^S 836 ■C3 'Opy 1 C v^ L I F O B.'N I A. ^r. 'tM)^^ «,p«««««^" so THIS IS THE BOOK ABOUT INTERIOR TRIM OF GENUINE CALIFORNIA REDWOOD IN MODEST HOMES, IN ELABO- RATE HOMES, AND IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS: SUGGESTING ITS VARIED YET UNVARYING BEAUTY, ITS DISTINCTION, ITS GRACEFUL DIGNITY OF GRAIN, ITS RESPONSIVENESS TO DIVERSE ARTISTIC TREAT- MENT, ITS SYMPATHETIC HAR- MONY WITH ANY TYPE OF INTERIOR, ITS EXCELLENT "WORKABILITY," ITS UN- EQUALLED FREEDOM FROM THE WARPING AND SHRINK- ING TENDENCIES OF SO MANY WOODS, AND ITS ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE AS RELATED TO MORE COSTLY YET LESS DESIR- ABLE FOREIGN "TRIM WOODS." WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF THE CALIFORNIA RED- *WOOD ASSOCIATION, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. 'CI,A41999G FEB -5 1916 /z ^>^ro//u?r/iooc\ - ULhrascoor/n. ^/nen ts tY ayrony to c^t^y '//-w coa/ o/l^arYn!'' ^ rPveren//Y o'on6\ /or owa/ o/rnan, ^JTie Joa/n q/ /rees j6pcomes anoY/i,?rj6tr^A,\ ./Y j6tr/h o/ use , o/ jGrvic& - coi//i ^ a Aeau/u ^)tsht7c:^ 'tn Artnc^ , //^/ o/ a 6roao\ r awr/A ". Copi/right, 1916, by Cfosby-Clricaffb, Inc., (Pullman Build, vg) — ; Y-SQ-C. . aA\ 3\o'na"\<^c\o i\W ^oy^ ioiW sc^oA ©CI.A4I:»:'.H, FEB -5 1916 - UlJoroscoor/n. a /o (^la /ne coa/ o/ ear^A/ ^JTzen zf tV corony to Ciy ^^^// rpvererir/y aone,/or cDea/ q/ rnan, S^Tie ^ea/n q/ /rees h& comes ano/ner j6tr/A; ^yr Atrrn o/ use , q/ service - qji/A a neau/y^^ lL)ts/tnc/ tn Atna , t/er oA a Aroa^er coor/A ". EASY REFERENCE TO WHAT FOLLOWS: This page is an informal digest of the interesting and valuable Redwood facts contained in this book — which we present for the enjoyment of all lovers of beautiful interiors and for the economic benefit of those who care enough about cost to intelli- gently insist upon superior material values as well as art values. About Redwood, "Nature's Lumber Masterpiece:" Page Page "The Importance of the Inside". . 3 "Use Redwood Only Where Best" 22 Selection of the Wood Trim 4 Appreciating Natural Wood 23 " Inside is Where We Live" 5 Japanese Impressions 24 " Exteriors are to Please Others " 6 Redwood "Flame Treatment " . . . 25 " Before Choosing Furniture". .. . 7 Beauty by Simple Means 26 An Editorial Quotation 8 "You Cannot be Commonplace" . 27 A Sane Redwood Enthusiast. ... 9 Stain Enters Softer Pieces 29 Various Kinds of Redwood 10 " Easy Working;" Wide Range ... 40 Redwood Walls at "Darlington". 11 Adaptability to Refined Uses.... 42 Present Trend of Taste 12 Remarkably Wide Panels 45 Occasional Desire for " Burl ". . . . 13 " Short Lengths " and Economy . . 46 Soft Wood for Fine Interiors, and "The Older the Stronger" 49 "The Crime of Artificial Grain" 15 Fire Resistance; Plenitude 50 White Enamel " Behaves " 16 Artistic Latitude; Painting 51 When Libraries are Our Friends . . 17 Suggestions for Treatments 52 Redwood Panels (and pantries). 18 Recipes for Rare Finishes. . .53 to 59 "The Home is Part of Us" 19 Famous Architects' Letters. .60 to 65 Regaining Architectural Sanity. . 20 Government Reports (excerpts) . . 66 " Enthusiasm vs. Experience "... 21 Instructive Letter from Peru 67 Country-wide Examples of Redwood Interior Trim: Photographs illustrating its great variety of use and growing popularity. New Jersey, pages 4 and 5; San Francisco, 7; Michigan, 10 and 11; Cali- fornia, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16; Minnesota, 17; New York, 18 and 19; California, 20 and 21; Connecticut, 22; California, 23 and 24; Wisconsin, 29; "Everywhere," 26; San Francisco, 30; Los Angeles, 39; Mexico, 40; California, 41, 42 and 43; New York, 45; New Hampshire, 47; Woodland Scenes: An Average Redwood and An Average Man, 6; Among the Red- wood Giants, 28; A Sentinel of History, 68. Ten Four-Color Reproductions picturing Redwood in its natural state and with a few of its most winsome and practical finishes. (15 additional recipes are given but not illustrated.) THE REDWOOD SERVICE BUREAU: If we succeed in doing for you, and for other readers of our adver- tising, even a part of what we are trying to do, we shall feel com- paratively well satisfied — and hope that you will, also. Our pur- pose is to maintain in this department a genuinely personal and invariably dependable service, which shall fortify the favor which this wonderful wood earns for itself, and shall add to your affection for its beauties a complete reliance upon its rare qualities of "good beha*'ior" and a sincere respect for the exceptional economies related to its use. Write us freely of your plans — and your hopes. Let us aid you in your planning^and in your hoping. Let us show you in detail just why REDWOOD is best for YOU — when it is. In cases where some other wood is better for you, let us tell you that. In short, rely on us {or facts only — facts of value, of encourage- ment and of bright confidence. Write us openly — we will reply in the same spirit — and we all shall be gainers by such frankness. Please address "The Service Bureau" of the California Redwood Association, San Francisco, California I'lU/C Iwo (snarac/e m\ \l ii aracrer /ne Jfouse fs QDe/er/mnea oyi/s j7n/ertor ^rim. THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE is more important than the outside; it is hiteresting to consider that the only purpose of the out- side is to keep the weather away from the inside. Upon selecting the site, you discover that the portion of the atmosphere which is destined to become the Interior of your home, a7id which you plan shall on some early day become imbued with the mellow flavor of beautiful rugs, pictures and hangings; which soon shall be warm with the thige of hospi- tality, sweet with the aroma of grace and love and dignity, and likely resonant with the laughter of children — this prospective cubic content is now but an indistinguish- able part of the great expanse of outdoors! So, to rescue, as it were, the inside of your house from the i7ifinity of space, you hur- riedly yet carefully box it in with walls. You do not thereby Create an inside — for it 1 ! t^v \\ \ -i 'h^ Page Three At L.^j>j^m A N A T ,y K- ^ ' S L U Mj BE R- J^f^ S T E ^^^^^ 1^^. C^f . ^' ,, , r "^ hi m i\i The Garden Front; "Darlington," Residence of Emerson McMillin, Esqr., in New Jersey. Mr. James Brite, Archi- tect, New York. {Illustration of Interior on Facing Page.) was the inside that existed first in your dreams; you merely define it and make visible to others what before you alone knew the form and look of. Is 7iot all this true? The inside, then, really is about all there is to the house, as far as living is concerned, and the interior finishing and furnishing together are the vital part of the task of home creation. Immediately we gra?it these foregoing prem- ises, we miist acknowledge the superior importance of our discriminative selection of the most beautiful a7id adaptable wood for the "interior trim'' of the house we are to be so proud of for the rest of ozir lives. ;!,■/ if' ' f''l lacji r i/ BEAUTIFUL ,ENDUR.ING , FI U-E -RES I STANT , SANiT^R^Y -^ « r/zf Dining-rooyn at "Darlington;'' the Entire Interior Exe- cuted in California Redwood. Note the Superb Carvings and Wonderful Breadth of Panels {Indicated at Right of Picture). Inside the house is where we