commercial veneer techniques

mikemcgrail

Well-known member
I stumbled across this video on youtube, and found it interesting, at least the first part with the Parisian sawing veneer from antique cuban mahogany logs, I beleive he is saying his name is Patrick George.
Anyway, I was just wondering how long ago this sort of veneering techhinque was used. I know people were slicing sort of like it is done today in the early 1940's. The machine this fellow is using looks at least to me sort of like a product of the early 20th century.  I am just curious.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNvYhpcPNlw
Hope that link works. I am not really sure how to copy and paste a link. It can be fouind by searching cuban mahogany veneer and going through page or two of results, in case my link fails.
 
I was just curious about that machine. I wondered if it would saw better than the modern resawing bandsaws. Could be some lost knowledge there. I once met a fellow that said his father had the job of sharpening a saw like that for the veneer mill here in Evansville, indiana. But until I saw that video, I could not imagine what sort of  saw they might have been using.
Also, I  like to watch that video to hear that fellow pronounce "mahogany". I have told the wife I would like to visit Paris, now.
One other link I like is this log
http://www.woodshop102.com/29.html
Which I wish that I had bought, but did not have the courage. I have since learned to be braver. Maybe someone here knows the actual folks that got to use the log.
I am also curious to know more about the color change in the old mahogany, the fellow in the you tube video implies he thinks it really takes a hundred years or so. Another reason to visit Paris.
 
Mike,

You will find more information on the 'Les fils de J. George' (the sons of J. George) website (French: http://www.george-veneers.com/, English: http://www.george-veneers.com/uk/index.htm). In particular, this page might be a good starting point: http://www.george-veneers.com/uk/technique.htm. It describes the sawing method as "The origin of our sawing method ("au bois montant") can be traced to the end of the XVIIIth century. It enables us to get high quality sawed veneers."

W. Patrick Edwards references them on his website here: http://wpatrickedwards.com/arsmarq.htm and here: http://wpatrickedwards.com/link.htm
 
Thanks Paul,
I had seen the reference on Patrick Edward's site, but I will look at this other.
I do appreciate the info.
Mike
 
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