Douglas Fir Use Book [Hardcover] West Coast Lumbermen’s Association and B/w Illustrations

Description

1961 edition, 5th printing, Daily Journal of Commerce. Hardcover has some scuffs, staining, and wear along the corners/edges. Name and markings on first blank page. Some underlining and markings throughout pages. A couple of pages have light staining at top or dinged bottom edges. Outside page edges are worn and stained. Binding is loosening in several spots but is still fully intact.

This well-worn copy of the “Douglas Fir Use Book” offers a glimpse into the rich history of the timber industry on the West Coast. Published by the West Coast Lumbermen’s Association, this technical manual served as an essential resource for loggers, sawmill operators, and builders working with the mighty Douglas fir. Its pages bear the marks of hands-on use, with underlines and annotations that hint at the practical knowledge passed down through generations of lumberjacks and woodworkers.

Beyond its utilitarian purpose, this book represents a era when the forests of the Pacific Northwest fueled a booming industry, shaping the region’s economy and culture. The Douglas fir, with its towering stature and remarkable strength, became an icon of the rugged spirit that defined the lumbering trade. This copy’s weathered condition speaks to the hard labor and resourcefulness required to tame these ancient giants and transform them into the homes, buildings, and infrastructure that gave rise to the modern West Coast.

For collectors and enthusiasts, this edition offers a tangible connection to a fading way of life, when the rhythms of nature and the sweat of human toil were inextricably linked. Its well-thumbed pages hold stories of daring loggers, sawdust-covered mills, and the echoes of axes biting into thick bark – a testament to the enduring legacy of the region’s timber heritage.