEPOSITS
Important copper deposits have been discov-
ered at Little Bay, about 200 miles north of St.
John's, N. F. A hydraulic plant is being in-
stalled to work the lode, which promises to
be one of the richest copper deposits in British
North America.
REPORT RECORD BUSINESS
The Import Felt Co., in New York, had a
record business during the year 1916. In the
year 1915 they shipped 24,000 sets of hammers,
but during the last year they have shipped
50,000 sets.
BRANCH OFFICES:
Chicago
160 No. Fifth A M .
Invisible
Hinges
are Apparent
Some of the sizes shown indi ;ate the
variety of "SOSS" Hinges wl ich we
manufacture for use on pianos, player-
pianos, talking machines and music
cabinets.
There is a particular "SOSS 1 Hinge
best suited for your requirements.
Our illustrated catalog " S ' • gives
complete and interesting Infoi mation.
Wr
your particular requirements.
Sot* Manufacturing Company,
435-443 Atlantic A T . . . Brooklyn, N. Y.
San Francisco
164 Hansford Bldg
Lot Aagelet
224 Central Bldg.
Minneapolis
3416 Second A»e.,So.
Detroit
922 David Whitney
Building