Gollecting hardwoods

By Gordon T. Frost FROST HARDWOOD LUMBER CO. SAN DIEGO, CA.

T HE ROMANCE of hardwoods

I has always intrigued those of us who have spent our lives in the lumber business. and it has seemed to me that some sort of a display of the woods of the world would be interesting and informative to our customers and friends.

This concept has led to a new lobby display at Frost Hardwood with sample cases showing "IUoods from our Collection of 2000 species 'i It is being well received.

Several years ago I started collecting wood samples, and the domestic and imported species that we handle regularly were no problem, of course, because we could simply take them out of stock. But as the collection grew, we had to go afield for samples. Incidentally, the standard sample size is | 12" - 3" x 6".

Then I discovered the International Wood Collectors Society, a unique and low-keyed group of woodlovers from all walks of life; botanists, woodcarvers,profession al wood-workersB tc., from all over the world. Through this group I continued to add to the collection. For those interested, I urge that you join - it's fun*

*Contact llilliam G. Cookman, 3155 Edsel Dr., Trenton, Mi. 48 183.

Story at a Glance

its 65th year, the firm continues to add to its remarkable collection.

Through the Wood Collectors Society I came to know R. L. Robacker of Newfoundland, Pa., a dedicated wood specimen collector for over 40 years, and through this friendship acquired his lifelong collection of samples. All are beautifully identified with steel stencil stamps and cross-referenced on 3" x 5" cards.

But before Bob Robacker would sell me his collection of over 2000 specimens he insisted that I visit him in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Eastern Pennsylvania to personally approve the collection. My wife and I had a delightful trip to that part of the country after an NHLA convention in the fall. The forest was radiant with color.

At first I thought we would try to display all the samples, but then I realized that except for the large number, the display would be quite uninteresting. There are over 16 samples of hickory all very similar in appearance (in North America there are l6 species and 20 varieties of hickory).

So then it was decided to show a selection of the woods and to try to tell the story of a few of the most interesting.

We divided the display into two groups-some 40 woods commonly used in the United States by industryl ie, the oaks, ash, birch, walnut, Philippine mahogany, genuine mahogany, etc., as well as the softwoods:Douglas fir, hemlock, sugar and Ponderosa pine, Sitka spruce, redwood, etc. (see mounted display on right in accompanying photo).

The second group are the rare and unusual woods, some 66 samples selected for their uniqueness, such as East Indian rosewood, poison ivy, coconut, tulipwood, Queensland walnut, koa, lacewood, purpleheart, and camphorwood: not necessarily woods of commerce. In several instances we have included a description to accompany the sample, such as:

PINK MRY (Rhamnus zeheri)

The Royal Wood of the Zulus, often called rarer than diamonds and almost lmpossible to obtain.

It may be cut only by the Chief of the Zulu tribe and his sons. When a chiefs son is able to fell a tree and fashion a spear from the wood, he is considered to have reached manhood. Any other member of the tribe who cuts or possesses the wood is subject to death.

Grown in Rhodesia, Transvall, and Natal.

The wood is easily worked, takes a fine polish, but due to its scarcity is more of a museum piece than an article of commerce.

CORK OAK TREE (Quercus suber)

This evergreen oak, principally cultivated in Spain and Portugal, provides the world with its supply of cork for forming bungs and bottle stoppers.

The tree reaches a height of

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