United States Plywood's New Olftce and \(/arehouse Building at Los Angeles

Shown above is United States Plywood Corporation's new Los Angeles sales and distribution unit, said to be the largest plywood warehouse in the United States.

The modern structure is located at 4480 Pacific Blvd., Los Angeles, and contair-rs more than 60,000 square feet of storage space, in addition to 5,000 square feet occupied by showrooms, office and sales facilities. Offices are completely air-conditioned and sound-proofed.

The striking facaCe of the building is constructed from precast concrete fins rneasuring 36 inches wide by 10 feet high, set at 45-degree angles for natural illumination and sun control.

When company oificials began to plan the new warehouse, ofifrces and Western Divisional headquarters, they took three things into consideretion.

First-an efficient warehouse layout to faciiitate the harrdling of their own trucks, deliveries, pickup orders by customers and freight shipments.

Second-an office layout built around a well staffed order desk and central inventory file.

Third-they wanted to make the offices and general worl; areas a showroom c,{ Weldwood products.

The loading docks, large enough to accommodate eighteen trucks at one time, are on a large parking area, entirely separated from the parking for passenger cars. All except five of the docks are recessed into the warehouse to provide loading under roof.

The increased warehouse space rvith adequate plywood storage racl<s, flanked by'ivide aisles, enables complete handling of stock with fork liits. This not only facilitates the filling of orders but also proviies systematic storage for a greater vltrtety of plywood, species and sizes.

.The spacious offic" facilities not only show the uses of tl.reir many Weldwood products, but they have set aside one rooll1 devoted cntirely to large size sarnples of the various hardwoocl species and other products. These are all attached to demountable display racks r'r'hich enables them to vary the displays from time to time.

Though they are a wholesale plvrvood and material concern, sellir-rg only through the lumber, millwork and cabinet concerns, they feel that the sample room was a necessary addition to their services. They have found it quite useful to architects ancl their clients and the lumber and cabinet people with their customers.

They dld not stop with the sample room as they are happy to take them on a tour of the various private offices which are all done in various l.pecies of native and imported hardwood paneling.

They make their u.ork rooms their shou'rooms and are happ,v to receive visitors.

Frecl B. Smales, Western Division manager, has an office in the new building. Don Braley is manager of the Los Angeles r'varehouse, Boris Y. Kutner is sales manager.

On the opposite page are shown views of some of the attractive ofifices, and a section of the warehouse.

Curtis Companies, lnc., Purchases American Plywood Corporation

George M. Curtis, president of Curtis Companies, fncorporated, Clinton, fowa, has announced the purchase, as of December 21, 1951, of American Plywood Corporation of New London, Wisconsin, and its wholly owned subsidiary, American Veneer Coriroration, Oconto, Wisconsin. All capital stock of American Plywood has been purchased outright,. inclirding all real estate, equipment, timberlands, contracts for logs, patents, trade names and other assets, Mr. Curtis stated.

The purchase augments the production facilities of Curtis Companies, Incorporated, now ending its 85th year as a leading manufacturer of woodwork, with a line of topquality flush doors, plywood, veneer and fixtures, Brand names formerly used by American Plywood, among which are New Londoner and Plyoneer, will be continued with the addition of the prefix "Curtis." No changes of present personnel are contemplated.

fn commenting on the acquisition of American Plywood Corporation, M.. Curtis said, "The corporation was acquired in order that we might more completely serve present Curtis customers. We have recognized for some time that modern architectural trends demand interior and exterior flush doors, as well as the popular panel doors, but we have not been in a position to fill our dealers' flush door requirements adequately. The demand has long ex- ceeded the supply of quality flush doors, but until we could market doors which would match the high quality of other Curtis woodwork, we withheld expansion in this field.

"Another primary reason for the purchase is to enlarge the scope of Curtis by entering and expanding the plywood, fixture and veneer business which has been so well handled in the past by American Plywood.

"The purchase of American Plywood represents another forward step in the long-range program of product expansion and development which Curtis Companies have carried on for many years. That program has resulted in such products as the well known Curtis Silentite windows, a complete line of kitchen cabinet units, and a line of architectural woodwork which has won widespread praise. from architects, builders and home owners alike."

Tom Corbett Wqs Winner oI

Dubs, Ltd.Iow Gross Pritze

Dubs, I-td. didn't hold a golf tournament in December. The November meeting was held at Green Hills Country Club on the 16th. The Chairman of the day was Art Evans. Tom Corbett won the low gross prize with a 78. Del Travers was second with79, and Fred Ziese took third prize u'ith 80. Art Evans was low net winner with 61. Jirn Needham and Weldon Smith tied for second with 64, and there was a three-way tie between Don liesselring, Bob Bonner, and Frank Brown, who scored 65 for third.

By Ed Nofziger