Michigan Artisan; 1907-06-25

Notes:

Issue of a furniture trade magazine published in Grand Rapids, Mich. It was published twice monthly, beginning in 1880. and L l .-_._- Sligh's Superior Styles Sell ALL THROUGH THE SEASON No complaints of dull trade uttered by dealers handling the SLIGH LINES ... THE PAST SEASON'S SALES OF SLIGH GOODS A ~ RECORD BREAKER. ~ CORRECT STYLES, GOOD MATERIALS AND HONEST WORKMANSHIP, STRONG FEATURES IN THE SLIGH LINES. A Mammoth Exhibition of Fine and Medium Furniture for the Bedroom Ready on June 17, 1907 SLIGH FURNITURE COMPANY BUCHANAN STREET, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 3 1883 --- 1907 Michigan Chair Company GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN "FOREMOST CHAIR FACTORY IN MICHIGAN" IIHE opening day of the coming Furniture Sales Season, June J 7th, is a holiday in many sections of our country, and we are going to cele-brate same by having our warerooms dressed in very attractive attire., From one end to the other will be seen handsome Chairs, suggestive of com-fort and usefulness with a range and scope so broad as to make selection mere-ly a matter of which and what. A carriage to come in if you wish -and to go as well. Cordial greeting and best attention. REPRESENTATIVE SALESMEN East: CHAS. H. cox ROBT. E. WALTON CHAS. F. M<GREGOR South: W. R. PENNY We,t: CHAS.B.PARMENTER ROBT.G.CALDER MICHIGAN CHAIR COMPANY ~ --- --~ --- --- -- - -- - 4 A B L E s FOR EVERY ROOM BUT THE KITCHEN L 187~ ----------- THE MOST COMPLETE LINE OF EXTENSION TABLES . MANUFACTURED IN AMERICA , 1 PILLAR TABLES FROM $12.50 UP I OFFICE TABLES ALL SIZES PARLOR TABLES LIBRARY TABLES DEN TABLES MEDIUM PRICED MAHOGANY SAMPLES ON EXHIBIT AT THE FACTORY No. 615 TAKE SCIUBNEJt ST. CAR. No. 617 ! I IMPERIAL FURNITURE CO. I Grand Rapids. Mich. I 5 Grand Rapids Chair Co. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. weare I iSinil.tors ! . nor I I__ ~.~.....-.a. llators_J Strictry High-Grade Furniture At Medium Prices 1186 BUFFET Desks Buffets Sideboards Hall Racks China Cabinets Music Cabinets Tables Hall Seats Cellarettes Book Cases Hall Glasses Chests and Boxes Goods shown at our factory only. Full line now ready. 6 ORIEL Cabinet COlnpany ======Grand Rapids, Mich.====== La~gest Manufacturers In the W orId OF ------------ Furniture Novelties Line Ready for Inspection by the Trade on June 17, 1907 The Higher Degrees of Furniture Construction Have Been Taken by the ESTEY MANUFACTURING CO. For Workmanship CHAMBER SUITES No. 912 For Quality SIDEBOARDS and BUFFETS OWOSSO, MICH. CATALOGUE TO THE TRADE ONLY For Designs For Finish ~---------------- -- - L. The Line with Invincible Points of Merit Inspect Our Parlor Cabinets Music Cabinets Hall Trees Hall Seats Hat Racks, Framed Mirrors No. 320 Table Inspect Our Buffets China Cabinets Combinations Gents' Wardrobes Shaving Stands Ladies' Dressing Tables Ladies' Dressing Chairs WITH PATENT ADJUSTABLE FiXTURES No. 680 Cabinet Full of NOVELTIES and USEFULNESS Show Rooms: NEW YORK 4th FLOOR NEW YORK FURNITURE EXCHANGE With THE: WEATHERLEYS It will pay you to look our line over even if you don't buy. ROCKFORD FRAME andFIXTURE CO. ROCKFORD IWNOIS . Show Rooms: GRAND RAPIDS 2d FLOOR BIG BUILDING CHICAGO 6th FLOOR FURNITURE EXCHANGE With PECK &: HILLS - . THE Manistee Manufacturing Co. MANISTEE, MICHIGAN CJl We say but little but do a lot in the way of bringingout one of the strongest lines of Sideboards, Buffets, Chiffoniers, Odd Dressers and Gentlemen's Wardrobes there is on the market. This is One of Our BEST This is One that will SELL No. 266 Sideboard. Top 25x60; Minoy 18x50 CJl Our full line of one hundred patterns will be shown on the 6th floor, spaces 17 and 19, Manufacturers' Exhibition Build-ing 1319 Michigan Ave., Chicago. We make our own Exhibit. Call in and we will treat you right, and give you your money's worth. CHAS. ELMENDORF, in charge. 9 r---------------- --- I· l 10 Berkey & Gay Furniture Co. Grand Rapids The Line will be ready for inspection by the Trade Monday June 17 1 907 Chamber Furniture Dining Room Furniture Library Furniture It is all Furniture of Character That Has the Charm of Quality i II ..I Luce Furniture Company Godfrey Ave" GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. Line Ready at FACTORY JUNE 17, 1907 New Features in Upper Class Circassian Walnut A Large Addition to Our Line of Staples· Medium and Fine Furniture for the Chamber and Dining Room 11 ~------------ 12 13 ~~IIMPORTANT!~1~~ It is a matter of IMPORTANCE to every Furniture Buyer that he inspect our Fall Line before placing orders for Davenport Sofa Beds-Box Couches Adjustable Sofas _.Plain or Tufted Couches and Davenports .... WE HAVE THE STYLES AND THE VALUES .... No_ 583 .. SIMPLICITY t1 Sofa Bed, a popular medium priced pattern from our Spri[]g Line AN INNOVATION We will also show our Initial Line of TURKISH CHAIRS and ROCKERS in "RELIANCE" LEATHER. A sensational short line of sure sellers. We Exhibit at Grand Rapids only. JUNE·- JULY SEASON. JAMESTOWN LOUNGE COMPANY Manufacturers 01 Superior Guaranteed Upholstery JAMESTOWN, N. Y. 14 Royal Furniture Company GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN Dining : Library Bedroom Suites HALL CLOCKS IN "COLONIAL" STYLE NEW ADAPTATIONS Ready for Inspection June 17, 1907 SHOWN AT FACTORY SALESROOM THE ROYAL fURNITURE Co. GRANO RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, - - - -- -- ------------------------ 15 Why Biggest in the World? At the coming Furniture Exposition at Grand Rapids (opening June 17th), and that in New York (from July Isth to August 3rd), the Northern Furniture Company will as usual, have the largest space of any American Manufacturer. Though but a few years old, the Northern makes more bed-room, dining-room, and kitchen furniture than any other Ulanu-facturer in this country, and that means' in the world. WIlY? Why' 7:oasJ.Vorthern space last 'year more cro7:oded than any other at these f'lfJO exposi-tions? BECAUSE-The Northern line sells best on the floors of the ,.etail dealers. It's a quick mover. It doem't get stnek. It gives satisfaction. The prices are the kind the people want-not so low as to necessitate poor workmanship, not so high as to be fancy. The Northern line is noted for its elegant simplicity. J t is stylish without being over-iJrnGtnented. [t is substantial without being gaudy. [t looks well for years and it wears <Dellfor years. [t is solid "Uthe way through. It has illlter quality as v.Jeli as ollter quality, And the people know it. Do you know it9 C"U ""d see tis. You you,.self will then know WHY. The plates on this page are but a suggestions of our enonnous line. NORTUERN fURNITURE COMPANY Sheboygan, Wisconsin 12th- Season CHICAGO Commencing July 1, 1901 MANUFACTURERS' EXHIBITION BUILDING CO. 12th Season Commencing July 1, 1907 The Original Building-1319 MICHIGANAVE.-Admission to Dealers Only PAI\TIAL LIST ON EXtiI&ITOI\S Manufacturers' Exhibition Building Co., 1319 American Furniture Co., Bassett, Va. American Metal Ware Co., Chicago. Banta Furniture Co., The, Goshen, Ind. Bassett Furniture Co" Bassett, Va. Blanchard-Hamilton Furniture Co., The, Shelbyville, Ind. Billow-Lupfer Coo. Columbus, O. Bissell Carpet Sweeper Co., Grand Rapids, Mich. Booth Furn. Co., Peru, Ind. Brumby Chair Co., Marietta, Ga. Buckeye Chair Co., The, Ravenna, O. Burkhardt Furniture Co" The, Day-ton, O. Bay View Furniture Co., Holland, Mich. Cad.illac Cabinet Co., Detroit, Mich. Campbell, c.. H" Co., Shelbyville, Ind. Campbell, Smith & Ritchie, Lebanon~ Ind. Capital Furniture Manufacturing Co., Indianapolis, Ind. Capital Rattan Co., The, Indianapolis Cass, .R T. & Co., Chicago. Cates Chair Co., Thomasville, N. C. Central Bedding Co., of Illinois, Chi-cago. Chippewa Falls Furniture Co., Chip-pewa, Falls, \hlis. Choate· Hollister Furn. Co., Janesville, Wis. Conrey & Birely Table Co., The, Shelbyville, Ind. Conrey-Davis ]"'lanufacturing Shelbyville, Ind. Co-operative F.urniture Co., Rockford Coye Furniture Co., The, Stevens Point, \Vis. Cramer Furniture Co., Thomasville, N.C. Crowell Furniture Co., Bassett, Va. Davis, Horwich & Steinman, Chicago. Dillingham .Manufacturing Co., She-boygan, \-Vis. Dixie Furniture Co., Lexington, N. C. Dunn Co., John A., Chicago. Eckhoff Furniture Co., St. Louis, 1:10. Elk Furniture Co., Lexington, N. C. Emmerich, Charles, & Co., Chicago. Empire Furniture Co., Jamestown Empire 1'loulding Works, Chicago. Emrich Furniture Co., The, Indiana-polis, ~Ind. Fall Creek Manufacturing Co., Moo-resville, Ind. Faultless Mfg. Co., Geneva, Wis. Fenske Bros., Chicago. Ferguson Bros. Manufacturing Co., Hoboken, N. J. Fisher, Charles A., & Co., Chicago. Foster Bros. Manufacturing Co., Utica, N. Y. f'uUer- Warren Co., The, Milwaukee Fulton Manufacturing- Co., Chicago. Frank Todd, Chicago; Freedman Bros. & Co., Chicago. Garvy Co., The,' Chicago. Globe-Home Furniture Co., High Pointj N. C. Golden Furniture Co., Jamestown Goshen Novelty & Brush Co Gos-hen, Ind. Heroy Glass Co., Chicago. Herzog Art Furniture Co., Saginaw, Mich. Hillsboro Chair Co., Hillsboro, O. Hodell Furniture Co., The, Shelby-ville, Ind. Hohenstein- Hartmetz Furniture Co., Evansville, Ind. Co., Hollatz Bros., Chicago. Hood, F. L., & Co., Nashville, Tenn. Hulse, E. 1\01., Co., The, Columbus, O. Humphrev Bookcase Co., Detroit Ideal Register & Metallic Furn. Co., Detroit, 1-1ieh. Indiana Brass & Iron Bed Co.I Indian-apolis, Ind. Indianapolis Chair & Furniture Co., Indianapolis, Ind. Johnson & Sons Furniture Co., A. J., Chicago. Kelly, J. A., & Bros., Clinton, Ia. Kelly-Sorenson Furniture Co.,. Clin-ton, la. Kemnitz Furniture Co., Theo., Green Bay, Wis. Kendallville Furniture Co., Peru, Ind. Kincaid Furniture Co" Statesville, N. C. Kindel Manufacturing Co., St. Louis Kinney-Rodier Co., Chicago. Knoxville Table & Chair Co., ville, Tenn. Lamb, George L., Nappanee, Ind. Langslow-Fowler Co., Rochester, N.Y. Landay, Joseph 1., St. Louis, Mo. Landay Steel Range Co., St. Louis Lathrop Co., The, Chicago. Lilly Varnish Co., Indianapilis, Ind. Lustre Chemical Co., Chicago. Manistee ~'1anufacturing Co., Manis-tee, Mich. Marietta Chair Co., Marietta, Ga. Marvel Furn. Co., Jamestown, 'N. Y. . 1Jayhew Manufacturing Co., Milwau-kee, \Vis. McDougall, G. P., & Son, Indianapo-lis, Ind. Mechanics' Furniture Co., Rockford l\'[eier & Pohlman Furniture Co., St. Louis, ·Mo. 1linneapolis Furniture Co., Minnea-polis, Minn. ;':1ission Furniture Co., S1. Paul. Minn. Modern Furniture Co., Cincinnati, O. Naperville Lounge Co., Naperville, Ill. National Carriage & Reed Co., Cin-cinnati, O. National Table Co., Marietta, O. Norquist Co., A. c., The, Jamestown, N.C. Oakland Manuafcturing Co., Winston- Salem, N. C. Oberbeck Bros. Manufacturing Grand Rapids, Wis. Onken Co., Oscar, The, Cincinnati,O, Palmer Furniture Manufacturing Co., A. E. Adrian, Mich. Palmer Manufacturing. Co., Deb'oil Pana Metal Bed & Manufacturing Co., Pana, Ill. Penn Furn. Co.. Huntington, W. Va. Pioneer Manufacturing Co., Detroit Plimpton, F. T., & Co., Chicago. Posselius Bros. Furniture Manufac-turing Co., The, Detroit, Mich. Preston & Khouri, New York. Probst Furri. Co., The, Pomeroy, 0. Pullman Couch Co., Chicago. Queen Cbair Co., Thomasville, N. C. Ranney Refrigerator Co., Chicago. Richmond, . Ind., Manufacturing Co.,· Richmond, Ind. Rishel Furniture Co., J. K, Williams-port, Pa. Rockford Furniture Co., Rockford, Ill. Rockford Standard Furniture Co., Rockford, Ill. Rome Metallic Bed Co., Rome, N. Y. Root Furniture Co., Shelbyville, Ind. Rothschild-LuskY Mfg. Co., Nashville, Tenn. Royal Mantel & Furniture Co., Rock-ford, Ill. Sanitary Feather Co., Chicarro. Sanitary Steel Couch Co., Elkhart, Ind. Schneider & Allman, Chicago. Knox- Schram Bros., Chicag-o. Schultz & Hirsch, Chicago. Sellers, G. 1., & Sons Co., Elwood, Ind. Sextro Manufacturing Co., Cincinnati Shelbyville Wardrobe Co., Shelby-ville, Ind. Shreve Chair Co.) Union City, Pa. Sidway Mercantile Co., Elkhart, Ind, Sikes Chair Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Skandia Furniture Co., Rockford, Ill. Smith-River Chair Co" Bassett, Va. Spencer & Barnes Co., The, Benton Harbor, Mich. Spiegel Furniture Co., Sh~lbyvil1e, Ind. Sprague & Carleton, Keene, N. H. Standard Chair Co., Thomasville, N.C. Standard Chair Co., Union City. Pa. Standard Furniture Co., The, Cincin-nati. Stickley & Brandt Chair Co., The, Binghamton, N. Y. Stomps-Burkhardt Co., The, Dayton, 0. Streator Metal Stamping Co., Strea-tor, Ill. Streit Manufacturing Co., The C. F" Cincinnati, O. Sturkin-NeIson Cabinet Co., Logan-sport, Ind. CO'I Swift & Co., Chicago. Thayer, H. N., Co., Erie, Pa. Thomasville Furniture Co., Thomas-ville, N. C. Union Furniture Co., ]ame,:;town \Vashington Manufaetu·ring Co., Washington, Court House, O. Western Hardware & Manufacturing Co., Mlwaukee, Wis. \Vestcrn Picture Frame Co., Chicago. White Furniture Co., The, Mebane, N. C. White-McCarthy Furniture Co., Chi-cago. Widman, J, c., & Co., Detroit. Mich. \\Tisconsin Chair Co., The, Port Wash-ington, Wis. Wisconsin Furniture & Manufactur-ing, Co., The, Neillsville, Wis. Wolf & Kraemer Furniture Co., St. Louis, Mo. Wolverine Manuafcturing Co., De-troit, Mich. Yeager Furniture. Co., The, Allen-town, Pa. Michigan Ave., Chicago GRAND RAPIDS PU2LIC LIBRARY 27th Year-No. 24. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH., JUNE 25, 1907. TALKED ABOUT TREES. Timber Topics Discussed by Members of a Michigan Horti-cultural Organization. The June meeting- of the Grand River Valley Horticultural Society was devoted to the discussion of "Trees and Timber." William H. Anderson, presidcllt of the Fourth National Bank of Grand Rapids read a paper Oll the "Comparative GrO\.vth of Trees" in which he showed that the harder and more val-uable timber is from trees of slo-w growth. The whitewood or poplar is the most rapid grower among Michigan trees while the boxwood 15the ;-;lowest. Prof. Filibert Roth, state forest warden talked on "Refor-est ration as an Investment." He presented figures showing the state could set aside land now held at a dollar an acre, plant trees, care for them for forty or fifty years and-eli-minating taxation-realize 100 per cent profit, in addition to compound interest on the entire investment. Taxation, he said, is a bar to reforest ration by private parties, The local assessing officers value the property so high that the taxes more than over balance the profits. He charged the assessing officers with having hastened the wanton destruction of Michi-gan forests. By overtaxing timber lands they conlpelled the non-resident OW'ners to cut the timber as soon as possible and allow the land to go back to the state. The state does not pay taxes; therefore it is not handicapped in that way. Prof. Roth spoke of erroneous ideas, frequently expressed in the newspapers, as to what the forestry commissioners arc doing and from his statements it appears they are not doing much in the way of planting trees. It is not necessary to replant the pine barrens of Michigan in order to make them valuable and a source of profit to the state. There are plenty of young trees-many varieties-now gro\ving on nearly all of the so-called waste lands, he said, and all that is necessary is to keep the fire away from them and allow them to grow. Four years ago the commissioners asked the legislature to set aside a few thousand of the six mitllon acres of waste. lands owned by the state, to be protected and used as a forest reserve. The request was granted, but the state officials were not friendly to the i<1c,aand they picked the poorest of the lands-some that the state had been trying to dispose of for years. They were offered at 50 cents an acre and the state had spent more than that amount in trying to sell it. The largest tract