Lewers & Cooke a Vital Facfor in the Growth of Hawaii

By OtE MAY

"booming" from early morning until late at night to keep abreast of the constant demand for Lewers & Cooke services.

The other departments of the division include Construction Materials Department, Architectural Metals, Glass and allied materials department, Paint, Flooring, wall surfacing, plumbing, tools, hardware and machinery. In addition there is a plan room and display store on the first floor of the administration building where customers may browse and select every item available anywhere in the world for any job. They can discuss the cost of a new home, a remodeling job or a repair job and regardless of the size of the purchase the customer receives undivided attention regarding his problems.

In the huge plant managed by Tom Prentice every modern method is applied for fast handling of materials into and out of the mill and storage area. Being close to their lumber docks at pier 2, lumber carriers and trucks are moving in and out at a terrific rate. But there is one unit of mobile equipment we had never seen in operation on the mainland. It is called the "Traveloader" and can build a truck load of various lumber materials, sizes, lengths, and grades in less time than it takes to say "I{ulaland." This unit has many uses and in addition to its many functions is also equipped with its own fork lift. From all indications the Traveloader can perform several jobs at one time-and Lewers & Cooke have four of them in operation at the Piikoi Street yard. A complete custom mill service is also available for remanufacturing and customer service.

It has been said that if the soup is good in a restaurant the complete meal will be enjoyable. Viewing the complete operation and thorough maintenance of all equipment, trucks, warehouses, loading docks, offices and display areas, including the beautiful buildings of Lewers & Cooke was most enjoyable, too. Right down to the menus in the employees' luncheon good management was evident everywhere.

These are but a few observations made during a visit that was all too short. We would like some day to see the operation of the Hilo branch yard on the Island of Hawaii. Lumbermen from the mainland who travel to the 50th state should drop in on Jim Lovell and see how they administer one of the largest retail lumber operations west of Chicago.

"We operate as a team to coordinate and balance our services and sales. Competition in our field is very keen, so we maintain an inventory second to none, and because we believe customer service is the top item in any business we have the trained staff available to handle every situation," said Mr. Lovell.

That is why they are considered the largest building materials firm in BOOMING Hawaii.

This well organized merchandise division is managed by Jim Lovell, vice president, who is a veteran in the lumber and building materials field. He is assisted by 12 top flight lieutenants. Carl X. Kufferath manag'es the lumber department, assisted by Tom Prentice who also has charge of the finest, cleanest yard operation in any of the 50 states. Good housekeeping is evident everywhere and modern methods and machinery keep this retail operation

This montoge of views will give you some ideo o{ the immensity ond comp'exity of operotion of Lewers & Cooke of Honolulu. Seldom hove we seen such on oltroclive qnd well kept estoblishmant-or, os we should soy, esto:lislments, for fhe plont is divided into l0 merchondising deporfmenls. In severql of rhe photos you cdn observe the "Trqvelooder," o unique focilirT for gorhering lumber of oll sizes ond kinds in record time, Wouldn't you ds o customer like to do business here? Honoluluqns do-qf o rote of ove: S?3 million dollors o yeor.