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THE
OCTOBER 19, 1918
PROPER DRYING OF LUMBER
Veneered Work Does Not Stand Up to Best
Advantage Unless the Wood Is First Properly
Dried—Rush Jobs Are Unsatisfactory
Too much care cannot be taken to see that
all lumber entering into the construction of ve-
neered or reinforced work is properly dried be-
fore being used up. By this I do not mean
merely extracting the moisture, as all woods
contain elements that are as bad as moisture,
because, after the wood has been dried, these
elements absorb the moisture back again into
the wood by extracting it from the air. This
fact accounts for much of the trouble experi-
enced by panelmakers and finishers with panels
expanding and contracting after they are made
up and finished. Quite frequently these move-
ments of the wood result in checking the veneer
and varnish, as well as warping and twisting.
These are troubles that were never experi-
enced in the olden times, when lumber was al-
lowed to season in the open air for several years
before being taken inside to receive its final dry-
ing. Although the method of drying lumber in
those days was crude—the lumber being piled
around the stove and placed in racks suspended
from the ceiling—it did the work to perfection.
It was slow but sure. To-day there is too much
haste, and very often the "more haste the less
speed," because of the time consumed in re-
pairing the resultant damage.
As much time as possible should be allowed
for open-air drying before being put in the kiln.
Lumber dealers would find it to their advan-
tage to specialize along this line, and state how
American - Made
Tuning Pins
MUSIC
TRADE
long their stock has been seasoning in the open
air.
Where it can be done, manufacturers
would do well to carry their own stock as far
in advance of requirements as possible, in order
to insure a well-seasoned supply. Many are
doing this at the present time and find it a pay-
ing investment.
Then, again, lumber should not be worked up
immediately after leaving the drykiln, as is all
too frequently done. The desire to rush things
must be held in check, if satisfactory reinforced
work is to be placed upon the market. And,
after all, there is very little, if anything, to be
gained in point of time by rushing the stock
through, as the resultant' repairs usually hold
the work up a much longer time than has been
gained.
Many factories allow the lumber to cool off
in the kiln before removing. They have a store-
room into which the loaded cars are run after
the lumber has gradually cooled down. It re-
mains on the cars in this storeroom until ready
to work up. Unless the lumber has been well
air-dried before entering the drykiln, it should
be allowed at least one week in the storeroom,
and as much longer as possible.
The time may come, and 1 believe will soon
be here, when the great majority of the evil ef-
fects of this rush from the live tree to the fin-
ished article will be overcome by the aid of dry-
kiln appliances; and the man who wishes to be
up to the last minute in equipment will do well
to investigate the claims of such appliances as
come to his attention and give a trial to such
as appeal to him. In the meantime we must
exercise our best thought and care in the han-
dling of our lumber supply, else we will de-
feat the very object which we have in view.
FOUR MILLION TONS SHORTAGE
Steel Production for September Heaviest on
Record, But Is Still Short of Requirements
will stand the most tensile strength
"AMSCO"
BRAND
ARE MADE OF SPECIAL STEEL
Thirty-five years of experience in mak-
ing tuning pins enables us to give you
the most reliable pins in the market.
Guaranteed to hold for a lifetime.
Send for sample set
and prices
American Musical Supply Co.
451 Communipaw Avenue, Jersey City, N. J.
43
REVIEW
Shortage of steel has necessitated further cur-
tailment in supply for finishing shops. Govern-
ment requirements for the most part call for
rails, shell steel and barbed wire for use in
France, and to meet this it has been found nec-
essary to reduce the output of sheet bars. Gov-
ernment estimates are without material altera-
tion and a deficit of about 4,000,000 tons has
yet to be met.
The unfilled tonnage in the books of the
United States Steel Corp. at the end of Septem-
ber amounted to 8,297,905 tons, as against 8,-
759,043 on July 31, a decrease of 461,138 tons.
September output of pig iron was 3,418,270 tons,
as compared with 3,389,585 in August. The
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
whatever you want, give
us credit and send your
orders to
C.F. GOEPEL*C0
137 E A S T I3 T -* ST.
NE.WYORK
daily rate of production, 113,942 gross tons, was
the heaviest average on record, the nearest to
this being 113,189 tons in October, 1916.
While production has been as satisfactory as
could be expected it has all been absorbed as
quickly as produced and the supply is still so
short as to require exceptional care in making
allotments. No new business worth mentioning
is reported and all iron distributed has been on
Government account. Prospects for a heavy
outturn during October are excellent.
Robert L Kapp Co., Inc.
Makers of
HIGH GRADE
GRAND
UPRIGHT
PLAYER
HAMMERS
Ask for our " Super Strong: " Hammer, the
sides of which are made double strength
by a special process
767 East 133d Street
NEW YORK
GEO. W. BRAUNSDORF, Inc.
Tuners' Trade
Manufacturer* of
Solicited
PAPER, FELT AND CLOTH PUNCHINGS
BRIDLE STRAPS, FIBRE WASHERS AND BRIDGES
FOR PIANOS, ORGANS AND PLAYER ACTIONS
«rd e .n o d r pV™e pl ii.t
Office and Factory: 428 East 53d Street, New York
WESSELL, NICKEL & GROSS
MANUFACTURERS OF
Why waste your time and go to the
expense of scraping off old varnish and
shellac?
Use Behlen's Varnish Crack Eradica-
tor instead.
Once tried it is always used, because
it always gives satisfactory results.
PIANO
ACTIONS
Send for a sample can today and try it.
HIGHEST GRADE
ONE GRADE ONLY
OFFICE
457 WEST FORTY-FIFTH ST.
FACTORIES—WEST FORTY-FIFTH ST.
Tenth Avenue and West Forty-Sixth Street
NEW YORK
n Anilines
Behlen
& Bro
x ^ v -Stains
Shellacs %5J^ Fillers
371
PEARL ST., NEW YORK
A. C. CHENEY PIANO ACTION CO.
ACTIONS FOR PLAYER-PIANOS
Manufacturers
rvianuiaciurers of
oi PNEUMATIC
HIGH-GRADE PIANOFORTE ACTIONS
CASTLETON, NEW YORK