reserved contains about 29,000 located in Roscommon county just south of Houghton Lake. No trees have been planted on this tract. To pay a watchma.n to look after trespasses and guard against fire, with a few assistants in the dryest, most dangerous seasons, the commissioners have paid, on an average, a little more than $800 per year. During the four years they have sold dead timber for which the state has receiv,ed nearly $6,000. For the first year the sale of dead and down timber brought $870 and for the last year $2,900. The young trees are growing with surprising rapidity and Professor Roth figures that without cutting a live $1.00 per Year. tree tlle land will pay the expense of protection and less than lorty years hence will be worth more than 200 times what the state asked but was unable to g;ei for it. Prof. Roth ridiculed the idea that "it requires 150 years to gro\'v' a big cork pine. A vcry repectable tree will grow in 70 years," he declared. H. C. Beardsley, formerly timber agent for the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company which had a large grant of Michigan lands, corroborated Prof. Roth's statement in regard to excessive and unfair taxation, causing the rapid destruction of the forests. vVil1iam \Viddicomb, the veteran furniture manufacturer, gave an entertaining talk on "One Furniture Vvood"-ma-hogany. He told of the peculiar growth of the tree, the dif-ficulties encountered in cutting it and getting it to market and how the wood is obtained by the furniture makers, the fine5t being purcb::.sed at fabulous figures at the a.uction sales in England. To illustrate his talk, he exhibited three fine boards finished in the natural color, one of true mahogany from San Domingo, another of the Mexican variety and another about ten inches wide sawn out of a limb from a tree cut ill Honduras. Mahogany is an evergreen, said Mr. Widdicomb. Tt is a member of the cedar family. There arc several different varieties of the tree. They are found in Mexico, Central and South America, the West Indies, in (Continued on Page 20.) THE CORRECT Stains and fillers. THE MOST SATISFACTORY first Coaters and Varnishes --------------------- - - - I Central furniture Company ROCKfORD, ILLINOIS WHOLESALE MANUFACTURERS OF "IG" GRADE fURNITURE COMBINATION BOOKCASES LIBRARY BOOKCASES, CHINA CLOSETS BUFFETS (jj Better made goods than ever. (jj Better styles than ever. (jj Better prices than ever. (jj WHY? Because we do not spend hundreds of dollars showing our line at Furniture Expositions. . F. T. PLIMPTON & CO. 8th Floor, 1319Michigan Ave., CHICAQO REPRESENTING: Humphrey Book Case Co. Sedional Book Cases, Phonograph Cahinet' Preston & Kourki Imported Brass Novelties, Oriental Rugs Goshen Novelty and Brush Co. Novelties in Mission F urnifure. Lamps Banta Furniture Co. Extension Tables. Dining Room Suites Campbell Smith Ritchie Co. Kitchen Cabinets, Wardrobes Billow-Lupfer Co. Mattresses, Feathe", Box Springs--guar. anteed Five Years Sidway Mercantile Co. Alwin Go-Cart., Shaving Stand., AdjuStable Bed-Tables Spencer & Barnes Co. Bed Room Furniture·-·Mahogany, Birdseye Maple, Oak ===== BissellC~et Sweepers .- Brass Candle Sticks ===== Samples on 5th Floor. Open Entire Year 19 M,esserSMiDis An Advertisement Reproduc6u from the Buffalo Courier of April 28, 1907. The Original Occupied Space 181nches Deep Across SiR ColulDns, 20 (Continued from Page 17.) Africa and other sections of the world, but the true mahogany tree is found only on the western hemisphere and there north of the equator. Mexic.an mahogany and, lately, the African variety are largely used by the furniture makers, but the best, -the true mahogany-comes from the West Indies, the very best from San Domingo. The tree grows frequently to a height of 150 or 175 feet-70 or 80 feet without a limb. The limbs branch out like those of the live oak, the top spreading over a space 150 feet in diameter. In order to stand against the hurricanes of the tropics the tree is buttressed or braced by the roots which arc of immense size above the ground. In order to fell a tree it is necessary to erect a scaffold on which the workmen stand to cut it off above the bracing roots. In speaking of the English auctioJ1s I\.Jr, Widdicomb said that in 1903 two mahogany logs were sold at Liverpool fOJ" something over $8,000. A sman log brought $300 per thous-and feet, board measure. Later a single log-sQuared-sold for $15,768. It was bought by Americans and the speaker modestly admitted that the Widdicomb Furniture Company is tense with desire. Just at the right time he gives it a toss and away the beautiful thing soars to meet the sky. He was ready when the wind blew. :Many failures in this world come from trying to fly kites after the wind has reached its height and begun to die down. The mall that tries that way may get his kite up half way and then see it drop helplessly to the earth. Discouraging, isn't it? Out West there are a good many land booms. Who are the men that make money out of them? Kot the men who come late and buy land when the boom has reached the crest and begun to go down on the other side. Oh, no. It was the man who was on the spot early and was ready to sell when the price had climbed to the top and the late-comer put in an appearance. Out in the western part of this state a man had a thousand bushels of potatoes to sell one -year. He thought he saw a chance to make some money out of the crop. They were bringing·a good fair price, but he thought that wasn't just time to sell. He would wait till they were a little higher. And he did wait. The price began to go down. The breeze had spent its force and his kite was still in his hand waiting -~--=..-~-:~-_..~ A FEW SAM.PLES FROM THE LARGE LINE OF DlNING TABLES MANUFACTURED BY THE IMPERIAL FURNITURE COMPANY., GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. got" a piece of it." These logs were from San Domingo-the true mahogany. "The English manufacturers," said Mr. Widdicomb," are frequently quite jealous, when Americans out-bid them at the auctions." Ernest A. Stowe, president of the Grand Rapids Board of Trade talked on the "Use and Abuse of Trees" giving some valuable information as to the value and care of shade trees. Proper Time to Fly Your Kite. Have you ever tried to fly a kite? If not, watch some little chap before you begin. You will get some pointers about the matter that will stand you in good stead, not only in the business of flying kites, but also in the more serious affairs of life. The kite is done. The tail is furnished with bits of paper or cloth to give the proper balance, The lad is out on some high point of land. watching. Watching? For what? Listen! "Here she comes! Get ready for it!" Down there in the valley yon hear· a rushing sound. The trees bend before the wind. In a moment it will be here. Get ready. And the lad does get ready. Before the breeze strikes the knoll his kite is face to the wind. Every nerve fo" the fresher gale .. It did not come. He kept his potatoes till they went clear down to smash. Many of them he fed out to the cattle. Did it pay? A::;k him. He has some positive views on the subject now. The time to fly kites is when the wind blows. What is your particular line of business? Be ready for the breeze. Put up your kite and see it sail to the sunshine. Takes a smart man to know just when to do that. It certainly does, but it is the smart men that win. in this world. All the rest are sitting under the awning wondering why luck did not stand by them as well as by the other feHow. Half the victories of this life come from knowing when to strike. How can a man get the gift of hitting the spot at the precise moment? Isn't it, after all, a gift, and not something everyone may have? The secret of it is in this plain truth: No hound ever caught a fox unless he kept his eyes open, his mouth open and his legs on the keen scoot.-Spare Moments, Wise is the man who knows just what to say-and when not to say it. Secret of Remarkable Success. Many furniture men are interested in the extraordinary sUccess of the Northern Furniture Company of Sheboygan, 'Vis., Wl1ich, in a few years, has grown from a modest begin-ning to the largest manufacturers of bedroom, dining room and kitchen furniture in the world. Just ",,-hathas caused or contributed to the phenomenal success of the Northern is a matter of something like mystery to many less successful manufacturers, though most of the dealers know how Oley do it. Those well acquainted with the product of the com-pany and who have met the managers and salesmen can g-ive good reasons for its success, but to those who have not b-een so fortunate a little explacation may be acceptable. One of the leading causes of the success of the Northern was the fael lhat its managers ·were among the First to notice the drift of public taste toward the simple though elegant and tasty styles. For years most manufacturers and dealers had entertained the idea that only the wealthy possessed taste good enoug"h to appreciate simple designs and plain elegance in furniture. For the masses it was thought necessary to provide cheap, over-ornamented, highly colored stuff, but the Northern people djd not like that idea. Tbey believed tbat the ordinary people had taste equal to that of the wealthy Richmond Chair CO. RICHMOND,,\;INDIANA Doullie Cane Line SEE OUR NEW PATTERNS CATALOGUES TO THE TRADE 21 and they proceeded on that line. They threw out most of their carving machines, turned their attention to the plain and durable, though really elegant designs, used good materials and the best of workmanship even on their cheapest pro-ductions and the results were surprising even to themselves. The plan was a success from its inception. Another point in the success of the Northern people is that their aim is not merely to unload their furniture on the retail dealers but to see that it moves quickly out of the deal-er'swarerooms to make place for another order. The North-ern people would rather destroy a job lot than force it on Made b}~Mechanics Furniture Co., Rockford:, Ill. some dealer who would not be able to sell it. Their motto is "Sell only quick seIIers." Still another element in the success of the Northern people is the fact that they are good advertisers. They also conduct business on thc highest plane, give each and all fair honorable treatment and thus secure the respect anq confi-dence of their patrons_ Advertising "Before the War." The New York Press recently reproduced a few adver-tisements that appeared in Horace Greeley's NewYork Tri-bune in 1859. The advertisements in those days "before the ·war" did not "run to spate and display" as much as they do nowad;tys. Neither did they go into particulars to such an extent as at present and the cuts were lacking. Here is a copy of one used by one of the most enterprising furniture dealers of hj5 day: "FURNITURE EXTRAORDINARY." The finest kind of Broadway furniture ean be purchased of H. P. DeGRAAF, at Ko. 87 Bowery, at about half Broadway prices. He em-ploys 150 hands, and lays in his stock for net cash. His store is 240 feet deep, and six stories high, filled from ROOF TO BASEMENT with all qualities of FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES And-he says he will not at/ow himself to be undersold by any man. TheM and s Line IT SELLS and SATISFIES Do you know that we. have been making upholstered furniture more than two decades and satisfying our customers every minute of that time? We are making the line that Sells and Satiyies and would be pleased to add your name to our list that you may become a satis-fied customer. ROCKFORD, ILL. WHO ELSE COULD MAKE IT) China Closets Combination Cabinets Buffets Library Cases· Write for New Catalogue. Watch for oLlr ad next month. Everything for the Parlor, the Library and Drawing Room will be found in oue July Exhibit. MUELLER & SLACK CO. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. No. 919 Buffet OF COURSE THE STANDARD LINE OF AMERICA IS MADE BY THE ROCKFORD STANDARD FURNITURE CO. 23 Valley City Desk Company Grand Rapids, Mich. We can furnish you desks in any grade. Reasonable prices and high quality are what you are look-ing for. Our line on exhibition Top Floor, North, Furniture Exhibition Building GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. No 114 CATALOGUE MAILED TO DEALERS ONLY. r;:::::::= Quality - Individuality , • The distinguishing feature of a PAINE PIECE is its INDIVIDUALITY We make Davenports, Odd Sofas and Library Chairs. Suites and Leather Goods. We make them GOOD and we make them DIFFERENT No. 275 Quality in Upholstery C. S. PAINE CO., Ltd. GRAND RAPIDS CHEVAL DRESSER LOUIS XVI SUITI:: IN SOLID MAHOGANY MADE BY THE NELSON-MATTER FURNITURE CO.. GRAND RAPIDS. MICH. BED CHIFFONIER TOILET TABI-E THAT PACIFIC COAST TRUST TRAIL. Charges in the Indictment Against the Furniture Men in the Far West. During the first week in June the federal grand jury in Portland, Ore., found 182 "true bills" against furniture manu-facturers, jobbers and retailers in California~ Oregon, \Vash-ingtoll and Idaho, who are charged with having organized and maintained a conspiracy to restrain trade in violation of of the Shennan anti-trust 1a,'l_ The charge as set forth in the indictments reads as follows: "That during the whole or a part of the time [lioresaid (being from June 7, 1904, to June Made by Mueller & Slack Co.