New Markefs For Lumber Industry

I ll over the country architects and engineers are beginning / r to specify "wood" for critical areas in the construction of schools, hospitals, auditoriums and similar stnrctures where, in the past, the use of non-combustible competitive materials has beerr a necessity-either due to building code restrictions, or the greatly increased cost for fire insurance.

Now, however, the picture is changing fast. \\'ith the advent and growing acceptance of the new fire-retardant plywood and Iumber materials a lucrative new market may well be on hand for progressive lumber dealers.

A pioneer in the field is the Baxco-Pyresote brand of fireprotected lumber and plyn'ood. Already scores of large public builclings, including schools and hospitals, in California have been beautifiecl with decorative paneling made from this nerv type of building materials.

Baxco-Pyresote fire-protected interior decorative 1>aneling is produced by glueing an untreated face veneer of any desired species, ll28 of an inch or less in thickness, to a plywood core pressure treatecl rvith Baxco-Pyresote. These treated plyrn'ood cores comply r,vith most building codes-as to flame spread rating-and to each core is affixed an lJndervriter's Laboratories. Inc. label.

Baxco-Pyresoted Douglas Fir lumber has qualified for fire insurance rate reductions by successfully passing standards established by insurance groups. To date, fire insurance rating bureaus in 37 states now recogllize roofs constructed of BaxcoPyresote impregnated wood as "incombustible" for rating purposes, where all other requirements are met. feet-of

Fire-retqrdont trected plywood ponels, decoroted with red ook veneer focings, odd beouiy os well os proleclion to the ouditorium ot Byrd Junior High School, Sun Volley, Colifornia. Architect Robed Cox specified the Boxco ftre-retordant plywood cores. General Veneer Mqnufocturing Co. furnished the decoralive ook focing. The school wos built by Brunzell Conslrucfion Co.

Where competitive insurance rates are now in effect, millions of feet of fire-retardant wood roof decking will be installed in the near future. This is almost a certainty because wood is still the most flexible, rnost economical, most wanted building material.

Baxco-Pyresote is a synthesis of chemicals which impart not only fire resistance to the wood, but also give it lasting protection against rot and termites. The r,vood is impregnated by a pressure process. f'he lumber or plyrvood is placed on flat cars, then moved into an iron retort, or cylinder, and the doors locked. The solution of chemicals is then forced into the wood cells under pressures up to 150 psi for deep penetration ancl permanence of treatment. After removal the plywood and lumber are kiln dried.

Although most Pyresoted core plywood is converted into decorative paneling, tl-rere are many applications for unfaced Baxco fire-retardant olvwood. The armed forces have used much of this material in Aiaska, and in other remote areas where fire is a oarticular hazard. It has been used for bulkheads in Naval craft. It is suitable for shelving and partitions in rvarehouses, commercial and industrial plants to minimize fire hazards.

Sterling Lumber Co. President R.etires

This is a story about a man who selected a career and stuck with it through thick and thin. Not only has this man spent 46 years in the same industry, but he's done it with one firmSterling Lumber Company, headquarters Oakland, California.

Our personality for this piece is Frederick L. Sayre, who announced his retirement as president and general manager of Sterling Lumber Company on January 1 of this year. Fred has been president and general manager of Sterling since 1955, however he has guided the company's line yard operations since 1922. At present, Sterling Lumber operates 16 yards (Redding, Red Bluff, Chico, Oroville, Roseville, Folsom, Placerville, Oakley, Morgan Hill, Santa Rosa, Willows, Hollister, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Mountain View and Petaluma) with headquarters in Oakland.

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But let's start at the beginning. A native of Denver, Colorado, Fred moved to the Bay Area with his family at the turn of the century when his father, Frederick F. Sayre, sold his interest in Sayre & Newton Lumber Co. in Denver. The senior Sayre started California Sugar & White Pine Agency in San Francisco during 1900, operating this wholesale business untll 1924. He later teamed up with Bill

Thurman to start California Cedar Products in Stockton, so it's easy to see where "junior" got his interest in lumber.

The Savre familv well established in the Bav Area. Fred attended the University- of California at Berkeley. (A couple of his classmates, he recalls, of Dubuque, Iowa. Fred started at the Company's first yard in Oroville as a combination driver (horses, that is) and clerk. A few years later he became manager of that yard, and later, as additional yards were added to the chain, Fred was in charge of modernizing each new yard and bringing it into line with company policy. He recalls today that part of the modernization program in those days involved selling off the horses, closing the stables, and buying Model "T" delivery trucks. made it "pretty good" in the lumber business in later years. They were Wendell Robie, head of Auburn Lumber Company, and Fred V. Holmes, retired president of Holmes Eureka Lumber Co.).

