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a narrte that has meant Sincere Seraice in lumber since 1914

Pre-opening publicity by newspaper advertising, handbills and radio spots on Pittsburg Station KKIS did the rest.

Diamond Gardner has been in the retail lumber business in California since 1904. In fact, the company's first yard building, located near Diamond Gardner's big Chico m'atch plant and planing mill, is still being used for storage purpos_es. ln lX)7, Diamond acquired the timber operations and s_even retail yards of Sierra Lumber Company,lroaden- arru severt rerarr yarqs or Jlerra \-ompany, Droadening the company's service area to include Red Bluff, Corn- ing, Orland, Woodland, Yuba City and Biggs, California.

W.- B. _Dean, superintendent of yards foi Sierra, stayed on with Diarnond and convinced the comDany that with the expected growth of the Sacramento Valley the yards would prove profitable. When Dean retired in 1937, he had built the system to a total of 58 yards.

Dean was succeeded by Ira Brink. who continued to build the Diamond chain to a total of 75 yards in 1953. Brink retired during early 1956 af.ter 47 yeais' service with the Diamond organization. He was succeeded by Chester E. Hinshaw.

Since 1953, 19 of Diamond's smaller yards have been closed due to transportation improvements which have enlarged the areas which individual yards can serve. Of the remaining 56 yards, several have already been modernized finbqr lpqnning frm wqll fo yorchootc ccnler, Nolc "A" froncr for inirh qnd mouldingr qnd "lrar" for dimonrion ond tiding. All lunbcr (svcn th. 2x4) ir cleorly prlccrfomped pcr plecc. RIGHT: Diomond wonlr to scll lunbd, lhc aomc monnd or othrr sfolc deporlmanlr sp fronl, ltanogor Undcrwood cnphqrizcr urc of "tunbcr Sqlcr Dept.,, for thir orcHqlhq thon "thc wqrchouto" (noir pricc-paf. picco cnd-tlonped on lhir redwood tidingl

Huge hond- ond power-fool disploy feolures indirect lighting, conopy, individuolly iogged (not bin-togged) merchondise (lefl phoro); disploys ond showroom oreq ore kept spotless by full-time ionitor. Right pholot "A" fromes foced , wirh Pegboord ond pointed lo motch .store fixlures promote continuity of store to lumber soles qredi yes, even eoch piece of moulding is price-toggedl ' and the rest will soon be given the same "new look" treatment, or in some cases, such as at Concord, a complete ground-up rebuilding --= a stout sign of Diamond Gardner's confidence in the future of the retail lumber industry.

According to C. E. Hinshaw, division manager of the California Retail division, the Diamond Gardner Home Building Center, the newest of its kind in California, is lo- cated on a 4f acre plot of ground. Store building and office ' area covers 7,00O square feet. Behind the main store structure is a 15,000 square foot storage and self-service warehouse that will house lumber and building materials.

According to Hinshaw, the store utilizes a supermarket approach to retailing lumber, paint, building material and hardware. Merchandise is conveniently displayed for customers to see and handle, and to bring market shopping ease to the purchase of building products.

An important feature in the new store is the Home Planning Center, where Diamond Gardner will offer customers all types of assistance relating to home construction, including drafting services. The Diamond Gardner facility was designed by James N. Lindenberger,. Chicago. Blacktop parking facilities provide space for 50 automobiles.

"This is the first of a number of such remodeling projects Diamond has planned for its chain of retail lumber stores in Northern California," said Mr. Hinshaw. "We are planning an aggressive program using advanced retail merchandising ideas, many of which have been incorporated into the

Saginaw Cedar Shingtes

Hove prolected Colifornia homes lor 40 or more yeors, qnd still do so.

Saginaw Cedar Shingtes

Hove been sold oll lhese yeors design of the new structure. We feel that the future belongs to the organizations that recognize the need to provide shopping ease and convenience to customers."

Diamond Gardner Corpo- ration has promoted Kenneth L. Brownell (right) to general manager of its New England Lumber Division. Leo V. Bodine, vice-president of the company's lumber operations, who made the announcement Feb. 5, said that Mr. Brownell will be in charge of all wholesale and retail lumber operations in the New England

Lumber Division, which has 29 retail stores aud outlets, two wholesale warehouses and several lumber mills.

M1. Brownell, who is from Manteca, California, joined Diamond Gardner two years after he graduated from local schools. His first job was yard man, counter clerk and bookkeeper for the local retail yard. He moved up through the company's re-

DOUGTAS FIR REDWOOD o nd FIR PLYWOOD

Sfuds, Boqrds

Dimension lumber

Plonks, Tlmbers

Roilrood Ties

Industriol Cuttings t9t9

BEVERTY Hl[15, CAUF. o 195 5. Beverly Dr.

Phone BRqdshqw 2-0641

SAN RAFAEI, CALIF. . P. O. Box 569

Glenwood 4-2310, TWX SR 64

EUREKA, CAtlF. o (@enerol Office) 630 J. St. Hlllside 2-3764, TWX EK 84 tail division and was made marrag'er of the Dunsmuir, California, yard in 1940. Three years later he was named assistant to the manager of yards and stores.

In 1949 he was named su-' perintendent of retail yards. In 1956 he became manager of retail yards and stores, a job he held until 1958 when he was named marketing and merchandising assistant to the vice-president, finance. Later he served as an assistant to Mr. Bodine. Mr. Brownell and his family will move this summer to the Biddeford, 1\{aine, area.

Hompton Producing Sheorhing in New Golifornio Hor-Press Operofion

Hampton Plywood Company is now producing sheathing in its new Hot Press operation at Redcrest, California, reports John C. Hampton of Hampton Lumber Sales Co., Portland, Ore. Completion of sanding facilities is scheduled for this June or July, at which time the plant will commence production of a substantial percentage of concrete form. Regular sanded panels and rough sheathing will round out the full line of items in both Exterior and Interior. Capacity of the plant is 4MM per month.

Shipments at present are being made under CS 45-55 gradestamps. DFPA stamped panels will be available as soon as certification tests are comDleted.

President of the company is L. lvl. Hampton, manager is Joe Price-formerly with Umpqua Plywood at Roseburg and Evans Products Co. at Coos Bay, and office manager is Glenn Maynard.

All sales are handled at Hampton Lumber Sales Co., Portland (407 Terminal Sales Bldg.), by J. C. Zalaha, sales manager, and Don Jones. The firm is an Associate member of the National Plywood Distributors Assn.

(Tell them Aou suD it in The Californin Lumber Merchnnt)