WORLD'S I.ARGEST BUILDING SUPPLY FIRM The Wickes chain opens another one

V/ICKES, the Cash & Carry King with YY headquarters at Saginaw, Michigan, established its fourth retail building supply center in California with the opening of a multi-acre center in Petaluma.

The new operation is patterned closely after its three other California cousins in Salida, Fowler and Ontario, and its stated sales policy is identical to that of the other three centers.

Wickes bills itself as o'the largest building supply firm in the world," and the

Wickes started a small machine shop in Flint, Michigan, moving four years later to Saginaw to be closer to Michigan's thenbooming lumber industry. In those days Wickes made rnachinery for sawmills and their companion salt blocks, which used exhaust steam from the mills in salt production.

This was the beginning of what now is Wickes Machine Tool Division which manufactures lathes, milling machines, crankshaft turning lathes for the automotive in- company currently operates several high grade graphite mines in Sonora, Mexico, producing specially processed graphite for the nation's steel mills and foundries as well as in the manufacture of thousands of household, business and industrial items.

The present Wickes Corporation was born in 1947. when the three divisions were merged. In the early 1950s a program of further diversification began with the acquisition of a chain of country elevators, some of which handled lumber and building materials. This was the beginning of the Wickes Lumber and Building Supply Div.

Shortly after getting the country elevators, management opened an experimental cash and carry store at Bay City, Michigan, the beginning of what today is "the Iargest building supply firm in the world.oo

The lVickes policy is simple. The Lumber and Building Supply Division sells only for cash as its policy structure makes no provision for credit losses and overhead. The usual numerous outside financing plans, of course, can be arranged for the customer in any center.

There is no "free" delivery. If customers are unable to haul their purchases away, delivery is arranged with outside haulers at the normal rate. These rates are published for inspection in each center.

RUnAt

Wickes store in Petaluma, Calif., can be clearly seen in this company operates centers from coast to coast and from Minnesota to Texas.

Originally, these yards sold only lumber. But in 1961, plumbing, heating and electrical supplies were added. Today, the Wickes centers sell everything needed to build a complete home, with the exception of masonry products.

The history of Wickes is an interesting one, and begins in 1854 when Henry dustry and a wide variety of other heavy duty equipment.

The lVickes Boiler Division, once a division of the machine shop, was organized as a separate company in 1907. Today, there are thousands of Wickes boilers in use in industrial plants, military bases, hospitals, schools and atomic energy plants.

The United States Graphite Division of Wickes was orsanized in 1891. and the

Service is 'ofirst come, first served." To avoid a mixup, customers are asked to take a number tag from a rack provided just inside the front door of each center. When his "number's upr" the customer is accompanied by a salesman from the time his order is placed until the material is loaded. Payment is made for material after it is loaded. If a customer requires an item not inventoried, a special order will be placed for a nominal deposit.

Wickes's newest center seems to follow a reasonable policy of locating on modestpriced, semi-rural property, but at the same time well within the buying sphere of nearby high density population centers. The address is 54O0 Petaluma Blvd. North.

Norl D. Cochran is manager of the new Petaluma center, and Leonard B. Lamerton is the assistant manaser.

0ne does toof hoth ceiling iohs!

/ Sfoples ceiling tile to gypsum boord

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Sfoples ceiling tile to furring strips

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Roseville Golf Tourney Drows Crowd of Hockers, Wihockers

f-t OOD AND BAD times may come V and eo. hut the annual ''Duff lnvitational" continues to roll.

For the llth consecutive year, the annual northern California Lumbermen's Golf Tournament in Roseville drew a bie crowd of hackers and whackers from Loi Angeles to Oregon. As usual, the man behind the scenes, Cal-Ida's George Duff, did a magnificent job of shepardins the affair.

Although tee ofi time was moved up to 8 a.m. because of the possibility of the usual afternoon valley heat, George must have pulled a ferv strings up there. The weather on Aug. 26 was in the balmy 80's.

Looking over the list of winners, we see some scores that will make the average dubber want to cry. At the top of the list is Gene McNuety, a guest, who shot a 70 lor the low gross guest award. Then there was Bill Flowers who came in for low sross of the field with a 72. Harry Lausmann was right in there too with a 77 card for second nlace.

Ralph Lamon added stili another low net trophy to his warehouse with his

74-9-65 which topped the field. L. D. Gabbert took second place.

First flight winner was Walt Stuermer and Bob West was runner-up. Perry Van copped top honors in the second flight with Johnny Polach losing the decision on a tie. Harris Vaughn was top dog in the third flight with Laurie Arvin just 3 strokes off the pace.

Positions one to five in the calloway went to Dave Creene, Bo Ahrens, Ray Welch, Emerson Reavis and Bob Ahrens.

Grant Potter went home to Dinuba with the hole-in-one trophy, George Duff zeroed in for the accuracy prize and Gene McNuety added the longest drive award to his low gross trophy.