The Uses of Lumber

Table 46 Sporting and Athletic Goods (Annual wood consumption, 25 million board feet) Woods Used Per Cent Hickory 20 Maple 20 Elm 13 Ash 13 Oak 10 Birch 4 Yellow Poplar 4 Yellow Pine 4 White Pine 3 Basswood 1 Other Woods 8 Total 100 33. Patterns and Flasks.The reports group the woods used for patterns and flasks, although they really have no property in common, and very different grades of material are required for the two purposes. For pattern making, soft, even-grained, easily worked woods which swell and shrink very little are required; while, for the foundry flasks which hold the sand and patterns, almost any wood will do.

By far the larger proportion of patterns are made from white pine, although, for specially fine castings—in which it is important to have durable patterns that can be used many times without wear or swelling and shrinking—expensive woods like mahogany and cherry are used.

Because of its resistance to wear, white oak is also employed to some extent for patterns. Flasks are made from yellow pine, white pine, hemlock, redwood, and a number of other woods.

In the manufacture of patterns and flasks, Pennsylvania seems to have a decided lead; while New Jersey and Ohio use more wood for these purposes than any other State except Pennsylvania.

Table 47 Patterns and Flasks (Annual lumber consumption, 24 million board feet) Woods Used Per Cent White Pine 75 Yellow Pine 8 Redwood 4 Hemlock 2 Spruce 2 Yellow Poplar 1 Sugar Pine 1 Mahogany 1 Cedar 1 Other Woods 5 Total 100 34. Bungs and Faucets. The manufacture of such apparently insignificant articles as bungs and faucets annually requires more than 20 million board feet of wood, of which yellow poplar supplies 85 per cent. This wood is preferred because it is straight-grained, soft, and easily worked, and because it contracts and expands evenly. The even expansion of the bung is what causes it to fit tightly and prevent leakage.

By far the larger proportion of the bungs manufactured are produced in the State of Ohio, and especially in Cincinnati, although the yellow poplar from which they are made comes mainly from Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Table 48 Bungs and Faucets (Annual wood consumption, 21 million board feet) Woods Used Per Cent Yellow Poplar 85 Maple 4 Beech 4 Red Gum 2 Birch 1 White Pine 1 Oak 1 Other woods 2 Total 100 35. Plumbers' Woodwork. For plumbers' woodwork, about the same quantity of wood is required as for bungs and faucets. Under this

heading is included the wood used in the manufacture of bathtubs, toilet tanks, seats, bathroom cabinets, and other plumbers' equipment. Oak is the chief wood for these purposes, with birch second, and much smaller quantities of a dozen other woods consumed. For exterior work where a fine appearance is desired, oak is most largely used, together with birch, cherry, and mahogany. Maple and yellow poplar are employed for painted or enameled work; and yellow poplar, chestnut, red gum, and shortleaf pine, for tank backing. Ash is often used for wash-tray frames.

Table 49 Plumbers' Woodwork (Annual lumber consumption, 20 million board feet) Woods Used Per Cent Oak 70 Birch 12 Yellow Poplar 4 White Pine 4 Ash 3 Red Gum 2 Maple 2 Yellow Pine 1 Basswood 1 Other Woods 1 Total 100 36. Electrical Machinery and Apparatus. Oak is the leading wood in the manufacture of electrical machinery and apparatus, while white pine and spruce are also of much importance. The three supply 55 per cent of the annual requirement of about 18 million feet. Many other woods are used in smaller quantity.

Much of the spruce is used in the manufacture of conduits, reels, and spools for wire; while some birch, white pine, yellow poplar, red gum, and basswood are also used for this purpose. Railway signal devices require most of the white cedar and cypress used in this industry, since these woods offer good resistance to the elements. Rough telephone boxes are made of hemlock, oak, yellow poplar, and maple; while telephone booths—in which appearance is finportant—are made from such woods as oak and birch. Yellow poplar and oak are used for the base blocks for electrical devices; while many high-grade woods are used in switchboards and telephone cabinets.

Illinois seems to be the most prominent State in the manufacture of electrical machinery and apparatus, but large quantities are also produced in New York and Pennsylvania.

Table 50 Electrical Machinery and Apparatus (Annual lumber consumption, 18 million board feet) Woods Used Per Cent Oak 27 White Pine 17 Spruce 11 Yellow Pine 7 Maple 7 Birch 4 Cedar 4 Larch 4 Yellow Poplar 3 Elm 3 Walnut 3 Beech 2 Mahogany 2 Basswood 2 Hemlock 1 Red Gum 1 Cypress 1 Other Woods 1Total 100 37. Brushes.The manufacture of brushes consumes about 13 million feet of wood annually of more than thirty species, of which beech supplies nearly half, and birch and maple each 15 per cent.