• Grand Rapids, Mich. 6, 1907,) defendants were members of at least one of certain retail furniture dealers' associations, namely, the Northwest Furniture Exchange, the Northwest Furniture Dealers' Pro-tective Association, the Oregon Retail Furniture Dealers' Association, the Portland Retail Furniture Dealers' Associa-tion or the Lewiston Furniture Dealers' Club, engaged in the business of buying at wholesale and sclling at retail, furniture and household goods, vvhich they, the said retailers and mem-bers of the aforesaid last-mentioned associations would and had secured and purchased from the said manufacturers, wholesalers and jobbers of the same, who resided and were doing business in states other than those in which said re-tailers resided and ,vexe doing business, and Frank F. Free-man, who was at the time aforesaid the secretary of the afore-said the Northwest Retail Furniture Dealers' Protective As-sociation, and who was at the time aforesaid the secretary of the Oregon Retail Furniture Dealers' Association, and who did during the period aforesaid co-operate with and assist the above-named defendants in the organizing and bringing about of and accomplishing the purpose of a certain unlawful combination, conspiracy, confederation and agreement here-inafter in this court more del-lnitely set forth, the aforesaid defendants and all of them in the 1:itateand district of Oregon and within the jurisdiction of this court did, during the period aforesaid, knowlingly, wilfully, unlawfully and maliciously conspire, combine, confederate and agree together between and amongst themselves to restrain trade and commerce amongst the several states of the United States, and parti- 25 cularly amongst the States of Oregon, Washington, California Montana and Idaho, and engage in a certain combina-tion, conspiracy, confederation and agreement in restraint of trade and commerce then being carried on among the several states in the United States, and particularly among the last-mentioned states; that is to say, a certain combina-tion, conspiracy, confederation and agreement in restraint of trade al1d commerce, t]len being carried on among said states in furniture and household goods, and that said unlawful com-bination, conspiracy, confederation and agreement for the restraint of the said commerce." As 'will be seen in the charge the "trust" is alleged to have existed for the past three years. The methods of transacting business are said to have been very much like those used by the "Prudential Club" ",ihich recently "came to grief" in Chicago, but the western organizations have a much wider scope and their rttles and regulations are not so stringent nor so effective as were those ttsed by the church and school furniture men. It is said that very few of the indicted dealers had any intention of violating the law when they became members of the organizations. The manufacturers also deny their guilt. And it is said none of them will plead guilty. The indictments, however,are accompanpied by specific charges describing certain transactions showing how the combinations were managed and if these allegations can be supported by sufficient evidence some of the officers and managers seem to be in danger of conviction. Window Trimmers and Advertising Men. In the smaller stores, the manager or owner of the store does the advertising, so that it is easy for the window~trimmer and this advertising man to get together and plan out the best things to put in the window. But in the larger store, where there is an advertising man, when he conceives an idea for a special sale, it is only proper that hc and the window artist discuss the question of getting the public in-terested as much as possible. How the goods shall be placed in the window will, of course, be left to the trimmer. In some stores the trimmer does the advertising for the store, and this man can supplement his ads with windows of the same goods or supplement his windows with advertise-ments of the same wares. You can readily imagine that this combination would bring results granted, of course, that the man was capable. This same close relation of the two de-partments should obtain e'iten where they are presided over by two individuals. These heads of departments should work together for the common good. Grand Rapids Caster Cup Co. 2 Parkwood A.... Grand Rapids, Mich. We arc now putting aD the best Caster Cups with cork bases ever offeree to the trade. These are finished in Golden Oak and White Maple in a light finish. These goods are admirable for polished floors a~d furn-iture rests. They will not sweat or mar. PRIGES: Size 2U inches••.... $4.00 per hundred Sizt;2Minches······ 5.00 per hundred T1'jIa Sample Order. F. O.B. Grand .Rupia.. 26 ROYAL MANTEL & rURNITURf COMPANY ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS Manufacturers of FINE and MEDIUM FURNITURE WE DO Nor MAKE MAN7~LS TJ-\t:= ROYAL LINE: will be found as usual in CHICAGO, 6th floor, 1319Michigan Ave .. and in NEW YORK at the Furniture Exchange during July. Buffets, China Closets, Combination Bookcases and Library Bookcases. SPRATT'S CHAIRS ARE THE JOy OF THE CHILDREN. Our new CHILD'S MISSION ROCKER was a winner from the start. Write for Catalogue and prices. Our line is large and prices are right. We make CHAIRS GROWN-UPS as well as CHILDREN. GEORGE SPRATT & co. Sheboyvn, Wis. Say you SQ= tllis ad in the Michigan Arti-san. The White Directory CONTAINS A CAREFIJLLY COMPILED LIST OF MANIJFACTIJRERS OF FURNITURE, PIANOS,ORGANS, INTERIOR FINISHES AND KINDRED INDUSTRIES Now Ready. Send inyour order. WHITE PRINTING COMPANY PRINTERS. ENGRAVERS, PUBLISHER.S, BINDERS 2-20 LYON ST., GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. Caliinet Makers In these days of close competition, need the best possible equipment, and this they can have in • . . • BARNES' Hand and Foot POWER Machinery Our New nand and foot Power Cll"cula ...Saw No.4 The strongest, most powerful, and in ~very way the best machine of its kind ever made, for ripping, cross-cutting. boring and grooving. Send for our New Catalogue. "W. F. ®. JOHN BARNES CO. 654 Ruby Street. Rochford. Ill. The Ford 8 Johnson Co. MANUFACTURERS Chicago Salesroom Ford-Johnson Bldg., 1433-35-37 Wabash Ave. For the July market we will have many new things to show. All furniture dealers are cordially invited to call and inspect our line, which includes Chairs, Rockers and Settees---all goods; Dining Room furniture; Mission furniture; Fiber Rush and Malacca furniture; Reed Rockers; Children's Go-Carts and Carriages, etc. WE ALSO SHOW SAMPLES AT OUR OWN SALESROOMS IN Cincinnati Atlanta New York Boston 27 28 Use for Mail Order Catalogues. There is said to be nothing so bad but what it might be worse; there is nothing so utterly useless but what it might be put to some good use. As an eye-opener to many a sleepy dealer, the mail-order house catalogue is a whole brass band at the head of a torch-light parade. "I never thought before that people would go to a hard-ware store for that/ remarked a small~town dealer recently in the writer's hearing, "until I noticed it was listed in the hardware department of a mail-order house catalogue. Oh, yes, I read them regularly now; it used to be spasmodic, till I got my awakening jolt over this little article. When I first saw it listed I laughed to myself, then got to thinking it over and wondered, why not; then it occurred to me that I had had a few calls for that very article. Now I look over all the mail-order catalogues I get my hands on and very often get awakened to SOUlenew thing that I ought to keep and don't. Those fellows as a rule are bright men, and know Underwriters Discuss Protective Methods. The eleventh annual convention of the National Fire Pro-tection Association was held in New York. The usual dis-cussions on modern methods of fire protection and the reports of -committees on special hazards were listened to with deep interest. The importance of the work which the Association is doing in the direction of standardizing fire protection devices and bringing about uniform requirements for betterments in construction was forcibly brought out in the opening address of President C. A. Hexamer. A comparison, he said, of the per capita fire loss in this country in 1906 with that in six prominent countries of Europe shows that the former was $3.30, including the San Francisco loss, and $2.25 excluding it, while the latter was only 33 cents. The percentage '0£ loss to premiums received by all the fire insurance companies reporting to the New York department last year showed the unprecedented ratio of %.9 per cent, a ratio, continued Mr. Hexamcr '~lhich certainly merits the attention of the highest legislative bodies of the nation. The committee 011 special hazards and fire record submitted a report which stated that the year 1906-7 was especially noteworthy in the large Humber of heavy losses due to failure of sprinklers to hold fire in check. Of seven fires which caused a property loss of two millions of dollars, three were in New England, viz., thc Lynn fire, the Dover (N, H.) fire and the Springfield (Mass.) fire. Made by Valley City De8ki:Co., GrandJRa,pids, Mich. what the people want, often better than I do. Several ar-ticles they have by their lists induced me to keep in stock I bave found to bc exceptional sellers. "It has taught me this lesson, too. If I, with a life long experience, do not know what I want to keep in stock until I see it listed elsewhere, it is pretty good evidence that there are others who want something that they do not realize until they see it; then they buy. If they had happened to see it first in some house catalugue the chances are they would have bought there and probably a lot of other stuff along with it. 'Vbo could blame them? One thing though, make all the use possible of the mail-order house catalogue but do not leave it kicking about the store or office. If a customer happens to see it be may be-come interested, if he hasn't any particular scruples against dealing with foreign firms; if he has, he will conclude that I am myself a patron of the catalogue-house and that if he is to take that quality of goods from the -local store anyway, he may as well send off direct and get the goods first hand. It's good logic on his part, if he catches yoU studying these cata-logues; but it isn't good business on your part to let him catch you."-H~ware. Tips Exceed Wages. The large furniture houses have men to go around and fix up any scratch or damage a customer may find in goods he has bought. His presence in a house, with his snug kit of tools and polishes, usually emphasizes the wabbly legs of an old chair, the scar· in the table top which Freddie's shoe made months ago, and a score of other things with which the repair man has no concern. But he fixes them readily enough, though sometimes pressed for time, and he always carries away a good-sized tip. Some days the money thus earned "on the side" exceeds the repairer's salary from the firm.-New York Sun. - - --------------------- 7IR'T' I t5' A...N 1 $ ,. • 29 Character in Furniture. "Quality" in furniture is not so lightly <:onsidcred that the manufacturer can afford to disregard it. In fact those manu-facturers who do not claim some intrinsic goodness for their particular product are cultivating a speaking acquaillLance with the bankruptcy court. But quality is not all. i\ silk gown of tbe early forties \vould hardly be appropriate in a modern ball-room. The ''cluality'·' would be there but the "style" has changed. A solid mahogany davenport in an ex-pensive covering made by high class workmen would hardly be saleable unless it had that indefinable something called "style." l\lr. Paine of the C. S. Paine Co., in a reccnt intervie\v emph;lsized the above distinctio11. "Furniture" said 1Ir. Paine "to be salenble mnst be distinctive as_well as good. It ing, fourth floor. Geo. C. Dyer will meet his metropolitan friends, Ernest IL vVilliams wilt represent the Middle West, J. D. Douglas, the Pacific Coast and H. M. Robins, the South. How To Treat a Salesman. "How would you treat a traveling salesman?" asked a re- Uiilcr of :t -vetc:,;w commercial traveler. "Treat him the best you know ho~v," caine the answer quickly. "1£ you can buy, stop your work and buy; if you can't buy, say so. Remember that the traveling salesman, 110 matter how jolly a fellow he may be, is busy making- a living for himself and family. Re~ member that traveling expenses are high and that he has just a limited time to devote to your town and generally even a shorter tillle to you. Treat him right always. Remember, MADE BY C. S. PAINE CO., GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. must express t:haracter. The individuality of the line must be so marked that an ordinary furnitut'e man can 'spot' it. The retail customer must be attracted by the character of the piece as well as by its goodness. We make a big effort to secure this individuality in our line. ~IallY a design though other-wise good is rejected, because its character is not suffic.iently distinctive. We are bringing out this season nearly seventy-five entirely new patterns everyone of which is purely and exclusively 'Paine.' We look {or the largest volume of busine!:iS we have ever had." The Paine line will be s}lOwn in the large exhibition build-too, th;1t you can always get a better deal from the traveling man than from the firm direct. This applies to every busi-ness; and why? Because the commercial traveler is sent Qut to sell goods. That is what the house pays him for, and the house wants you to deal -with him, not with the house." Lives of many great men remind us, As we learn them day by day, That they'd best be put behind us, Out of sight and far away. MADE BY C. S. PAINE CO., ORAND RAPIDS, MICH. IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE THE RIGHT KIND OF MECHANICS THAT ~ MAKE THE RIGHT KIND of FURNITURE MECHANICS FURNITURE COMPANY • ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS Write for neW Catalogue and keep your eye p~eled for this space ne~t month. UNION FURNITURE CO. WE manufacture the larg-est line of FOLDING CHAIRS in the United State8~ 8ttitable for Sunday Schools, Hall.s, Steamers and. all PUblic Resorts. . • . . We also manufacture Brass Trimmed Iron Beds, S-pt'ing Beds, Cots and Cribs in a larKe variety. . . . ~d for Catalocue aDd Price. to Kauffman Mfg. CO. "SULANO. OUIO ROCKFORD, ILL. China Closets Buffets Bookcases We Icad in Style, Comtrudion and· Finish. See our Catalogue, OUT line on permanent exhibi~ lion 7th Floor, New Manufact-urers' Building, Grand Rapids. The New Banquet Table Top a~weil aI OFFICE, DINING and DIRECTORS' TABLES are 001'" specialty. STOW & DAVIS FURNITURE CO.. 2:clt..':""'· Write far Catalogue. Gel sample:tof BANQUET TABLE TOP. Thousands in Use Furniture Dealers need have no more fear. With the use of Cline's Caster Cup one table may be placed on top of another without injury. Made in two sizes in the follow~ tog finishes: Oak, Mahogany and Ro-5ewood. Special pre-pared felt bottom, preventing ,sweat marks, scratching, etc. Price: 2)( in. per 100, $3.50; 3);; in. perlOO. $4.50 We alsomanuiacture IRe most reliable C.s.rd Holder on the market. Write for our new 40 page Catalogue. L. Cline Mfg.Co.• 123.Wah •• hAv ... Chicago 31 Something DiffERENT in Couches No. 155 WOVEN WIRE COUC" $4.00 Net We have made for some time, Couches and Davenports with woven wire tops. OUf latest essay in this line is Dlffl:RENT. Made and shipped K. D. Easily set up. A trIal order will convince. SMIT" ~ Dt\VIS MfG. CO., St. louis. Johnson Chair CompJny CHICAGO, . - ILLINOIS Manufacturers _ Office Chairs, Dining Chairs, Bedroom Chairs, and Parlor Rockers Sendfor our new catalogue, just out, illustrating our entire line. PERMANENT EXHIBIT: Furniture Exhibition Building, 1411Michigan Avenue 32 PACIFIC COAST CONDITIONS BUSINESS IN SAN FRANCISCO DEMORALIZED BY LABOR TROUBLES AND A HALT IN REAL ES-TATE SPECULATIONS. Bankers and Business Men Combine to Fight the Strikers and Speculators-A Slump in the Price of Lumber. "Business affairs in San Francisco are in bad shape," said Charles R Sligh, the well known Grand Rapids furniture manufacturer, who has just returned from the Pacific coast, where he spent four weeks looking after his business and tim-ber interests. "I was in San Francisco in June last year-about six weeks after the earthquake," he continued. "Then the future of the city \vas doubtful. Some thought it would never be rebuilt, but doubt gave way to confidence and the city has already been rebuilt to a large extent and there is now no question as to its future. The amount of rebuilding done during the year is surprising. Comparing present con-ditions ,""ith those of a year ago it does not seem possible that the change was made in so short a time. "Just now, however, building operations are practically at a standstill and business of all kinds is more or less paralyzed. The trouble is due mainly to the strikes, but a halt in real estate speculation has also had. a bad effect. When I left the city there were no less than seventeen strikes in pro-gress besides the street railway strike. Most of the strikes are in the building trades, but all kinds of business are affect-ed and there is no telling when the trouble will end. The bankers and business men have apparently joined with the the contractors and manufacturers to down the strikers and there is little doubt of their success, but it may be a long fight. "The bankers have also shut down on the real estate and other speculators. Real estate speculation had been carried to an extreme that made it dangerous and the bankers were obliged to make some effort to call a halt. There is plenty of money in the banks, but it cannot be borrowed for specula-tive purposes. The speculators, when they cannot obtain money to meet their obligations will have to throw their holdings on the market and sell for whatever they can get; some of them have already been obliged to do so. As a consequence values are uncertain and their business