The Chicago Star

Beware of green, cheap lumber when purchasing furniture

By BERNICE BRANDEIS

If you intend to buy wood-frame furniture, especially larger pieces such as convertible couch-beds—and desks, be sure to examine them carefully to see if the wood shows signs of warping or cracking.

Many beautifully upholstered couches have a very inferior basic framework due to green and cheap lumber. There has been an acute shortage of good lumber since the beginning of the war, and when industry began to make civilian wooden goods a year ago, the demand was so great that few manufacturers set aside lumber for proper drying and seasoning.

This defect is especially noticeable in desks, where drawers are easily warped out of shape if the lumber has not been adequately seasoned. Here too, the wood may be excellently finished but after a short period of temperature changes in your home it may become distorted. It is advisable, if you must have such furniture now, to select pieces which have at least a semi-hardwood frame instead of pine or other soft woods.

The harder woods, even if not completely seasoned, are more resistant to thermal changes.

See also if screws are used rather than nails. If the joints have been glued, in addition to being screwed together, you have a reasonable chance of getting your money's worth under the present condition of scarcity. In short, when buying any furniture examine the inside more carefully than the purely decorative exterior.