PLYWOOD TRADE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1939, Page 7

PLYWOOD TRADE

RAPID EXPANSION RECORDED. ASSOCIATION WITH ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. An article dealing with the plywood trade of the Port of London in the April issue of the “The P.L.A. Monthly” describes the rapid expansion of the trade in recent years. “The ancient Egyptians, who have done so much to account for the theory that there is nothing new in the world ‘had a word for it’ and had already experimented in the making of plywood by glueing together thin layers of wood to make coffins and panels. It was not, however, until the beginning of the present century that possibilities for the utilisation of plywood began to be realised, and later still that the industry embarked upon phenomenal development. “Like a number of other modern industries in which method of manufacture rather than primary materials are concerned, plywood was for many years regarded as a ‘substitute.’ and the trade had to fight hard to live down its infant reputation of cheap inferiority. The rough plywood packing cases of the early days are no more representative of tne specialised industry of today than Wright's spindly aeroplane is classed with the Empire flying boat of 1939. Both were pioneer attempts in the evolution of a new medium, and the rapidity of progress in both industries can be aptly compared. It was the aeroplane industry during the. War which gave the first intense impetus to the plywood trade which has now grown to such astounding proportions.”