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Russell illullin Opens Outstonding Retoil Yord ln Burbqnk Lumber Compony's 52nd Yeor

Believing that, at least in this case, the picture is worth many times 10,000 words, The CALIFORNIA LUMBER MERCHANT spreads on the next three pages a collection of photos of the unusual physical facilities of the recently relocated Burbank Lumber Company at 640 North Victory Blvd. in that adjoining Los Angeles community. The officers of this Mullin company yard are Russell B. Mullin, president; Terry A. Mullin, vice-president, and Wayne F. Mullin, secretary-treasurer.

The original Burbank Lumber Company, the first yard in the Valley, was started 52 years ago by the father of Porter Robison, and "Port" himself has just retired December 31 after many years' employment with the Mullin men, lately at the Tarzana Lumber Company there and, most recently, at the Terry Lumber Company in Northridge, Calif.

Russell Mullin came to the original Burbank yard at 35 East Olive Ave. in 1919, just out of the Army, and started in the offrce; he had been around the family's Southern California and Arizona yards before the war (he employed six Indians in the copper smelting town of Clarkdale, Arizona, in 1916-17). Russell Mullin operated the Burbank yard until 1949, when Dave Hill became manager, and continued his supervision there until the yard was forced out of its location in the path of another Los Angeles automobile freeway.

The new site for the yard had been bought right after World War II for a storage yard and the company then moved onto it last February after first building the storage sheds, with Mr. Mullin headquartering there for the company's tract jobs. Business was carried on by Manager Hill, who has since resigned, as the building continued and the finishing touches were put on last Fall.

The original design of the lumberyard's office is by the many-talented youngest Mullin, Terry-Dealer Russell's son, and Architect Arthur Wolfe developed the blueprints with only a few minor changes. Terry Mullin oversees the firm's Tarzana and Northridge operations and, as his Dad puts it-"We're all in friendly competition with ourselves."

Russell Mullin, whose vigor and youthful enthusiasm belie the retail lumber experience he has to his credit, oversees 25 to 30 employes at the new Burbank Lumber Company yard, with an average of ten in the office and about 20 in the yard. One of the firm's many specialties is its letter to contractors for that larger share of the retail lumber dollar, and the yard has three of its men outside selling part of the time. Somehow, Dealer Russell also manages to look after the three Mullin lumberyards in Arizona-at Flagstaff, Kingman and Cottonwood.

And now to let the pictures speak for themselves .

Closeup of panels. Yard furnishes customers instructions how to finish them. Display panels have natural wood on one side, finish on other. Finishes include Early American, Silver Fox, Driftwood, Salem Maple, Desert Sage, Beige Pumice, Walnut Brown, Buckskin, Bleached, Cape Cod. Panels are in steel frames painted Fandango red

The clock there among the hardwood plywood panels is another smart touch in a yard full of them

Sign says: "Salesmen rvill not approach you in this area. Feel free to look as long as you wish If you want information. please ask"

Fabulous "free-wheeling" paneling displays revolve to show the most popular species in inventory including Oriental ash, Pecky cypress, Wormy chestnut, Western red cedar, Philippine mahogany, VG Redwood. Note wall shadowboxes in rear

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Very unusual in both their design and utility are yard's "Stand-up sheds." in use also at other Mullin yards; lip overhang for protection.

Mouldings, hardwood specials are stored in shed at store rear. Lower shot shows yardman building up a load in Mullin tractor svstem

Signs identify product in each shed areaway: D. F. Clears, Pine & Spruce, Mouldings, etc. Burbank benches for waiting.

Burbank yard has one of best..parking areas ever seen. Note the "Open All Day Saturday" sign.

2nd photo: "Willie" was interrupted at his loading; roofing shed area to rear.

3rd photo: Yard maintains a tremendous inventory; it has a lot of drop-in trade but the big business is contractor shed, with 8 to 10-ft. lip for weather protection. Panels get the proper treatment here.

2nd photo: Note height of the lift storage shed; here the building materials and substitutes are stored with ample protection.

3rd photo: Yard this size must have plenty of mobile equipment; tractor, lift and truck

Top photo: Idea of size of yard may be gleaned from this shot looking toward front and store.

Znd photo: The Merchandise shed has series of rooms for sash & door, roofing products, insulation; also foreman's office far right. Burbank also has one of newly popular Empire steel buildings (see Page 8).

3rd photo: Yard pile of "Specials"