Endangered hardwood in Philadelphia

Nice old sign from Philadelphia, from one of the few, and now endangered, workshops in the center of the city that are still in business. And look, the sign is on Youtube!

John Grass Wood Turning Company
Manufacturers of Wood Poles, Rollers, Handles, Mallets, Mauls
Lignum-Vitea blocks

Lignum vitae is a really hard type of wood, and I have seen the real lignum vitae trees in the Dominican republic. I'll dig up a photo later. More info here, isn't the wood beautiful!? It is sad to see these old workshops being replaced by Starbucks and fancy stores with things made in China.