Potlatch Corporation. Pres-to-log Division

Records, 1933-1989
3.0 cubic feet

The records of the Potlatch Corporation Pres-to-log Division were donated to the University of Idaho Library by James C. McAdoo of the Potlatch Corporation in January 1995. They were processed by Judith Nielsen in December 1997.

History

Wood Briquettes, Inc. which manufactured and leased the Pres-to-log machinery and marketed the logs, was a wholly owned subsidiary of the Potlatch Corporation. It was incorporated in the state of Delaware in 1933 by M.S. Cook, A.L. Raughley, and J.M. Townsend, all of Dover, Delaware. Officers were C.L. Billings, Otto Leuschel, H.L. Torsen, of Lewiston, ID, and G.F. Jewett of Coeur d'Alene. Other directors were J.P. Weyerhaeuser, Jr., and Laird Bell. Pres-to-logs were made from compressed wood shavings, sawdust and chips, and required one-quarter the space of the original wood. The first machine started production in April 1936. The patent for the Pres-to-log machine expired in 1960 and none were built after that time. The company eventually lost control over the machines and producers and in 1984 the directors consented to dissolve the company. All assets were transferred to the parent company, Potlatch Corporation by the end of 1985,and that company sold the remaining machinery.

Scope And Content

The Pres-to-log records of the Potlatch Corporation span the years 1933 to 1989, with the bulk of the material covering the decades of 1940, 1950 and 1960.

Included in the records are Wood Briquettes, Inc., correspondence with companies leasing Pres-to-log machines, general information on the product, photographs, and engineering drawings.

Additional information on Pres-to-logs may be found in other Potlatch Corporation records including MG 135, MG 139, and MG 192.

Arrangement and Description

The records were in no apparent order when received. Some material was in labeled folders while other material was not foldered at all. Material within folders was not always consistent with the label. Records were therefore separated by company. Original folder heading were kept if appropriate.

The material in this record group is arranged in two series, Wood Briquettes, Inc. and Potlatch Corporation.

The papers generated by Wood Briquettes, Inc., which manufactured and leased Pres-to-log machinery, are in series one. These papers are subdivided into three sections. The first contains corporate records, general information on the product, general correspondence, and financial records. The second section consists of correspondence with companies leasing machinery. The third section contains an incomplete set of engineering drawings for Pres-to-log machinery.

The second series contains papers generated by Potlatch Corporation, the parent company of Wood Briquettes. Included are research reports, correspondence pertaining to the sale of the equipment after the dissolution of Wood Briquettes, material relating to patents, and costs of operating the plants.

Series List

I. Wood Briquettes, Inc., 1933-1989

	A. General, 1933-1989

	B. Correspondence, 1933-1987

	C. Engineering Drawings, 1936-1969	1-3
II. Potlatch Corporation, 1964-1987 	3

Inventory

Potlatch Corporation. Pres-to-log Division

Box Folder Description Items

I. Wood Briquettes, Inc., 1933-1989

A. General, 1933-1989

1	1	Action plan, 1984-1985	22
	2	Bitco Drive, general information, 1985-1989	5
	3	Board of directors minutes, 1963-1965	3
	4	Bowling, R.T. The mechanical development of a wood-briquetting machine, 1940	5
	5	Canadian trademark, 1964	6
	6	Competitive makes, 1970	4
	7-8	Corporate documents, 1933-1955	95
	9		California filings, 1945	14
	10		Sample lease agreements, n.d.	2
	11-12	Correspondence, 1947-1984	71
	13		Pres-to-log machines, 1966-1989	9
	14		Purchase of Pres-to-log machines, 1984-1985	35
	15		Use of name Pres-to-log, 1964-1980	11
	16-17	Dissolution, 1983-1985	21
	18		Sale of microfilms of drawings, 1985	9
	19	Dow, Frank P. Co., Freight forwarders, 1964-1972	23
	20	Federal Communications Commission, 1967-1969	2
	21	General Electric motor data, 1963	1
	22	Instruction manuals, n.d.	3
	23	Insurance claim, 1968	3
	24	Inventory, 1966-1967	3
	25	Miscellaneous, 1963-1977	35
	26	Pres-to-log information packet, 1986	2
	27	Recap - all licenses, 1970-1987	19
	28	Report on inspection trip: Coeur d'Alene, 1972	1
	29		Sacramento and San Francisco, 1959	1
	30		Southern Idaho, 1964	1
	31	Royalty payments, 1967-1968	5
	32	Sales territory and licenses, 1963	43
	33-34	Statements of income, 1966-1984	56
	35	Stoker machine parts list, n.d.	1
	36	Use of non-wood material in manufacture of Pres-to-logs, 1951-1968	27
	37	Wood Briquettes, Inc., G. Miller v., 1972	1