Hve. Inside the house is home. What we have inside the house, and what we do inside the house determine the kind of home we have and the kind of sentimental and moral heritage which we bestow upon our children. It is true that the outside of the house and the grounds surrounding it (if there are grounds surrounding it) are contribu- tions to the memory of "home," and that, altogether, they constitute the homestead; yet, although we beautify the exterior of the house and embellish its environment primarily for our own pride and happi- ly IfMWf/f^^-^^ i-'^wmmam-s- NAT TJ R."E' L U M! B E R. M A S T F, 1^ P 1 E C E Butt of a Redwood Log, (stripped of bark) Showing the Prepon- derance of Heart-wood over Sap-w'ood. The "Heart-wood" is the Characteristic and Valuable Part of Any Tree. ness, is it not true that in doing so we have somewhat in mind the impression upon our neighbors and upon ahen passers- by? Is it not true that to an extent our homestead exteriors are designed to please the multitude? Is it not equally true that the interiors of our homes are for our- selves and our close intimates in much larger ratio to our whole purpose than are our "outsides?" If we grant this much, may not we grant the prime need to us (who either are building, or about to build, who con- template building, or who hope some time to build our own home) of a very early and very careful study, and deliberate, TIT I 'age i,ix BEAUTIFUL, END URGING .FIRE-RESISTANT , SANITARY Rich in Quiet Dignity. A Corner of the Panelled Redwood Ceiling in Lodge Room No. i, Masonic Temple, San Fran- cisco. Messrs. Bliss and Faville, Architects, San Francisco. Y\ ilitl positive choice, of the kind of wood to be ' ' ' used as the interior trim of our homes? Our choice on this point comes before our 'i choice of furniture, or pictures, or rugs, i or other objects of art, and, if we are wise, it influences, when it does not actu- ally determine, all of our subsequent choices in other fields of selection. A certain famous architect once wrote in a letter to a friend "IXIy preferences (for California Redwood) are rather hard to analyze, beyond stating that the general effect of the interior of a living or dining- room finished in Redwood produces a most satisfactory and restful effect, and the result of its use is so pleasingly homelike, lliii^ a \\^ \\ ijmKSaS ^ I'diic Srvrii HT \ 'f k< r Liy The Restful Effect of an i'lii-fliiVi'd Kedicoud Intiiio). Residence of Otis Johnson, Esqr., Fort Bragg, California. that I often choose it in preference to the more expensive hardwoods." Singularly enough, an editorial writer in the House Beautiful magazine expressed the same subtle effect impressed upon the sensibilities of home-lovers by Red- wood interior trim, by asking, in the midst of a critical article mentioning many other species of wood, "What could be more deliciously wholesome, cleanly and homelike in its effect on the senses than natural Redwood lightly waxed?" Illustrative of the need of this book, it is with unusual satisfaction that we quote the following from the December, 1912, .?"Ts«^iij\"nH I ^^ Ji ■ Page Eight it fee A ^JJLPJ^^ I A ACDWOOH m- '1 , ENDUR.ING . FIRE -RESISTANT , SAN 1 T A, a,Y Another All- Red'i.vood Vieiv in the Hospitable Residence Illus- trated on the Facing Page. Mr. F. J. Matirer, Builder. issue of the Architectural Record, (New York) than which there probably are few better American authorities: "With California Redwood for interior decoration, eastern architects and builders •'- r'fp?i;^\|iVi **T*^1' Mil n/fi II nmiaij ■ /'i/.i/t-' ISinc Residence for Michael Cudahy, Esqr., Mackinac Island, Michigan. Mr. Frederick W. Perkins, Architect, Chicago. are practically unfamiliar, so rarely is it used this side of the Mississippi. Nowhere is its beauty and utility so richly or effectively demonstrated as in the dining- room of Georgian splendor" (in "Darling- ton" the country estate of the late Mr. George Crocker, later the property of Mr. Emerson McMillin, among the Ramapo hills of New Jersey). "Three varieties of Redwood are used: the burl, w^hich is the root of the tree; the straight and the curled grain, ^^/ootnotl.) The {Ed. NOTE — The magazine zvriter was in error on this point. Burl is not the root of the tree. Please refer to pages ij -14.) i'liyc 1 cii "■':\\q_\i f-r^: ^liliilAl. BEAUTlFUL.ENDUr-tING . F I RE. - RES I STANT , SANITARY The Impressive Entrance Hall in the Residence Shown Opposite; the Panels and Trim are of California Redwood. markings which lend such varied beauty are secured by a pecuHar way of sawing the wood. "The walls are a series of great panels with moulded frames, between which are pi- lasters carved in high relief. These pilas- ters support cornices, also elaborately carved, and which give way at the end to Corinthian columns. Over the fire- place of black, green and brown marbles, is an elaborately carved over-mantel. This huge and elaborate oral design is carved out of a solid block of Redwood and is the work of an Italian of twenty-six." \\\ ■■:■■ r II s k ! ■ - ' : j-^-'» ^ 1^ ^ ' : ■ ■ CO '^1 ^' ^^^ Redivood Room in Reside^ice of Edivard C. Ray, Esqr., Santa Barbara, California. Mr. E. Russel Ray, Architect. Redwood's Singular "Homey" Quality is Well Shown Here. (On page four you may see an exterior view of "Darlington," and on page five a view in the dining-room, showing at the far end the fireplace above described.) Lest we all should become imitative of the rare exception, and so destroy the excellence (and retard the advance) of the average taste, it should be said that the general trend of present-day cultivated artistic judgment is distinctly away from the "freakish" curly or bird's-eye grain, and also from the "louder" effects of "slash" grain in wood for tasteful interior trim. The favor of those whose judg- mm Page Twelve HCHwttflll i& !f^\f Redwood Dining-room of Mr. Lewis P. Hobart, Architect, San Mateo, California. Notice the Panels Five Feet Wide. Finish is an Inviting, Warm, Greyish-Brown {Acid Stain). ment counts most is going to the quieter effects attained by the "vertical" or "edge" grain method of sawing, or to a combination of the vertical grain with the milder examples of flat grain in the same piece of Redwood — as often occurs. (It is only rarely that a wide board can be found which is all strictly "edge" grain.) The bizarre figure of "burl," "curly" and "bird's-eye" in wood grain is wearymg to the senses if overdone; this is almost true even in a rich and consistent setting such as is afforded in the Jacobean palace i " IS A T XJ R- E ' S L U Nii a E rt- M A S T E li P 1 E C E 'Mk Entrance Hall, Residence ot J inn us 11. Broicne, Esqr., Los Angeles. Mr. E. Russel Ray, Architect, Santa Barbara. All Redwood, Done in its Natural Tones with Wax Fitiish. of Mr. McMillin. This is fortunate, as the exceptional or accidental growths pro- ducing these effects are so rare as to be uncommercial in quantity; they cannot be made, nor foreseen, nor wished into existence; they simply have to be found, stumbled on, where they happened to occur (usually by some ancient injury to the trunk of the tree). There is a sermon in the "disorderly charm" of grain found in a defective (though sound) part of a great tree; just as we ourselves do in