is demor-alized. "The halt in real estate speculation is not confined to San Francisco. It extends to all towns on the coast, or, at least, all north of San Francisco, though it is not so noticeable in Oregon and Washington. I did not go down to Los An-geles. In Oregon and Washington-at Portland, Seattle and Tacoma-general business is good. Those towns have certainly been benefited by San Francisco's misfortunes. They have felt no falling off in any line of trade or industry, ex-cept in the lumber business. There has been a slump of $1.50 to $2.00 per thousand in the price of lumber recently, due, in part at least, to San Francisco's halt in building opera-tions. "Whether San Francisco dealers will buy as freely as usual at the summer exposition is doubtful. Conditions there are not Made by Valley City Desk Co., Grand Rapids, M.ich. encouraging, but they are hopeful and may bank on an early settlement of the labor troubles which would assure them a booming fall trade. Dealers in Washington and Oregon are prosperous and will probably place orders larger than usual." Merchants Organize a Fire Insurance Company. The Retail Merchants Exchange of Los Angeles, which is composed of sixteen commercial organizations, at a recent meeting took preliminary steps to organize a mutual fire in-surance company, which is to be known as the Merchants' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Southern California. It was decided that the company should have a reserve fund of $50,000 at the start and to bea "non-boarder." (ESTABLISHED lass) BERRY BROTHERS' Rubbing and Polishing Varnishes MUST BE USED IN FURNITURE WORK TO BE APPRECIATED THEY SETTLE THE VARNISH QUESTION WHEREVER TRIED WRITE FOR INFORMATION, FINISHE.O WOOD Si\MPLES, AND LITERATURE. BERRY BROTHERS. LIMITED VARNISH MANUFACTURERS DETROIT THIS IS THE CAN AND LABEL NEW YORK, ii10STON, PHIUDELPH'A, BALTIMORE. CANADIAN FACTORY, WALKERVILLE ONTARiO CHICAGO, CINCINNATI, ST. LOUIS. SAN ..RANCIBCO. REMINISCENT. Twenty-eight years ago the writer gained his first irnpres~ siems and knowledge regarding the Grand Rapids furniture ex-position. No ol1t-of-to·wn lines were exhibited and the local lines werE: few in number and, in comparison with the Jines of today, unimportant. The Berkey & Gay Fur-niture Company, Nelson & 1\Jatter, the \Viddicomb Furniture Company, the Phoenix Furniture Company and the Grand Rapids Chair Company and Stow & Haight were the only ex-hibitors, and yet in view of the fact that the lines exhibited would be considered of little conse.quence today they were strong enough to attract huyers from the leading retail houses of the United States to Grand Rapids. The writer remem-bers having met in the market twenty-eight years ago ]'Vfr. Hildreth oi Holton & Hildreth, 1h. Schone of Vv'irts & Scholle, Jacob Beicrsdorf, Harry \Vright of the Tobey Furni-ture Company and John II,!. Colby of Chicago; Mr. I\Jatthews of Milwaukee; Clark A. Brockway, representing Marcus Ste-vens, and George \V. Fowle of Detruit; A, S. Hereoden and Mr. Barstow of Cleve1alld; C. F. Doll of Schlund & Doll, Buf-falo; Johnny Hand, Fred Pulhrnan, R. 1. Horner and Mr. De- Graaf of New York; '\ilr. Stone of Dewey & Stone, Omaha; Mr. DeCostar of DeCostar & Clark, St. Paul; 1'\'1r.Phelps of Phelps & Bradstreet, Millllcapolis; Co1. Abernathy of Leav-enworth; John H. Sanderson (of capitol furnishing notoriety), Philadelphia; \V. B. J\'loses of \Vashington; Mr. Minch, 1'/1r. Chalmers and Mr. \V2.Lte of B;l1timore; Sam Burrell and Mr. Jones of St. Louis; }1r. Elder of Indianapolis; Mr. Barth of Louisville; Mr. Plum, Mr. Heeney and 1'fr. Cole of San Francisco. 1'l1r. Conant and :r..-rr. IVleilink of Toledo; Mr. Orison and Mr. Keith of Kansas City, and othe-rs whof-c l1am~s are for the moment forgotten. The spring season opened in March and the fall season in August. Of the sales-men who received and attended the visiting buyers, :.vir. \Vheelock and 11r. Fitch of Nelson & ::'I.'1atter,!'vir. Sligh and ¥r. Corson of the Berkey & Gay Furniture Company, Mr. Foote of the Gr::tl1dRapids Chair Company, Mr. W. H. Jon~s of the Phoenix, Jacob Moore of the Grand Rapids Furniture Company, John E. Foster of the \Viddicomb Furniture Com-pany, and R. J. Stow of Stow & Haight are remembered. The hotels were small, and many of the conveniences deemed essential to health and comfort by the commercial tourist of today were lacking. ]\1any of the buyers mentioned above have passed away, but the market grows and will continue to grow in importt.nce to the end of time. The art of manu-facturing is planted in Grand Rapids as firmly as sculpture i.n haly, painting in France and music in Germany. A. S. WHITE. "Fancy Furniture." ~lallY years ago the Oriel Cabinet company commenced advertising their lille as "fancy furniture." The goods were morc realistic than fanciful, although in their design play was given to the ingeniollsness of the designer. Factories producing "fancy furnitme" began to multiplY and so lllaHy . "freaks" were brought out and designated "[auc.,,-· that lraua-gel' C. \V. Black, decided upon a departure for the Oriel Cabinet company. Sometime ago it was annolltlced that the OTicl. Cabinet company .vauld thereaitcl.· manufacture furniture novelties, a term that suggests the line of work pro-duced more tittillgly than·' "fancy". The Oriel is showing many furniture novelties this season. Steadily Progressing. Since the new purchasers of the Grand R~-ipids Farnitt:re company (formedy the Nev,.· England) took 1JOS3C·.~;~('1l of the property, steady pTogress has been made in improving the quality of the line and in placing the same on the floor of the leading retailers of the United States. A marked advance has bcen made for the fal! season of trade, and buyers visiting Grand Rapids should not leav{~the market before making an inspection of the company's offerings. 34 The Udell Works Are Now Ready With Their New Line 01 Sample, in Grand_Rapids Only. July, 1907 Exhibit. 4th Floor. S,,-uth Hall. Furoiture Exhibition Buading. 1245 Mission Desk LARGER BETTER CHEAPER THE UDELL WORKS, Indianapolis,Indiana,U. S. A. fJ Get on our Mailing List for New Catalog in July. Robbins Tabl6 60. OW0550, Mi6higan No. 318. AMERICAN OAK. 44x48IN. TOP, AMERICAN BASE. 7 IN. PILLAR. Ladies Desks, Music Cabinets, Bookcases. Library Tables YOU will be the loser if you don't see them. 1242 MiSHion Desk The New "PERFECT" FOLDING CliAIR Comfortable Durable Simple Neat The Acme of Perfection in the line of Folding Chairs.PBRP"H(:T COMPACTJ'(ESS when folded. WRITE for PRICES The PeabodY School Furniture Co. North Mancheater. • .. lndlana MANUFACTURERS OF HARDWOOD ~~~~i~~ SPECIALTIES: ~'l.U;1?l'l3QUAOR.AK VENEERS MAHOGANY VENEERS HOFFMAN BROTHERS COMPANY 804 W. Main St" FORT WAYNE, iNDIANA 3S t. EXTENSION TABLES Complete Line sho\lln in (lur new space FURNITURE EXHIBITION BUILDING First Floor, North Half. Grand Rapids, Mich. ST. JOHNS TABLE COMPANY CADILLAC, MICH. Cf\}3lNET Mf\KER~ CO· Grand Rapids, Michige.n ... New Dining Room Suites No. 1115, CUBAN MAHOGANY. New Library Tables, Desks and Sewing Tables. These are all novelties---something different from anything on the market. FIRST FLOOR, SOUTH HALF, MANUFACTURERS' BUILDING. John Samuelson, F. H. Bogges, C. F. McGregor, M. D. Blum, A. T. Kingsbury and Robert Baxter. 36 ESTABL.ISHED 18BO ",(i " , ,"'~~ , '-~ .~:\. ~ ~ --"""""'!' ~ - - PUElL.I$HI!!:D BT MICHIGAN ARTISAN CO. ON THE 10TH AND 25TH OF EACH MONTH OFF1CE-2-20 LYON ST.• GRANO RAPIDS. MICH. ENTERED AS MATTER OF THE SECOND Cl.AS~ The growth of agitation in the trade press and retail mer-chants' organizations against what they call the mail-order evil, affords opportunity to a class of promoters who, without any personal preference or interest in the matter, offer to co-operate with the oppressed merchants in their efforts to check the advance of the enemy. Those promoters advance various schemes to put the mail-order houses out of business, but nearly all of them arc merely plans to bleed the merchants individually or through the associations. Very few, if any, of them, even if worked out as planned would have any effect on. the catalogue trade nor would they benefit the merchants in any way. In nine cases out of ten, at least, the merchant who, individually or through association with others, goes into any scheme to fight the mail-order houses fmds that it costs him more than he loses through the mail-order competition. The only way for a retail merchant to meet the dreaded en-croac'hments of the catalogue dealers is to improve his busi-ness methods, make the most of his location and natural ad-vantages and work his field to the limit. Mail-order com-petition has few terrors for the live, up-tn-date retail dealer. *1* *1* *1* *1* The past month has been a strenuOUS one for President Kanitz of the Muskegon Valley Furniture Company, and Sec-retary Foote of the Grand Rapids Chair Company. What with the work of closing up their lines for the fall season of trade and defending the management of their pet institution, the Michigan Soldiers' Home, they have llad no time to at-tend the camp fires or their regimental reunions. The insti-tution and the lines are Ila11 right" and ever will be a long as Messrs. Kanitz and Foote shall remain in their present act-ivities. Both are honorable and able men. *\* *\* *1* *\* The action taken by the railroads in several western states, as noted on another page, shows that they are deter-mined to fight the two-cent fare laws to a finish and if defeat-edthey plan to retaliate by raising freight rates through new regulations and changes in classification. They may sllcceed in defeating the people in this matter, but it will be an empty victory. It will only encourage the Socialists and tend to convince the people that the government should not only control, but should O\vn the railroads. *1* *1* *1* *1* Every customer, whether man, woman or child, rCll'"lembers the store where they have been kindly treated. Salesmen should be made to understand that everybody's call is impor-tant. No man likes to be approached by a careless, slov-enly salesman with the question: lIWhat do yon want?" A man who does not possess the instincts and the training of a gentleman is hardly fit for serVIce in a barnyard or among the pig styes. *'~ *1* *1* If there is not a r-l:ch 1:' rger turn-out of buyers to the exposition in Cl~inTn t"C't C· o:·th it will not be the fault of President ~.Ieyns of the i\Lu'ufaeturers' Exhibition building. Dud .......,.t~(·' r :'~t four I11cnth he has kept the mails well toad- .cd \vitl1 letter;; ~:ddressed to dealers, setting forth substantial reasons why every dealer should become a market buyer. The arguments presented by Mr. Meyers are unanswerable. *1* *!=ll *1* *1* "Salesmatlship is a profession in itself," remarked a veteran merchant. I'The salesman who is able to ascertain why the public buy, and who is able to inspire enthusiasm in the minds of prospective purchasers, is sure of advancement and' steady employment. By taking a correct view of their' profession and making good in its practice the op?ortunities for con-scientious and industrious salesmen are unlimited:' *1* *1* *1* *1* Failing to receive prompt attention, when apparently there is no cause for delay,' makes a customer "grouchY," and when a merchant has more people in ,his stme than can be waited on ii is his misfortune. Salesmen cannot inspire enthusiasm in customers when flying from one to the other. Men are especially keen in their remembrance of how they are treated by the storekeepers and their employees. *\* *\* *\* *1* Want of tact is almost a common fault in salesmen. ",'hen this is combined with carelessness the explanation is fur-nished why many individuals employed by merchants earn so little. The best training schools for salesmen find the correction of these faults very ditlicult to accomplish. Slov-enly persons arc disposed to remain slovenly all their days. *1* '*1* *1* *1* Visitors to the mid-summer expositions in Grand Rapids and Chicago will be pleased to learn that the Hotel Ottawa thirty minutes ride from Grand Rapids al1d five hours by boat from Chicago, will be open for the reception of guests on July 1. In the past this resort has entertained large numbers of fllfIliture men. *j* *1* *1* *1* Many samples were received in Grand Rapids during the first week of June and the w~rk of putting the floors in order has gone steadily forward since. The placing of the lines on the floors is not easily accomplished. Often weeks are required to properly display a single line. *1* *1* *1* *1* Fears are expressed that on account of the indictment of two hundred furniture men on the Pacific Coast the attend-ance of buyers from that section will be smalL Many will have pressing engagements with their lawyers during the mid-summer season. *\* *1* *1* *1* During the months of July and August large red spots will appear on the maps of the United States. These will indi-cate the locations of Grand Rapids, Chicago and New York, the great furniture centers of the world. *1* *1* *1* *1* The successful merchants of the future will be the men; who have had experiel1ce on the f1!)ors of mercantile houses with Cllstomers. The office offers no such opportunities as the floors or the road to acquire power in salesmanship. *1* *1* *1* *1* There is a steadily increasing demand for f~rnit\\re made of toona mahogany. Many supposed that the light finish employed on this wood would not remain long in favor, but it seems to have gained a lasting position in the trade. *1* *1* *1* *1* It seems to be a well established principle that a manufac-turer has the right to open his exhibit whenever he pleases, and to close it at any time, without asking the cons.ent of the sheriff. *1* 1111**1* *1* Incivility and lack of attention on the part of satesmen caUses the loss of more trade through the resentment of customers than the delivery of inferior goods or the pay-ment of excessive charges . _._-------------------- "INCOMPARABLE CENTURY LINE" PARLOR. LIBRARY AND LIVING-ROOM FURNITURE IN MAHOGANY. WALNUT. AND GOLD LEAF. ALSO MAHOGANY DINING-ROOM CHAIRS AND CHAMBER CHAIRS AND ROCKERS. REPRODUCTIONS FROM THE FRENCH. OLD ENGLISH AND THE COLONIAL. REPRESENTATIVES: L, D, BERRY W. T. WELCH A. T. KI NGSBURY ROST, E. BAXTER CENTURY FURNITURE CO. SALES-ROOM 153-159 CANAL ST .. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 38 Detroit, June 24.-A. VV.Bosley has purchased n:e stock of furniture and good will of tl:e estate cf the late W. E. BarkeT at 211-14-16 Michigan avcm,e, and will contil1ue the business at that location in addition to his present store at 14-16 Gr::.ttiot avenue. lvIr. Bosley has been a successful iUT nituTe merchant in Detroit for nventy years or more and is a man who has done and is doing his full share to advance the city's prosperity. Victor V. Cel1lebroek, who has been with the IVlichigan avel'l".C store sillce it started, rC11la:l;S with Mrs. Bosley in charge of the alTice. ~dT. Ceulebrce~k has been in the furniture business as a manufacturer, salesrr.an and with Mr. Barker in the store almost sil1ce boyhocd, and his many friends ·will be glad to know he is still in ·the busi-ness. Idr. Bosley has the best wishes of the rVlichigal1 Ar-tisan for success in his l~ew vcr.ture, and he will surely win it as he 'deserves to do. The Possclius Bros. Furniture Manufacturing Company ·will show an entire t'.ew line of dining extension tables at their permanent show rooms, 1319 :'lichigan avenue, Chicago, in charge of l\Jessrs. Kueey, Kemp and Armstrong. This is one of the largest lines of extension tables in the market and in addition to thc famous Victor, their line en:braces Murphy Chair Co. MANUFACTURERS A COMPLE.TE DETROIT, MICH. LINE. Pioneer Mfg. Co .. , DETIlOIl, MIen. Rood furniture Babu GarriaOllll Go-Garts Fall line l'hown lJon second floor, 1319 Michll!an Ave., Chi. calilo, in 'anuary. ItOOKWOOD and a general line of fl\NGY TI\BlfS Write for Cuts and Pricea ........ PALMER Manufacturing Co. 115 to 135 Palmer Ave. DETROIT. MICH. Full line -.hown on teeond £100", 1319 Miehigan Ave., ChiealrO. in January. many pattcrns in round and square tops, in mahogany, quar-ter sawed golden and mission oak. It is so large and varied that i,t cannot fail to be one of the slrongest lines in the build-iug. The Safety Folding Bed Company will show their full line of metal safety lockless folding beds on thel1rst floor of 1411 Michigan avenue, Chicago. .\lessrs. Fitzpatrick, Ryan and Radtke wilt have charge of the line ;and it will be a winner. The Palmer IVTanufacturing Corhpany will have a beaut:- ful line of library anl parlor tables, pedestals and tabourettes on display at 1319· Michigan avenue, Chicago. The Pioneer Manufacturing Company show their fine line of reed and rat-tan rockers, children's ..:arriages and go-carts in with the Pal-mer Manufacturing Company. The Detroit (;:thinet Company'" fine line of fancy furni-ture wil1 be shown as usual in the big Furniture Exhibition building, Grand Rapids. George}. Reindel's new six story building is rapidly ap-proaching completion, and when finished he will have one of the finest furniture stores in the west, Don't Be a Whiner. Lucky is the man in business who doesn't feel occasionally like giving up the fight. There are times when everything seems to go wrong and nothing comes your way. When in such a condition the following, written by a buyer for the An:erican Tobacco Journal may serve you as a bracer: "Don't, gentlemen, play the part of the under dog. Don't let the public think that your business is being injured by the trusts or by any other combination of men or circum-stances. Put \-lp a bold front, look the world in the face and whistle, whether you win or lose. You can't win anything with a whine. Thc man with troubles r::ever lacks an aud-icnce, but his auditors seldom leave him with more respect for him as a man than they had before they knew he had any troubles. "Humanity is a peculiar proposition, anyhow. Give them somcthing to look at; put up a show of sightliness; keep things ncat, attractive and cheerful and you will get the business re-gardless of other things. To hold a business you have got to have, something else of merit, but to hold trade you must have some trade to hold in the first place. It isn't necessary to brag, but it is viblly necessary to keep the public thinking you are ;1l1 'is-cr' and not a 'was-cr.' If once yOll let the people thick yOU have gone 1111derthey will fall on you like Sibcrian wolves alid eat yoU Up. Every time and all the tirrc people follow th~ successful man; they trade with him and try to tn8ke friends with him." The buyers bought light in January <l11d from "hand-to-mouth" since. Upon these facts the prediction of a lively mid-summer season is based. • 39 i To Make Sdre of It, When in Chicago, Go to 1411 MICHIGAN AVENUE F1RST FLOOR NEAR THE ELEVATOR AND SEE THE Safety Lockless Metal Folding Beds ·---------1-1 -- MADE BY THE ---- Safety Folding Bed ~\. C L d ) ,If{"; il~, 0., t. I DETROIT, MICHIGAN I J. d~"fTHrs' FITZPATRICK,M. E.RYAN .,dA P.RADTKe '-------------1 I I I Np-KUM-LOOSE FASTENER 4 \I' 1\\ is the only device th t makes it absolutely impossible for the Knob, Pull or Toilet Screw to grt loose or come off. As they cost the manufacturer absolutely nothing af. all, no manafacturer c~n afford to trim his furniture without using these rasteners. Manufactured under the Tower PatentS only hy the I GRAND RAPID~ BRASS CJ. GRAND RAPIDS, MICmGAN I S ARE BREAD AND The "ELI" fOL~!~~,~d~i~Mant:Ra~:'~p:~:~ERS No Stock complete wlthou O MILLER &, Evan.ville. Indi~Da ELI . CO.Writeforcutsandpnces TUE BOCKSTEGE fURNITURE CO. EVANSVILLE IND. Globe Furniture Company Globe Side-boards Are me BeSI on me G10De lor me MOney GET OUR CATALOGUE MeQlion-the MICHI-GAN AR!ISAN when wnlmg. EVANSVILLE. IND. Kitchen Cabinets , Cupboards and K. D. . Wardrobes. That Plell8e. Send for our 1907 C.ta1ague Now Ready. The Bosse Fumiture CO EVANSVIll.E. IND.- .nar~es War~ro~es are Good Wardrobes GOOD Style Construction Finish PRICES RIGHI Write for Catalogue Karges Furniture Company, EVANSVILLE, IND. 42 ===== OUR ENTIRE NEW LINE OF THE ===== ~~·I FAMOUS VICTOR1==--=1 OUR GREAT SPECIALTY and a full line of EXTENSION TABLES are now on Exhibition .at 1319 Michigan Ave., (2d Floor) Chicago IN CHARGE OF F. A. KUNEY, J O. KEMP, H. J ARMSTRONG -- --_ ..- --- --- ----- ---'---- I POSSELIUS BROS. FURNITURE MFG. CO. DETROIT. MICH. Luce-Redmond Chair Co. Big Rapids. Michigan Om Largest and Finest Line of Bedroom, Slipper Chairs and Rockers Parlor Suites, Office and Dining Chairs In Mahogany, Oali:, Maple and Chxassian Walnllt Furniture Exhibition Building, 2d floor, South Half to the front Sections 15 and 16, Grand Rapids. In charge of ], C. HAMILTON and EDGAR FOSTER, assisted bytbe followiug Representatives: L. G. WALDRON, J0r.:; T. HEALD, A. D. HUDGINS, :A. R. SANKS lUld C. R. DAVIS oj the Wisconsin Furniture Co. 43 - - - -- --------- --- --- 44 Grand Rapids Furniture Co. SUCCESSORS NEW ENGLAND FURNITURE CO. Dining Room Furniture in Complete Suites MEDIUM PRICES Side Boards, China Cabinets, Serving Tables, Extension Tables, Chairs '1 Line strengthened and mad'(: more Com-plete by addition of New and Artistic Patterns. Show Rooms at Factory IOn Canal St. On the First Floor at 1319 Michigan Ave., CHICAGO ~TH.ROPCO. :f 9- Display complete Lines of samples from the following factories: Elk Furniture Co~ } ~~\is~i:RS. Dl'XI'e" " CHIFFO~IERS. SIDEBOARDS Crowell Furniture Co. §~rttAL Thomasville Furn, Co. ~~'t1KF~~~i~ Standard Chair Co. g~Wci'¥2,O,J'Gd Queen Chair Co. ~~~AT Pro bst -B'Iggs F urn. Co. GSdIDBEUBFOFAETRSDS Choate-Hollister Furn. CO.l:I1AA~GGRADE . TABLES OoIden F urn. Co. PCOHLIFISFHOENDDIREAElRlSWSSo.oE".R,.;S SeIIers & S ons Co. CKAITBCIHNEENTS MI.S. SlOn F urn. Co. AMRISTSSGidO.,CN.;RAFTS Capi·taIF urn. Mfg. Co. FOUARKPNOITRUCRHE GET OUR PRICES AND DISCOUNTS, 'READY JULY 1st. MANUFACTURERS' EXHIBITION BUILDING, 1319 MICHIGAN AVE" CHICAGO ~MlfrIG7}-N Fight the Two-Cent Fare Laws. Eighteen railroad companies in Missouri are fighting the two-cent fare law which is to take effect in that state on July 1. They have secured an injunction, from Judge Smith McPherson of Kansas City, restaining the state officials from taking steps to enforce the law until the courts have passed upon a previous petitioll asking that the law be de- 45 rates and will raise the mll1l1TIUm caT load weight on more than 90 per cent of the articles named in the western freight classification, abolish several special commodity tariffs and restore the articles to classification. Such action would ad-vance the minimum car load of iron articles, 6,000 pounds, agricultural implements 4;000, grain products 5,000 and all other carload commodities from 3,000 to 6,000 pounds, and, elared invalid all. constitutional grounds. About twenty roads have taken similar action in Illinois and a smaller number in Minnesota, Arkansas, Iowa and Nebraska. It is expected the decision in the Missouri case will be accepted in the other states, but as that case may be appealed to the United States Supreme Court the operation of the laws may be sus-pended for a year or more. The y;.'iscansin senate, by a DINING ROOM, MANCHESTER, ENGLAND with the abolition of commodity tariffs on low grade ship-ments, .v..o..uld have the effect of making a general advance ill freight rates of about six per cent. . The Sextro Line. The Sextro Manufacturing Company will have their new line for the July season on display on -the sixth floor of the BEDROOM. MANCHESTER, ENGLAND votJ of 6 to 20, killed the twO-cent fare bill 'which had passed the 'lower house of the legislature. It is announced that in case the courts uphold the two-cent fare laws, the railroads wilt withdrawnj all special rates of less than two cents a mile, except comntutation rates. They will also withdraw all "less than car load" commodit}" freight Manufacturers' Exhibition building. 1319 Michigan avenue, .Chicago. Manager Sextro states that his company have had an l1l1USllal1ylarge volume of business during the past year and that :it the present time they are still behind On filling their ordets. The Sextro table line is one of the strongest to be found on the markets. 46 We Sell to Dealers Only. New Catalogs Free. COLONIAL DESIGNS Appeal to the best trade. Many new Colonial pieces, with our complete line of Mahogany, Birds-eye Maple and Q!artered Oak BEDROOM FURNITURE will be shown on the Fifth Floor Manulacturers' Exhibition Building CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ..... The Spencer & Barnes Company BENTON HARBOR, MICH. Some of our Salesmen who will "show you" F. T. Plimpton: & Company, M. A. Harmon, S, Mercer and E. B Benbow. NEW· LINE on DISPLAY Manlacturers' Big Exhibition Building CHICAGO. ILLINOIS WRITE FOR CATALOGUE THE SEXTRO MFG. co. CINCINNATI, OHIO 47 Moon Desk Co. MUSKEGON, MICH. HOFFICE DESKS New Styles for Fall Season q Line on sale Seventh Flocr, Manufacturers' Building, Grand Rapids, Mich. No. 384% Dining Table. OUR OAK AND MAHOGANY Dining Extension Tables Are Be:fi Made, Bdl: Finished Values. All Made hom Thoroughly Seasoned Stock. No.3&4~Dining Table Top. 48x:48. Made in Q!:!arteted Oak. Full Polished, Nickel Calfters. NQ. 384. Same style as above with square top. LENTZ TABLE CO. NASHVILLE. MICH. WHITE. PRINTING CO. I I GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. HIGH GRADE CATALOGS COMPLETE 48 Free Excursions Like Trading Stamps. During the past two years many towns in Minnesota and some in other western states inaugurated bargain weeks- and buying excursions, during the progress of which they offered Made by Manistee Manufacturing CO., Manistee, Mich. railroad fare free to those who came in from other towns and bought goods to a certain amount. The proposition naturally has some attractive features and at first showed signs of being a profitable investment for the promoters. Like the trading stamp scheme, how-ever, it was not long before the idea was overworked. Other towns' began to employ the same means to attract trade and eventually the large city of Minneapolis decided to take a hand in the matter and recently held its tlrst "Free Fare Trade \Veek." The jobbers and manufaetttrers of the latter city have evidently decided that they do not care to continue such me-thods of enticing the people to come from out of tOW11to buy in that market. They apparently believe, as the business men of every good market town should believe, that they have de-sirable lines to after and that no inducements should be nec-essary in order to attract business to that center. 1£ each city were to inaugurate a plan of this kind, no oue would be deriving 'any henetlt from the plan but illstead the merchants would be distributing to their customers in the \-yay of rail-road fare a large amount of money, which eventually mnst be made up in some other way. As- mentioned ahove, it would practically become a duplicate of the trading stamp scheme. In summing up the experience gained after its first trial in Minne'apolis, the North \Vest Trade of that city dis-courages the holding of future similar excursions and says: "No city can hope for commercial honors as a manufac-turing and distributing point where its manufacturers and wholesalers are called upon to combat such commercial her-esies and methods as exemplified in this scheme, as it inspires, and justly, a feeling of resentment on the part of the mer-chants whose trade is thus raided. 'Free Fare Trade Week' was not a success. The expenses attending its operation were almost prohibitive, the more so as it was not inspired nor put into effect by Minneapolis retailers themselves, but by a couple of 'promoters' or schemers from the outside loaded, with' fair predictions and bright promises. The city has not been crowded, nor has the volume of business shown any decided increase. "The single item of fares should have exhausted legitimate profit on the required minimum of merchandisepu.rchased, but in addition there were heavy expenses for thegerierotis newspaper advertising, the strolling band, the maintenance of the bureau of registration, and last, but by no means the least, the promoters' share. And the grand aggregate formed such a handicap that the scheme has been voted many things but a success." New Record £0[' the West Michigan. The business of the ",Vest !vIichigan Furniture Company, Holland, .~dich.,for the spring of 1907, has been the heaviest in the history of the company. The line, covering golden elm, maple mahogany, golden ash, golden oak, imitation fig-ured mahogany, imitation figured quartered oak, genuine ma-hogany and qnartered oak veneered goods in chamber suites, chiffoniers and dressers, is the largest they have ever pro-duced. They have also' had a very extensive trade in their imitation quartered oak sideboards as well as in the genui11e quartered oak goods. The managers announce that they will make very few changes for the fall, the line 'being so popular with the trade that they do not deem it necessary to make changes. Every month their business this season has shown an increase over any and all preceding seasons. Foreign Trade not Desired. One of the consular rcpresenfatives of the United States, in a long letter to the secretary of ,state at Washington ,gives many reasons why there is no market to speak of in England for furniture manufactured in the United States. It is a well known fact that the trade of great Britain is not sought nor desired by the manufacturers of furniture on this side of the Made by Grand Rapids Chair Co., Grand Rapids. Mich Atlantic. So long as the domestic markef takes the goods produced, why bother with the trade of the tedious, fussy Englishmen? \\Then the domestic market shall not beab!· to handle the output of furniture made at home, the American manufacturers wilt engage in the business of supplying the English market with such goods as tbat country needs. The factory cafes, for which Grand Rapids is famous, were fully stocked up and ready for the enterta.inment of visiting buyers on June 17. UNLAWFUL COMBINE ADMITTED SOME OF THOSE INDICTED FURNITURE MEN PLEAD GUILTY AND PAY SMALL FINES. They Adapt Resolutions Withdrawing All Obligations and Agreements With the Northwest Furniture Exchange. Sillce the artjcle appearing Oil nnother page relative to the indictment of furniture men in the far northwe5t was printed, it is announced from PortlaTHl that sixteen manufacturers and wholesalers ;llld fOUf rct<lil dealers pJc;::dc{1 guilty on Tuesday June 11, and paid fines of $25 carll, Previous to entering the plea of g'uilt)' the respondent:, held a Ineeting and adopted the following resolution \vhich 1vas presented to the COllrt: "Resolved. That the KOTthwcst Furniture Exchange be dissolved; that the relationship of different members of the organization be terminated, jbe agreel1~cl1ts aed ohligatiolls FURNITURE POLISH We offer a polish guaranteed to produce a BRILLIANT and PERMANENT lustre on any finished wood. A dealer's trade butlder. Send for sample )( gross) $3.75. Our Superior Repair Finish never fails to remove burlap marks and mars; and, used with crystal shellac and a set of our colors, [alli/ioe, to match any finish] will repair deep scratches and jams, and reproduce the original finish, at once. A boon to factory or store. Repair outfit complete, with colors, one quart finish, and inslructions for use, Send for Samples. Grand Rapids Furniture Polish Co. 24 Milton Ave.