The San Francisco call., 1910-11-20
WOOD MOST NEEDED
FOR AUTO BODIES
Wonderful Care Has to Be OBJ
served in Selection of
Stock
Strength and LightneSs Are the
Two Factors TO Be Con-
sidered


and beautiful interior finish of auto
mobiles has resulted in experiments
tending to show just what timbsrs are
best for this purpose.
During the last century examination
by scientific test and observation was
made of the various qualities OF Eng
lish and other foreign grown timbers,
and of these dry ash is placed AMONG
the best for tensile and transverse
strength, combined with lightness. And
it is these qualities, combined with
reasonable ease in working which
make it so very valuable for the frame
work of vehicles.
The absence of a liability to twist or
warp where doors and moving parts
are concerned is also a quality which
renders it very serviceable to the
worker in the wood The best ash.
seasoned by being kept in a dry atmos-
phere. protected from the weather, but
not at uniform temperature. is used
by the motor carriage builders for the
best class of work.
Stocks of ash are frequently kept
for seven to ten years when consider
able thickness is required. and as the
timber becomes lighter the more thor
Oughly it is seasoned. there is also that
advantage where timber which has
been long in stock is used. difference
of seven pounds per cubic foot has been
noticed in the same class of timber,
between commercially dry and bone
dry timbers. The advantage OF using
this specially seasoned timber is to be
seen in the framing of vehicles which
have been built of it. none of the vari-
Gus jointings of the framing. which
can not in every case be covered up by
paneling. showing where the cross and
Iongitudal timbers meet.
Canadian yellow pine has been eX-
tensively used in vehicle building. for
castings, roofs, floors, seat boards and
under panels. For the roofs of motor
carriages it is being superseded by
three-ply boards. These are a COM
binatiOn of sometimes two or three
timberS or of one kind. The boards are
composed of thin sheets of various suit
able timbers; Eastwood. whitewOOd.
birch and mahogany have been used,
the last two as facing boards for the
exposed side.
These timbers are cut off the log
very much like roll of paper is un-
rolled and are about One-sixteenth of
an inch in thickness. Three Of these
sheets, one at right angles to the
others, are glued together, preferably
with waterproof glue or cement, and
thus a thin sheet of fine figured birch
or mahogany can be glued TO two pieces
a very strong and comparatively light
panel suitable for roofs. This method
has been adopted for some thicker
boards used as bottom boards. which
have to be left loose so that gear boxes,
etc. can be reached
An Australian timber, kauri pine. has
been found TO be very serviceable for
this purpose. as ii is not so likely TO
warp or be destroyed by oil. water. etc.
which lodges on the under sides of all
cars.
The three ply roofing is almost uni
versally used for roofs which have TO
carry luggage, the under side being
painted or polished at discretion. A
fine effect is sometimes obtained BY
the use of the figured birch three ply
as a ceiling for the canopy and inside
of Hmousines. A timber of contrasting
color. such as walnut or mahogany. can
be employed as decorative molding
with fine effect.
Honduras mahogany used in vehicle
construction is quite different in char
acter to the Cuban or Spanish ma
hogany used in furniture and for house
decoration. 1t is lighter than ash, but
the transverse strength is not so great.
For panels. whether to be fat or bent.
lit is unequaled. as it is of fine, even
texture and Of straight grain. 1t stays
permanently where il is fixed il thor
oughly seasoned when used in 'construc-
ton.
A timber which is extensively used in
America and is sometimes employed
in Europe for interior castings which
have to be covered with upholstery,
and for the cheaper qualities of work
is known as whitewoOd- This timber
was introduced into England about 40
years ago and was offered in very large
logs, cutting panels sometimes 40
inches in width.
1t was largely used in vehicle con-
struction when the natural grain OF tife
wood was desired to be shown. but a
few years experience revealed very
serious defects; it was easily and ad-
verseIy affected by damp and water
and readily became discOlored and is
now very seldom used for this pur-
pose, inside boards and seats being
the extent to which carriage builders
employ it.
For interior decoration Hungarian
ash, pollard, oak-maple, walnut. fig
ured mahogany and other woods for
contrast, such as satinwood and ebony.
are now frequently employed in the
-decoration of the interior of cars. This
is a distinct advantage, for there is
no necessity for the whole of an in
terror to be upholstered and the cell
ing and upper parts of a closed car
riage may with advantage from a sani-
tary as well as an esthetic point OF.
view be fitted with material which can
be cleaned easily and thoroughly with
out its being stained or destroyed
Mail is now being carried by auto
mobiles into nearly every section OF
Oregon, several lines being in opera.
ton near Lakeview. Ore. One up To
date mail contractor has installed an
automobile on the stage line between
Lakeview Ore. and Paisley, distance
of AZ miles From Silver Lake another
line goes northward INTO the Deschutes
country and between Paisley and Silver
Lake is the only stretch OF country
between the Columbia river and Al
turas CAL that has no regular motor
stage during the summer months From
Klamath falls to Lakeview there is an
automobile line that makes trips daily :.
each way and covers the distance in
about eight hours, The lines are pa
and residents of the country who ap-
probate the modern way Of travelling.