Masonry Magazine February 1970 Page. 11
Business Economist Roy Wenzlick
Business Economist Roy Wenzlick, one of the featured speakers on Monday's program, illustrates with charts various economic factors affecting the masonry industry as well as over-all U.S. economy.
Annual Convention Report
plant site with approximately 25¢ for transportation and 35e for erection. The panels are presently offered in five colors. "We are not selling directly to builders unless they have traditionally done their own masonry work," he explained. "We feel strongly that erection work belongs to the mason contractor and we are urging his participation."
Guy Apple told the delegates that many architects and engineers in the Phoenix area are now designing buildings with prefabricated masonry panels. "Panelization is here, and it is here to stay," he asserted. "We are going to have to get into it whether we like it or not. Regardless of what many people think, panels are saving money. Plant labor versus the labor of a tradesman on the job site results in obvious cost advantages."
Apple pointed out that prefabricated panels can be manufactured weeks or months in advance of construction, avoiding possible delays, and they further help to minimize weather factors.
Presenting the union's viewpoint, Thomas F. Murphy declared, "Panelization is a challenge to our trade, but we can join it, not fight it." He favored the idea of bricklayers being employed in panelization factories, "providing that the working conditions and pay scale are right." He noted that this type of arrangement would give men more employment throughout the year.
He concluded by offering the union's support in joining forces to promote the masonry industry in an effort to attract more qualified help. "We need a national promotion program," he said. "We must have a concentrated effort to join forces in promoting the industry at the national level."
Slides of "Southern-Masonry Panels" were shown to the delegates by George A. Miller, MCAA Executive Vice President. This system, developed by William Mitchell of Louisville, Ky., utilizes Threadline mortar and concrete masonry units. On one of the particular projects shown, approximately 400,000 concrete masonry block and 1,500,000 brick were utilized.
This system has three distinct advantages-speed of erection, structural value of the wall, and sound transmission characteristics. (Additional information on this system will be discussed in a future issue of Masonry.)
The opening session on Monday morning featured the presentation of colors by a Marine Color Guard, followed by an invocation by T. Walter Kirk, MCAA member from St. Louis. Welcoming remarks were made by President Bidwell, who presided at the session, and Joseph Szabo, President of the Mason Contractors Association of Greater Chicago.
Speakers included Ray Lackey of the International Masonry Institute, Washington, D.C., and Business Economist Roy Wenzlick of St. Louis.