Code Study Turns Up New Mqrket for Plywood

f]REATIVE SELLINC bv an aggressive V young Tarter Webster & Johnson pitcirmurihas opened up a new market for plywood from the firm's big Bandini distribution yard in Los Angeles.

Ken Vise, who handles plywood purchasing and sales at the yard, recently felt the squeeze on his supply Ior 5/s" Douglas fir plywood widely used as flooring in construction in southern California. Government buying for Vietnam construction and the boxcar shortage sent the price Soaring and the supply tumbling. The plywood had risen from 12 to 5 on the sovernment priority list and the price haJcor,r"-

Catifornia Tumber Tyierchant

quently vaulted to 35 percent higher than the November level.

Casting about for a substitute specie, Vise turned to ;/s" white fir plywood produced at TW&J's Amador mill. Though the stress grade is lower, the mill's Amtite (white fir solid-face C-D plugged and touch sanded) nevertheless falls within most building code requirements {or flooring.

Vise had seldom sold the white fir plywood for construction purposes, used primarily by industrial accounts for crating, storage bins, etc. It could, however, be used for construction at a saving of five to eight percent over Douglas fir. The near-by Amador mill also meant a short freight rate.

To double-check, Vise contacted building ofHcials in Los Angeles suburbs, and surrounding areas and put one question to them: would they pass the white fir flooring if it were called for on a set of specs. Their answer was a unanimous "yes."

Vise's next step was to find a retailer who could sell his contractor customer on substituting white fir for the hard-to-get Douelas fir.

His initial order came from retailer Frank Linde at Orbit Moulding Co. in Hawthorne.

Linde's first order was a cautious 250 sheets. Several days later he came back with an order for two truck and trailers. Within two weeks, he had bought another T&T from yard inventory and had another load on order.

"Frank proved that dealers can save their contractor customers big money on flooring by pointing out to them that the 5/a" white fir is fully approved by building officials," concluded Vise.

Chorlie Bressoud Retires

Long-time lumberman Charlie Bressoud, whose lumber career spans almost half a century, retired last month.

Bressoud got his start with Hammond Lumber in Los Angeles in 1921, and spent 32 years with Blinn Lumber (later PattenBlinn Lumber) as assistant manager. For the past seven years he has been employed at Lounsberry & Harris' San Fernando Road vard in Los Aneeles.