Phifippine Mahosany

By Walter Scrim, President Philippine Mahogany Association, Inc.

Last year rvhen rve rvere t'riting our remarks about Pltilippine Mahogany for the California Lumber Merch:rnt. rve were faced rvith the problems arising from the rvar irr Korea, although it was at that time still being referred trr as a "police action." These problems are still rvith rrs, and the added problems of governmental control and its resulting ur-rcertainty have been added to the picture.

Philippine Mahogany imports into the Unitecl St;rtcs have, during the past year reached post-.nar highs. anrl for the first time in many years stocks are reachirrg the point u'here orders can be processed rvithout undue clelar,. The problem of re-introducing the u,ood into the Uniterl States nrarket after it had been unobtainable cluring thc \{'ar }eorS; rvas met squarely by the manufacturers :rrtrl importers of Philippine Mahogany. The problern \\,as not solved overnigl-rt, but Philippine Mahogany is once :rgain becoming a familiar pl.rrase to manufactnrers ancl con_ sumers.

The Irhilippine I\[ahogany Association, representing :r rnajoritv of the leading importers of lrhilippine Mahogany in the United States and Cnnada, aided by the philippinc I-umber Producers' Association of Nfanila, composcrl irf a majoritv of the leading manufacturers in the philippines, has undertaken a pr'motion campaign clesigned to acqrrai't manufacturers ancl individuals u'ith the many valuable properties of I'hilippine u.oods. During the last fiscal year- of the Association, approximatelv 150,000 pieces of litera_ ture rvere distributed throughout the United States ancl Canada. Four nerv pieces of promotional literature havc been published in the last year, and are in the process oi being distributed, and several nerv brochrrres are being prepared. A prograrn of nation-u.ide advertising in leacling t:ade jorrrnals and "shelter" publications, is being carricrl on, and the results have been rnost gratifying. The pro_ motional literature aud the advertising has done a great deal to enhance the sales potential of philippine Mal-rogany.

In addition to the promotional u,ork being carried on bv the Philippine Mahoganl' Association, many individual im_ porters and dealers, both members and non_members, halrc been carrying on aggressive programs of aclvertising all of u'hich reacts to the benefit of the philippine xfah-g:rn' indtrstry as a rr.hole.

The introcluction of various products designecl for exterior use, constructed of Philippine Mahogany, such :rs patio and garden furniture, has been enthusiasticallr- received by all interested in this rvood. philippine Mah,garr- siding for exteri,r use has been introclrrced upon the rrarliet and is being very readily accepted. ft has man1, fs2_ trlres not i.u:rrl irr other N.orls, ar-rcr pronrises t, trllcn rrr; an entirely untouched field, as far as philippine n.oods in this country are concerned.

The construction of Philippine Nlahogany furniture ltv some of the leading furniture manufactu:ers seems to indi_ cate that the market for Philippine Nfahogany is actir.e and ever-expanding.

'Lumber production in the rrhirippines has shorvn a steaclv increase as new mills have commenced operation, a.,d ,o,l-," of the older mills have ben modernized. Ntilling and log_ ging in the Philippines is carried on under the most moclc,i, methods and compares favorably r,vith lracific C.ast ,lr_ erations.

Belcirv is a comparison of exports for the first eight months of 1951 and 1950, compiled from the official fic,oe, given by tl-re Bureau of Forestry, in Manila.

First 8 mo,s. First 8 mos. % Increases 1951 1950

These figures indicate that in'rports into the Unitecl Statcs ha'r'e shou'n a healthy increase. rvith the largest increasc lreiug in the footage of logs importe<l. Up to the present the importation of logs exceeds that of lumber. The fi.qures frtr exports to other countries have shou,n a slight increasc of lumber and a tremendous increase in logs. Nlost of thesc logs (97/o) u'ere destined for the Japanese market.

It u,ould appear that unless something unforeseen hap_ pens, 1952 should be a banner year for philippine Nfa_ hogany. From reports available it looks as if greater qrliur_ tities of this beautiful wood l'ill be used in furniture anrl ltoat constructior.r. The same is true of the construction trade t:here gre:rt quantities of sicling, trim ancl panel stoclt u-ill be rrscd. Nlany people u,rite to us adr.ising their in_ tention r.'f remodeling their homes and using philippinc ) [:rhogrr rr_r'.

Prosrcssir.e lumber de:rlers no\\- carry stocks of philitt_ pinc llahogany, taking aclr'antage of the l,hilippine XI:rlr.ga ur' -\ ssociatio''s 'ation-*-icle publ ic it-r- l)rollr.l1r ,I' "Plan Philippine Xfahogany"-"Buy Philippine l{ahoganr,."

The exceptionol productivity of these vost forests moke logging ond milling one of the Islonds' lorgest industries. Some 400 mills are currentlrr in anaratinn

The greot size of these mognificent trees moke it possible to Produce lumber of iine lengths ond widths.

Thoroughly troined notive operotors and modcrn eor:inmenl combine to

^.^,t,,^a fi-^ l,,ml-,ar Prvuuev

Lumber is stocked for severol weeks h'i^r r^ chinman+ Tl.'ic air rlrvina plrvr rv.rrrPU,srrr. seosons the wood ond prepores it lor L;l- ,1,.,i-^ ;- rl"^

Jordan's Sash Unit Now Being \Tidely Used

Frank Jordan, head of the F. L. Jordan Sash & Door Company, located at 612l S. Manhattan Place, Los Angeles; has been associated u,ith the sash, door and millwork industry for 45 years in Los Angeles. Frank formed his o'rvn c:ornpany brack in 1920 and is proud o{ his firm's record during its 31 years.

The Jordan organization is the original designer ancl manufacturer of the Jordan sliding sash units now being n'iclely used in tracts and quality residential construction.

Originally designed for high bedroom windows, to gain luall sPace, these horizontal sliding sash are nor,l' being used throughout the house. They give added 'rvall space, ease of operation, non-interference rvith venetian blincls, shades or clrapes, and are weathertight.