Music Trade Review
Issue: 1924 Vol. 79 N. 9 - Page 47
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
AUGUST 30,
THE
1924
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
45
SUPPLY BRANCHES OF THE INDUSTRY
Wormy Chestnut a Big
Problem in the Trade
Extent of Condition and Steps Taken to Remedy
It, Described by N. C. Brown, of the New
York State College of Forestry
For nearly ten years piano factory super-
intendents and case-makers in both the piano
and phonograph trades have been faced with
the task of using worm-eaten stock, when
building up a filler for a veneer core, especially
in the case of domestic chestnut wood. Com-
plaints have also been voiced as to the difficulty
of purchasing white and red oak and even ma-
hogany, which is free from this characteristic,
the sentiment being that the evil is increasing
rather than showing a tendency to abate.
A full account of this worm-evil, dealing with
its origin and future consequences to the wood-
working industries, was received by The Review
this week in a special communication from
Professor Nelson C. Brown, of the New York
State College of Forestry, Syracuse, N. Y. We
take pleasure in reproducing this letter in order
to clarify before readers of this page the true
situation of wormy timber in American forests
of to-day, as well as to elucidate the steps being
taken by the Government and private foresters
to exterminate the evil.
"A few years ago a very serious blight or
fungus disease known as Diaporthe parasitica,
which was introduced in this country from
Japan, attacked our domestic chestnut and grad-
ually spread over the entire region where chest-
nut naturally grows. The bulk of the best
chestnut forests is found in the Southern Ap-
palachians, in Virginia, West Virginia, western
North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Wormy
chestnut has always been a standard lumber
grade on our markets. This was known as
"sound wormy grade" and has found a ready
market for the purposes for which chestnut is
used, namely in the piano, phonograph, cabinet
and other businesses where it was used as a
core for veneer and ply wood.
The present supply of chestnut will not last
more than a relatively few years and it is be-
coming more and more difficult to obtain chest-
nut without wormhole characteristics. Every
possible attempt has been made by the Govern-
ment and various State agencies to combat this
chestnut disease which has killed millions of
dollars worth of chestnut and has practically
wiped it out for the future from our native
chestnut forests. This disease has contributed
to making the wormy condition of the chestnut
even more severe and it is becoming increas-
ingly difficult to obtain sound chestnut lumber.
These worm holes do not seriously affect the
structural or technical properties of the wood
itself except in its appearance and it cannot
be used for exterior finish and for cabinet and
other purposes for which chestnut has been
used to a large extent.
"More and more white and red oak is also
being affected with worm holes but not to the
extent to which chestnut is affected. It is pos-
sible to secure plenty of good red and white
oak lumber without worm holes. This depends
upon the grades upon which the lumber itself
is purchased. It is, of course, obvious that
wormy oak can be purchased much more
cheaply than that free from worm holes.
"It is still less common to find mahogany
with worm holes. Although it is true that a
different kind of worm affects the mahogany,
it can be purchased free from worm holes al-
though again the price for the clear stock is
naturally higher than that containing worm
holes.
"There should not be any great difficulty in
purchasing any desired quality of mahogany, red
and white oak all free from worm holes. Ma-
hogany is imported whereas the oak is entirely
from domestic supply.
"Where the wormy lumber is to be used for
a veneer core or for filler for built-up stock,
it does not injure the wood or its structural or
appearance values. When properly kiln dried
and veneered the sound wormy oak and chest-
nut are fully as good as sound stock without
the holes."
90 per cent of the present output of the mills.
That walnut is still commanding a strong
vogue has been demonstrated again and again
during the past few months in the recent large
furniture shows in Grand Rapids and Chicago.
It follows, therefore, that, with the public call-
ing for walnut in furniture, it is sure to con-
tinue in favor with phonograph and piano
builders. It is of prime importance to the latter
to always keep informed of the trend of the
furniture trade, which determines the back-
ground into which these instruments are to
be placed in the homes of purchasers. A recent
survey made by the Walnut Association is said
to show a visible supply of black walnut suf-
ficient to last thirty years, at present rate of
consumption. It is probable that the survey
does not include small saplings and these, taken
in connection with plantings made now, might
be depended upon to make the walnut supply
practically continuous.
The bulk of the walnut trees and stumps now
coming to the market are not harvested from
forests, but rather from wood lots and private
grounds, and it is here that the best future sup-
ply may be looked for. Many valuable walnut
trees have been found growing on the edges
of heavy timber growths, the theory being ad-
vanced that they are the result of plantings
made by squirrels. In suitable soil the tree
makes a rapid growth and small plantings made
by farmers would, within a few years, furnish
marketable timber.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
THE
HEART OF THE
PIANO
Steady Market for Walnut
With Adequate Supply
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.
Mills Operate Throughout Summer Without
Any Let Up to Meet a Demand for Walnut
That Is Steady and Growing
Recent trade advices relative to the current
output of American walnut carry the assurance
to users of this wood in the music industries
of a continued steady market, with an abun-
dance of high-grade stock. No curtailment of
production at any of the larger mills has been
ordered during the Summer months and it is
estimated that new sales have covered at least
THE
H. BEHLEN & BRO.
Anilines
Shellacs
exclusive manufacturers of
Stains
Fillers
10-12 Christopher St., New York
Near 6th Are., and 8th St.
ARTNOVELTYCO.
Piaivo BeiveKes
and ftusie Cabinets
GOSHEN
Writ* for catalog and, details
INDIANA
THE STANDARD ACTION CO.,
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.
WHITE, SON CO.
Manufacturers of
ORGAN AND PLAYER-PIANO
LEATHERS
530-540 Atlantic Are., BOSTON, MASS.
For over 25 years Specialists
in high grade Piano Cases
Paterson Piano
Case Co.
