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THE MUSIC TRADE
FEBRUARY 6, 1926
Mahogany Is Defined
by Forest Laboratory
Federal Investigating Body Issues Description
of This Most Popular of All Cabinet Woods
Information as to the proper identification of
"genuine" mahogany has just been compiled in
a letter sent out by the Forest Products Lab-
oratory of the U. S. Forest Service, Madison,
Wis. The ordinary buyer of mahogany prod-
ucts is unable to identify the wood, and is even
less informed as to the source and nature of
what is "genuine" mahogany. Recetit trade dis-
putes have increased his confusion. According
to the Laboratory, mahogany is a name which
has been applied since the middle of the six-
teenth century to a certain kind of wood com-
ing from tropical America. From that time the
wood has been noted for its rich brown color,
deepening with age, beautiful figure, little
shrinkage, comparative freedom from warping,
easy working quality with sufficient hardness
and strength to withstand ordinary usage and
relative freedom from trouble in finishing. The
botanical name Swietenia was later given to the
tree from which mahogany lumber is obtained.
It is customary to apply a common generic
name to all species of a botanical genus; hence
all species of Swietenia, of which five are known
at present, are entitled to the name mahogany.
These species, all of which grow in tropical
America, are not as yet differentiated by spe-
cific common names, as in the case of our
pines, maples, oaks, and other common species.
Consequently, when one orders true mahogany
he may receive any one of these species,
although some of them are less abundant like
the others and therefore not so likely to appear
in shipments. Manufacturers sometimes show
preference for mahogany lumber from certain
regions by specifying "Mexican" mahogany,
"Honduras" mahogany, "Cuban" mahogany, etc.
After the true mahogany had become well
established in trade, other kinds of lumber from
the American tropics and other parts of the
globe were put on the market as "mahogany,"
usually with a qualifying term as "East Indian"
mahogany, "Philippine" mahogany, "African"
mahogany, etc., including, all told, over sixty
David H.Schmidl Co.
Piano Rammers
of Quality
POUGHKEEPSIE
NEW YORK
REVIEW
different kinds of wood. Whether or not such
lumber is entitled to the name mahogany is a
matter now under investigation by the Federal
Trade Commission. The findings of that com-
mission will determine what kinds of lumber
may legally be called mahogany in the trade.
The booklet contains 118 pages and is profusely
illustrated with cuts of each type of accessory.
Grand Rapids Kiln
Issues New Catalog
Heavy Demand for Firewood Due to Coal
Shortage Will Have No Effect on This Tim-
ber
Large Amount of Technical Information Con-
tained in Booklet Besides Moisture Per-
centage Calculator in Supplement
HARRISBURG, PA., February 1.—Little effect on
the price of American chestnut timber is looked
for as a result of the increasing firewood activ-
ities in the State forest in this vicinity, accord-
ing to Prof. Joseph S. Illick, of the research
division of the State Department of Forests and
Waters. The consumption of firewood has ad-
vanced to a marked degree as a result of the
suspension of production in the anthracite
mines, it is believed. Under forest rules only
dead wood may be used for cutting. Professor
Illick stated that the cutting out of dead tim-
ber stimulates forest growth and that the cutting
is confined largely to chestnut trees which were
killed by the blight that swept this section of
the country several years ago. Much of the
State's chestnut timber of both the wormy and
healthy variety finds its way into piano cases,
especially upright tops and backs as core stock.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH., January 30.—The new
catalog of the Grand Rapids Vapor Kiln Co.
has been issued recently and is notable in that
it combines some highly important technical in-
formation for the use of the kiln operator and
owner as "well as advertising matter descriptive
of kiln equipment. The company is sending out
these catalogs only on request. Among the sup-
plements to the catalog are a moisture percen-
tage calculator and a lumber chart, both of
which can be put to immediate use.
The lumber chart, particularly, is a valuable
instrument for any kiln operator to possess and
the publisher of the catalog has inserted it on
a separate blue sheet, so that it can be framed
and hung up in the kiln room for constant refer-
ences and convenience. Illustrations of typical
layouts of installations and photographs show-
ing the auxiliary equipment for the kilns are
features of the catalog.
The New Hammacher-
Schlemmer Catalog
A new catalog, No. 601, has been compiled
recently by Hammacher, Schlemmer & Co., New
York, in connection with their piano hardware
department and is being mailed to the trade.
The catalog lists a complete line of accessories
for the piano tuner and repair man, including
felts, tools and player-piano hardware parts.
American
Piano Wire
Chestnut Lumber Not
Likely to Change Price
Shoninger Grand for School
NEW ORLEANS, LA., January 30.—The Calcasieu
Parish School Board of Lake Charles, La., re-
cently purchased a Shoninger grand for the
DeQuincy High School at DeQuincy, La., the
sale being made through the efforts of the L.
Grunewald Co., Inc., Shoninger representative for
the State of Louisiana, and in the face of some
strong competition.
John Martell, of New York City, has obtained
a patent for a new pick holder for banjos. Mr.
Martell's patent is No. 1,570,905 and is dated
January 26, 1926.
PHILIP W. OETTING & SON, Inc.
213 East 19th Street, New York
Sole Agents for
WEICKERT HAMMER AND DAMPER FELTS
GRAND AND UPRIGHT HAMMERS
Made of Weickert Felt
"Perfected" "Crown"
Highest acoustic excellence dating back to the
days of Jonas Chickering. Took prize over
whole world at Paris 19TO. For generations
the standard, and used on the greatest num-
ber of pianos in the world.
Serricei of our Acoutlc Engineer always arallable
—fret Illustrated books—free
American Steel & Wire
ACOUSTIC DEPARTMENT
208 8. LA SALLE ST.. CHICAGO
Company
WESSELL, NICKEL & GROSS
MANUFACTURERS OF
PIANO
49
WESSELLlflCKELSt^ROSS
ACTIONS
Write for a sample can of Behlen's
Varnish Crack Eradicator and try it.
Once you learn how much it means to
you in the saving of time on your refin-
ishing jobs by eliminating the necessity
of scraping off old varnish and shellac,
and how much more satisfactory are
the results, because of the better sur-
face it gives to work on, you, like
others, will continue to use it.
Write to-day.
HIGHEST GRADE
ONEGRADEONLY
H. BEHLEN & BRO.
OFFICE
457 WEST FORTY-FIFTH ST.
FACTORIES-WEST FORTY-FIFTH ST.
Tenth Avenue and West Forty-Sixth Street
NEW YORK
10-12 Christopher St, New York
Aniline*
Shellac*
Stain*
Filler*
Wear Ma AT*., aaf Ma it.
T H E COMSTOCK, C H E N E Y & CO., 1V0RYT0N - C0NN
: MANUFACTURERS:
Piano-forte Ivory Keys, Actions and Hammers,
Ivory and Composition Covered Organ Keys