our moral stresses and conquests, it has evolved a superior beauty out of its effort to correct a blemish or heal a wound. The simpler effects, however, are more o i'age i-ottrtccn BEAUTIFUL, EN DUFtlNG .FIRE-RESISTANT , S A N I T A R,Y DininQ-rooni in the Residence Shown Opposite. Redwood Trim with Hand-Rubbed White -Enamel Fmish. The hgg- Shell" Finish on Redwood is Like Marble— atid Stays So. livable, and in Redwood their variety, of both figure and tone, is so great as to be captivating to the cultivated artistic sense in a degree almost unequalled in the world of refined and beautiful woods. SOFTWOOD FOR FINE INTERIORS The old idea, that only an imported, or an expensive domestic, hardwood was ade- quate for high-class interior trim, is no longer the determinative fallacy that it used to be. Neither is it any longer the belief of anybody that a so-called "soft" wood must needs be covered up and dis- guised and rendered ridiculous by heavy layers of alien and unbeautiful paint, or the greater horror of artificial "graining" mU m "^ .TrvT^j^'mm Page Fifteen r??i I ^M RKbWMft NATVR-E'S LUMBER. M.ASTER,P1JECE r,wt«wm f !^ff/f ■ \i »^'"'l Entrance Hall in the Miihvirk Country Club, Pasadena. Redwood Beams and Trim Throughout. Mr. J. Martyn Haencke, Architect. An Achievement in Simple Dignity. (in imitation of species that never existed); these latter practices almost amounted to an offense against true modesty — cer- tainly they were an affront to every healthy art sense. The natural beauty of naturally beautiful woods (Redwood naturally being upper- most in our minds as we write) is now recognized as an asset of culture and a daily delight to its discriminative posses- sor. The only exception nowadays is the deservedly popular and essentially worthy Colonial effect achieved by white enamel, sparingly employed. No house should all be done in any single finish. Pacje Sixteen rcowooh , ENDURING .FIRE-RESISTANT , SAN JTA ELY Dining-room in Country Home of Charles PiUsbury, Esqr., Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. The Beams and Watnscotare of California Redwood. Mr. Edwin H. Hewitt, Architect. The effect would be monotony. The interior trim should have the living value of concord with the usage of the various rooms, and should contribute to the full- est harmony between the room and our mood when we enter it (or perhaps we should say the mood which we hope to humor when we choose the room to enter.) The Library is our best friend when its woodwork, wath unobtrusive dignity and quiet welcome contributes to our sense of comfort and entertainment— perhaps with just a suggestion of luxuriousness without languor. The woodwork in the Living-room does most for us when it ['age Seventeen " Haymount," Seen from the Park; Estate of W. W. Fuller, Esqr., Briarcliff Manor, New York. Mr. Arthur T. Remick, Architect. {See Interior View on Facing Page.) emanates confident cheer and radiant hospitalit}. In the Entrance Hall the woodwork best expresses us when it speaks of substance and security without heavy dullness, of family pride without pose, and of the fine traditions of Welcome without the taint of affectation. The Redwood panels (and the exposed beams if you like them) of the Dining- room reflect the spirit of good humor, leisurely comfort, plenitude, bright re- sponsiveness and easy digestion, artistry in practical things and open-handedness of mind, if we may put it that way. And the woodwork of the pantry and the kitchen — well, they must neatl}^ f Page Eighteen M Breakfast Room; " Haymoioit;" all in California Redwood, Exquisitely Etiameled in White with "Egg-shelV Finish. No Other Wood is Quite as Perfect a Basis for Enamel. prudently, precisely and sanitarily an- nounce to the casual glance of the privi- leged guest the fundamental philosophy and practices of you and yours. Up in the sleeping chambers your "Sequoia Sempervirens" (Redwood) trim, whether finished in its natural face and cleanliness, or dressed up in chaste white enamel, (as a base for which a very close-grained, and non-resinous wood like this is vital,) conveys the "feel" of seclusion, security, peacefulness and quiet rest. As a writer in the Craftsman Magazine says, the homestead as a whole "is a part of ourselves, an expression of our personal taste and convictions, a place f- ' H:.|!|! The Music Room in the Residence of G. 0. Knapp, Esqr., Montecito, California. Exceptionally Beautiful Effects in Redwood with Acid Stain. Mr. E. Russel Ray, Architect. where children may grow and learn and play, where men and women may find work and rest and happiness, and where old age may come with understanding, comfort and peace. This is the ideal toward which America today is looking. "We are regaining architectural sanity, building for utility, comfort and lasting beauty, and leaving behind as useless and encumbering details all those ornamental frills that were once considered so essen- tial to every house. Indoors and out, we are making our dwellings as simple and durable, as hygienic and restful as modern ■ I. Page Twenty O il ! ^ "/<■%?■ B EAUT I FU L. ,E gCDWOOH N DURING. FIRE -RESISTANT . S A N 1 T A R,Y li \ \\\- The Library in the Residence Shown on Opposite Page California Redtoood Trim Throughout. A Notable Example of Reserved Beauty and Artistic Unity of Design and Color. science, skill and care can make theni. And in evolving and perfecting our archi- tectural standards, our houses are becom- ing not only more comfortable places to live in, but also more satisfactory and substantial investments for the present and succeeding generations. The build- ing of a successful home, however, is no small undertaking. Most people, face to face with this important task, find themselves unprepared. They have a lot of enthusiasm, but no experience. They have an ideal, but lack the knowl- edge necessary for carrying it out. Unless ; M I'r \} 1 1 % \\} Tuijc Twenty-one rffm. L %jiwl| B E R, M, A. ST Ej fe.^ P 1 E C _E [J'-Wz'-f^''^ "The Music Shed," Norfolk, Connecticut. Mr. E. K. Rossiter, Architect. "A Hospitable Warmth Pervades It." A Successful Use of Redwood in Low-Priced Construction. they can turn to some authentic source for advice and information, they find their home-building a rather experimental affair." It is to contribute our share toward the most intelligent mastery of these prob- lems of selection that we print this book. We do not wish you to use Redwood in any case where some other species of lumber might better serve your purpose, but we shall be gratified (and amply repaid) if you merely insist upon Redwood in cases wherever it is best for you, and, after a study of this book, give your per- sonal taste and judgment free play in cases where there may be a fair choice between Redwood and other woods less desirable, and probably more expensive. lH' HI ll 11' Pi;!'