Awl --

First, some examples:

http://parquetfloorinstallation.com/...loor_Tiles.jpg nice

http://www.brownstoner.com/brownston...ors-010708.jpg
not uncommon in WWII Manhattan apts, brownstones.

http://www.parquetflooring.com/P15-Parquet.htm wild -- eat your heart out.
Man, I'd be afraid to walk on this..

Here's the Q:

If sanding is supposed to be with the grain, how does one sand parquet
floors?

I'm guessing that instead of a drum sander, mebbe they use one of those big
jitter-bug-type sanders that HD used to rent.

--
EA