Maple performs well in flooring, furniture

IIAPLE species in the United lUlStates are classed as either hard or soft. The hard or rock maple includes the sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and the black maple (,4. nigrum). Red maple (A. rubrum), silver maple (A. sacchorinum) and the Pacific or Western maple (,4. macrophyllum) are considered soft maple.

Hard maple is found in the eastern hardwood region of the United States and Canada including Appalachia. Red maple grows over almost all of the eastern half of the U.S., but is most commercially important along the Atlantic Coast from Southern Virginia through the Carolinas. Silver maple which is predominant in the Mississippi Valley is not as plentiful as the red maple. Pacific or Western maple is found in the northern portion of the Pacific Coast states.

The maple species differ little in appearance although the hard maple has five lobed leaves while the soft maple is usually three lobed. Both have dark gray bark with the hard maple being deeply furrowed with long irregular thick plates. The soft maple has thin scaly plates separated by shallow fissures.

Hard maple is brown to light tan in heartwood, but white in sapwood. It weighs about 3.6 lbs. per bd. ft. at 890 moisture content. The wood is diffuse and porous with an indistinct grain pattern. Some have a bird's eye figure. At one time this figure was highly popular for use in bird's eye maple furniture.

Soft maple also has white sapwood although the heartwood is gray. It weighs about 3.2 lbs. per bd. ft. at 890 moisture content.

Maple dries well although slowly. It is moderately stable in use. Soft

Story at a Glance

Five species ol maple in U.S. all commercially uselul good properties ... importanl for f looring, f urniture.

maple is more easily worked, but lacks the strenglh and resistance to abrasion that hard maple has.

Hard maple is excellent for use as flooring in heavy traffic areas such as warehouses and factories as well as for dance floors, bowling alleys, squash courts and gymnasiums. Soft maple because it works easily and is less expensive than hard maple is used for furniture, kitchen cabinets and interior paneling. Boxes, crates, shipping containers, toys and household accessories also are made of soft maple.

Soft maple lumber often has very small worm holes. Grading designations of "WHAD" (worm holes a defect) and "WHND" (worm holes no defect) are used. The worms, of course, are eliminated in the kiln drying and manufacturing process. The worm holes and frequently accompanying mineral stains can add character to the wood, especially for paneling which is then known as wormy maple.

In addition to being used for lumber, the Acer Saccharum in the northernmost areas is famous for the products of its sap, maple syrup and maple sugar.

Housewares

(Continued from page 10) put, in a single location and within a few days. Out ofthat suggestion has grown the world's largest singleindustry trade sho.w.

The first Exposition in January, 1939, had 266 exhibitors at the Palmer House in Chicago. Now each year nearly 15 times as many manufacturers, close to 4,000, participate, utilizing more than 2,(X)0,000 square feet of display space in the large exhibition complex McCormick'Place plus McCormick Place West, Chicago, Il. Total annual attendance exceeds 100,000 persons, including nearly 40,000 housewares buyers and merchandising executives along with more than 60,000 others concerned with the housewares industry, including salesmen, manufacturers' representatives, members of the press, suppliers and trade guests.

National Housewares Manufacturers Association was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1938 for the stated purpose of providing buyers with the best possible in- dustry exhibits, at the lowest feasi ble cost consistent with good management. That goal remains its prime objective today. In line with its non-profit policy, the NHMA has refunded a part of exhibit fees to exhibitors since the very first housewares show in 1939. To date, nearly $7 million has been refunded.

The NHMA also undertakes an annual rnarketing research study of housewares manufacturers to provide valid statistical data about the industry. It also publishes comprehensive surveys of housewares consumers' attitudes.

The association and the industry have entered a new chapter in their history with the addition of the word "internationd" to the title of the semi-annual exposition. This change, according to Ronald A. Fippinger, NHMA managing director, acknowledges the growing importance of worldwide trade in the housewares field. The Housewares Show dates will be shifted to a spring and fall pattern beginning in March and October of 1984 in response to changing marketing methods in the industry. The location remains the same.

U.S. Hardware Goes Abroad

A group of 28 manufacturers organized under the auspices of the American Hardware Manufacturers Association will exhibit their products at the Cologne International Hardware Trade Fair in Cologne, West Germany, March 9-12 in the AHMA USA Hardware Pavilion.

This is the first effort of a new Program being developed bY the export committee of the AHMA.

D-l-Y Market Conference

Exporting U.S. do-it-yourself products will be discussed by American and foreign experts at the International Home Center Marketing Conference, Feb. 26, at Dallas, Tx.

Preceding the 1983 National Home Center/Home Improvement Congress & Exposition, Feb. 27-March 2, at the Dallas Convention Center, events will include a session for foreign d-i-y retailers with leading U.S. retailers sharing their experiences. Ray Cooney, Pres. of Scotty's, Inc., a Florida home center chain, will be among those Participating.