B. Correspondence, 1933-1987

	38	Ashley Colter Ltd., Fredericton, N.B., 1963-1972	23
	39	Atlantic Forest Products, Minto, N.B., 1970-1971	6
	40-41	B.C. Forest Products, Ltd., Victoria, B.C., 1952-1965	51
	42	Biles-Coleman Lumber Co., Omak, WA, 1970-1972	7
	43	Bitco, Inc., 1966-1970	7
	44	Capitol Lumber So., Salem, Oregon, 1965	2
	45	Co-op Vegetable Oils, Altona, Manitoba, 1964-1965	4
	46	Deer Park Pine Industry, Deer Park, WA, 1964-1971	5
	47	DeSoto Hardwood Flooring Co., Memphis, TN, 1966-1971	11
	48	Eaton Lumber Co., Jay, NY., 1965-1968	50
	49	Glenco forest products, Inc., Sacramento, CA., 1953-1972	5
	50	Haileyburg Lumber Co., Swastika, Ont., 1963-1964	5
	51	Haney Supply, Colville, WA, 1966-1973	5
2	52	Harris Manufacturing Co., Johnson City, TN, 1961-1973	53
	53	Hyster Co., Portland OR, 1963-1968	42
	54	Quotations, 1962-1964	10
	55	Inland Analytical Laboratories, Spokane, WA, 1964-1968	13
	56	Intermountain Lumber Co., Missoula, MT, 1963-1977	17
	57	Iowa-Missouri Walnut Co., St. Joseph, MO, 1963-1964	5
	58	Irving, J.D., Co., St. John, NB, 1972	5
	59	Jellico Resources Associates, Ltd., Rexdale, Ont., 1970-1972	11
	60-61	MacMillan Bloedel, Vancouver BC, 1946-1979	135
	62	New Mexico Timber, Inc., Albuquerque, 1952-1973	50
	63	Newfoundland and Labrador, Government of, 1986	1
	64	Niels, J., Lumber Co., Libby, MT, 1942-1961	7
	65-66	Pacific Lumber Co., San Francisco, CA, 1934-1971	80
	67	Scotia, CA., 1964-1979	30
	68	Port Huron Truss, Inc., Port Huron MI, 1979-1981	3
	69	Reno Millwork, Inc., Reno, Nev., 1940-1975	26
	70	Rocky Mountain Fiber Fuels, Flagstaff, AZ, 1977-1978	14
	71	Rubberset Co., Gravenhurst, ONT., 1972	5
	72-74	Setzer Forest Products, Sacramento, CA, 1934-1987	249
	75-76	Spokane Pres-to-log Co., 1946-1986	88
	77	St. Regis Paper Co., Libby, MT, 1963-1972	37
	78	State Box Co., Sacramento, CA, 1963-1967	43
	79-80	Weyerhaeuser Co., 1933-1972	102
	81	Yoder Manufacturing, Montgomery, PA, 1974-1978	13

C. Engineering Drawings, 1936-1969

3	82	List of plans and general drawings, 1954-1968	3
	83	Series C, 1944-1969	3
	84	Series E, 1948-1969	7
	85	Series F, 1940-1969	6
	86	Series G, 1936-1969	7
	87	Series K, 1943-1961	1

II. Potlatch Corporation, 1964-1987

	88	B.C. research: Fuel log process, 1966-1968	5
	89	Blake, Givens, Feeney, 1964-1969	12
	90	Comparison Pres-to-log operating statements, 1966-1969	4
	91	Potlatch Clearwater Unit: Pres-to-log memos, 1968-1971	17
	92		Trucking rates, 1965-1967	9
	93	Correspondence: Sale of Pres-to-log machines, 1987	5
	94		Miscellaneous, 1967-1984	4
	95	Fireplace Pak, results, 1965-1972	14
	96	General information, 1936-1968	9
	97	Hall, John, Executive counsel, 1968-1972	2
	98	History, 1936-1962	5
	99	Mutual Marketing, 1966-1970	12
	100	Patent possibilities, 1964-1967	6
	101-102	Patents: Greek Wells, 1956-1969	38
	103-105	Photographs, ca.1940-1965	45
	106		Kits, paks, Color-glo pallets, Market displays, ca.1966-1967	21
	107	Plant engineering report, Peoria, Illinois, 1966	1
	108	Pres-to-log cost estimate, 1965-1966	27
	109	Pres-to-log data, 1943-1985	21
	110	Pres-to-log plant costs, 1964	1
	111	Wax-dip equipment, agreement form, 1968	3
	112	Possibilities for the production of wood briquette stoker fuel in northern Michigan, 1950	1
	113	A study of wood briquetting fuels and possibilities in application in Georgia, 1959	1
	114	Wood fuel for protecting crops from frost, 1961	1

December 1997 / mg388.htm