BRUCE AT 1OO

(Continued from page 36) ln 1977 Tiiangle Pacific acquired the faltering E.L. Bruce Co. TheY knew the hardwood business and saw in Bruce a potential to rebuild hardwood flooring as a quality specialty flooring product. They had the expertise to pull it off. Bruce headquarters were moved to Dallas, Tx., and a team was assigned to the task of getting Bruce back into the black. The company name was changed to Bruce Hardwood Floors.

U.S. entered the war and the Bruce Company was back in the ArmY. After the war, production hummed to meet the housing needs of the returning GIs, but the FHA ended the boom by agreeing to finance carpet as part of the mortgage. It looked like the end of hardwood floors.

Bruce sold its household Products division and began closing plants. Cook Industries acquired the company in 1969, yet the dissolution continued. The Memphis plant closed in 1974, outmoded by EPA regulations.

A five year growth plan including $24 million in new equipment and facilities was initiated. Kiln capacity at the Jackson and Nashville, Tn., plants was doubled to over I,750,000 board feet ofoak.

Marketing and merchandising as well as manufacturing were updated. Over 4O marketing specialists were developed to serve the distributors who service and train the retailers. New sales materials were prepared to help both the distributors and retailers. Sales soared 40090 in three years. The number of retailers tripled.

Now, Bruce is considered the largest manufacturer of hardwood floors in the nation. Bruce and Triangle Pacific purchase over 70 million board feet of four quarter oak a yearmore than anyone else in the United States. The plants in Nashville, Jackson and Center, Tx', are designed to handle three times the current volume without exPanding facilities or adding new equipment.

If you ask the management team, they will say "the most exciting chapters of the Bruce story are yet to be written."

G-P Acquires St. Regis Mill

Georgia-Pacific Corp. will acquire a linerboard mill at Monticello, Ms., 16 corrugated box plants, and related timberlands and cutting contracts in Mississippi from St. Regis in an acquisition expected to be completed at the end of June.

The transaction which is valued at $342.5 million includes purchasing 8.590 of the St. Regis stock from Loews. Security analysts have termed the deal a bargain for GeorgiaPacific.

Wickes To Repay Creditors

Creditors of the bankrupt Wickes Cos., Inc. will receive $4O0 million to $500 million more under the company's official plan of reorganization than if the company were liquidated, according to the comPanY's filing statement with the court.

Financial projections for the four years after emerging from Chapter I I prepared as part of the settlement plan indicate income for 1986 will be $9.4 million and $41.3 million for 1989.

And Selected Sales Aids

Wood on the Inside

Pease Industries, Inc., has introduced an optional bonded wood interior surface for its insulated steel Concept hinged patio door systems.

In oak, walnut or ash, it can be stained or finished to match interior moldings or furnishings. On the exterior, the surface is strong, warp-free low-maintenance steel.

The modular, hinged, insulated system has a I in. deadbolt, I in. overall insulating glass, magnetic weatherstrip and an adjustable sill.

Brush Away Foul Weather

Pemko Fin Brush weatherstripping has been introduced for application on uneven surfaces and "hard-toweatherstrip" doors and door systems.

With a polypropylene brush fiber and center fin, it is bonded to a binder held by an extruded aluminum casing. Pre-punched slotted holes in the flange allow self-adjustment.

The center fin reportedly blocks air infiltration better than plain fibers without a center fin and the brush cuts easily without losing brush fibers. It can be supplied coiled with rigid aluminum casing or cut lengths for shipping ease and uninterrupted fin brush seal for very tall or wide doors.

Sunshine Energy

Solar Shelter Inc.'s, new space system that has all of the advantages of a passive solar heating system with the control of an active solar heating system.

Each system includes one to three air collectors along with a blower unit, thermostat, controls, registers, filters, dampers and complete instructions. The dealer provides ducting.

The collectors carry a l0 year warranty.

Ultrasonic Fly Killer

Charmglow Products' new ultrasonic pest control unit can be used inside the office or home. Model Ul50 emits a high intensity ultrasonic sound wave which irritates the auditory and neryous systems of insects and other pests, forcing them to leave the area.

It features wood grain styling, solid state circuitry and speakers. A red indicator light glows when the unit is operating.

The speakers reportedly cover 3,700 cubic feet using only four watts of power.

Thoroughly tested, the device is said to be more effective than poison or traps and completely safe for humans, pets, plants, birds and fish. The model comes with a three foot wall cord.

Bonded Wood Floorlng

, A new African rosewood vinyl bonded flooring from PermaGrain Products, Inc., reportedly provides up to four or five times the wear expectanly of ordinary vinyl flooring.

A five layer flooring, it has the wood layer protected on top by a 2.O mil wear layer of vinyl and from lelow- by a core vinyl sheeting reinforced with fiberglass. Rep6rtedly easy to install on any flat surface and water resistant, this is the twelfth wood in the GenuWood II line.

