TOthAnniversary Special Section

A Quick Look At Our 70 Years

July 1,1922 Jack Dionne, editor and publisher of The GuIf Coast Lumberman,publishes the first biweekly issue of Ifte Califurnia Lumber Merchant, the original name for The Merchant Magazine. Volume one, number one features a classic Dionne editorial, industry and personnel news, merchandising features, association and Hoo-Hoo club goings on, and advertisements from companies such as E. L. Bruce Co. (today's Bruce Hardwood Floors) and Wendling-Nathan Co., which has advertised every year since. Subscription price: $2 a year.

January 15, 1925 A Buyer's Guide is added to help retailers find wholesalers fast.

July 1, 1925 With the magazine really catching on, this issue runs 162 pages, including some full color ads.

July 1, 1935 Reflecting the tough times, issues are temporarily scaled back to 24 pages after running 28 pages per issue for most of the Great Depression.

July l,1942 A regular "Honor Roll of Lumbermen in the Armed Services " is instituted. And in honor of the ma gazine's 2oth anniversary, the "Ten Years Ago Today" column is changed to "20 Years Ago."

January 1, 1951 The subscription price skyrockets to $3 for 24 issues, no doubt thanls to the postal service.

October lr1954 The first New Products section profiles a number of interesting products, literature and sales aids, including an amazing new floor wax.

January 1963 After 40 years as a biweekly, the magazine goes monthly.

August 1963 Well known California lumberman A. D. Bell, Jr. succeeds Dionne as publisher.

October 1966 The Califurnia Lumber Merchantbecomes

The Western Lumber & Building Materials Merchant, reflecting its expanded coverage ofother products and reach to dealers and wholesalers in all 13 western states.

October 1972 The first of more than 150 installments of "The Hardwood Series" appears.

July 1975 The magazine realizes its name is too long after readers keep calling it everything from The Western Lumber Machine and Lumber & Druggist to The Western Lover Merchant. It's shortened to its longtime nickaame, The Merchant Magazind.

October 1975 Editor David Cutler, who joined the company in 1962, succeeds Bell as publisher.

July 1978 The first personnel change is made at MungusFungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., and The Merchant Magazine is there to report it.

March 1982 The Merchant comes full circle by inspiring a sister publication, Building Products Digest, which now serves the same 13 southern state territory from Texas eastward as the old GuIf Coast Lumberman, which inspired The Merchant.