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Soule News
VOLUME 1 NUMBER 4 JULY 1963
Commodity Products ARE Big Business for Soule
Expanded metal is used for a variety of industrial applications and it is becoming more and more popular as an architectural and decorative material. Soule Steel couldn't be happier about this turn of events because the company is one of the largest suppliers in the West of commodity building products, of which expanded metal is one.
A good example of decorative use is the modern Soule identification at the Portland office which is highlighted by expanded metal. (photo above)
Soule acquired its first commodity product in 1925 with a franchise for the distribution of expanded metal from Consolidated Expanded Metal Companies of Wheeling, West Virginia. (This relationship has remained beneficial to both firms because Soule is still distributing expanded metal in the West produced by Wheeling Steel Co.'s Wheeling Corrugating Co. Division, successor to the Consolidated company.)
Since 1925, a surprising range and number of products have been added to the Soule line. By aggressive selling, product innovation and service, the Commodity Products Division has reached the point where it accounts for approximately 15 per cent of the company's total sales.
To learn what the division's products are, how and where they are sold, and who's who in the division, see inside.
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SPECIAL ATTENTION MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
A little extra effort goes a long way toward satisfying the customer as evidenced by a recent metal lath job out of the Seattle office.
Piper and Greenhalgh, Inc., Seattle, lathing and plastering contractor for a three floor addition to a high school at Aberdeen, needed 32,000 pounds of metal lath, stud and track on a rush basis.
Most of the material, ordered out of the San Francisco plant, was banded together, tagged by floor, and shipped by common carrier. The shipment was coordinated to arrive at the Seattle plant at the same time as the dealer's trucks arrived. The order was loaded onto three of the dealer's trucks direct from the common carrier while additional pieces were loaded from the Seattle shop.
Not one single piece was damaged or missing and the material arrived at the building site on time. To make the job complete, Soulé also furnished the rebar for the building.
From the President
This month we in Soulé Steel Company, along with our fellow Americans both here and throughout the world, are celebrating the 187th anniversary of Independence Day.
At this time I would like to point out that often it seems we are inclined to take our heritage and freedom for granted. But as in the past, these things that our fathers fought for still are being challenged and it is just as important today that each one of us does our utmost to protect and maintain these tremendously valuable gifts which are ours as citizens of the United States.
Let us not forget that the principals set forth in the Declaration of Independence bestow upon each of us a great trust and responsibility — that we continue to stand as a symbol of freedom, democracy and justice for all the world.
We are proud to be hard-working Americans engaged in producing important basic commodities for our nation's needs, and in this task we want to go forward into the future with faith and courage so that together we can make our own contribution to the benefit of mankind.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance by all. In the true spirit of our forefathers, we as individuals, as a company, and as a nation must keep progressing, defending our freedom, and maintaining peace for ourselves and for our future generations.
My best wishes to you and your family for a happy and glorious 4th of July.
Edward J. Soulé Jr.
Photo: This courthouse and Federal office building at Sacramento includes Soulé metal lath, stud, aluminum windows and curtain wall.
What Is a Commodity Product?
In the steel business, a commodity product is an item that requires no special engineering before it can be used. Simple? Then is or isn't rebar a commodity product? Answer: It is and it isn't. If the rebar requires fabrication it is not a commodity product. If it is sold in a straight bar, it is a commodity product.
However, the Commodity Products Division does not get credit for the money made from straight rebar sold because the product is logically distributed through Reinforcing Division channels. This brings up another academic question: is money a commodity product? Your first reaction is probably, "yes, because money requires no special engineering before it can be used." But if you are married . . .
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Who's Who In Commodity Products
Photo: Scott Anderson, general manager, Commodity Products Division.
Scott Anderson, headquartered at San Francisco, is general manager of the Commodity Products Division.
Soulé is represented for the sale of metal lath, stud and accessories by John Belina, Homer Anderson and Norm Hopp.
Norm Hopp also works with expanded metal as do Lew Howell and George Von Arx.
John Edwards and Bob Alpaugh sell residential windows.
No one is more aware than the men mentioned above that the success of the Commodity Products Division is due, in large measure, to many other Soulé employees at San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle who process the orders from sale to shipment.
The Product Range
The greatest single source of sales for the Commodity Products Division is metal lath, stud and metal accessories for the plastering industry. However, as stated in the story on page one, product innovation is one of the big reasons for the division's success. While plastering is an important art for quality construction, dry-wall is also very popular. Rather than fight the tide, Soulé takes advantage of both methods of construction by also marketing metal stud and accessories for the drywall industry.
Residential window casements, both aluminum and steel, have been sold by the Commodity Products Division for thousands of homes throughout the West.
