AMERICAN DOORS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18525, 29 October 1925, Page 4

AMERICAN DOORS.

Hpw American doors arc being sold in England and on tbo Continent of Europe, and how tbo United States Government fosters tbo trade, may be gathered from a' State circular entitled "Export of Doors by Countries of Destination and Customs Districts, 192*. American exporters in (it appears) shipped abroad 579,545 wooden doors, JijUvnig a total vain© of 1,325,083 dollars. More than half of this total went to England, whilo Canada took 122,437. Scotland and Ireland together took only from oikto '6OOO American doors. In view of the large market for American doors in England, tho Lumber Division, Department of Commerce, suggests that it should be possible to work up a much larger volume of business ■in Scotland and Ireland. Wo have still a small trade (says the circular) in hardwood doors, but the bulk of tlie doors exported since the war have been of Douglas fir and white pi no manufactured on the Pacific Coast. The door manufacturers havo been very progressive in this respect, and they have properly seasoned their floor stock and have been very careful in selecting suitable raw material. Tho remark is frequently made abroad Lhat the uses for Douglas fir lumber would be materially increased if our lumber exporters would season their lumber before shipment. It, is often difficult to convince prospective buyers of Douglas fir lumber that the species is tho same as that from which the Douglas fir door is made. It is said to bo a, great asset to outdoor exporters to be able, to say that England is their biggest market, as the world at large is looking to England for ideas in wood-using practices, and England is also the world's most competitive market. If our doors, shipped thousands of miles across tho water, can stand the competition offered by European doors, it is indeed a tribute to the superiority of our doors both in regard to workmanship and material. Some American concerns have been verv enterprising in exploiting foreign markets. The exporters have studied foreign conditions on the spot, and havo often changed their specifications to suit local tastes. In short, the door manufacturers have perhaps shown more, initiative in their foreign sales activities than most other American lumber exporters.