During 1916, Fred started with a newly formed company which was to later'become Steriing. Lumber. This comDanY was the Adams Lumber Company, formed by Burton Adams

After managing yards at Oroville, Roseville, Morgan Hill, San Martin, and finallv. Los Gatos. Fred moved into the 'firm's San Francisco head office in the First National Building (now the Crocker Anglo Building) during 1921. The next year, Adams sold the business to the current principals of Sterling Lumber. Frank Duttle moved west to take charge as president and Fred was made secretarytreasurer and manager of yard operations. The company was renamed Sterling Lumber Company.

During his forty-six years in the retail lumber business. Fred has made hundreds of friends in the industry. He recalls meeting Ira Brink when he was managing the old Diamond N{atch yard at Woodland. Mr. Brink later went on to become head of Di(Continued, on Page 20) l(eep slow moying items out 0f Y(IUR inventory . . . leave the slow moring items ll{ Y0UR SEC0tlD lllVEl{T0RY at ARR0WHEAD TUMBER C0. yard. Quality-Dependability-Satisfaction{ervice. Storage in Transit-l C I and Direct Shipnents

Your big SEC0I{D |I{VEI{T{IRY at Arrowhead is as close as your telephone Fast Service-no matter how mixed-up they are Phone or write in your orders Calls receiyed in the forenoon will be scheduled for truck pick-up the same day.

"Just CallArrowhead-Arrowhead lumber Company always has it."

Some 65 plywood iobbers ottended the regionol meeting of NPDA in Son Froncisco on Decenber 8. Top left: Generol view of luncheon session. Next: Bob Brozelton, G-P Solinos; "Cop" Nichols, G-P Fresno; Mox Thomos, G-P Socromenlo ond Lew Bishoro, Evons Producls, L, A. Second left: Grouped ot the fcble ore Jock Fcvors, GBS Plywood; Deon Trumbo, M. Trumbo, Portlcnd; Leonord Holl. lumber Products, Portland; Horold Sond, G-P Los Angeles; Stewort Whire, G-P Portlond. Nexf: Merv Tobios, 5. F.; Gordon Ingrchcm, IHPA, S. F.; Bob Eviu, Eviu Producis, S. f.; Peter Von Oosting, L, A,; ond Norm Rose snd R. E. Stelzer enioying o yuk. Third left: Hons Roiner, Eost Asioric, S. F.; Norm Rose, G-P Son Jose; Robert Stelzer, Evons Products, Porllond; H. G. Rybock, U. S. Plywood, Eugene; Fronk Hendricks, Srqndqrd Veneer & Timber, Crescent City; J. W. Kline, Plywood jVlonufociurers lnsfitute, Portlond ond M. Sillemon, Eqst Asiatic Co. Nexi: Bob Potrick, Emsco Plywood, Ooklond; ond R. W. Dolton, West Coost Plywood, Sqn Marino. Fourth left: Rolf Siolesen. Duroble Plywood Sqles, A,lenlo Pork; A. B" Burdick, Tri-Srqte Plywood. Sonto Clcro; NPDA president Jock Wolker, Birminghom; John Beckstrom, Beckstrom & Co., Menlo Pork; Mih Mikkelson, Evons Products, Fresno; W. W. Aftolter, DuroFlcke, Albony. Oregon; Arthur Jones, D.F.P.A, facoma ond Chuck Thompson, BrownThompson, Syrocuse, N. Y. Next: leonord Crofoot, Davidson-Wesfern, L. A.; Chandler Hqrt, Pqcific Wood Producls, 1. A.; Bill Fohs, Colifornio Ponel & Veneer, 1,. A.; Bud Rodditz, Wonke ponel Co., Porrlqnd; Al Pornell, Northwest Door & Plywood, Arherton, Bottom left: Seated oround the tqble ore Wolldce Willioms, U. S. Ptywood; "Rif" Rifenroth, G-P Ooklond; Bob Cheney, Del Volle.Kohmon and Fred Smoles, U, S. Plywood. Botlom righl: Bruce llollery, Evons Producls, Porlland; Emory