- I'uyc I LK/t nly-two B E/fiUT;)' FU L ' E NDUl^ING vFI RE -RES TSTANT •, S A N I T A R-X J''-t'l The Lobby; Hotel Korbel, Korbel, Humboldt County, Califor- nia. All the Wood is Redwood. (Its "Slow-burning" Qual- ity is a Rare Virtue.) Messrs. Hill uf Johanson, Architects. yet more familiar to the general public. IVIr. James Collier Marshall, writing in Country Life in America, says: " There is an increasing appreciation of the natural wood finish, which, indeed, lends itself delightfully to bungalow use. The fireplace and mantel must be taken into consideration when choosing the wood finish, since this is usually the dom- inant feature of the living-room. A close match in color will be the most satisfactory." And again, "The finish of the woodwork should be in keeping with the structure of the house — that is, neither too rough nor too fine, but of a texture to correspond with the qualities of the exterior." • 9 'hf\.^-> I'age Twenty-three N A. tJ y fttOWOOd L U Mi B E R. >fl A S T F U P 1 p: C E 'fl i w^ Q ■ It i". ja:|r ir- "*':»-. f '^ '||iSlll|, -:'; |,i|i lL-,Hm!liDI ^ ■ v- ■■" ■ ^' Living-room; Residence of Mr. Elmer Grey, Architect, Oak Knoll, Pasadena. Artistic and Homelike Effects in Redwood Interior Trim, Including the Carved Mantel. In the same spirit is the statement in Cram's ''Impressions of Japanese Archi- tecture" that "To the Japanese, wood, hke anything that possesses beauty, is almost sacred, and he handles it with a fineness of feeling that, at best, we reveal only when we are dealing with precious marbles. From all wood that may be seen close at hand, except such as is used as a basis for the rare and precious lacquer, paint, stain, varnish, anything that may obscure the beauty of texture and grain, is rigidly kept away." Plates I, II and III in this book are wm\ I ?; k5 ■ i U I r. J' jj. ii.. ■ I i J- J cm a EAUT I FU L ,ENDUI^ING ,^^RJErR;^S^lSTANT , S A N 1 T A ELY tMij^'V-f ':. l^W>'- : . W- ■L.M: mi Baptist Church in Santa Rosa, California. 1873. Sill to Spire hicluding Panels, Pulpit and Seating, of Lumber from a Sin- gle Redwood Tree. 78,000 board-feet, and Many Shingles. excellent examples of the wonderful possi- bilities of varied beauty which are quickly and economically available to the present- day user of California Redwood; Plate V illustrates the same doctrine of rare beauty achieved by simple and entirely natural means, as it requires merely a careful scorching of the surface ^ of Redwood with the flame of a gasoline torch (such as is used by plumbers,) the brushing out of the charred wood with stiff bristles, and then washing with alcohol, followed by a Ught waxing if desired. There is only one other species of wood native to America, on which this WM If) \ i- w til III V Page Twenty-five AAl^J^J^^t " N A. Ti 1^ BL E ' i^ L U IVti B E R.- lyi A S T E li. P I E C B, i( Characteristic "California Biingaloiu:" All Red'cvood, Inside a>id Out; a Type Which Has Become a Distinct School of American Architecture. Redwood Yields Interior Beauty and Warmth, with Exterior Endurance and Fire-resistance. simple process is entirely successful; its requisites are a lack of resin (the pitchy quality) and the presence of a pleasing, natural figure in the grain. Another point related to plate V is that it simu- lates perfectly one of the natural, un- stained effects that is regarded in the Orient as the acme of artistic simplicity and which proves its merits by its faculty of growing in the affection of those who live with it. It is, in truth, the wood itself, as the masters of art require, yet as applied to Redwood it yields an accent- uation of natural beauty, with nothing added, which is superior to any compari- son. Perhaps one of Redwood's best traits is its "habitual distinctiveness." ni /I ,;• B EAUT 1 FU L . ENDUrCING . F I R-E, -KESISTANT , S A. IS 1 T A ELY "I .4 House Hollowed from a Single Redwood Log at Eureka, California. It Takes Hundreds of Years to ''Erect" This Type of Residence. Two Rooms, Each lo feet Square, with Ceilings i4feetHigh. ''Redwood Interior Trim." {Architect Unknown.) IMPOSSIBLE TO BE COMMONPLACE, IF YOU USE CALIFORNIA REDWOOD None know better than the Japanese how not to be commonplace. The avoid- ance of that particular fault is almost a religion with them. And, from the point of view of the American consumer, noth- ing is easier than the avoidance of the commonplace. He has but to specify California Redwood, whether for cottage or palace, and he is automatically guaran- teed against "the taint of the uninterest- ing usual." There cannot be any ''unin- teresting average'' in Redwood. It was of Redwood that a well-known writer ir.mil \l \ -'i \ Page Twenty-seven IS A T TJ 12^ E • S L U m| BE R. M A S T E^ a. P I E C E Another Glimpse of the Subliimtu's of thf Redicood Forest. Observe the Relative Size of the Human Figure Leaning Against the Fifth Tree from the Right in the Photograph. Also the Luxuriant Mans-size Ferns in the Foreground. said, "Every inch is a study and every foot is a picture." It is about the only wood in the world of which this can be said. There is a great difference not only in the character and texture but also in the superficial appearance of separate pieces of Redwood from the same tree. Even with the same method of sawing different boards of Redwood from the same tree will show not only rare and beautiful variations of grain, but — still more important — there may be variations of hardness or "texture" which require the exercise of thought, knowledge and somebody s experience in order to attain the best effects in finishing. ': r. ..r ^m if o \ '^ni'^ff'i' / aye I ojcitiy-i iiihl "Sequoia Cottage," Madison, Wisconsin. Summer Resi- dence of F. M. Crowley, Esqr., Messrs. Gordon and Bach, Architects. Redivood Interior in all its Native Beauty; Red- wood Exterior, including Shingles, Siding, Porch and Trim. In the softer pieces the stain, or other preparation, penetrates deeper and more quickly than it does in the harder pieces. For example, Plate No. V^II on page 37, i \i ' shows an unusually hard piece of Redwood, of which it might be most difficult to procure large quantities at a given time. We state this to avert disappointment. It is plain that the "slash grain" sawing, such as is shown in Plates V, VI, VII, IX and X, is more likely to repel color infusions than are examples of "edge grain" such as Plates III, IV and VIII. Where the treatment has a chance to work in edgewise between the annular rings it naturally travels more readily 1 ''■ ii \vim Page Tzventy-iiiiir A L I F O R. N I RKBWOOtt R, E ' S L U M! n E rC M A S T £. H_ f i K C IJ.1 \ Chambers of the Late Federal Judge DeHaven, United States Government Building, San Francisco. Finished iii Superbly Carved Burl and Curly Redwood. {Very Rare.) than when it sUdes across the surface of flat layers of the wood. Please read care- fully the general guidance to correct finish- ing which we offer in the Recipe Section. ( Trxl continues on page 40) n m rage I nirty n ■ ^ ■ ! J T "- — UB -■aB-VW^ /'jpti i-*«' *%» Rcbwedn , B.-|.au5Sii^l-'^°"'^"^°-'""Si£a'fZi'^" • ^^'^'^'^"•^ a CALIFORNIA REDWOOD: NATURAL WOOD. NO FINISH WHATEVER Plate I C Al^ i F b 1^1^' -^i "ISIATUiJ^E'S LMMLiBJER- 1V1ASTER.PIEC Eif^ CALIFORNIA REDWOOD: NAT!.iRAL_ i.URFACE SL1GHTL> WAXEL Plate II 3 HCDWOOH CALIFORNIA REDWOOD: CURLY" GRAIN, SLIGHTLY WAXED Plate III CALIFORNIA REDWOOD: SIMPLE "WEATHERED" FINISH Plate IV /s, L I F O R is^ I RCDWOttll BE^UTI FUL, ENDURING ^ ^^^j^^,^;^^'^^^'^ ' SAN1TAR.Y Sl^B CALIFORNIA REDWOOD; 'JAPANESE BROWN' FINISH Plate V r i3SS<-^if ttS ft W#0|p^'^'W 5il - N A. T V R. E • S L U ,M| B E R. M. A S T E. R. P 1 E C E CALIFORNIA REDWOOD: WITH TWILIGHT GREV FINISH Plate VI E^UT I FU L. ,ENDUt^INC , FI RE, -RES I STANT , ,SAN J.T^R-Y CALIFORNIA REDWOOD: WITH ■COROT' BROWN FINISH Plate VII r- li , ^ - ^^ A ,T,,lfJ ,% E -' ^,, L M ,M| ^ , E I?. |S|I,f. STER. PIECE CALIFORNIA REDWOOD; CANYON GREY STAIN, WAXED PLATE VIII EAUTIFUL-.ENDUR-ING , FI BLE -RES 1 STAN T , SAN I T A R^Y -^ r/ze Af^i^t'c i?oom of R. M. Adams, Esqr., Los Angeles. All Trim and Timbering are of Redwood, Interestingly and Beautifully Finished. Mr. Arthur S. Heinemann, Architect. This Photograph Indicates Redzvood's Wonderful Range of Use. Its Merits as a Structural Wood are Very Well Known. ^J^'yS^T^.. :.