Music Trade Review
Issue: 1925 Vol. 81 N. 12 - Page 53
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 19, 1925
53
SUPPLY BRANCHES OF THE INDUSTRY
The Countries Where Mahogany Grows
and How This Wood Gomes to the Market
The Most Popular of All Woods Used in the Music Industries and the Way in Which It Is
Lumbered—Nicaragua Likely to Be the Greatest Source of Supply
' I ^HE natural range of mahoganies of the
Swietenia family, the original true mahog-
any, is from Mexico south through Central
America to the northern extremity of South
America, and throughout the West Indies. The
largest shipments of the African variety are
received from the gold and ivory coasts of
Africa. This wood is produced by a species
of Khaya, which is a genus belonging to the
same family as Swietenia. In some cases it is
almost an impossibility to distinguish between
the woods received from these different
sources, so closely do they conform in general
characteristics, although the lighter and softer-
textured wood comes from Africa.
The African supplies are received in long
lengths and in good sizes, either squared or in
the round. A considerable loss is sustained by
squaring the logs in the bush, so an effort is
being made to market this timber in the round,
to offset this useless waste. Many of the logs
are highly figured with the characteristic stripe
figure predominating. Cross-breaks are a seri-
ous defect often found in the African wood,
especially in the logs that show soft, spongy
hearts, where this defect is most common.
These breaks extend across the log and in some
cases render the largest portion of the best
part of the log worthless. Rambling hearts
also cause considerable waste in conversion,
said Miller J. Hamlin in a recent issue of
Veneers.
Logs received from the West Indies usually
run small in size and in short lengths. They
are in some cases squared, but the larger por-
tion are received in the round. The areas that
contain mahogany have been logged over and
there is very little virgin timber left, located
in almost inaccessible districts. The wood is
the heaviest and closest grained of any of the
mahoganies and is considered superior to wood
received from any of the other sources. A
distinguishing characteristic of the wood from
San Domingo is the deposit of white, chalky
substance in the pores. Large quantities of
this wood are used for chair stock, for which
j A MESSAGE
v FOR YOU
Are you still watting your time and
going to the expense of scraping off old
varnish and shellac to eliminate the
checks and cracks in order to secure a
smooth surface for rennishing?
Use Behlen's Varnish Crack Eradi-
cator.
It saves time, trouble and, incidentally,
expense, at the same time giving you as
fine a body surface for the new finish
as you could possibly wish for.
A sample can for trial awaits your
request.
H. BEHLEN & BRO.
Aniline*
ShalUct
Stains
FilUrs
10-12 Christopher St., New York
Wear «tk A T * . . *nd Stta St.
it is well fitted on account of its great strength.
A good grade of mahogany is exported from
British Honduras and. is highly regarded by
the trade. Belize, the port from which a large
amount of the wood is shipped, has long been
an important shipping point for mahogany, its
history dating back to the seventeenth century.
The logs do not average very large in size, but
the wood is of good texture and a fair per-
centage of the logs are highly figured.
Mexico exports wood in fair size and long
lengths. The merchantable trees are not com-
monly cut into log lengths, but are shipped in
the full length of merchantable trunk in the
tree. This country furnishes two grades of
wood, a lighter, softer-textured wood than is
commonly found, called baywood. It grows in
the lowlands and attains large size. The heavier
and close-textured wood is found growing at
higher elevations and is of good quality. These
grades are usually straight-grained and without
figure and very useful for some classes of work.
All the rivers of any size in Nicaragua are
being worked for mahogany, and it is probable
that the combined exports from this country
exceed these from either Mexico or Honduras.
Good-size logs are obtained and in fair lengths.
The wood is more inclined to suffer from gum
streaks and pockets than the supplies from
other sources.
The mahogany tree grows to a large size,
with a clear bole, in some cases fifty to sixty
feet above the ground. The trees are scattered
and inaccessible. Logging is usually carried
on by native contractors, although several log-
ging operations are being carried on by com-
panies in the States. The results are not espe-
cially favorable, and in the majority of cases
it has usually been found that the cruder the
methods used, the cheaper and better results
are obtained. The areas to be logged are usu-
ally looked over to locate and ascertain the
number of trees that are of merchantable size
and within hauling distance of a creek or river.
Throughout tropical America this power is
usually furnished by bull teams, but in Africa,
where this power is in nearly all cases fur-
nished by natives, the location determines
whether or not they can be profitably logged.
The cutting is done during the dry portion
of the year. Platforms are built of poles, above
the heavy buttresses, to avoid the extra labor
of cutting through them. Trails are cut through
the heavy undergrowth to the nearest waterway
and the logs are hauled and dumped to await
the rainy season of the year, that will change
the dry creek beds into raging torrents that
will carry the logs down the rivers to the ship-
ping ports. When several operators are cut-
ting along the same river or its tributaries, the
logs are branded with distinguishing marks,
and at their arrival at the river's mouth, they
are assorted as to ownership and rerafted for
shipment. Heavy losses are incurred by the
contractors if the logs are dumped into streams
that are not of sufficient size to move them
during the flood season. Loss is caused by sun
checks and splits, and in tropical America an
insect commonly known as flyworm or pin-
worm attacks the surface of the log, filling it
full of holes. If the logs are allowed to re-
main in brackish water at the shipping ports,
the teredo worm attacks them, riddling them
with holes from %. to >4-inch in diameter. In
many cases they render the logs worthless.
