San Francisco Shipping Firm Offers 3-Day Delivery On Lumber OrdersBv \(/ater With New Typ" Vessel

and has a complement of 19 men. Particular cognizance slrould be given her draft which is 9'6" fully loaded and only 4l' light. Consequently, she u'ill be navigable in practically any waters on the Pacific Coast.

The Vessel r'vill be able to carry 525,000 bd. ft. of rough lumber or 650,000 bd. ft. of surfaced lumber, which is a capacity cargo, and is a very desirable cargo. It does trot overtax the mills or the yards and obviates filling up yards rvith unsold inventory.

It will take an estimated 6 hours-plus to load and 6 hours-minus to discharge her. ller running time rvill be, Coos Bay to San Francisco 30 hours; Coos Bay to Los Angeles-56 hours.

The M. S. "C-Coaster" is indelible proof that when a situation becomes critical, such as the Pacific Coast lumber shipping business, someone invariably offers the industry the knorvledge of their life-long experience and establishes a nerv. streamlincd. modern method.

\\r. R. Chamberlin, president of the firm that bears his name, has been associated r'vith the lumber shipping business since 1900 and has orvned, operated and chartered vessels since 1916. The firm was appointed general agent for the War Shipping Administration throughout the rvar, and its entire staff has been working since hostilities ended to design a particular type lumber vessel that could compete in every sense with the railroads, trucking firms and other u'atcr-borne carriers.

After spending considerable money and time on research, it r'vas decided that a Landing Ship Medium (LSM), properly converted, r,vould meet present requirements.

In November, 1948, W. R. Chamberlin & Co. purchased an LSM and arranged 'ivith the Commercial Ship Repair, Inc., to make the conversion. It .is estimated the reconverted vessel will cost at least $180,000.00 before sailing on her maiden voyag'e to Coos Bay, Oregon, the middle of this month.

The M. S. C-Coaster is a trvin screw, 3,600 h.p. Diesel powered vessel with an expected operating speed of approximately 12 knots. She is 203'6" over-all and has a 34' beam,

Advantages of shipping by the M. S. C-Coaster are Speed, Navigability, Quick Loading and Discharging, Packages or Bundled Lots, and Competitive Rates: She will compete with other rvater carriers and her rates are lower than railways or trucking firms.

She will be able to offer to the lumber industry speed in the delivery of special orders, enabling lumber yards in Los Angeles or San Francisco to take delivery of special orders within three days after placing those orders with the mill. There is no other form of transportation that can offer this speed of service in transit for lumber.

She is the only contract carrier that can take full lumber loads out of ports on the Pacific Coast r,vhose controlling depth is as shallow as 10 ft.

Insurance is included in the tariff and less than cargo lot loads are accePtable.

There is no gear on her converted decks as she loads and discharges entirely by shore-side or floating cranes. Loading and discharging is strictly a "Package Operation." Prior to ioading, the lumber will be assembled in stacks of equal lengths and widths, pref erably strapped securely with either steel strapping or wire. However, unstrapped slingload lots will be acceptable. The approximate maximum size of such a package will be 3,500 bd. ft.

The vessel will carry about 70O rvire rope slings, by which packages will be loaded aboard. Once in place, sling and

and SON

package remain as is until the completion of the discharging operation, at which time the slings are re-loaded aboard the vessel for the next southbound voyage. It is contemplated that packages in excess oif 12 ft. in length will be lifted by two slings, thus decreasing possible dam. age to the cargo and danger in the loading or discharging operations.

By this method, the necessity of handling separate pieces of lumber by hand (which has been customary) is eliminated, resulting in time saved and reduction of vessel operational overhead. This saving of port time during loading and discharging operations is passed on to the shipper or consignee in the form of quick turn-around voyages, which will result in a greater ease in fitting the ship into production schedules at the mills, while maintaining continuing rapid delivery to the yards.

In addition to other modern safety precautions taken, the ms C-Coaster is equipped with Westinghouse marine radar, and is also equipped with R.C.A. ship-to-shore telephone.