^„:u.LXi'U,l2.V.S>j* a " N A T, TjJ R- E ' S L U Mj B E R^ M A S T F, li, P 1 it Redwood Interior Trim Installed in 1549 and Still in Daily Use. (Does E— ~fa Redwood last!) Views oj Mission Guadalupe, Ciu- dad Juarez, Mexico. The Old Spanish Monks Recognized Redwood's '~-'^^ " ~~ Beauty and Adaptability. AN "EASY-WORKING WOOD" MEANS REAL LABOR ECONOMY One of the most notable virtues of Red- wood as a standard high-class interior trim wood is the remarkable quality which cabinet-makers call "easy-working" — that is, it is "kind to edged tools" and tractable in the hands of the artist carver; if properly seasoned and worked, the ' ' tongue ' ' of the grain does not tend to rise on a " flat " or " slash ' ' grain board ; and these qualities assure not only enduring 10>5^u:n: fi im ! ' \ I m fl 4! ■ ''A Jii ^^R^rai BEAUTIFUL .ENDUPCING ,FIRE-RES^ISTANT , SAN1TAR.Y -^ \ ^' I I, i r/j^ Homelike Charm of Redwood in "Livable" Houses. A Corner in the Tasteful Residence of Mrs. Sanderson, in Berkeley, California. {Messrs. Maybeck and White, Archi- tects San Francisco). The Panelling, Casings and Fur- 7iiture (in fact. All the Wood you see except the Floor) are of ''Nature's Lumber Masterpiece," whose Warm Tones hunch the Atmosphere of the Whole House. {And its Easy-workmg Qualities Especially Endear it to the Amateur Crafts- man.) Redivood is Indeed the Ideal Wood for Varied Uses. and always satisfactory service to the owner, but also in the building period save tremendously on the labor bdl. (The wonderful over-mantel in the dining-room at ''Darlington," [see page five] carved from a single piece of Red- wood, superbly emphasizes the desirability of Redwood for all elaborate tooling.) If Nature, when she created Redwood, had deliberately set out to most gener- ously take account of our present-day economies and conveniences as well as our artistic appetites, she could hardly —r - — --frp" " S7??FR''"ni'^T" f Page Forty-one A d 11 j> I;!: y|' ^ '■hi ii < ,4 ?)02'e 7£r show the Dining-room in the "Home of Redwood" at the Panam.a-Pacific International Exposition, SanFran- cisco, 1915. Note the Rich Dignity of the Redivood Panelling. have improved her work as it stands at this moment. In so far as the de luxe uses of Redwood are concerned, Nature achieved a miracle in making an " all- purpose" wood so richly adaptable to the more refined uses of lumber. She put into every Redwood tree a variety of kinds of grain, grade and texture prob- ably not paralleled in any other species, and easily warranting Redwood's title as "The King of Specialty Woods." In relation to Interior Finish this fact yields a fascinating range of choice which If 1 •t- » \ -l-wo r A L I ^ ^ ^ N 1 A BEAUTlFVJi.,ENDAR-ING ,FI R-E -RESISTANT , S A N 1 T A ELY fW lili Livhig-room in the ''Home of Redwood," Looking Toward the Dining-room. Do vou Sense th? Inviting ''Feel" of the Redwood^ No Other Wood has Quite this Quality. Mr. Louis Christian Mullgardt, Architect, San Francisco. is only remotely suggested by the diver- sity of the color-plates in this book. It is interesting to note that the handsomest and most durable kind of Redwood for Interior Finish comes from near the butt of the tree. This is always the hardest section, and, while so very superior for Inside Trim, is not as good for pattern- work; and so it goes, all through the varied catalog of the product of a single Redwood tree. Do not fail to remember that the various treatments suggested in this book are i 'M Hll' j.n~'^ "n Page Forty-three ■ r NATUJEi.E'9 LU Ml BER. M,ASTEIi. PIECE '1 , ' always much enhanced in beauty and distinction when apphed to the harder examples of Redwood. The selection and discrimination must be left to the intelligent and vigorous judgment of the indi- vidual buyer in securing the particular stock which will best meet his needs. An interesting commentary is the fact that Red- wood, the only species of wood in the world which groivs ofily in the United States, has, hitherto, been much more appreciated abroad than at home. Up- ward of fifty million board-feet annually are ex- ported to Australia alone (a sparsely settled land), and are there almost entirely applied to fine Interior Finish and Doors. (May we not hope that America itself, the home of the most beautiful, most individual, most romantically historic, most tractable and most universally useful and economical wood in the whole catalog of forestry, will soon awaken enthu- siastically to this native treasure which it has been neglecting? And is it not singular that while the majesty of the Redwoods is a familiar thought to almost any American, their utility is so little realized by most people? What more interesting than to feel that the beautiful wood which helps to house you was a vigorous sapling at the time of the Crusades — and that it is now yours, in the most practical of service?) A point worth remembering, and which pertains to all species of lumber, is that the harder the wood the greater is the occasional tendency to split (more or less, according to texture). Your insistence upon carefulness in nailing the harder examples of Redwood should, therefore, be in proportion to the character of the particular board — which even an amateur judge can intelligently discern. The usual run of Redwood is practically "split-proof." M ill ^11 c-> « /It, awn 11 I iiii'lfiffia ,U .S' \ f if / '" I y- four FTsr BEAUTIFUL, END Uii- INC. F I R,E -RESISTANT , S A. N I T A U,Y i| \1« 1 5. .S. " Seeandbee,'" of the Cleveland and Buffalo Transit Com- pany. The Largest and One of the Handsomest Side-wheel Ships m the World. The Staterooms, Partitions, etc., and the Canvas- Covered Decks, are of California Redwood. WIDE REDWOOD PANELS ARE ALWAYS PROMPTLY AVAILABLE Another advantage offered by California Redwood, alone among all the woods of the Earth, is the fact that it can be had in such astonishing widths at such very reasonable prices. Reference to the photo- graph of the dining-room on page thirteen will be most impressive. These edge-grain panels are five feet wide, and keep their position without either shrinking or swell- ing. (This is the "stay-put" quality which puts Redwood almost in a class by itself among all interior trim woods, either hard or soft.) Mr. Hobart's panels, warm greyish-brown in tone, (acid stain), are ii t Page Forty-five ;»P l.M N A T y Xi. E ' S L U M| B E R. J^l A S T F. l^ P 1 E Q E "glued up." This singular freedom from the faults expected in most woods is one of Redwood's distinctions. Another point is that the natural figure of Redwood varies so much, and is always so beautiful, that marvelously lovely and distin- guished