ORGANIZATION OF THE INDUSTRY

The hardwood lumber industry is composed of a great many manufacturing units scattered throughout the country. Under those circumstances it has been found highly desirable to create organizations which can function as centralized agencies for establishing standards for manufacture and grading, and also for the purpose of providing the consumer with technical information which will enhance the value of the product for consumer use.

The industry has built up an organization which has successfully performed its fundamental functions and has been able also to take upon itself certain other desirable activities, in cooperating with governmental agencies in conservation of natural resources and other public-interest policies such as are carried on by the Department of Commerce, the Forest Service, etc. In addition, the industrial organizations have carried on various technical research, which eventually becomes a consumer benefit.

The industrial organizations thus set up are commonly known as trade associations, of which there are 12-all performing, without duplication, specific functions for the benefit of the industry and the consumer. There are various ways in which lumber associations may be classified, but for the sake of simplicity they are herein put into three groups, as follows:

(a) National associations, which are concerned with all species of hardwood lumber from every section of the country.

(b) Regional associations, which handle matters pertaining only to a specified area and hardwood species contained therein.

(c) Special hardwood-products associations, which are active in matters pertaining to specific products made from hardwood lumber, such as flooring, small dimension, etc.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

The National Hardwood Lumber Association, 2408 Buckingham Building, Chicago, Ill., is national in scope. The membership is composed of hardwood-lumber manufacturing concerns and wholesalers handling hardwood products. Industrial consumers of hardwoods are admitted as associate members. The principal function of the organization is to provide a standard of hardwood lumber grades. To accomplish this purpose, written grade rules are provided. In order to keep the rules applicable to modern usage, they are changed from time to time as circumstances require. The grading rules of the National Hardwood Lumber Association are the result of many years of practical investigation, and they are recognized as the standard for hardwood grades throughout the world. The association maintains a corps of inspectors conveniently stationed throughout the producing and consuming areas.

To further protect the grade standards set up by the National Hardwood Lumber Association, "Certificates of original inspection" can be obtained. These provide that the lumber in reference has been inspected and measured by licensed inspectors of the association, thereby equipping the buyer with positive means for obtaining lumber of a certain quality standard.

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Through the National Hardwood Lumber Association the industry has succeeded in placing the entire responsibility of matters pertaining to grading in the hands of one organization. This is true of all species and for all regions. The only exceptions are a few specific products such as hardwood floorings and small hardwood dimension.

A brief discussion of hardwood grades begins on page 62 of this booklet.

A booklet defining the grading of hardwoods can be obtained by applying to the association office.

The National Lumber Manufacturers Association, 1337 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, D. C., is also national in scope. It is a federation of regional associations; that is, its membership is made up of regional associations and not of individual lumber manufacturers. In this connection it should be understood that the National Lumber Manufacturers Association does not confine its activities to specific species or regions and is interested in developing all domestic

Figure 32.-Wood siding endows this modern American home with the qualities of simplicity and charm. Since early colonial times, hardwood lumber has been used for this purpose.

woods, softwoods as well as hardwoods. The function of this association is to provide the regional associations with a clearing house for matters of combined interest to all domestic lumber producers.

A list of consumer publications, published by the association, will be sent upon request.

National Lumber Exporters Association, headquarters 2705 Sterick Building, Memphis, Tenn. (foreign office 35-36 Broad Street Avenue, Blomfield Street, London E. C. 2, England), is an association composed of American exporters of hardwood lumber. This association was organized in January 1900, and through a period of years has gradually developed standards for the conduct of American export business with firms and associations in other nations. This association also keeps in close contact, through its foreign office, with lumber associations in the leading foreign markets.

REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

There are five regional associations of hardwood producers, each representing an area or particular group of hardwood species. The "regionals" have an opportunity to develop the possibilities of the species which their organization represents to the fullest extent and in this endeavor have encountered marked success. The membership of the "regionals" is composed of manufacturing firms only. All of the hardwood regional associations hold membership with the National Lumber Manufacturers Association. They are as follows:

American Walnut Manufacturers Association, 616 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Ill. Species represented: American walnut. Literature available upon application.

Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc., 414 Walnut Street, 1211 Mercantile Building, Cincinnati, Ohio. Species represented: Ash, basswood, beech, birch, cherry, chestnut, elm, hickory, maple, oak (red and white), sycamore, yellow poplar, and minor species. Literature pertaining to most of the foregoing Appalachian species can be obtained by application.

Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, 41 East Fortysecond St., New York City. Species represented: Ash, basswood, beech, birch, cherry, elm, maple, sycamore, and minor species. Literature and other information pertaining to the above species may be obtained upon application.

Northern Hemlock and Hardwood Manufacturers Association, Oshkosh, Wis. Species represented: Ash, aspen, basswood, beech, birch, elm, maple, oak, and minor species. On request, this association will issue a shippers' certification to its member mills of the grade and tally of a shipment. This service is not to be confused with the official inspection and certification of the National Hardwood Lumber Association. Literature pertaining to the above Lake States species may be obtained upon application.

Southern Hardwood Producers, Inc., 805 Sterick Building, Memphis, Tenn. Species represented: Ash, beech, birch, buckeye, cherry, cottonwood, elm, black gum, hickory, holly, magnolia, maple, red oak (southern), white oak (southern), pecan, persimmon, red and sap gum, sycamore, tupelo, and lesser species. Information and printed material pertaining to the foregoing southern species can be obtained upon application.

SPECIAL HARDWOOD-PRoducts assoCIATIONS

Hardwood Dimension Manufacturers Association, Heyburn Building, Louisville, Ky., provides grade rules and specifications for kilndried solid and glued dimension hardwood of all species. Information pertaining to the above products may be obtained by applying to the association office.

Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association. 1740 McCormick Building, Chicago, Ill. Provides grade rules and inspection service to northern manufacturers of northern hard maple, beech, and birch flooring. Grade rules and information pertaining to these species of hardwood flooring can be obtained at the above address.

17 Member of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association.

National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association, 830 Dermon Building, Memphis, Tenn. Provides grading rules and inspection service to manufacturers of oak flooring and southern beech, birch, and hard maple. Grade rules and information pertaining to the foregoing species of hardwood flooring can be obtained by applying to the association office.

The Veneer Association, 616 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Ill. Represents manufacturers of all species of hardwood veneers. Information and printed material pertaining to hardwood veneers can be obtained upon request.

HARDWOOD LUMBER GRADES

The system of hardwood lumber grading has developed to its present high point of efficiency by virtue of many years of study, research, and development. In early years, prior to the modern

Figure 33.-Assembling hardwood construction members with modern timber connectors. Joints are "welded" together to produce strength equal to that of solid timbers.

industrial era, all lumber was sorted on a basis of appearance with little thought as to the use requirements or convenience of the customer. However, efficient manipulation and mass production in modern high-speed factories made it necessary to provide the woodworking industry with lumber intended for specific purposes. This salutary influence has brought about the grading of all lumber upon the basic use requirements for which the lumber is intended. For many years the hardwood lumber industry has been perfecting methods for sorting and marketing its product. Each new development. in wood products has created the necessity for new grades of lumber or a change in the older ones.

Aside from the fundamental principle and purpose for which grades of lumber are prepared-that is, providing the customer with a suitable raw material-there is the added factor of forest conservation which must be considered in perfecting grade rules. It is not farfetched to state that present hardwood lumber grading is

a conservation measure just as important as tree-planting or forest management.

With the foregoing objectives in mind the hardwood lumber industry has provided the consumer with a system of grades which makes it possible to furnish hardwood lumber so sorted as to be specialized for practically every common use. Basically there are three groups into which hardwood grades can be broken down; they are, in order of importance:

1. Industrial or shop grades, specifically designed to provide suitable grades of lumber for remanufacture into hardwood products, such as furniture, flooring, trim, automotive parts, etc.

2. Construction grades, designed to provide properly sorted lumber for construction purposes where exact amount of load is not known or is unimportant.

3. Structural or stress grades have recently been brought out to make available grades of hardwood lumber that will definitely pro

Figure 34.-Huge distillery barrel rack, constructed with hardwood lumber and modern timber connectors, insuring maximum strength and efficiency.

vide wood members of known strength properties. Hardwood lumber so graded is used in bridges, roof trusses, and other places where exact knowledge of stresses is required. This grade should not be confused with "Construction grades."

The three foregoing divisions are the guiding principles on which all hardwood lumber is graded, but there are specific grades set up for many products made from hardwood, such as hardwood flooring, small dimension stock, interior trim, etc. These special grading rules for fabricated or semifabricated products should not be confused with hardwood lumber grades.

Iudustrial or shop grades are classified in accordance with the amount of clear or sound cuttings in a board. The higher grades are composed of boards which will produce a very large amount of clear lumber in a limited number of cuttings. Going down the scale of grades from the highest to the lowest, the number of cuttings per