Sounds like "finger-jointed " trim.  This allows the manufacturer to 
"glue-up" and utilize otherwise useless odds and end scraps.  Tough I 
would be more likely to use the term "useless" for the finger-jointed 
product... the glue inevitably fails even when painted and some of the 
pieces end up raised above others.  It's a nightmare!  Spend the extra 
money for solid wood trim....clear or even #2 with small knots.

Al


On May 9, 2005, at 3:04 PM, Met History wrote:

>  
> A homeowner at 114 East 101st Street, an 1882 rowhouse, has embarked 
> on a "restoration" campaign of some innocence - this is a modest, 
> working class block, completely ferae naturae as pertains to 
> preservation.   Among other improvements, the owner has stripped the 
> wooden door surround of globs of paint, and polyurethaned it. 
>   
> The door surround is of modest profile, and must be of the 
> 1960's-1970's.  The stripping has revealed that the trim was made up 
> of entirely separate parts - there are irregular joints in the wood 
> every 12-36 inches or so.   It appears the owner is completely unaware 
> of anything beyond the fact that he or she has exposed "the natural 
> wood" - even though the wood was meant to be painted.
>  
> The joints I interpret to indicate that the stock was "cheap", and 
> this was an economy move.
>  
> 1.    Am I right?
> 2.    Why would stock be made up like this?  Like, how is it saving 
> money?
> 3.    Is there a term for this?
>  
> Christopher Gray