TETI TE R

WHAT?

You may be interested to know that our new sales trainee. Der Fleter Mouse visited his brother E. Norm Mouse at the Mungus-Fungus Forest Products offices in Rotten Bough, Nv., recently. Der mixed business with pleasure. His hobby is opera and his visit was timed to the opening of the Rotten Bough Civic Opera season, where he was featured on opening night.

Sincerely,

Cliff C. Smoot Marketing Mgr. Masonite Corp. Western Lumber Div.

P.O. Box 97 Calpella, Ca. 95418

IT'S ALL VERBAL

The kind and generous words of Al Bufkin (Jan issue, p.5D have inspired me to again write to you regarding some of the "Good Old Days", in spite of [president] Otie's complete audit of all purchases from Al over the last 5 year period.

I started outthis great lumber business in a little yard located on West Blvd., almost down in Inglewood, Ca., under the "sponsorship" of Roy Pitcher. who at that time was with E.K. Wood. My starting salary was $15.00 a week for 44 hours. This was in 1936, and I was damn glad to have a job.

Other young men who were starting out in lumber about then, or soon thereafter, from Glendale were Ken Dietel, Tom Fleming, John Frey, Phil Kelty, Wes Kuntz, Dick Learned, Don Muller, Curt McFadden, Mel McConnel, Roy Pitcher, Paul Revert, Bill Stuart and Woody Toal. Some soon went on to other ventures, some are deceased and others are still very active lumbermen.

This, in itself, represents quite a group, and as has been discussed over these many years, the lumber business is one of the largest single industries that is NOT taught in school. You cannot take a course in "Lumber:" how to buy-sell-stack-grade-cull-protect-milllog-transport-or even make money at it. Either you is or you ain't! If you don't like it, get out and make room for some fool like myself who loves it.

Where else could you find as much business done day in and day out, at all levels, by a simple phone call? Often with men you have never seen or met. How many contracts have ever been signed involving millions of board feet and many hundreds of thousands of dollars? Virtually none, it's all verbal.

I have sold a million feet of lumber over the phone, and picked up the same phone and bought the same million feet and the only contracts were, "You've got a deal." This is not exceptional in our business. It goes on every day. "Confirmations" only cldrify the verbal contracts we live by.

Speaking of contracts, one day in the 40s one of "Pappy" McCartys' drivers delivered a load to ajobsite for us, and the customer had complained about the way the load was dumped. So, I called the report to "Pappy" whose reply was, "Weeeelllll now Sonny, the next time tell your G-- D--customer to buy Davey (Dave Lindsay) a hammer and he'll build the F----- apt. for him." Needless to say, the contract was completed then and there !!

"Pappy" was a diamond in the "ruff '; (so was the six carat he wore on his left little finger!) and a very important part of the industry for many years. From his office overseeing the main entrance to San Pedro. he had ready knowledge of what trucks were hauling how much in and out of "The Harbor." His phone number was short and sweet and he was always available at San Pedro 36. Broke his lrish Heart to put in a Nevada number so we and many others could call toll free.

Two of the other great characters and men of the So. Cal. lumber industry were Gus Hoover and Don Philips. One of their main claims to fame was who was the most prolific "Grand Pa" in the industry. I really don't know who won, but the fun of the game must have been enjoyed immensely by their offsprings. I know one thing, they both were "Lumbermen", and left a great heritage in the industry. I am proud to have been a friend to both. Without taking away from "Gus", or many others, I feel Don Philips was was perhaps the most outstanding wholesale lumberman I ever met.

Adios till next time,

Bob Sutton

Fallbrook Lumber Co.

P.O. Box 305

Fallbrook, Ca 92028

THE OLDEST?

In your quest for the oldest (retail) lumber yard in the West, (see The Merchant, Nov., p.lO you might add the name of the Pacific Home Improvement Center.

It is a direct decendant ofthe Pacific Coast Lumber Co. which was founded in San Luis Obispo, Ca., in 1876.

Bill Oberholser

Pacific Home Improvement Center

P.O. Box 192

San Luis Obispo, Ca. 93406

The Modesto Lumber Co., Modesto, Ca., re.ferred to in our story, was celebrating its 100th. At 103, your.firm may well hold the honors -ed.

55d a word, min. 25 words (25 words = $13.75). Phone number counts as one word. Ads with border $3.50 extra. Headline or centered type $3.50 extra. Box numbered ads are $3.50 extra. Names of advertisers using a box number cannot be released. Address all

SALES MANAGER Exceptional Opportunity

For experienced sales manager with housing industry following. Top salary and/or commission for top man. New yard and oflice facility in Huntington Beach, Ca. Call Bill Randall, (714) 8488555, or send resume c/o The Merchant Magazine. Box 306

Immediate opening for professional sales person with at least 3 years'experience calling on architects, building materials distributors, and retail dealers. Selling our complete line of locally manufactured wood windows and related items in Oregon and Washington; will work out of Portlind. Salary and benefits commensurate with experience. Excellent opportunity to advance. Mulino Products Co., Div. of Mercer Industries. Inc., P.O. Box 10166, Portland, Or. 97210. Send resume attn: R.M. Taylor. An E.O. employer.