The vessel is powered with two Fairbanks-Morse Diesel engines, rated at 1,800 h.p. each. She has completely new water systems, electric water heaters, pumps and piping; one for washing and one for drinking and culinary purposes.

She isequipped with two Westinghouse 440 Volt 100 Kilowatt generators, powered by two G. M. auxiliaries. Each of these generators can completely supply the power requirements of the vessel.

The vessel is also equipped with two electric systems, A. C. and D. C., enabling her to completely shut down her plant and draw power from the dock to facilitate maintenance of engines.

Vessel has been completely re-wired in accordance with Coast Guard specifications; fire hydrants and ventilators have been re-located and re-piped, so that a maximum of vessel's deck space could be used for lumber, and at the same time conforming with Coast Guard, A'8.S. and Public Health Department requirements.

Vessel's gross tonnage is 739 tons, net 359 tons.

Jack Davidson, of Davidson Plywood & Lumber Co., Los Angeles, was back at his desk June 30, followiner a seven weeks' business trip all over the country in the interest of the firm's specialty, Etch Wood. The company has set up more than 30 wholesale distributors for this special item throughout the United States.

D. W. Wilkinson, Los Angeles, flew north early in June to visit Nicolai Door Manufacturing Co. plants at Pclrtland and Garibaldi, Oregon, and the Oregon-Washington Plywood Co. at Tacoma, Wash.

Added to the sales personnel of the George E. Ream Co., Los Angeles, recently were Harry T. Holmes, Lew J. Daniels, and Hartford (Harley) Smith. The new pleasant voiced receptionist and telephone operator is Mrs. Gabriella Millard.

Efficiency in Loading and Unloading Are Features of Davidton Warehouse

The u,arehouse is 180x140 feet, of gunnite construction, with 60-foot Summerbell roof trusses.

The unloading dock is 20 feet by 140 feet at car level, and it accommodates three cars at one time.

There is approximately 20,000 feet of paved parking and loading space, giving ample room for customers' trucks and cars. The total area of the site is 65,@0 square feet. It fronts on Washington Boulevard, which is a main traffic artery, making it very accessible from all parts of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

The warehouse building is devoted exclusively to the warehousing of plywood and doors. Etch Wood, the company's three-dimensional panel, is manufactured in a separate plant next door.

The office building has 2000 square feet of office space. The offices are done in various hardwood paneling. The general offrce is finished in Etch Wood. The private office of Norman Davidson, Jr., has walnut wainscoting, with parqueted Etch Wood above. Jack Davidson's office is finished in highly figured Avodire.

Rezo doors are used throughout. Celotex sound-deadening material is used on the ceilings. The lighting is of the most modern fluorescent tYPe.

The offrces are completelv air-conditioned.

The modern warehouse of Davidson Plywood & Lumber Co., located at 3136 East Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, and their office building, are well worth a visit, and visitors are welcomed.

W. H. (Bill) Fahs, California Panel & Veneer Co., Los Angeles, left June 13 to vacation for three weeks in Arkansas, where he will do some fishing. He will return by air about July 5, accompanied by Mrs. Fahs, who has been visiting relatives.

Many Practical Uses For Hardwood Faced Plywood

Laminex Douglas fir plywood, manufactured by The Wheeler Osgood Company with plants at Tacoma, Washington, and Myrtle Creek, Oregon, is now obtainable in a wide variety of types for every kind of use.

Of primary interest to many contractors and builders is Laminex hardwood faced plywood. Some 20 years ago' Wheeler Osgood was one of the pioneers in developing this product, formed of hardwood veneers heat- and pres- sure-welded to Douglas fir plywood. The accompany pictures show several of the many practical uses of-this product: in the modern home it is ideal for walls, panelling, cabinets and furniture, all of which are made of Laminex hardwood faced plywood in this striking 'Western home' The picture of the ultra-modern office shows how beauty and utility can be combined in the efiective use of the product for walls and panels.

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