Stairway to Success

E. A. Nord Co. has a new line of solid wood stair-parts in a variety of styles and sizes for the builder. remodeler or d-i-yer. Included are stair treads, risers, starting steps, balusters, newel posts, rails, fittings and architectural spindles.

Applications for both interior and exterior uses as well as traditional and contemporary design are possible.

Easier Pool Upkeep

A new automatic water chemistrv controller which maintains control o? both chlorine residual and pH balance in pools and spas has been introduced by Kestran, Inc.

The Aquasol Model 60036 detects chemical changes in water as they occur and activates treatment automatically. Utilizing solid-state circuitry, it uses sensor measurements to maintain control of chlorine residual and pH on a separate and independent basis. Housed in a weatherproof enclosure, it is designed for outdoor installation with circulation equipment.

Interfacing with either new or existing pool or spa plumbing, it is reportedly easily installed and requirei no special tools or wiring.

Toe Tapping In Tubs

A new push-button tub drain a-s-sembly from Stanley helps to eliminate stooping or crouching to ope.n or close a bath tub drain by providing a device that can be cloied or opened with a push of a toe. It also includes a replacement tub overflow cover.

Thg assembly is reportedly easily installed by removing tfie oli overflow cover, drain cover or pop-up stopper and connected linkage, screwing the new overflow covei in place and pushing the new drain into the tub outlet.

Ruffing lt

Mt. Angel Plywood is manufacturing a new cedar plywood, Ruff Sawn +U,that features the I by 4 board effect. This product offers architects an alternative to using cedar lumber without sacrificing design.

In two ft. widths and lengths of up to A ft. with tongue and groov-e joints on the long side, it can be used vertically, horizontally and diagonally for exterior siding or interior-panelmg.

All clear vertical grain cedar faces the product. It has no patches or chemical repairs and is 10090 clear. A thickness of 9/16" on the seven-ply panel enables the product to maet HUD/FHA standards for ?A" O.C. single wall construction.

For more information on New Products write The Merchant Magozine, 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca.9266O. Please mention issue date and page number so we can process your request faster! Many thanks!

Plastic Surround

A new line of Plastic tub and shower surrounds has been introduced by Housing Products, Inc., a division of Bremen Glas.

The surround comes in a five Piece kit form featuring a four inch by four inch tile affect. Consisting of a backwall, two end panels and two corner extrusions, the product's application is reportedly simplified with the use of a self-adhesive, comPression foam and/ or construction adhesive.

They're On The Level

Nikon's eight new surveYor hand levels are compact and light weight for field use.

The square hand level is 5.5 in. long with a fixed eye piece. The tubular hand level extends to six inches from a closed size of five inches.

Two magnification hand levels have a power of 2x and 5x. The 5x has a stadia constant of 1.100. Four Abney levels complete the series.

All levels are equiPPed with a leather case with a belt looP.

which can be used to form sliding doors using panel materials from l/8" to 3/t" thick. In antique gold' woodtone, and eggshell white embossed vinyl-over-steel, it can be used with a choice of materials including mirrors and paneling.

Custom D-l-Y Sliding Doors

L.E. Johnson Products, Inc's new Panel Jacket is a surround sYstem

The hardware package contains everything needed to finish the project, including steel fascia, to fit.in a wide range of door oPening sizes, whether the opening is wood, masonry, or steel.

Highly Heated

TVI Energy Corp. has new ceilingmounted radiant heating panels which convert electricity into infrared (thermal) radiant energy to directly warm people and objects. The Energy Kote panels are reportedly light-weight and easy to install.

Ullisted radiant heating panels can be used as the prime heating source or can be retrofitted to supple- ment existing heating systems without plumbing or ductwork alterations. In multi-sizes, they are available in all common voltages and wattages.

The panels can be thermostatically zone controlled, to concentrate heat where it is needed. The payback time can be as little as two years.

User Friendly Stain

Deft, Inc. has developed an oilbased spray stain which cleans up using only water.

The stains reportedly dry in two hours, ready for a coat of clear finish.

Light Rings The Bell

The e.S. Bell Co. has a new outdoor light fixture, the Welcome Lamp, using the original design castings of their farm bell design.

Made of cast iron, the unit can be mounted on a standard steel lamp post, secured by set screws.

Non-flammable, they can be used on interior or exterior unfinished wood. They are available in nine wood tone colors including antique and golden oak.

The U.L. approved lamp socket is made of waterproof vinyl and comes with a light bulb suitable for outside installation. Finished in mat black, the bowl has an interior finish of white enamel for better reflection and diffusion.

Open Air Skylight

A new operative ventilatingskylight has been added to Leslie-Locke's line of Horizon skylights.

With a sealed acrylic double dome to protect against heat loss, it is available in three sizes with a choice of clear, bronze or white dome colors.

The unit features an insulated curb with a 4" aluminum flashing, a charcoal<olored screen to prevent entry of insects when open and a refrigeration gasket for extra leakage protection. The frame, curb and flashing are bronze finished.