• Grand Rapids. Mich. A.uti£Jma.ttc: Phone 8226. $3.25 of the respective members thereof be annulled, and the i!l-dividual corporations, firms and persons forming the associa-tion pursue their respective husiness ",,'ithollt regard in any way to the exch811ge, and ,vithout any combil18tion of prices, or in any resp<:ct, in restraint of trade." The names of those vdw entered pleas of guilty on June 11 are as follows: \Vashington Parlor rurniture Company of Tacoma; Car-man Manufacturing Company. George E. K. Fitchner, Rob-ert E. Bri.<;tow, Portland 1\lattress & Upholstery Company, Oregon Casket Compal\Y, Ot·cgon Fllrniturc}'1anufacturing Company, Henry DOl1.<;ing, Theodore Donsi"g, Peters & Rob_ erts, Doernbecher )'lanufacturing Company of Portland; F. S. H8r111oll & Co., of Tacom,t; D. 1\, & E. \Valter & Co. of San Francisco; Seattle }.-Iattress & UpllOlstery Company of Seat-tle; A. 1\Jcr1e & Co., T-Teyv"()(HlBrothers & \Vakefie1d of Portland; F. H. ]. Lestoe, I-I. Goldstein, Ricket Company and L. Rubenstein. On vVednesday, June 12, twenty more of the respondents pleaded guilty of being in the combine. Three members of the Nortbwest Furniture Exchang-e, and seventeen sm811ercon-cerns were reprcsentcd. Fifty-seven finns asked for an ex-tension of time in which to plead, and were given until July lD. J'\'105toi these were out-of-town nrms. The follo\ving small dealers were fined but $10 each. Kick v\.Teis,Baker City; F. A. ;'\utbrown, F. S. N"utbro·wtl, 1. Dau-toff, S. Hockf-ieJd, A. Hirt, B. },blo\vitz, H. A. Ker11S, E. C. Yatlet. IT. Hausen and the Havvthotne Furniture Company of Portland. Thos'e fined $25 were as follows: Chehalis Manufactudng Campa11Y of Chehalis, \Nash.; Frank \V. Hollis, 1Tark Baker, 49 F. \V. V,\reeks of lVIedford; \V. H. Phelan, F. A. Jones, W. M. Taylor, L Rllvcnsky 2nd Herman JI,-Ietzger of Portland. At the meeting mentioncd above the object~ and motives of the Northwcst Furniture Exchange were discussed and ex-plained. It was declared that t.he primary purpose was pro-tection of credits, from which it drifted to the rcgulation of prices, which finally kd to action tending to restrain the trade of dealers who were not members of the organization. Since June 12 others than those named above have come into court and pleaded g11iIty or asked further time in which to plead. S0111eof those at distant points have made their requests by mail or by wire and it is thought it will not be necessary to issue a warrant ill any case. As shown by the fines imposed, the court seems dis-posed to leniency with those who plead guilty with a disposi~ tion to \'v·ithdraw horn the associations, but heavier fines may be expected for those who stand trial-if convicted. The maximum penalty for the offense charged in the indictments is a fine of $5,000 and imprist)nment for two years. Sale of Christmas Goods in March. In his remarks in regard to the conditions of the fumiture trade on the Pacific Coast, pUblished in another column, Arthur F. Switz states that a large quantity of house furnish-ing goods and toys ordered by dealers in Seattle and other towns for delivery· in "Kovember last, in time for holiday tr8de, \"ere not received unt.il late in February, and that the dealers inaugurated special sales of Christmas goods on 1,farch 1. which were not very sllccessful. The toys at1d many other articles \vill be carried over until next faU and considerable lms must result from deteriora.tion. In these days of pat.ern.alism, when it seems to be deemed proper for business men and corporations, when in distress, to call upon the state and national governme11ts for assistance, is it not strange that the trade opportunists of the northwest failed to induce the governOl"S of the states whose business men Were disastrously affected by the slow movement of freights, to call special sessions of the legislature for the pur-pose of passing laws to create "buying days for Christmas goods" and providing a penalty to be inflicted upon every Illan ..v..ho should fail to pur~hase and distribute Christmas gifts to the members of his family. If it is legitimate to employ the forces of government to promote tbe mnnufacturt: of toys and house furnishing goods. why should not the same forces ne hrought into action when necessary to provide mar-kets for the products of the indllstries in the manner Stlg-gested? The D. & B. Line Steamers leave Detroit weekdays at 5:00p.m., Sundaysat4:00 p. ffi. (central time) andfrom Buffalo daily at 5:30 p.m. (eastemtime) ~.E"-----~~ reaching their destinationthe next "-._t!f;.~ ~: ..--.:::c'---- morning. Direct connections with early t.rain& Lowest rates and superior service to New York, Boston,PhiJadelphia,AtlanticCity,alJpoints east. Popular week end excursions to Buffalo and Niagara FaIls, leave Detroit every Saturday. RAIL TICKETS AVAILABLE ON STEAMERS All cla9~e9 of tickers sold readin(:" via Mlcb{gan Central, Wabash and Grand Trunk railways between Detroit and Buffalo in either direction wili be accepteq for transportation on D. h B, Line S:eamers. Send 2c. stam~ for illustrated PampbletandGreatl...akeamap. AddrC88: L. G. LEWIS, G. 1". A. DETROIT & BUFFALO STEAMBOAT CO., Detroll, Mieh. PHilIP H. McMILLAN, VICIE-PRES. A. A. SCHANTZ. GEl(. MGR. 50 Spread of· the Mai1~Order Method. The outcry against mail order competition that comes from the small retailer is bitter indeed, and- it is not w,ithout reason. Yet not all retailers join in this condemnation of CORNER. OF A MORNING ROOM. LONDON. ENG. a mail-order catalogue for the use of its customers going to departments of their own. Not only the farmers living in sparsely-settled western districts purchase supplies in this manner, but the suburban dwellers abont large eitie's, and the people living in small cities of the East, and, even residents lOllg~distancc business. Among neighborhood retailers the dis-position is to fight mail-order trading; but as soon as the re-tailer grows out of his neighhorlcood he turns to and develops this class of patronage. It is fundamental, and has come to stay, and when the retailer goes with the current instead of up-stream he finds it a means of widening his opportunities. The telephone aed trolley are bringing in new conditions for merchants, and, perhaps, will be more or less in the nature of salvation to some of them within the next ten years. The small retailer, today, is ~ghting against a parcels post Oll the assumption that it will divert most of his trade to the mail-order hOllses. But ten years hence he may find ~ueh a ser-vice exactly the thing he needs to deliver packages ordere(l by telephone and mail. .l\-fail"-order trade has been built up largely by intelligent pron~otive work. The price factor counts, beyond doubt. En the .local merchant has always the advantage of being the man on the sp:Jt. He can save time to his customers, ;ll~d that is a greater advantage, prob~ ably, than the average local merchant re:l1izcs today.-Ex. Justice Knows No Color Line. T\vo court decisiOlls recently reported from SouthCaro-line furnish a lesson for dishonest installment dealers and also indicate that Southern justice does not recognize the color line. In one case a negro- woman sued the Eagle Furniture Company (N. Lifchez, proprietor) claiming dam~ ages for being overcharged to the extent of $3.35 on furniture for which she had agreed to pay $39. She was awarded judg-ment for $6UO, the furniture having been seized and removed hy the dealer, but the judge reduced the amount to $400 on condition that it be paid 'within ten days. The other case, which has been affirmed by the supreme court, seems to put the seal of approval lIpon the action of jurors "soaking" installment dealers fdr overcharging. In this case, also, the complainant was a colored woman who sued the Drake Furniture Company of Columbia and got a verdict of $100 for havillg her 50 cent tablecloth seized wrong-funy. The costs fall the total expense of seizillg that table-clcth up to about $250, In the Lifchez case the collector alleged $7.65 due, but AN ENGUSH DINING ROOM of the largest cities. In New York, for instance, the re-tail house that delivers within a few blocks in winter, issues a mail-order catalogue for the use of its customers going to the country or seaside in summer, and its trade becomes a Lifechez himself claimed there was $10 due and procecde-d against the goods. The woman employed a lawyer, who ten-dered $7.65, which was refused. Recei.pts were introduced to show that the bjll had, in reality, been reduced to $4. cases, 5\ GRAND RAPIDS FURNITURE PRODUCTIONS are ~ouli!.ht and CORRECT DESi~~;orld over by the discriminating buyer of ARTISTIC In CABINET CONSTRUCTION and FINISH they are the highest possible attainment. The GUNN. SE~TrONAL BOOKCASES stand ont from all other m"l.kes, Dot only be~ cause of this high grade of construction and finish. but becauSe of the MANY EXCLUS-IVE, PRACTICAL PATENTED FEATURES of the system. Points of superiority Over the older makes are; THE ROLLER BEARING. NON. BININGDSINHGEL, VREESM. OVABLE DOORS' NO UNSIGHTLY IRON BANDS OR PROTRUD-THE OVER LAPPING DOOR, making a perfectly DUST PROOF CASE UNIFORM ~~ONTj doin~ away with the step ladder effects found in other makes. Sections that JOID so PERFECTLY, the appearance is that of a SOLID PIECE OF FURNITURE. fLooroekpfuorrchthaesi~neg.SPECIAL POINTS OF MERIT, found only in the "GUNN," be- SAMPLES OF DIFFERENT FINISHES SENT FREE. TEhx'p'E·rRviTarceOeSyUsooRufrsEXPERT DESIGNER and of our entire force of LIBRARY to COllllU3.nd. SEND FOR FREE CATALOGUE TODAY. Giving valuable hints on the furnishing. of your home Library. .' <./ Sold through leading furniture deaLers' everywhere or direct from factory. THE GUNN FURNITURE COMPANY Grand Rapids•. Michigan Sole ManufadUt_ ers of Gunn D~"ks and Filing Device. The above is a reproduction of one of our full page. advertIsements to be run in the fall months. No dealer can afford to overlook the Agency for the three greatest selling lines on the market. GUNN SECTIONAL BOOKCASES GUNN SECTIONAL FILING DEVICES GUNN OFFICE DESKS $100,000.00 This enormous sum will be spent during the fa II months of 1907 by the manufact-urers of Sectional Bookcases wit h the prominent magazInes. It i s needless for us to call the attention of the live dealer to our advertising c a m-paign, which goes steadily on for the benefit ofGUNN AGENTS. We do not ad-vertise spasmodi-cally but contin-uously, and are prepared to prove to you that our carefull y studied campaigns s e I I Gun n Sectional Bookcases. We look for an unusually Ia r g e volume of trade t his fall which will result from the heavy ad ver-tising expenditure in the Standard Magazines, and suggest too u r presen tag e n t s, and those dealers who contemplate taking on our line of Sectional Book_ that stock orders be placed at the earliest possible date to insure safe and prompt delivery. With the recognized high quality of uGunn" products there can be only one result. and that is. the leading advertised lines from this time forward are to be the Gunn Sectional Bookcases, Filing Devices and Office Desks. Write/or hoth catalogutJ. Free/or the aiking. GUNN FURNITURE COMPANY, Grand Rapids, Mich. M.nn~:~~n~ ·~MlffIIG?JN THE LEXIN6TON _ /lInl." 22d Sf CHICAGO. ILL Refurnished and re-fitted throughout. New Management. The furniture dealers' bl!ad-quarters. Most con-veniently situated to t b e furniture display houses. Inler·Slale Holel CO. OWNBa &; PROPklETOR E. K.. Criley. Pres.; T. M. Crlley, V. Pres.; L, H. Firey, Sec·Treas. WALL PAPER HISTORY. Present Methods of Manufacture, Conditions and Prices Com~ pared With Those of Forty Years Ago. S. S. Conner of Westfield, Mass., is said to have been in the wall paper business longer than any other man in this country. It was forty years ago that Mr. Conner made his first venture. l\Iachinery such as is now used was then Ut1- unknown, and all the wall papers were printed by hand. Now a wall paper .11ial1ufacturer boasts that in two hours he can convert a tree into pulp, manufacture it into wall paper and have it on the wall. But the use of the wood pulp without other stock to strengthen the paper, makes it so brittle that it is hard to hanule and has little. wearing quality. Early wall papers were intended by the manufacturers to last more than a year. Mr. Conner has sold wall paper for $4.50 and $5 a roll. Of course, this was of the finest quality and design, which requited considerable time in the process of manufacture. The most difficult and tedious parto{ the work was putting on the designs. The paper came in a big roll drawn over some flat surface and the block on which had been cut the design was dipped in .the color and it was then pressed upon the paper. This operation was repeated with a number of blocks until all the colors required in the design were put on. 1 The paper was moved along a short distance and the process repeated. So well was the. paper made that it would last a lifetime, and the house\vife never dreamed of having it pulled off ev~ ery fall or spring to be replaced with new, as is the custom nowadays, when paper can be· bought for 3 and 4 cents a roll. In the old fashioned days the wall paper tame in rolls twenty inches wide instead of eight,een inches as at present. Borders were not made to match the designs in tllC wall paper, so the customer selected the decoration he wanted for his wall and then took the border that looked best with it. Borders with gilt background were in general favor and most of them were decorated with dark red flecking. Flecking was produced by covering the gilt paper with a mu-cilaginous substance and then sifting through the desig-n vel-vet trimmings. After the velvet had dried on, the trimmings that did not adhere to the glue were brushed off. Sometimes these borders were flat g.ilt papers, sometimes the flecking was put on solid. Solid flecking was used for wall decoratioin up to fifteen years ago when the modern wall papers began to come into the market. English wall paper came in rolls of eighteen yards but after the industry secured a foothold in this country the length of a roll was reduced to sixteen yards and the cutting down has been going on ever since, until nOw some rolls do not con-tain more than thirteen yards. Early manufacturers paid high wages to color mixers and block cutters, men who cut the designs in wood blocks, and the result was the manufacture of fast colors. It is said that one firm in New York paid its color mixer $60,000 a year and he had as an assistant his son, who drew $15,000 a year salary, and they. only worked eight months in a year at that. De-signers and cutters received $8 a day. Color mixers soon discovered that arsenic produced the most beautiful green for printing wall papers and its use quick-ly became general. It was not long before its poisonous ef-fects were discovered, the paperhangers being the first to suf-fer from it. Physicians have reported many cases of arsenical poison-ing from wall paper and only a few months ago the news-papers printed a story about an Illinois farmer who lost three wives in three years by death, the cause of which was found to be the arsenic in the parlor wall paper. According to the story, tbe women were taken ill immediately after the spring house cleaning, during which the waJl paper in the parlor had been brushed. An investigation of the house led to the dise'overy of the cause of the women's deaths. Gerieral knowledge of the dangerous properties of green wall paper caused a falling off in the demand and dealers soon stopped buying it, with the result t11at the manufacturers to a large extent abandoned the use of arsenic, so that today there is very little of this kind on the market. Soon after the introduction of the printing- presses the manufacturers vied with onc another in producing artistic wall papers, the principal object being to put the largest Hnm-ber of colors in a design. One Philadclphia firm surpassed an its competitors in this work and succeeded in producing designs having eighteen different colors, but this fad died out and now not more than eight colors are found in one design. Borders are manufactured to match design in the wall paper and the paper is trimmed and butted so that there is very little waste. When wall paper was made by hand, the borders sold 'IS high as $3.50 a single roll or $7 a double roll, but now the border and wall paper are sold for the 51-meprice, Added Dining and Chamber C':1airs. The Ottawa Furniture company of Holland, Mich., have added a line of dining and cham ber chairs, in fre1:ihand novel patterns (;to their" choice lires of furniture for the chamber and dining rO~Jlll. Samples will be exhibited in Grand Rapids and New York during the mid-summer selling season STAR CASTER CUP CO. NORTH UNION STREET. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. (PATENT APPLJED JI' ....R) We have adopted celluloid as a base for ollr Caster Cups, making the best cup on the markel. Celluloid is a g«'at improvement over bases made of other material. When it is necessary to move a pie-cesupported by cups witb cellulnld bases it can be done with ease, as the bases are per-fectly smooth. Celluloid dot's not sweat. and by tbe use of tht'se cup.'i tables are never marred. These cups are finif<hed in Golden Oak and White Maple, finished !;l7{ht. If you u'iU try a 8ample order oj tlMtJe goods ,//OU will del/ireto handlethem in quanUtieff. PRICES: Size 2M"inches $5.50 per hundred. Size 2U inches 4.50 per hundred. f. o.b. Grand Rapid8. TRY A SAMPLE ORDER. ------------------------------------------ - 53 IN FORCE FROM MAY 15th to JULY 15th, 1907. We have imported direCt from Japan 300,000 good quality folding Fam. specially prepared,for us, and will give these out to our customers during the nextsixtydays. Dealers ordering BISSELL'S "eyeo" BEARING SWEEPERS during the period our Fan Offer is in force will receive the fans free, in accQrdance with the conditions of our Fan Offer. The Fans will please your customers, thereby advertising you, and at the same time will help the sale of our goods during the warm seaSOD. PLEASE WRITE US FOR FULL PARTICULARS REGARDING THIS LIBERAL OFFER $} BISSELL CARPET SWEEPER CO., Grand Rapids, Mich. (LARGEST AND ONLY EXCLUSIVE MANUFACTURERS OF CARPET SWEEPERS IN THE WORLD) Branches: New York; Toronto: London; Paris, Woodard Furniture Co. OWOSSO, MICH MANUl'ACTUREI<S 0' HIGH GRADE, MEDIUM PRICED BEDROOM FURNITURE IN ALL THE FANCY WOODS and FINISHES Our beautiful new fall line of 400 pieces will be especially strong in Circassian Walnut and Colonial designs. Shown in Grand Rapids in our usual space, 3rd floor Klingman Building. New catalo,R ready for mailing July Ist. WOODARD FURNITURE CO. .... 54 Show of Appreciation is Good Business Policy. Men need a word of cnc.-,ouragement now ar.d then just as n:uch as they need food. For as food is to the bcdy, so is encouragement to the n~jlld and heart. A worker who is discouraged is not half. a man. And even the mo~t liberal compensation call 110t take the place of a word of appreciation and encouragement given in the right siprit in the rigH time. "That is a wMd job, Henry," said a business man to his clerk, who had jL:st finished ruling a bock for him, and the young man threw himself into his work with rer:ewed energy and interest. The man never knew how much that slight word of approval meant to the clerk, nor how much it added to his enthusiasm, Men and women crave assurance that their work is meet-ing with satisfaction. To withhold that assurance when it i.3 due is not ITlcrcly poor b1..1Sinesspolicy, but it is also an in-justice. Part of the compensation of every worker is the satisfaction of knowing that he is accomplishing .something, and to withhold that satisfaction is often more -grievous than to hold back money duly earned. More .and more must tllOsc in authority in business recognize the human elen~ent in men ar.d women-the part the heart plays in the world. It is possible, of course, to say too n1\1ch to a man, gj·..,inghim an over-elated sense of his value, bllt the tendcl1(:y seems rather in the other direc-tion; men do not get cllccuragen;,ent enough-V\raldo P. \Varren. "An Unburnable City," A New York fire insurance man is reported as declaring "Some day 'we shall have an unburnable city!" The declara-tion was made after inspecting the Caledonian building on Pine street, in the vVall street district, which is considered morc nearly fireproof than any other large bt1i~ding ill the city. It is twelve stories high and has a cast iron frame protected by porous terra cotta and brick. Tts insurance rate is 5 cents per $100, while the rate 011 the New York Exchange building, ten stories high, with its metal frame only partially protected, is 10 ents per $ICO. From this it appears thzt The Sargent Mfg. Co. MUSKEGON, MICH. Bachelors' Cabinets Ladies' Desks Extra Large Chiffoniers ----- __ AISO Manufactulell aDd ~ of _ ROLLING CHAIRS Chairs adapted to all kinds of invalidism, both. for house and street use. OVER FORTY DESIGNS TO SELECT FROM Line on Sale in KUNGMAN BUILDING. GRAND RAPIDS. 7'lR. T 11T5'Aee.l\I Muskegon Valley Furniture Co. MuskOl!OD. Mich •. Odd Dressers Chafoniers Wardrobes Ladies' Toilets Dressing Tables' Mahogany Inlaid Goods Ladies' Desks Music Cabinets Line on sale in Manufactur-ers' ExhibftiQU Building, GRANIJ RAPIDS. the way to obtain low insurance rates is. to construct fireproof buildings. Fans From the Flowery Kingdom. The Bissell Carper Sweeper Company of Grand Rapids have imported 300,OCO fans direct from Japan, which will be distributed to dealers handling the Bissell sweepers free be- Made by the Spencer & Barnes, Co., Benton Harbor, Mich tween .the present and July 15. The fans will 'please cus-tomers and will help the dealer in making sales of Bissell sweepers. The company 'will give the particulars of their "fan offer" to dealers requesting the same. OUR NEW 1907 LINE OF ALASKA REFRIGERATORS with side ice chamber is made in twenty-one styles, zinc lined, white enamel and porcelain lined. Our cataloguewill interestyou. Write for it. Exclusive Refrigerator Manufacturers. MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN. THE ALASKA REFRIGERATOR CO. A Dirge for the Price Cutter. never pays to cut prices. The cutter is an object of Sl1_~- piciol1 from the time he hegins the trick. It is bad practice, and one that is dcmoratizillg to trade. And, like the boom-erang, it strikes back at the one who thnnvs it. The retailer-for he is the one \\'ho cllts-only cheapens the price of hi:; goods to attract customers. He is hungry for trade, and oftell unwisely thinks that he had rather sell tJJrce pieces at a pr(Jllt of $2 each than Ol:C at a gain of $5. Ma.tleby The Spencer & Barnes Co., Benton Harbpr, Mich. In theory this looks good. But it is Door business. To sell three pieces he mLlst have thrice the capital or credit that he ,"vollld J,ave to scJl Olle, The less proflt per dollar he tUrllS ..·.'.It on this clpital, the poorer financier he is. The price cutter is looked upon w.ith lvonder by business men. Tf he is llOt demanding <t fair profit ttpon his wares a manufacturer Or johbcr will soon be made vy'jse ;ll1d 1vary and his business sanity at Oncc undergoes an examination to determine if be is not sllffering from dementia damphoolicana, If found to be a victim his credits are tightened, and his sup-plies limited. The business associatcs smile. when the price cutter's name is mentioned. Poor fellow, the sheriff or the idiot annihi-lator \vill 50011 pick his mercantile bOlles. He loses his stall ding among those \vho 01lC~ welcomed him as a business competitor and the dogs shun him as one likely to snatch thc hone they have clain-.ed as legitimate prey. Only the vul-tures will give him even half-hearted welcon:e, as in his greed he has become one of them. And tlle 11ludJ sought custorner,,-they, too, doubt the honesty of pllTIH}se of the price cutter. They look at his offers \Nitb sllspicjoJ) born of experience. They know that staple goods have a fixed price. They are "hep" to the meth-ods of price slashers, and want nOlle of it. A el1..,tOl11erwho is offered a cut expects fake goods. If he is offered a stand-ard article he at Ollce believes there is something w;'Ong w'ith it somewhcrc- ·last year's make painted over, or a flaw puttied up, or possessing son:c defect-and !line times Ol1t of ten he looks at the t111dersdler and his wares with it feeling that tbere is a job ill it somewhere. goes over to t11e other man and pays the ruling price for the thing he needs. Time 1-Vas""hen cUstOIUers went bargain hunting. They looked about lor the cllC;lpest goods they could buy, were swindled. and h<J.\'elearnnl better. Now, when a man starts price cutting J e is looked UpOn as a 5~vjl1dlc-r. They know that furniture, farm machinery anI ill1plen~ents are as staple as wheat or oats or corn. They kll0W, too, th.at the manufac-turer does not countenance slashing of prices. They further know that no one dealer can buy from the maker cheaper than another. The consumer ,""ho buys from a price cutter expects to be fooled. He didn't once, but he does now, So if he wants a first class article hE:is willing to pay the ruling price. So the price Cl1tter dm:s not do the busil~ess he expected when he sbrted On the road to ruin and if his creditors do not close him up before h{~gets over his demoralization, he goes back to Jiving prof-its, and sells at the same figure his compatriots do, arid SCCllTes tr.nde by legitimate advertising and personal pcrsuasion. It doesn't pay, and the cutter knows-or should know-it before he blkes 011 the dangerous pra~tjce.-Eli Grocee Will Have «Everything Good." Prominent business men of Columbia, S. c., [aye incor-pmatcd the Gibson-Mille' Company, capitalized at $20,000, with $19,000 subscribed and 25 per cent paid in, to open a first class furniture store in that city. A. M. 1\leetze is president, Athol H. 3.Tillcr secretary and treasurer, and E, B. Gibson general manager. The company promises to ha die "every-thjng good in fumiture m:d house furnishings." 56 ·~MI9rIG7}N The Window's Influence on Trade. One of the greatest problems of today which the merchant has to solve is how to influence trade, says C. T. Cullom of Sedalia, Mo., in an article on "V\lindow Dressing" in the American Artisan. Naturally the 6rst thing to do is to use the newspapers freely. Let the public know who you are, what you are, and impress upon them that you are alive and up-ta-date, and in position to give them good value for their money. And when you have advertised be sure that you have the goods which are, in every particular, an you claim Made by the Bosse Furniture Co., Evansville, Ind. for thew, so that your patrons will have confidence in yoU and your goods. If you can't get their confidence your effort:; to get their trade will be in vain. The first step toward gaining the confidence of the public will be in the appearance of your store. Let a customer come into your store and find everything topsy-turvy' and -he will at once lose confidence ill you as 'a storekeeper. To my judgment the window is the index to the whole store. When yon Sf.'.f.' a nice window di!'>play,just step inside and you will find, without single exception, a well arranged store. You will find each class of goods arranged to good advantage and well displayed. No jumbled up goods there. Kinety-nine chances out of a hundred, when you see a store with attractive window display, inside yOUwill find ~nergetic, industrious clerks and a prosperous -business. In talking to merchants who do not pay attention to win-dow displays, it is almost a universal opinion that it is too much work and expense for the results ohtained. Also, that it takes a 'window dresser of experience to make an attrac-tive window. This is a very common idea. For instance, the display for which the A~erical1 Artisan recently awarded me the second prize in its contest, took me just two days' work in arranging at intervals when I was not waiting on trade. I could easily have arranged it in half a day with nothing else to do, and all the actual expense was not to cx-ceed five cents. I do not pretend to be an expert window dresser; in fact, my experience is ve.ry limited; and I am encouraged to know that I was able to win a second prize among so many contes-tants, There isn't a store in the country but what has a man who could with a little time, a few cents, and the good-will of his proprietor, make a window which would attract a good deal of attention, and draw trade enough to pay his time and the few cents spent many times over. The results obtained from success in window dressing will fire the ambition of any man and lead to better arrange-ments and display throughout the store, "Goo{ls well dis-played are one-half sold." Taking into consideration the silent salesman, the V.llndow, as per salary you pay, is the hest investment any merchant can make. Significance of Colors in Oriental Rugs. Kot only the designs but the colors of rugs woven in the Orient are full of significance. They represent national or individual traditions, they stand for virtues and vices, social importance or social ostracism. They are the result, says the Eclectic Church Magazine, of the political and religious his-tories of the countries in which they were made. Tyrian purple is almost universally regarded as royal. Red was regarded by the Egyptians as symholic of fidelity. Green has been chosen by the Turk as his gala color, but he would not approve its use in rugs, where it would be trDdden by the feet. Rose tints signify the highest wisdom, black and indigo sorrow, with the Persians. Preferences for duller tones of color among the Persians give to all their embroideries and other products of the loom a certain richness and dignity. New Furniture Dealers. "'T. H. Obling, \Vichita, Kao. Brunswick Furniture Co" Brunswick, Neb. Painter & Ehrenberger, Schuyler, Neb. Albert J. Fountain & Son, !l'1esilla, N. M. L. Switzer, Kalispell, Mont. M. Buller, Klamath Falls, Ore. Sheehan Furniture Company, Couer d'Alene, Ida. R. L. Loflin---,-----incorporated$,20,(J(JO-Hlgh Point, N. C. Newell & Co.-incorporated, $lO,OOO-Newport News, Va, Sheridan Furniture Company, Shcrldan, 'Nyo. Capi.tal f,tock, $50,000. Kirkland & Overstreet, Pearson, Ga, Furniture Fires. Arthur G. Pike, Chelsea, Mass. Loss $5,000. Enger & Olson, Duluth, Minn. Loss $800. Dou'glass Furniture Hospital, Chicago. Loss $6,000. Bradley & Thomas, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. P. Vl. 'Madsen, Salt Lake City, Utah. Campbell & Skinner's mattress factory, Reno, Nev. The Newton Company, San Angelo, Tex. The Hoffman Company, Wilmington, DeL W. S. Clark & Son, Seward, Pa. Mohawk (N. Y.) Manufacturing Company. Plant pletety destroyed. Loss $75,000; insurance $44,GOO. rebuild. com- Will New Factory For Grand Rapids. AHred B. Nachtegal, Julia .Nachtegal and George J. Vie\"- heilig of Grand Rapids, Mich" Stephen P. Spitz of Washing-ton, ·D. c., and James E. Reilly of Charlotte, N. c., have in-corporated the Nachtegal Manufacturing Company, capital-ized at $100,000, with tenper cent paid in, to manufacture and sell office, store, bank and other fixtures. The factory will be located in Grand'Rapids. 