Masonry Magazine July 1971 Page. 15
Mason Contractor News
# Cement Sales Soar
MIAMI-Sales of masonry cement in Dade County soared over the one-million-bag mark in 1970, leading an across-the-board increase in masonry construction product sales.
George Miller, spokesman for the Miami Masonry Guild which released the figures, said the advances were largely due to a combination of looser construction money and continued desire by builders for masonry quality.
Masonry cement bag sales in 1970 totalled 1.4 million, representing a 600,000 bag increase over 1969. Sales of portland cement nearly doubled, rising from 400,000 bags in 1969 to 700,000 in 1970.
Largest unit increase, however, was recorded by manufacturers and suppliers of concrete blocks. Sales went from 32 million in 1969 to approximately 40 million in 1970.
Decorative and structural brick sales also showed a marked increase, climbing from five million units in 1969 to eight million in 1970.
"New techniques in construction, coupled with advances in manufacturing, have kept masonry products at the forefront of building materials," Miller said. "New types of block that add to fire protection and sound deadening have made masonry construction even more desirable."
# Improved Fire Control
Improved methods of control and confinement of fires in high rise structures were explored at a recent two-day planning conference on High Rise Fire Protection, held under the auspices of the Chicago Committee on High Rise Buildings, a non-profit group of professionals in the building industry dedicated to initiate and support research for improving techniques in the design, construction and maintenance of high rise structures.
The seminar-which included top experts in high rise development from all over the United States and Canada-was chaired by Commissioner Joseph F. Fitzgerald, chairman of the Task Force on Codes and Safety of the Chicago High Rise Committee and Commissioner of the Chicago Department (Continued on page 24).
# SCPI ELECTS REDMOND
Karl Redmond has been elected President of SCPI Region 10 (Mississippi-Louisiana Brick & Tile Manufacturers Association). Vice President is Robert Wilkes, Secretary-Treasurer is Charles Laird and Francis Williams was re-elected Executive Director. Northern Representative is Gilbert Lotz located in Memphis.
# Goslee Named Counsel
Eugene G. Goslee, NL.RB solicitor, has been named by Pres. Nixon to serve as acting general counsel of the board. He succeeds Arnold Ordman, whose term in office expired June 25th.
# Desa Appoints Michaels
William R. Michaels has been appointed President and General Manager of the Material Handling Division, Desa Industries. Cincinnati, manufacturer of elevators and tower cranes for the building industry. Mr. Michaels was transferred from Desa's Insley Division where he served as Vice President. Prior to his service at Insley, he served in various executive positions with Colt Industries, Allis-Chalmers and General Electric.
Albert E. Kerr, Vice President of the Material Handling Division, will continue in that capacity and will be primarily concerned with production and sales of the Buck line of railroad loading equipment, Tower Cranes and Four-Poster elevators.
# This Is a Lot Of Bull!
How would you like to have a 1,500 lbs. bull delivered to your door steps? Frank Laureys, Chicago Chapter member, had it happen on Wednesday, June 7th-his birthday. Someone with the name "Don" purchased the bull and had it delivered. It's a beautiful animal with papers and all-but what does one actually do with 1,500 lbs. of bull?
# People & Events
Thomas F. Egan has been promoted to the post of Zonolite North-Central regional manager for the Construction Products Division of W. R. Grace & Co., Cambridge, Mass. He is transferring from Cambridge to the regional offices in Minneapolis.
Robert C. Deskin, who had spent 14 years with DuPont as a chemical engineer, has joined Grace's Construction Products Division in Cambridge to head up new business development for the Darex/Servicised/Horn/Bituthene product lines... Roy V. LeFevre has been appointed general parts and service manager for the Industrial & Construction Machinery Group of Massey-Ferguson Limited, Akron, (Continued on page 20).
# Perlite Elects Four
James D. O'Brien, President, Perlite Institute Inc. has announced the election of four members to the Institute's Board of Directors at the Institute's Annual Meeting held this year in Rome, Italy.
Joining the Board for the first time is R. C. Black, President of Perlite of Houston Inc., Houston, Texas. Re-elected were E. K. Hill, President and General Manager Redco, Inc., N. Hollywood. California and G. D. Reycraft of the New York law firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft. Elected to fill the unexpired term of Samuel M. Shay was F. N. Chirico, President of Certified Industrial Products Inc., Hillside, N.J., Carolina Perlite Co. Inc. and Virginia Perlite Corp. of Gold Hill, N.C.