effects may be had with the ordinary run of the grade known as "clear finish" without resort to specially selected stock for even very particular panelling work. THE USE OF REDWOOD "SHORT LENGTHS" IS HIGHLY INTELLIGENT ECONOMY A skillful, artistic and most intelligently economical utilization of Redwood is illustrated on page four- teen. The owner made wonderful use of "short lengths" of ordinary Red\aood stock — "ship-lap," 1 inch by 8 inches by 8 feet — obtainable anywhere, any time, and always at materially less cost than " standard " lengths. What is the difference? It is little more than habit and superstition. The wood is the same. Why do people insist on buying 14-foot lengths and then cutting them into two 7-foot pieces for door-casing, for instance? Probably be- cause the habits of the trade are strong, and the purchaser is not familiar with the advantageous facts here submitted. The opportunities to econom- ically utilize "shorts" for interior finish are diverse and frequent — and the savings are very considerable. This is especially true when widths from 3 to 8 inches can be employed; where 10 inches or wider is really necessary you must not expect to secure them so easily in short lengths; the wider stock naturally commands a superior market in greater lengths and is cut as long as possible in all cases. Yet if the conditions of your proposed use admit of \ I ',/>} T'fflftl/r/lfSHi'''.''^ n?' 1-- % \i\l U u M } m -iTT: ^w B'cowii ■"Wfi-jW -^-■'^ B EA U T I F U L . E NDU K.INC , FIIiE -RESISTANT , S A N I T A. R,Y lilt DiHini^-iooin, "Ihi<< yOi'tVo Jutini,' Ihivti, A'lH' Jlaitip- shire. Country Estate of E. W. Rollins, Esqr. Finished in California Redivood. Note the Great Width of the Ceiling Boards. Messrs. Chapman and Frazer, Architects, Soston. \m "matched up" work, the marvelous prod- uct of the "Linderman" machine used by many of the better woodworkers will ; be available in almost any dimensions ^ ^ desired. I ! In connection with the subject of short '' lengths, in general, it should also be re- membered that "shorts" thicker than 2 inches are always scarce. All these facts are worth remembering — and we are being very candid with you, Mr. and Mrs. Reader, because we might reasonably follow the historic practice and wmln f i i I ; . • rr*"/r/*Tiii'rnrnsL~TrfBi=' r.tpvj'^i' fj^i r?" i Page Forty-seven -WW- ^^h\ " IS A Ti V -R- E, ' S ''- ^ ^i B E XC MA S T E li, P l^E C^ E I [01 allow you to pay more than you really need to for the material you require. "Short lengths" are cheaper per foot as well as more economical in use. But if we followed the usual course, it would not be in accord with the spirit of this Redwood book, nor with our hopes for your per- manent confidence and respect. In the same direction, we are glad to state here frankly that the "select" grade of Redwood "finish stock "(the principal "defect" in which is healthy "sap-wood" on the edges) can be bought at from S3. 00 to $5.00 reduction from the standard prices for "clear" grades, and is just as good for paint and enamel work as the most perfect "clears." It may be well to say here that the word "defect" in lumber grading-rules signifies the presence of some definite and obvious characteristic and does not at all necessarily imply undesirability. For instance, "clears" must have no knots, while in the next grade (equally valuable for almost every use) "tight" knots up to a certain size are not described as a "defect." What is a "defect" in one board may exist in another board which is classed as perfect (in its grade). The word "defect," therefore, in lumber parlance merely aids in arbitrarily classifying a varied output and is not in any way a disparagement if you buy the grade that best serves the special use. There is no object in buying "No. 1," for instance, for purposes which "No. 2" would serve just as well, and would cost you less. In the upi>er grades of most lumbers, "sap-wood" is tech- nically a "defect" because of its lesser solidity and greater tendency to early decay than the "heart-wood" of the same tree. In the process of sawing, a board often shows both "heart" and "sap" and this affects both its grade and its price. The sap-wood is the newer growth, next to the bark. In most white woods the sap-wood shows but little contrast with the heart-wood, and is therefore often tolerated in the higher grades because it is hard to distinguish. But in Redwood the color tone of the heart is so much darker than the sap that when you specify "clear" you inevitably get exactly what you wish — neither error nor manipulation being possible. There is not a blemish in it. This is impor- tant. Perhaps you begin now to realize the spirit in which this book is written, and we hope you will profit by it. « li ft ill 1 5 i \ >l'i m It y'i/' i.jmiug:xmi.mi' i ,-~«.ia Page Fifty-three ■ ^ N A T V JR-E • S L U Mi B ; E R. M. A S T E li P 1 E C E i aw(/ apply two coats of wax as directed in Recipe 2. This will show up particularly ivell on Redwood burl, curly, bird's-eye, or any fancy grain. Neither of these finishes yields a very high polish, but ivill give a very artistic gloss which is easily main- tained by occasional rubbing with a soft cloth. If time or wear dims it, the original finish is restored by a light coat of ivax and another good, honest rubdoivn. Redwood "burl," or "curly," will take a "piano polish." Will any other "soft" zvood do this? The "hard-grain" parts of Redwood, {perhaps from the same tree as the richest "soft" pieces) will take as high a finish as the rarest hardivoods. {One of the peculiar virtues of Redwood — worth remembering.) A WAX FINISH gives better results and keeps the color of the stain, while the varnish sometimes changes it and drives the stain further into the wood. Again, a wax finish is more popular today and is considerably less expensive to apply. NAIL HOLES SHOULD NOT BE PUTTIED until after the first ivax coat has been applied; othenvise the oil in the putty will sink in and darken the wood around the nails. For the best effects no stain should be applied until after the Redwood has been thoroughly cleaned and prepared, and then, after the stain is dry, it should he folloived by two coats of wax, applied as elsewhere directed. For a high varnish finish, apply the stain first, and after thorough drying, a thin coat of "drying varnish" and two or three coats of "rubbing varnish." Rub in pumice stone and water, and oil off, or rub in pumice stone and oil and clean up care- fidly. This will give a beautiful " didl finish." The varnished finish will tend to " bring out " the grain more definitely, and is perhaps more permanent, yet is not usually preferred. For an inexpensive {and easy) "rubbed finish " use stain of the desired tone, one coat of shellac and one coat of " fiattine." A VERY IMPORTANT POINT is that stains must be QUICKLY and lightly applied in order to avert patchy effects where brush-marks overlap; it is also a worth-while fact that any of the dyes or stains ordinarily used on other woods can he successfidly used on Redwood. Redwood is naturally ab- sorbent, and free from the repellent resin. Any dye that will color cloth in a water solution will stain Redwood, and any of the re- liahlestains on the market can be successfully