Expanded metal distributed by the division is used for everything from walkways on top of railroad cars to balcony railings and barbecue grills. New uses are being found frequently for expanded metal which is sold in a variety of materials, styles, and gauges.
Service Is a Key To Success . . .
The Commodity Products Division is well known throughout the industry for the extra efforts it will make to help its customers to do their jobs better.
On numerous occasions, the division has developed brand new products in order to service customers with difficult problems. Most times, the division finds that its new product can be used by many other customers. Over the years this reputation for service has resulted in Soulé being the place to call for commodity products.
Recent innovations by the division include snap-in stud, "lockjaw" shoes (to make the placement of tracks easier in tight places), combination track and metal base (eliminates an operation for the lathing contractor), two inch solid partition track and a number of special expanded metal meshes.
Photo: A workman ties channel in preparation for plastering of unusual domes at the St. Joseph Monastery in the east foothills of San Jose. Soulé lathing products were used throughout the plastering project.
Production and Distribution
Residential windows are sold throughout the West and in foreign countries to dealers and major residential builders. The balance of the division's product line is marketed through dealers and distributors.
All lath, channel and accessories are manufactured at San Francisco and distributed by Soulé warehouses at San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle. Expanded metal is distributed from the same facilities. Aluminum window casements are manufactured at San Francisco while steel windows are produced at Los Angeles.
Maltby Is Appointed L.A. Personnel Manager
Winston E. Maltby has joined Soulé Steel as personnel manager at Los Angeles.
Mr. Maltby received a B.S. in industrial relations from U.S.C. where he also attended its Graduate School of Commerce. He has been in personnel work for eight years.
Photo: The finished plaster domes at the St. Joseph Monastery will be "representative of plastering art for the next 100 years," in the words of the architect who designed the building.
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Life Is Improving For Accident Man; But Phoenix Is Giving Him Trouble
Things are improving a little. In May I managed to knock the Rebar section at Dominguez out of the 1.000 bracket in the Season Standings and only one team in the Field League made it through the month without a lost-time accident.
I don't know what's wrong down in Phoenix though. They haven't had a lost-time accident in the field or the plant all year. I guess I'll have to take a run down there this month to stir up some carelessness and get those guys on my team.
Incidentally, I want to warn you that there is a "whispering campaign" which seems to be springing up. Every once in a while I hear it in the plant or out on the job. One guy is saying to another: "Think safe!" I think whoever started it should be investigated. Think safe indeed!
It's time to pack my sport shirt and Bermuda shorts and head for the Arizona Biltmore. Look out you Arizonans — here comes Sad Sam!
SAD SAM
SAD SAM'S SAFETY STANDINGS JULY, 1963 PLANT LEAGUE Batting Average Los Angeles . . . . . . . 1.000 Portland . . . . . . . 1.000 Phoenix . . . . . . . 1.000 Seattle . . . . . . . 1.000 San Francisco . . . . . . .995 L.A. Rebar . . . . . . . .989
FIELD LEAGUE Batting Average Phoenix . . . . . . . 1.000 So. Calif. . . . . . . .996 Mill . . . . . . . .992 No. Calif. . . . . . . .989 Portland . . . . . . . .988 Seattle . . . . . . . .984
*Photo: John Belina, left, of the Soule Commodity Products Division, visited the new St. Joseph Hospital at Stockton, California, during construction. All metal lath and channel (pictured) was Soule.*
Kleman Named Safety Manager
Frank Kleman has been named full-time safety manager for Southern California.
Mr. Kleman, a seven-year Soule employee, will be responsible for safety programs both at the mill and in the field.
*Photo: Soule furnished all metal lath, stud and accessories for the San Diego County Courthouse and Jail, a two-block long complex.*
SEASON STANDINGS PLANT LEAGUE Batting Average Los Angeles . . . . . . . 1.000 Phoenix . . . . . . . 1.000 Seattle . . . . . . . 1.000 L.A. Rebar . . . . . . . .998 San Francisco . . . . . . .995 Portland . . . . . . . .991
FIELD LEAGUE Batting Average Phoenix . . . . . . . 1.000 Mill . . . . . . . .991 So. Calif. . . . . . . .990 No. Calif. . . . . . . .986 Seattle . . . . . . . .986 Portland . . . . . . . .985
Soule News
Published monthly by and for the employees of Soule Steel Co. Editor—Douglas Gordon Associate Editors Los Angeles—Frank Kleman Mill—Dianne Sheridan Phoenix—Furman Davis Portland—Dolores Bedgood San Diego—Esther Longnecker Seattle—Dee Henderson