PATERSON, N. J.
AUGUST 30,
THE
1924
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
45
SUPPLY BRANCHES OF THE INDUSTRY
Wormy Chestnut a Big
Problem in the Trade
Extent of Condition and Steps Taken to Remedy
It, Described by N. C. Brown, of the New
York State College of Forestry
For nearly ten years piano factory super-
intendents and case-makers in both the piano
and phonograph trades have been faced with
the task of using worm-eaten stock, when
building up a filler for a veneer core, especially
in the case of domestic chestnut wood. Com-
plaints have also been voiced as to the difficulty
of purchasing white and red oak and even ma-
hogany, which is free from this characteristic,
the sentiment being that the evil is increasing
rather than showing a tendency to abate.
A full account of this worm-evil, dealing with
its origin and future consequences to the wood-
working industries, was received by The Review
this week in a special communication from
Professor Nelson C. Brown, of the New York
State College of Forestry, Syracuse, N. Y. We
take pleasure in reproducing this letter in order
to clarify before readers of this page the true
situation of wormy timber in American forests
of to-day, as well as to elucidate the steps being
taken by the Government and private foresters
to exterminate the evil.
"A few years ago a very serious blight or
fungus disease known as Diaporthe parasitica,
which was introduced in this country from
Japan, attacked our domestic chestnut and grad-
ually spread over the entire region where chest-
nut naturally grows. The bulk of the best
chestnut forests is found in the Southern Ap-
palachians, in Virginia, West Virginia, western
North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Wormy
chestnut has always been a standard lumber
grade on our markets. This was known as
"sound wormy grade" and has found a ready
market for the purposes for which chestnut is
used, namely in the piano, phonograph, cabinet
and other businesses where it was used as a
core for veneer and ply wood.
The present supply of chestnut will not last
more than a relatively few years and it is be-
coming more and more difficult to obtain chest-
nut without wormhole characteristics. Every
possible attempt has been made by the Govern-
ment and various State agencies to combat this
chestnut disease which has killed millions of
dollars worth of chestnut and has practically
wiped it out for the future from our native
chestnut forests. This disease has contributed
to making the wormy condition of the chestnut
even more severe and it is becoming increas-
ingly difficult to obtain sound chestnut lumber.
These worm holes do not seriously affect the
structural or technical properties of the wood
itself except in its appearance and it cannot
be used for exterior finish and for cabinet and
other purposes for which chestnut has been
used to a large extent.
"More and more white and red oak is also
being affected with worm holes but not to the
extent to which chestnut is affected. It is pos-
sible to secure plenty of good red and white
oak lumber without worm holes. This depends
upon the grades upon which the lumber itself
is purchased. It is, of course, obvious that
wormy oak can be purchased much more
cheaply than that free from worm holes.
"It is still less common to find mahogany
with worm holes. Although it is true that a
different kind of worm affects the mahogany,
it can be purchased free from worm holes al-
though again the price for the clear stock is
naturally higher than that containing worm
holes.
"There should not be any great difficulty in
purchasing any desired quality of mahogany, red
and white oak all free from worm holes. Ma-
hogany is imported whereas the oak is entirely
from domestic supply.
"Where the wormy lumber is to be used for
a veneer core or for filler for built-up stock,
it does not injure the wood or its structural or
appearance values. When properly kiln dried
and veneered the sound wormy oak and chest-
nut are fully as good as sound stock without
the holes."
90 per cent of the present output of the mills.
That walnut is still commanding a strong
vogue has been demonstrated again and again
during the past few months in the recent large
furniture shows in Grand Rapids and Chicago.
It follows, therefore, that, with the public call-
ing for walnut in furniture, it is sure to con-
tinue in favor with phonograph and piano
builders. It is of prime importance to the latter
to always keep informed of the trend of the
furniture trade, which determines the back-
ground into which these instruments are to
be placed in the homes of purchasers. A recent
survey made by the Walnut Association is said
to show a visible supply of black walnut suf-
ficient to last thirty years, at present rate of
consumption. It is probable that the survey
does not include small saplings and these, taken
in connection with plantings made now, might
be depended upon to make the walnut supply
practically continuous.
The bulk of the walnut trees and stumps now
coming to the market are not harvested from
forests, but rather from wood lots and private
grounds, and it is here that the best future sup-
ply may be looked for. Many valuable walnut
trees have been found growing on the edges
of heavy timber growths, the theory being ad-
vanced that they are the result of plantings
made by squirrels. In suitable soil the tree
makes a rapid growth and small plantings made
by farmers would, within a few years, furnish
marketable timber.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
THE
HEART OF THE
PIANO
Steady Market for Walnut
With Adequate Supply
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.
Mills Operate Throughout Summer Without
Any Let Up to Meet a Demand for Walnut
That Is Steady and Growing
Recent trade advices relative to the current
output of American walnut carry the assurance
to users of this wood in the music industries
of a continued steady market, with an abun-
dance of high-grade stock. No curtailment of
production at any of the larger mills has been
ordered during the Summer months and it is
estimated that new sales have covered at least
THE
H. BEHLEN & BRO.
Anilines
Shellacs
exclusive manufacturers of
Stains
Fillers
10-12 Christopher St., New York
Near 6th Are., and 8th St.
ARTNOVELTYCO.
Piaivo BeiveKes
and ftusie Cabinets
GOSHEN
Writ* for catalog and, details
INDIANA
THE STANDARD ACTION CO.,
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.
WHITE, SON CO.
Manufacturers of
ORGAN AND PLAYER-PIANO
LEATHERS
530-540 Atlantic Are., BOSTON, MASS.
For over 25 years Specialists
in high grade Piano Cases
Paterson Piano
Case Co.
PATERSON, N. J.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).