applied to Redwood. CA UTION: For the desired effects all recipes herein given should he devel- oped to your satisfaction on samples of Redwood BEFORE being applied to the permanent surface. They are in successful use by the best decorators and will give the fullest satisfaction if properly and intelligently followed. i-r •'■ -I! 1 11'' ^ iff- ^ t " m o '!iim]t iljm^\^ will Paijc fifty-four A LI for: H 1 a CDWOOO i BEAUTIFUL, ENE>U 1^1 NG, FIRE -RESISTANT , S A, N 1 T A R,Y I I ; WE DIRECT YOUR SPECIAL ATTENTION to the rec- ipes for OIL FINISHES on Redwood. {See page 58). These were devised by Mr. Louis Christian Midlgardt, an architect of national eminence, and ivere employed under his personal supervision in the $12,000 hungaloiv knoivn as ''The Home of Redwood,'' at the Panama-Pacific International Exposi- tion, at San Francisco, IQ15. The success and popularity of these new and beautiful OIL finishes led us to include them here for your benefit. First, hoivever, ive ivill identify and give the recipes for the ten 5 -color pages in this book: ARTISTIC RECIPES (EXCLUSIVELY OURS): k (Please refer to color plates mentioned.) [1 Plate No. 1: (page 31): Natural Redwood — No Finish: A color photograph from the natural wood, entirely with- \ out either filler or finish. A "hard" example of semi-curly Redwood, unusually light in tone. Different pieces vary in their natural tone. This contributes to their art value. Plate No. 2: (page 32): Natural Wax Finish on Red- wood: After the wood is carefully prepared as indicated in "General Instructions," apply two coats of any good wax thinned out in the proportion of 1 pound of wax to 1 gallon of turpentine; allow 24 hours for drying between coats. When last coat is dry, rub carefully with a stiff brush and finish by a patient rubbing with a soft cloth. Plate No. 3: (page 33): Natural Redwood With Var- nish Finish: See that the surface is smooth and carefully dusted. In putting on the varnish special care must be taken to keep out dust as much as possible until the varnish has thoroughly dried. Apply a coat of varnish, and when entirely dry, sandpaper with No. 00 sandpaper; then apply at least two good coats of "rubbing varnish." Allow 48 hours or more for drying between coats. A slight sandpapering is also required between coats, the last coat to be rubbed with pumice stone and water or pumice stone and oil. Plate No. 4: (page 34): Simple Weathered Finish: Dis- solve li ounce picric acid in 1 gallon of hot water or 1 gallon of denatured alcohol. This acts as a bleach to take out the natural pinkish color of the Redwood. When dry, finish with two coats of wax, mixed with a little burnt sienna and Van Dyke Brown, as indicated in the Natural Wax finish. (No. 2) Note — A great variety of other colors can be produced after using the picric acid, by the admixture of other pigments in accordance with the taste of the decorator and as required by the color scheme desired. jjw—r'-r?v— '-~iKff . 1^ , !' .t 1; ;t W 1 Mbi^ raP CALIFORNIA REDW^Dld ^^ "NATURE'S LUMBER MASTERPIECE" -^^j Novenber 11, 1914. Crosby-Chloaeo, 206 South lilohlgan Avenas, Chioaf o , IllinoiB. I shall be glad If you can soon let me have the sample panels of California red wood irtilch I asked you for yesterday and which I wish to have treated with a special method of finishing. I am very much i-nterested in the possibilties of red Tood for interior finleh and have used it to advantage in several rooms during the past. It has been particularly satisfactory in the hall of the Michael Cudahy residence, Maolcinac Island, a view of which you are publlahing. I like it because of its workable qualities, because it will stay where it is put, because it has. In fact, so many of the excellent qualities of ?*ilte pine with an added individuality in color and figure which suggests its use for panellnc. not as a substitute for nor an imitation of other woods, but for its own decorative value. I do think tliat it, like many other fine woods, has had too little attention gl'sn to the methods of finishing whieh will bring out its beauties to the greatest extent. i B BEAUTIFUL CALIFORNIA REDWOOD FOR FINE INTERIOR TRIM; "EVERY INCH A STUDY— EVERY FOOT A PICTURE." Page SLvty-one !:# ! ' j» ■# • #' /r # ' / i / ; # ' / i ^ ! / ! / ' r Ji\rr r / ' /< /' / i ^'^ ! ^f /f ^ ' ^' ■/' #» ^ \ ^f y >.. at ■« -Ji wr' jt- jt; jr ^"aUFORNIA REDAVOOD ^ "NATURES LUMBER MASTERPIECE" Ml ^ wemwvr w; GREENE 5 GREENE Pasadena, Cal . April 30, 1914. Redwood 1b a beautiful vrood for interior work and may be finished in a great variety of ways. Greene t Greene. April 23, 1914 Oentlaoen: In resporBe to your inquiry as to our eiperlance In the use of red-»ood for interior finish, irould adviae that »e have found it to be admirably adapted to this purpoae. In the Pacific Union Olub building, of this city, particularly satisfactory results were secured where redwood was used in the special finish of several of the nain rooms, the wood lending Itself to fine results in staining and finishing. BEAUTIFUL CALIFORNIA REDWOOD FOR FINE INTERIOR TRIM: "EVERY INCH A STUDY— EVERY FOOT A PICTURE." CALIFORNIA 'REDWOOD "nature's ' LUMBER' MASTERPFECE" April 24, 1914. Gentlemen: Referring to your inquiry as to what I think of redwood flnleh, I am pleased to etate that I am using redwood for Interior flnle'i In a nundaer of fine reBldenoee and consider It for all around purposes the besx soft wood finish that iB available. Hot only is it free from pitch, but when proparly seasoned it v.lll not shrink or swell, consequently a job of redwood interior finish looks well not only to begin with but afta- it has been in use for a long time. The wood is soft and easily worked and takes all kinds of stain readily. The natural color of the redwood Is attractive and unusual and a great variety of different effects can be obtained by the use of acids, burning, lye, etc. I believe it is the mos* satisfactory iLaterial for a first class Job of enamel work. Yours very truly, BEAUTIFUL CALIFORNIA REDWOOD FOR FINE INTERIOR TRIM; "EVERY INCH A STUDY— EVERY FOOT A PICTURE.- I'Oijr :ii.rfy-iiir, ieeaRHHm«ir< — -^ ^ ^ ^ f ^ i lJBHBB » f H r n n y F n r f r r r m Trrrfrrr ^ CALIFORNIA REDWOOD "NATURE'S LUMBER MASTERPIECE" aSMOIfrcOMERYSTBEET SAN FBANCISCO, CALITORNIA Apr. 8, I9I5. Crosby Advertising Aganoy, F^lllIIlan Bldg. , Chioago. Centlemen:- Mr . Junius H. Erovma has requested that W6 write you stating our rsasons for using redwood as an Interior finish. W9 hav9 sat forth soms of our viSTs in the folloiflng. There ars othsr reasons , but we hope that the reasons we give will appeal to those who wish to build beautiful interiors. We nav3 used the wood frequently in the better rooms of Bcmll houses, firstly, fron a desire to get away from the paint cn-i putty t3ndenoy tc cover up a multitude of Im'perfeot- ions , at the sac-.e time avoiding the cracks in plaster, whloU must be jo/sred with wall paper and kept in constant repair. Secondly, by unjr.j', the sanded natural redwood in simple boards and r^citter.B, ive obtained a rich looking room at a cost nearly the sane is tf it of plaster We often use the wood in club houses and churches , and It is parti jularly good for concert halls , because, as the wood drlSG out and ages, it aot e like ths shell of a violin. Left in its natural state, the bruises and dcratohes ultimate- ly tai-.e the sane color as the wood, and therefore do not show. Per the sans reason rooms with reavrood finish n-.