The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-29
WOoDEN LATHIso DOOMED.
A Demand from Nearly All ArchI-
teets for Iron or steel DEVICES.

tects for Iron or Steel Devices.
One industry which is declining in this
country is the manufacture of wooden laths.
II Is not owing TO any general decrease of build
ing. nor 10 business depression, but to the grow
ing demand from nearly all architects for
metallic lathing in the construction of the par
titions OF modern buildings. Metallic lathins
is used less with q view TO making the build
inGs ~freproof than to making the walls and
partitions stronger and less likely TO crack.
Ordinary wooden laths are nailed to the stud
dlnEs while stu green or wet from exposure 10
they, were perfectly dry. for the mortar would
quickly moisten them. Then comes the drying
out process, AS tho laths dry, they twist and
turn. cracking the mortar and weakening the
wall, The wooden lath is doomed except for the
construction of the cheapest kind of buildings.
The ADVANTAGES or any form of metal laths are
so great that architects have no difficulty In
persuading prusp' ctive builders to use them to
The evolution of the Hath is rather interesting.
IN the early days. just after the log cabin era In
this country, a p%l9stered wall was looked upon
wood and tho laths were ,riven by hand from
occasionally dressed with The drawknlte or
spokeshave when too thick for use. They were
Fastened 10 the s. ldinE with handmade nails
before the rough coat of mortar aud hair was
put on. the lathed wall presented u rugged up
pearance.. having no straight lines anywhere,
and showing chinks varying from a mere crack
up TO fully an inch when u crooked Hath came
~ " ShiNtN ~ " Ihlku ONE.
Then came the sawed laths, each one ripped
from the edge of M inch and = quarter plank
With a hand saw. Next came the laths, mndo
one at u time with circular saws, and then came
the cang-saw machine. which made scores OF
laths at one cut. These laths were cut from the
log with "a shaving knife and chopped into widths
as t9othpicks and cigar lighters are.
Tbs next innovation was n metal lath made
OF thin sheet-iron strips, ribbed or having tho
edges turned over to give strength, Perforated
sheet iron with ragged punctures, in which the
mortar would clinch, succeeded the strips: and
wire netting lathing was introd uced. 1t was
generally strengthened with ribs OF cuarScr
wire, and is still extensively used. not only for
Partitions. but for concrete floors MS well.
within u few Years scores OF patents have
been granted for metallic lathing. and In almost
every instance they have been for making sheet
steel plates provided with Sits or perforatious
To hold tho mortar. Several varieties are de-
aligned To Rot more surface out of the metal
sheet than by mere perforating, and are known
as expanded metal lathinv. One company has
had almost a monopoly Of expanding metal in
this manner by the use of all ingenious
MACHINE upon which 1t has patents hero
and aoroad. Tho males run up to con-
siderably more than one million dollars n
year Ia the Cnited states. IL is said. This laIh
IL said fully t. double the width of the original
plate from which II Is cut. Recently another
company has produced n machine BY which
even more expansion is gained by an ingenious
form OF cutting and corruga.ing. All this is
clear gain, and the effort is being directed TO
getting the greatest stiffness with the liIhtest
metal, winch means moro IA u to the makers,