Charles Pfriemer Sees
Good Demand in Fall
Reports From Factories Show Piano Hammer
Demand Larger Than Was Anticipated
Charles Pfriemer, of Charles Pfriemer, Inc.,
New York, maker of piano felts and hammers,
who returned from his vacation at Scroon Lake
in the Adirondacks this week, was most opti-
mistic in his view of the piano manufacturing
conditions this Fall. "It is true that a piano
hammer factory such as ours is in a position to
feel the pulse of the trade a few months before
the outward signs of activity are noticeable,"
said Mr. Pfriemer to a Review representative.
"We have been gratified to find business better
than usual during the Summer months, and
letters from our customers at various points
inform us that their hammer requirements this
Fall will be larger than was counted on earlier
in the year. As far as conditions in our own
factory are concerned, we are increasing our
help and expect to be running at a capacity rate
in short order."
Wood and Veneer Imports
Recent figures from Commerce Reports, pre-
pared by the United States Department of
Commerce, Washington, D. C, indicate that the
value of imports of wood and veneers exceeded
the exports of those products by about $200,000
during July. This condition is rare and is gen-
erally reversed. Imports of softwood lumber
were 167,549,000 feet; of hardwood lumber and
sawed cabinet woods, 8,646,000 feet, including
1,986 feet of sawn Philippine mahogany.
No Philippine mahogany in the log came in
during July. Imports of other cabinet woods in
the log totaled 2,770,000 feet, and of other logs
and timber 31,543,000 feet. This is a decrease
from July, 1924, of nearly 50 per cent.
Traffic Peak Ahead
It is considered probable by railroad men that
the peak movement of traffic for this year has
moved up about two months ahead of the usual
time. Generally the heaviest traffic comes in
October but it is considered doubtful that load-
ings during the remaining weeks will exceed the
new high mark for all time set during the last
week of August.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
When in the
Market for Roll
Cabinets—Buy
The "ART LINE"
Quality Merchandise
Write for Catalog.
STYLE No. 181
The Art Novelty C*.
Goshen, Ind.
PHILIP W. OETTING & SON, Inc.
213 East 19th Street, New York
Sole Agent* for
WEICKERT HAMMER AND DAMPER FELTS
GRAND AND UPRIGHT HAMMERS
Made of Welckert Felt
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 19, 1925
53
SUPPLY BRANCHES OF THE INDUSTRY
The Countries Where Mahogany Grows
and How This Wood Gomes to the Market
The Most Popular of All Woods Used in the Music Industries and the Way in Which It Is
Lumbered—Nicaragua Likely to Be the Greatest Source of Supply
' I ^HE natural range of mahoganies of the
Swietenia family, the original true mahog-
any, is from Mexico south through Central
America to the northern extremity of South
America, and throughout the West Indies. The
largest shipments of the African variety are
received from the gold and ivory coasts of
Africa. This wood is produced by a species
of Khaya, which is a genus belonging to the
same family as Swietenia. In some cases it is
almost an impossibility to distinguish between
the woods received from these different
sources, so closely do they conform in general
characteristics, although the lighter and softer-
textured wood comes from Africa.
The African supplies are received in long
lengths and in good sizes, either squared or in
the round. A considerable loss is sustained by
squaring the logs in the bush, so an effort is
being made to market this timber in the round,
to offset this useless waste. Many of the logs
are highly figured with the characteristic stripe
figure predominating. Cross-breaks are a seri-
ous defect often found in the African wood,
especially in the logs that show soft, spongy
hearts, where this defect is most common.
These breaks extend across the log and in some
cases render the largest portion of the best
part of the log worthless. Rambling hearts
also cause considerable waste in conversion,
said Miller J. Hamlin in a recent issue of
Veneers.
Logs received from the West Indies usually
run small in size and in short lengths. They
are in some cases squared, but the larger por-
tion are received in the round. The areas that
contain mahogany have been logged over and
there is very little virgin timber left, located
in almost inaccessible districts. The wood is
the heaviest and closest grained of any of the
mahoganies and is considered superior to wood
received from any of the other sources. A
distinguishing characteristic of the wood from
San Domingo is the deposit of white, chalky
substance in the pores. Large quantities of
this wood are used for chair stock, for which
j A MESSAGE
v FOR YOU
Are you still watting your time and
going to the expense of scraping off old
varnish and shellac to eliminate the
checks and cracks in order to secure a
smooth surface for rennishing?
Use Behlen's Varnish Crack Eradi-
cator.
It saves time, trouble and, incidentally,
expense, at the same time giving you as
fine a body surface for the new finish
as you could possibly wish for.
A sample can for trial awaits your
request.
H. BEHLEN & BRO.
Aniline*
ShalUct
Stains
FilUrs
10-12 Christopher St., New York
Wear «tk A T * . . *nd Stta St.
it is well fitted on account of its great strength.
