\(hiting-Mead Company Changes Hands--San Diego Company Not Affected By Deal

Announcement rvas made on October 9 of the sale of the controlling capital stock of the Whiting-Mead Company, of Los Angeles, large owner and operator of retail building material yards in Los Angeles and vicinity. In liquidating the estate of the late Willis H. Mead, Superior Court Judge Victor R. Hanson approved the sale of the late Mr. Mead's stock in the corporation to John M. Stahl, and Samuel C. Rtrdolph, of Los Angeles, for a price ol $1,W2,226. This covered 4718 shares of the corporation stock, abott 9S/o of. the total. The new owners announced that theirs is a joint operation, and that they intend to operate. the business rvl-rile carrl:ing out a large improvement and real estate program. X{r. Mead died September 12,1950 at the age of 76. He r.vas one of the men rvho founded the concern in 1898.

A letter to THE CALIFORNIA LUMBER MERCHANT from H. L. Miner, of San Diego, states that the change in ownership of the Los Angeles corporation does not affect in any way the Whiting-Nlead Company, of San Diego. In January, 1944, the management of the San Diego Corporation purchased all the assets of the company South of the San Diego-Orange County line, including the right to use the Whiting-Mead Company name in the Southern area affected. "We urgentlv request that you make clear that ours is a distinct and separate operation," writes N{r. Miner, .ivho is President of the \\rhiting-Mead Company of San Diego Builders Market, the name under u'hich they operate in San Diego territory.

From a "Fact Sheet" supplied by Mr. Miner, the following interesting history of the San Diego operations is taken:

In July, 1912, Willis H. Nfead, of Los Angeles, organized the \Vhiting-Mead Commercial Co. of San Diego. Mr. Mead and five San Diego lumber companies jointly sponsored the new venture, with Mead's Whiting-Mead Co. of Los Angles owning half of the San Diego firrn, the other half being held jointly by the group of lumber companics.

In 1916, H. L. Miner, who had been a salesman for Whiting-Mead Co. in Los Angeles, was Sent to San Diego to manage the Whiting-N{ead Commercial Co. At that time, the parent company in Los Angeles had decided to liquidate the San Diego branch and Mr. Miner u,as assigned the task of organizing the liquidation.

Within a year, part of the liquidation had been accoinplished, with the San Diego lumber interests taking over the lumber stock. The Whiting-NIead Co. of Los Angeles acquired sole interest in the store building at First and G Streets, together with merchandise, accounts receivable, and a ferv pieces of real estate.

By the end of 1917, hou'ever, on Nfiner's urging, it r,vas decided to keep the San Diego organization in operation, and Manager H. L. Miner purchased a 25/o interest in the San Diego firm. In a fetv years it became obvious that the decision to keep the San Diego branch going n'as rvise, for the new Company had begun to grow aud prosper under Miner's management,

With the upswing of business for the firm, expansion was necessary, and in 7921, a branch rvas established in East San Diego, and in 7924 a store was built at El Centro. In 7927, a branch rvas added in Oceanside, and in I94I, another was established in El Cajon. Company headquarters and the main store are located at l4th and K Streets in downtown San Diego.

In 1925 it became necessary to increase capital stock of the Whiting-Mead Co. of San Diego to one million dollars and, at this time, some of the older employees purchased stock in the concern. It also rvas in 1925 that the word "Cominercial" was dropped from the firm name of the San Diego organization.

In 1944, a co-partnership consisting of H. L. Miner, his two sons, Glen M. Miner and F. Everett Miner, and other longtin-re employees and stockholders, purchased all the assets of the San Diego firmfrom the parent company, making the Whiting-Mead Co. of San Diego I0O/o locallyowned. As a result of the purchase from the Los Angeles organization, the San Diego firm acquired a trading area rvhich included all of Imperial County and everything south of the San Diego-Orange County line.

Soon after the separation of the San Diego firm from its parent company, additional expansion took place in San Diego County, with the establishment of branch stores in National City (1945) and Et Cerrito (t942).

Latest change in the organization of the firm was its incorporation, which took place in 1949. It was at this time that the corporate name \\'as changed to "Miner & Co., Builders' Market," although business continued to be conducted as "Whiting-Mead Co. of San Diego."

The term, "Builders' Market," now is being featured prominently in the firm's business forms, advertising, etc., and is fast replacing the old "Whiting-Mead" title.

The officers of the corporation are : H. L. Miner, president; Glen M. Miner, vice president and general manager; Paul E. Stake, vice president and merchandise manager; Gerald C. Thomas, secretar)'; F. E. Miner, assistant secretary and sales manager.

Tokyo Timber Exporter Visits Los Angeles

Wm. Herman, of Tokyo, Japan, was a recent business visitor in Los Angeles, and rvas the guest of Frank Connolly, president of the Western Hardwood Lumber Company. Mr. Herman is president of Pacific Stores, Inc., of Tokyo, large wholesalers. He is likewise engaged in a large way in the importation of logs from the Philippine Islands to Japan. He is associated in this enterprise with Henry Shoemaker, and the Soriano industrialists. Mr. Shoemaker is vice president of the well known firm of Barclay & Company, of Seattle, but makes his home in Tokyo. Messrs. Herman and Shoemaker are partners in the philippines to Japan log importation business.

TROXET REIIW(I(ID PTEASES

CUSTOftTERS

becquse we cqrry o complele stock of : BETTER REDWOOD in our distribution yord for ICL or corlood shipment . . Kiln"Dried or Air DriedCommons or Uppers-Rough or Finished-JUST PHONE UNDERHIIL 0-1944 or