LUMBER SALESMAN: Must have experience in industrial accounts. Salary commensurate. For more information. call Q14\ 623-6617.

GROWING SO. CALIFORNIA wholesaler needs outside salesman for industrial sales. Salary and bonus compensation with experience. Send resume. Write Box 301, c/o The Merchant Magazine.

RETAIL LUMBER SALES

Large retail lumber yard located in a fast growing area is seeking qualified, experienced personnel. Must have previous experience selling lumber and building materials and have recommendations from other firms showing you have successfully held a job of this type. Salary commensurate with experience. Send a letter of application and a resume to personnel oflicer. Chas. C. Meek Lumber Co., P.O. Drawer F, Carson city, Nv. 89701

ESTIMATOR FOR career opportunity with job shop pallet operation. Ability to tally lumber and good with figures. All company paid fringes. We also need industrial sales and office people. Apply at Hunter Woodworks, 1235 E.223rd St., Carson, Ca.90749.

Champion Building Products seeks a career minded individual experienced in the plywood and lumber industry for an inside sales position. Excellent starting salary, benefits and opportunity for advancement. Contact Harvev VanderBaan, (714) 731-1800 or (213)-589-6641.

LUMBER SALESMAN for our wholesale division. Well-established flrm. San Francisco area. Good salary. Send resume. Write Box 300 c/o The Merchant Magazine.

One or two experienced forest products traders needed by old established Oregon-based wholesale firm. Expansion and growth our goal. Excellent salary and/or commission renumeration for top quality people. Reply Box 307, c/o The Merchant Magazine.

Executive

MULTI-YARD tract supplier, needs executive vice president to work directly under president.

Must have the highest integrity. Must have management and sales ability.

Must have following in So. CaliL housing industry.

Reply confidentially to Box 303, c/o The Merchant Magazine.

FM YEARS experience, retail lumber and building materials. Prefer some expertise in building/technical or credit/business management. salary open. Permanent, responsible only. Independent in smaller San Joaquin Valley, Ca., agri-business community. Buy-in possible with cash investment. Write Box 302, c/o The Merchant Magazine, or call (209) 826-4290, evenings.

BAY AREA wholesaler needs experienced trader for softwood direct sales to So. Calif. and out-of-state. Salary commensurate with experience. Send resume. Write Box 309, c/ o The Merchant Magazine.

SALESPERSON REQUIRED to anchor sales desk for established wholesale distribution yard specializing in high quality hardwood and softwood lumber and plywood. We are a versatile company, owning and operating our own mill and dry kilns with the main distribution yard in the San Francisco Bay area. We offer excellent salaries, benefits and incentive programs. If you have a minimum of 2 years'desk sales experience or equivalent and are interested in improving your situation, we would like to hear from you to discuss career opportunities. Write Box 308 c/o The Merchant Magazine.

replies to box number shown in ad in care of The Merchant Magazine, 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca, 92660. Make checks payable to The Merchant Magazine. Mail copy to above address or call (714) 549-8393. Deadline for copy is t}lre 22nd of the month.

F- { California Lumber lCUl fiile.ti"rs"nl*

\l 9/ Certified Agency

LOCAL LUMBER hauling Southern California roller bed truck and trailers and bobtails radio dispatched. Rail car unloading at our spur in Long Beach. 3C Trucking (213) 422-0426.

EXPERIENCED FOREST products

specialty trader seeks well financed wholesale company. Established customer and mill base with profit margin to match. Seeking best compensation plan. Reply c/o The Merchant Magazine, Box 294.

3x4 AND WIDER and 4x4 and wider twisted and weathered Douglas Fir S4S. Call Wm. Hunter. Hunter Woodworks, (2r3)775 2544 or (213) 835-5671.

WANT TO BUY retail lumber yard in good So. Calif. location. Principals only. We are an old line, reputable firm. Please contact either Terry Mullin or Don Brown. (213) 345-2223.

WESTERN RED CEDAR reiect bevel siding, $25 MSM. Good stock, use as is. for cut up or remanufacturing.

BOARDS and DIMENSION

Long random length cedar boards and dimension. Good economy remanufacturing grade. Large inventories, immediate truck shipments. Jerstedt Lumber Co., Inc., P.O. Box 279, Bellingham, Wa. 98225 (206) 734-990 I

INDEPENDENT LUMBER and building materials company. Established 50 years. Gross sales $365,000.00, net over $50,000.00. Only $49,000.00 plus inventory. Small valley agricultural town 75 miles from Fresno, Ca. Call Floyd Smith, Hughson & Swett Realtors. (209) 268-7011.

Doug Fir

ll2 and better, S4S, 3x4x52, core stock. Will trim. Pallet stringers, pipe separators, yard bolsters, dunnage, etc. Mt. Pitt Co., Box 1310. Medford. Or. 97501. (503) 664t')tl

Computer: IBM System 32, Model 5320B33. Price includes all software for a wholesale lumber company. $39,000. Call Nick or Hank, (916) 929-9525. California Cascade Industries, Sacramento, CA.

LOS ANGETES AREA. S.F.

tuttti tto Ptn000

Al Peirce Company.