A good grade of mahogany is exported from
British Honduras and. is highly regarded by
the trade. Belize, the port from which a large
amount of the wood is shipped, has long been
an important shipping point for mahogany, its
history dating back to the seventeenth century.
The logs do not average very large in size, but
the wood is of good texture and a fair per-
centage of the logs are highly figured.
Mexico exports wood in fair size and long
lengths. The merchantable trees are not com-
monly cut into log lengths, but are shipped in
the full length of merchantable trunk in the
tree. This country furnishes two grades of
wood, a lighter, softer-textured wood than is
commonly found, called baywood. It grows in
the lowlands and attains large size. The heavier
and close-textured wood is found growing at
higher elevations and is of good quality. These
grades are usually straight-grained and without
figure and very useful for some classes of work.
All the rivers of any size in Nicaragua are
being worked for mahogany, and it is probable
that the combined exports from this country
exceed these from either Mexico or Honduras.
Good-size logs are obtained and in fair lengths.
The wood is more inclined to suffer from gum
streaks and pockets than the supplies from
other sources.
The mahogany tree grows to a large size,
with a clear bole, in some cases fifty to sixty
feet above the ground. The trees are scattered
and inaccessible. Logging is usually carried
on by native contractors, although several log-
ging operations are being carried on by com-
panies in the States. The results are not espe-
cially favorable, and in the majority of cases
it has usually been found that the cruder the
methods used, the cheaper and better results
are obtained. The areas to be logged are usu-
ally looked over to locate and ascertain the
number of trees that are of merchantable size
and within hauling distance of a creek or river.
Throughout tropical America this power is
usually furnished by bull teams, but in Africa,
where this power is in nearly all cases fur-
nished by natives, the location determines
whether or not they can be profitably logged.
The cutting is done during the dry portion
of the year. Platforms are built of poles, above
the heavy buttresses, to avoid the extra labor
of cutting through them. Trails are cut through
the heavy undergrowth to the nearest waterway
and the logs are hauled and dumped to await
the rainy season of the year, that will change
the dry creek beds into raging torrents that
will carry the logs down the rivers to the ship-
ping ports. When several operators are cut-
ting along the same river or its tributaries, the
logs are branded with distinguishing marks,
and at their arrival at the river's mouth, they
are assorted as to ownership and rerafted for
shipment. Heavy losses are incurred by the
contractors if the logs are dumped into streams
that are not of sufficient size to move them
during the flood season. Loss is caused by sun
checks and splits, and in tropical America an
insect commonly known as flyworm or pin-
worm attacks the surface of the log, filling it
full of holes. If the logs are allowed to re-
main in brackish water at the shipping ports,
the teredo worm attacks them, riddling them
with holes from %. to >4-inch in diameter. In
many cases they render the logs worthless.
Charles Pfriemer Sees
Good Demand in Fall
Reports From Factories Show Piano Hammer
Demand Larger Than Was Anticipated
Charles Pfriemer, of Charles Pfriemer, Inc.,
New York, maker of piano felts and hammers,
who returned from his vacation at Scroon Lake
in the Adirondacks this week, was most opti-
mistic in his view of the piano manufacturing
conditions this Fall. "It is true that a piano
hammer factory such as ours is in a position to
feel the pulse of the trade a few months before
the outward signs of activity are noticeable,"
said Mr. Pfriemer to a Review representative.
"We have been gratified to find business better
than usual during the Summer months, and
letters from our customers at various points
inform us that their hammer requirements this
Fall will be larger than was counted on earlier
in the year. As far as conditions in our own
factory are concerned, we are increasing our
help and expect to be running at a capacity rate
in short order."
Wood and Veneer Imports
Recent figures from Commerce Reports, pre-
pared by the United States Department of
Commerce, Washington, D. C, indicate that the
value of imports of wood and veneers exceeded
the exports of those products by about $200,000
during July. This condition is rare and is gen-
erally reversed. Imports of softwood lumber
were 167,549,000 feet; of hardwood lumber and
sawed cabinet woods, 8,646,000 feet, including
1,986 feet of sawn Philippine mahogany.
No Philippine mahogany in the log came in
during July. Imports of other cabinet woods in
the log totaled 2,770,000 feet, and of other logs
and timber 31,543,000 feet. This is a decrease
from July, 1924, of nearly 50 per cent.
Traffic Peak Ahead
It is considered probable by railroad men that
the peak movement of traffic for this year has
moved up about two months ahead of the usual
time. Generally the heaviest traffic comes in
October but it is considered doubtful that load-
ings during the remaining weeks will exceed the
new high mark for all time set during the last
week of August.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
When in the
Market for Roll
Cabinets—Buy
The "ART LINE"
Quality Merchandise
Write for Catalog.
STYLE No. 181
The Art Novelty C*.
Goshen, Ind.
PHILIP W. OETTING & SON, Inc.
213 East 19th Street, New York
Sole Agent* for
WEICKERT HAMMER AND DAMPER FELTS
GRAND AND UPRIGHT HAMMERS
Made of Welckert Felt
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).