BnooKs-ScANLoN

Laboratory officials estimate that today 75 percent or more of all prefabricated houses utilize this principle one way or another. Two years ago, on the occasion of the Laboratory's golden anniversary, the industry proclaimed the modest onestory dwelling as the oogreatest single contribution to housing since the invention o{ the nail." On behalf of the Home Manu{acturer's ,Association, George E. Price, president of National Homes, Inc., Lafay-

AUGUST, t963 ette, Ind., hung a plaque on a wall.

Other industry leaders have hailed it as "the granddaddy of the prefabricated house industry."

At the time the house was built, plywood made with waterproof synthetic resin glues was coming on the market as a result of pioneering by the Laboratory. This type of Douglas-fir plywood was used for the exterior of the house.

The plywood skins were nail-glued to the light wood framework with a commercial woodworking glue, nails being used to apply pressure until the glue cured.

In consequence, a point of acute interest among Laboratory research workers was how well such glue joints have stood up.

In tests to date, no reason has been uncovered to think that the glue bond holding the plywood to framing has deteriorated with age, says Heyer. In fact, the bending loads imposed in the testing machine broke the wood while the glue joints held firmly.

Parts of the panels removed will be cut into small specimens for further evaluation o{ the glue joints, both those holding the skins to the {ramework and those in the plywood itself. When these are completed, the FPL scientists will have a completely documented story on the aging characteristics of glue joints in a prefabri' cated house system.

A two-story brother of the house, built about the same time but not yet complete when Mrs. Roosevelt visited here, is also in constant service as an office. Some years ago it was jacked up and turned around a full half-circle for greater convenience in connecting it with another laboratory building. Even this left no visible efiect of distress on it.

And the experiments continue. To replace the panels removed, Heyer and his associates have built new ones made the same way, except that a new experimental glue which sets on contact was used to attach the plywood skins to the lumber framework. If successful, this glue should prove highly useful in speeding production and cutting costs for future stressed-skin house elements and other building comPonents.

New Plont for Pope & Tolboi

Pope & Talbot, Inc. announced it has started construction of a dry process hardboard plant adjacent to its sawmill at Oakridge, Oregon. The cost of the new facility will be in excess of $3 million.

In addition to producing a high grade, smooth two sides hardboard, the new plant will turn out a wide range of panels in lower densities. Its design was developed through extensive pilot plant and marketine studies.

Construction should be completed by the latter part of 1964. l'or raw material the plant will process the Oakridge mill waste which is now being sold in the form of pulp chips.

Hardboard will complete Pope & Talbot's utilization program at Oakridge and will increase the Company's market diversification. In addition to the Oakridge sawmill Pope & Talbot is operating particle board and green veneer plants at the same location.

Pope & Talbot's other sawmills are located at Port Gamble, Washington, and St. Helens, Oregon. In 1961 the Company purchased a plywood plan at Kalama, Washington.

Pope & Talbot recently terminated its steamship operations by selling its four remaining vessels.

Potlotch Acquisition

Potlatch Forests, Inc., Lewiston, Idaho, has purchased the stock of Maxwell Brothers, Inc., corrugated shipping container manufacturerso for more than $l million. Maxwell Brothers has plants in Chicago and Albany, Ga.

The acquisition will enable Potlatch "to better serve" its customers and also is a step in the "growth and stabilization" of marketing efforts, according to the company.