&y remain for yo. CALIFORNIA REDWOOD )^ "NATURE'S LUMBER MASTERPIECE" -' * < CHAPMAN & FltAZER ARCHITECTS HOMCI S. niAUD Ho. Ill WtTCR STREET BOSTON.^pT-ll 20th. 1915. Oentleinen:- Ur. Rollins has refflrre'l your letter of April 8th. to us. »9 aro Bending you today a pholo£;raph. I h^vo Used a groat deal of redwood and slmoKl Inw.irlably finish It ttlth a ooat of oil, touching up any light ■oo'l with a little ntaln, than a ooat of orangft ehellac, sandpapered, and a coat of wax thoroughly rubbed m. I have found that this treatment gives the pleaeantest roaults. Yours very truly. Chapman * Fraaer, H S. Prazer. Orlrplranr llfsfnij 5908 CouiB (BJjriBtian JBuUgarftl 3?. A. 3. A. Arrljitftt (Sliranirlr luil&ing- ftan JFranrtaro Msy £8. 1915. California Sedwood issoolation San Prancisoo. Cal. I am pleased to Indicate mj appreciation for exoeytlonal opportunitisa which your product affords iu the construction of buildicga. Redwood may be advantage oualy ueed in every manner in which other finishing woods are customarily ueod. It is renowned ror its durability against the ravages of time. Structural and artlatio effects are obtainable, differing from and surpc.ssing In quality man,y bo celled hardwoods. It is oasj to fatrieate and therefore insure.- ecOiioir.io results. Very truly yora-:;, BEAUTIFUL CALIFORNIA REDWOOD FOR FINE INTERIOR TRIM; "EVERY INCH A STUDY— EVERY FOOT A PICTURE." Page Sixty-five REPRINTED BELOW ARE LITERAL EXCERPTS FROM THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT REPORT (Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 1911) on CALIFORNIA REDWOOD {Sequoia Sempervirens) Physical Properties: Breaking strength (modulus of rupture). 8,000 pounds per square inch, on pieces 2 by 2 by 30 inches at moisture of 15.7. {Forest Service.) Factor of stiffness (modulus of elasticity). 1,140,000 pounds per square inch, on pieces 2 by 2 by 30 inches at moisture of 15.7. {Forest Service.) Character and qualities. Light, soft, moderately strong, brittle, grain fine, even, straight, sometimes curly; annual rings wide in the young timber, summerwood thin, dark colored, hard, conspicuous; medullary rays numerous, very obscure; color light to dark red, the thin sapwood nearly white; splits and works easily and polishes well; very durable in contact with the soil. Interior Finish: "As in house construction, so in interior finish, Redwood meets almost every use and requirement. Floors and ceilings are made of it, and wainscoting, panels, moldings, chair boards, brackets, shelves, railing, stair-work, spindles, balustrades and mantels. Formerly such work was often painted, and the grain of the wood was concealed, but the practice is now less common since the natural beauty of the wood is better appreciated. Its colors are rich and varied, and the finisher who understands the art of bringing out their best qualities can please almost any taste. It is a beautiful wood for carving, and is often so employed. The wood of all Redwood trees is not of the same color, nor are different parts of the same tree alike. The soil and situation where the tree grows have much to do with it. Shades range from light cherry to deep mahogany. Where the soil is light, the wood resembles Spanish cedar. Some grains are so straight that boards may be split 2 inches thick, 12 inches wide, and 10 or 12 feet long. (See foot-note.) In other cases the texture is so complicated and involved that all semblance to orderly wood is lost. Such wide extremes in grain and color give the carpenter and finisher their opportunity to make combinations to harmonize with nearly every kind of surroundings. Perfect boards of such width and length may be had that panels, shelves and counter tops of nearly any desired size may be made from a single piece. A panel of that kind has an added value, because the wood warps practically not at all, shrinks little and disfiguration from swelling need not be feared. If it is deemed desirable to darken the natural color of the wood, it can be done with oils. By well-known methods of treatment, imitation of rosewood and mahogany may be produced. "The making of Redwood doors has been an important business. They are handsome, strong, light, and hold their shape well under changes of climate. Swelling and shrinkage, which give much trouble with doors of various other woods, are reduced to a mini- mum with Redwood. "Note: There are buildings in the Redwood districts constructed of split boards, and so evenly is the splitting sometimes done that a rather close examination is necessary to discover that it is not the product of a sawmill." ON PAGE 2 you ivill find indexed the various points of interest in this book. RCDWOOO :^ B EAUT » FU L , E fj I>J4,BJL N G , FIttE, -RESISTANT , S A. N I T A, R,Y C 6>/^^ /i? //i(^ un. 'se/ // ree - — z///rs.yMef. e/nans. 4, '*N/.' ir I (^ CALIFORNIA REDWOOD: EVERY INCH A STUDY — EVERY FOOT A PICTU RE. The subjoined letter from an important lumber consumer in Lima, Peru, throws light upon one of the many characteristic virtues restricted to Redwood. The immunity of Redwood from the ravages of the " pohlla," or white ant of the tropics, is a more valuable point than many may think. The white ant has extended his operations as far north as St. Louis, U. S. A., and has cost home-b>ailders thousands of dollars. If they had used Red- wood they would not even have risked this loss. U. S. Govt. Bulletin 95 says: "One of the chief properties recommending this [Sanitary Redwood] timber ... is its immunity from attack by white ants. The coloring substance in the wood is supposed to be the cause of it, and this timber is often, perhaps always, untouched whore other timbers may be devoured." Lima Lumber Mills Ltd. £i„ 26th Oeoember 1913. ^ KeBSrO: SPARKS k WKIGHT. City. Dear Slre:- ReplTlng to your favour of this date we have pleasure In stating that we have hafl a long experlenoe of California Redwood t we have found It a most suitable kind of lumber for all purposes of Carpentry Work.ffe uae It almost eioluslvely for Doors, Windows &e In our Psotory with the best re- sults. It is easy to work & is not attaokad by the "polllla" as Is the osea with whits Pine & other soft woods. Vlshlng you the compliments of the season, »e are, tours very truly. m 1' — I / , /c<>c .„ ^ : 'f ^ 7 ;-r" 1 ■ Kr; •■-"'•■ \ ^ '' :i:J.m*JWYtrtr»'b'^ i;.„; J /(/(' Si.vlv-scvcii ^i.vly-cight Prinlod »iiiM. Chi<-«go WE THANK YOU for your generous attention and trust that your acquaintance with REDWOOD may become more personal, and remain delightful. California Hedwooct:' ''Nalure's Lumber Masterpiece ■ nri ;1K '«.,^,. "Tlicic Kediijood Forest:, Belong to an Entirely Different Geological Period From the Growth Upon any Other Portion of the Continent. Many of the Lar^e Trees are Upwards of Four Thousand Years Old." {Article by Mr. C. L. Greyson.) Toby Bnbovit*. CliirHitt n BEAUTl FIJ U , ENQUIRING .F^aB -Rj;S^JSTANT , .SAN f,T A JE^^^ rj CALIFORNIA REDWOOD: WITH AUTUMN GREEN' FINISH Plate IX r AL I P O Riv 1^ J . /'' N A T ,XJ R, E • S L U M; B E FL IVI A S T E, R, P 1 E C E " ,L ■