57 J. C. WIDMAN & CO. 14th, 15th, Kirby Ave" and G. T. Ry, DETROIT, MICHIGAN Man%cturen tJf ---. Mirrors, Hall Furniture, China Closets, Buffets, Chevals NEW YORK, 428 Lexington Ave. PERMANENT SALESROOMS .. CHICAGO, £,3£9 Michigan Ave. Art in Selling "Spiffs." Selling of "spiffs" by salesmcll in stores is a source of rev-enue that often adds to the \veckly salary and forms a legit-imate means for the clerk to illcrease his income and at the same time assist his employer. "Spiff" is a term that is understood well by salesmen and prohably is seldom heard outside the stores. Spiffs are the left-over:)- goods that have passed the novelty stage and are not staple, They arc as good as ever, but their salable quatit:es have declined until newer goods are IT. ore easily sold. "VVhCll such goods <1ppear ill a stock a premium is placed on their sale, and the man \vho gets them out of the store receives the premium in addition to his regular pay. They are marked low to move them, and the careful salesman \-vho watches his chances can dispose of them often and thus profit. Buying spiffs is not a thing that harms the purchaser, for the price he pays is fair and the goods are all right except that the dea1er \vould rather have his money than the goods. Often they are just what tbe purchaser wants, and often are preferred to the newer goods that arc popular at the time. One instance will illustrate the 1n:tllal benefit that may come from spiff selling. In shoe stocks most sales are from the 1redium sizes, and unusually small and unusually large sizes are like1y to remain unsold until the style may have cbanged. They become spiffs. The man with a large foot or the woman with a small one may purchase these shoes at a low price when they are spiffs, and the salesman makes his commission, the dealer getting his money ant and ready to invest in new goods. So it is all through the line of merchandise of whatever kind. A suit of clothes in a clothing store is left from a cer-tain line and with 110 inducement for its sale the salesmen would work from full lines and neglect the old suit. As a spiff the clerk has it in mind, and when opportunity presents itself for its sale he gives the purchaser a real bar- EXCEPTIONAL FACTORY OPPORTUNITY Do you wish to find an openin~ for a CHAIR FACTORY or would you like to remove to some more favorable location? If so, it would repay yOIlto at once request information about a fine location in the great timber section of Southeast Missouri along the • Liberal inducements are offered to secure a bona fide proposition em-ploying not Jess than forty men. Good dj-<tributin~ faciHties for finished product. Correspondence is invited regarding this and other excellent opportunities for furnitllre, mattress. iron bed and other factories along-our lines. Send for industrial descriptive matter about the Rock 18tand- Fri8CQ, M. SCHULTER. Industrial Commissioner. Roek Island· Frisco lines. 1144Frisco Bldg •• ST. LOUIS. MISSOURI. gain and collects his commission. It fills the bi.l1 and the pur-chaser feels he has been treated well. At holiday time the salesman in a busy store may 'move ~L great deal of spiff stock in the rmh seas 011 and perhaps double his salary. The goods are all right except that some factor of the trade has placed them in a position whcre they are likely to be neglected unless an inducement is held out to the salesman to make a special effort to dispose of them. The better the salesrr.an the closer watch he keeps of his stock and the better judgly.ent he i.1ses in dealing with his cus-tomers the more chance he has of fitting the spiffs to purchas-ers and adding to his incorr.e. It is one of the arts of the trade, and salesmen vie with one another to excelt in this as well as in moving the newer goods.-George H. Manlove. Failure Should Not be Fatal. The word "failure" has a daunting sound, but it means less than might be expected to those who have achieved real SUccess. Such workers know v,iell that failure only is serious or discouraging when marked by lack of the cheery, confident ability to "take heart with the day and begin again" that means new and augmented progress. Perpetual, recurrent fail-ure looks bad for the individual, but one or more distressing, perhaps seemingly absolute failures easily may be the result of will and talents turned in the wrong direction, unsuitable cir-curr. stances or environment, over-competition, anyone of a variety of inevitable effects or causes. Few of the world's shilling successes but can remember, even if they will not ac-knowledge, at least one early mistake or blunder serious enough to be called failures. MallY a presently successful worker actually is proud of the untoward preliminary events and adventures that led to his enviable today's situation. These facts equally apply to the worlds of commerce, pro-fessional endeavor, and art.-Exchange. Morton American House ......Plan Rates $2.50 and Up Hotel Pantlind European ......Plan Rates $1.00 a.nd Up GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. The Noon Dinner Served at the Pantlind for 500 is the fiNEST IN THE WORLD J. :BOYD PANTLIND. Prop. 58 Jamestown Lounge Company to Make Leather Turkish Chairs. Arthur H. ~Greelilund, vice-president of the ]amesto"Wll Lt'~nge Company is particularly well 'pleased with the new fall line of J1;5 concern, now practically COI1:1p1etcd. .Mr. Greenlund's enthusiasm is unmistakable. To use his own words, "we have outdone ourselves tbis season :111(} we will show a line at the market which will make lively times around our space." AsM L Grccnlund has persolJal]y supervised the designing and production of every new line hrought out by the Jamestown Lounge Company since the business 'was es-tablished, and has also attended in person every exhibit made by them during the fourteen years in which they have shown their line at the markets, he should be pretty well qualified to judge as to results. The Jamestown Lounge Company were might have handled some more business, their shipments are, as a matter of fact, slightly in excess of the spring season of last year, establishing a new record. The Udell Exhibit. Indianapolis, June 22.-The "Udell Works will make a big showing this July seasoll at Grand Rapids, where this com~ pally is now exhibiting exc1uisvely. Manager Cobb states that the July line ·wj1] be as strong as ever and that it will be of special interest to the buyers of ladies' desks, music cabincts, piano player roll cabinets, bookcases and library tables. He says, however, the quality will 110t be sacrificed on aCCOl1ntof .reasonable pric:es. The Udell line this season will show son~e beautiful patterns in Circassian walnut in the department of one, two or three ladies' drawer desks .. The ne\v Cdcll catalogue will he ready by the rlliddle of July and \vill contain sixty or more jlages of ictcrcsting reading and illustratetI matter. The exhihit this season will be in charge of the following gentlemen: F. L Billings, who looks after Chicago antI Milwaukee; Dan G. Williams, who travels in Pennsylvania and Ohio, also coveril1g Detroit; W, H. Mur-phy, middle West; Geo. C. Dyer, the East, and Paul M. Roth the Pacific coast. INTERIOR OF A COTTAGE AT LETOHWORTH, ENGLAND. am011g the lirst of the ot1t3ide manufacturers to recognize the advantag"c of showing their line at Grand RapiJs, and al-though occasioned exhibits have heen made in other markets, Grand Rapids has long been recognized as their regular ex': hibition market. The Lounge Company will surprise their customers this season by showing for the first tin~e a line of Turkish chairs and rockers upholstered in "reliance" leather. It was decided to add these goods owing to the insistent demand for them by the trade, and although a new department, it will not by any means be conducted in an experimental way. The com-pany has engaged as manager for this branch of their business one of the most expert men In this line of work who has for many years been in charge of this department for one of the larg~stconcerns inaking leather furniture. The initial line will not be large as to number of patterns, but will be confined to ."l range of tJle most popular gr.ades and wj}l be filled b as occasion demands. Although considerable complaint of Quiet business has been heard throughout the season from both the retailer and manufactmer, the Lounge company report that while they L On the Kalamazoo. Stuart Foote and Russell Taylor, of the Imperial Furni-tune company spent two weeks recently in boating and fishing on the beautiful Kalamazoo river. After a few day on the river they becarr:c dissatisfied with the boats for hire On the stream and proceeded to Muskegon where they purchased a neat little naphtha launch and in eight hours made the ruri of fifty miles from Muskegon to Saugatuck, on Lake Michigan, The outing was greatly enjoyed by the young men, and they returned to prepare for the opening of the season "reinvigor-ated and in jubilant spirits. 7'119-'T' I.sJI.AI t 7,$9+ REX [;:;t:~]MATTRESS CHAS. A. FISHER & CO., 1319 Michigan Ave., Chicago. WRITE FOR BOOKLET AND PROPOSITION WarehOUlIelil ST. LOUIS, MO. KANSAS CITY, MO. PEORIA, ILL LINCOLN, ILL MINNEAPOLIS. MINN. CHICAGO, ILL. EVANSVILLE Eva nsvillc, Ind .. J tllle 22.- The }'1etal Furniture Con-p,,-cy, which erected a larg-e plant and cOlllmenced the manufacture of brass <llHl iron beds in this city a year or two ago after a rocky experience on account of illC0111petcnt rmll~a:;'c111elltJ has passed into ("<ljl:thlc hands, and the iutnfe of the industry is no longer uncertain. \Vith the business in the h:lllds of B. B. Bosse, \'\1. A, Koch, the Karg-cs Brothers and their as-sociates. SlIccess is assured. The Evanville 'i\.Tetal Bcd CompallY ,,,,ill S0011 issue it cata-logue illustrating ar:d describing the Banner line of bras:; ami iron beds. The J ndiana Furniture Company have given orders to their cngraver for Ctlts to be used in printing their annual catalogue. Salesn,en representing the Karges, Globe and Borkstege Furniture companies will handle the line of the Evansville Metal Furniture Con:;pany hereafter. Louis Hahn and James A. Anderson, the "cry successful designers of Gran! Rapids have been employcd for several weeks in the prcparation of new p::ltterns for lo~,ll rnanufac .. UtTers. SalTples of ;111 leading lines made ill Evansville will be fOUlld On sale in the Furniture Exposition building, S1. Loui.: The Eli n. }Tiller Company will exhibit their excelle::t line of m;llltel folding beds in Chicago. Eli D. 1\filJer will attend the sale, with his "git thaI''' stroke. Buyers will find mallY good things ill the lvliller line. "Fred" Boc],stege has decided to spend a part of his sur-plus cash by the erection of a splendid home in Evansville, rather than ill planting a furniture factory at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. The Rosse Furniture Comp;lt1y have had a very success-ful season of trade. Their line of kitchen cahinets and wardrobes are ever ln steady demand. A catalogue may be had for the asking. Montgomery Rockers and Couches. The H. ]. I\fontgomer:r flJanufacturing Company of Silver Creek, X. Y., has sent out a neat little booklet describing and illustrating their line of high grade Turkish rockers and couches. They specialize in the manufacture of these goods, confining themselves to these fe\-\' patterns of couches and chairs. Tll couches they use a double cone spring on a slat, with the S. & 1-1. fastenings on top, no twine being. used. This is the constructioll used and approved by the Ul'ited States government. In their Turkish rockers particular at-tention is given to seat room and to the rocker spring and iu adjustment; avoiding· the annoyance mally have experie,l1ced in having to change the springs. Every buyer and dealer owes it to his business tn investigate their line and prices. Their motto is "A short line at short price:~." Additions to the Century Line. The Centmy Furniture CompallY of Grand Rapids Mich., announce the addition of a new department to thcir line con-sisting of dining chairs, chamber chairs and rockers. They will also add a llumber of new patterns including some re-productions of rare pieces by Chippendale and other old Why Not Order? Say a dozen at more Montgomery Iron Display Couch Trucks senlyou on approval? If nol satisfactory they can be returned at no expen.se to you whatever, while the price asked is but a trifle, C()m~ pared to the convenience they afford and the economy they represent in the saving of floor space. Thirty_two couches mounted on the Montgomery Iron Display Couch Trucks occupy the same floor space as twelve dis_ played in the usual manner. Write for catalogue siving full descrip-tion and price in the different finishes, to~ gether with illustrations demonstrating the use of the Giani Short Rail Bed Fastener for Iron Beds. Manufactured by H. J. MONTGOMERY PATRNTRR Silver Creek, New York, u. s. A. Dennis Wire and Iron Co., Canadian Manu_ faduren. London, Ont. English masters. Their line consists of the finer grades of parlor, library, and living room furniture in mahogany, walnut and gold leaf, including suites, davenports, sofas, couches,. odd chairs, rockers, fireside chairs, reception chairs, hall chairs, stools, tabourettes, piano seats, English upholstered ch::lirs, and sofas, dining room chairs, chamber chairs and rockers, etc., in accurate reproductions of all the great French and English styles, and also the Colonials. 59 60 MiEcellaneous Notes. The Imperial Furniture Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., have sold their sectional bookcase business t'O the (). C. S. Olsen Company of Chicago. The space hertofore used by that department will be used to increase the output of tables. The White Furniture Company of Mebane, N. c., recently shipped several carloads of furniture billed "To Uncle Sam, Panama." The cars were decorated with ballflcrS inscribed "For the Big Ditch; From the vVhite Furniture Company." The Dodge-Spear Company, successor to the old house of Pitts, Kimball & Co'. of Boston, is facing a petition in bank-ruptcy, filed by creditors W}lO were dissatisfied with the ap-pointment of a receiver selected by the debtors. I Eldredge & Peabody of Boston, who were burned out in December last, took possession of an elegant new store on the old site during the jirst week in June. Mr. Peabody will visit the Grand Rapids market as usual. J "VV. Dunwell of Butler, Mo., has sold l1is furniture busi-ness to James T. Glanville, a brother of F. J. Glanville, the well known furniture dealer of Kansas ,City, Kan, John Hummel, furniture dealer of BroDklyn, N. Y., who recently made an assignment for the benefit of creditors, will pay 100 cents on the dollar and continue business_ The Gutter Fumiture Company of Port Huron, Mich., will soon move into larger quarters, having leased and re-modeled the armory building on :\lilitary street. Pritz Brothers, furniture dealers of South Bethlehem, Pa., were closed out by the sheriff on June 10. The creditors; re-ceived less than 25 per ccnt. Turner & CUne, furniture, hardware and undcrtaking, Bradshaw, ).Jeb., have dissolved partnership. A. B. Turner continues the business. Conrad & Kiesker, furniture dcalers of Fresno, CaL, made an :l5sjgnnH',]]L \V. Parkcr Lyon bought the stock in bulk and crcditors were paid in full. The plant of the Kincajd Furniture Company, Statesville, N. c., was damaged to the extent of about $2,000 by a wind and hail storm recently. The general offices of the Simmons rVIanufacturing Com-pany have been moved

Date Created:

1907-06-25T00:00:00Z

Data Provider:

Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)

Collection:

27:24

Subject Topic:

Periodicals and Furniture Industry

Language:

English

Rights:

© Grand Rapids Public Library. All Rights Reserved.

URL:

http://cdm16055.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16055coll20/id/39