Michigan Artisan; 1909-04-25

Notes:

Issue of a furniture trade magazine published in Grand Rapids, Mich. It was published twice monthly, beginning in 1880. and ~--~--- Twenty ..Ninth Year-No. 20 APRIL 25. 1909 Semi-Monthly ,-- I I j •l!•II i THE MIDSUMMER· SALE •I I• I• I , will open at Grand Rapids, June 24, 1909,·· Largest and ~Best Assortment of F umilure Ever Placed on Exhibitiou. Furniture Exhibition Association ,~ . ...._------ r·-------· ,,• !• I: -----_.~----_._-----,,..--'~----~ "The Better Mak.e" WE HAVE OVER 400 PIECESIN OUR LINE. Bedroom and Dining Room Furniture -----:SUITES TO MATCH.----- Catalogues to Dealers on Heavy Plate Paper. Nelson~Matter Furniture Company GRANDRAPIDS,MICH. Factory and Salesroom, 37 Canal Street !• 1, • I I,• I MICHIGAN ARTISAN ARTISTIC andINEXPENSIVE CATALOGUE COVERS LET US FIGURE ON YOUR PHOTOGRAPHING ENGRAVING and PRINTING at Righ t Prices PERFECT WORK PROMPT DELIVERIES COMPLETE CATALOGS MICHIGAN ENGRA VING CO. GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN 1 2 MICHIGAN ARTISAN -_._-- ----------_. ------- ... III I DINING EXTENSION TABLES ARE BEST MADE BEST FINISHED VALUES All Made from Thoroughly Seasoned Stock. LENTZ TABLE CO. NASHVILLE, MICH. I• No.384X Do You Want the Daily? Orders for the Midsummer Edition of the DAILY ARTISAN-RECORD Should be Mailed to the Publishers Now. Address Daily Artisan-Record GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. • White Printing CO. GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN HIGH GRADE CATALOGS COMPLETE • • 1 GRAND RAPIDS rHVl Jr V':,., , ..:. \;)-J ...:....,.J . ._TiV 29th Year-No. 20. American Mail Order Merchants Secure Trade in Germany. The mail order Inerchants of Arneriea do not confine their efforts to secure trade to the \vestern hemisphere. Th~re is a large amount of foreign business that looks good. During the past year their efforts to deal with the Germans have been so well re\varded as to alarm the merchants of the empire considerably. Une Sperber, who says his home is in New York, has made a savage attack upon the i\merican mail order merchants through a trade journal published in Berlin, denouncing them as "Swindlers of the worst kind." Sperber says he knows one American firm that {'sells $5,000 \vorth of goods monthly to customers in the Fatherland, $4,000 of which is net profit. ::\'1r. Sperber advocates the passing of laws by the German Government which will make it impossible for the American mail-order houses to do business in that country. "Vith delightful consistency the writer then proceeds to urge German business men to establish mail-order houses of their own, pointing out the profits of the great concerns of Chica.go and c1se\vhere to demonstrate conclusively that the business is a money maker. It is articles like this which poison the German com-mercial mind against American enterprises, and even compel the Government from time to time to adopt a hos-tile attitude tmvard our consular officials in the pursuit of their legitimate official duties. Macy Provides a Home for Store Workers. The great store in K eV,rYork known as l\iacy's (the founder died many years ago) finds it profitable to pro-vide temporary homes for employes. Recently the house purchased the larger part of the estate of the late G. Estrada Palma, ex-president of Cuba, at Central Valley, N. Y., as a summer home for their women employes. It \vill also be used in the \vinter as a retreat for women employes who are convalescing from illness. The full estate has eighteen acres, on which is a house of thirty rooms. Mrs. Palma will reserve five acres for her own use, but the house, with the balance of thirteen acres, is included in the sale to the l\:Iacy's. J n the thir-teen acres are tennis courts, croquet grounds, several acres of \vooded land) and a good-sized fresh ,vater lake. There will be a matron in charge of the house summer and winter. $1.00 per Year. For the last four years 11acy's has rented a summer home for the same purpose in ]\{onroeJ N. Y" but it was decided that the winter work was just as much a neces-sity as the summer vacation home, and the J\.'1acy man-agement took the first opportunity of locating the home in a permanent place. New plumbing and decorations throughout, together with new furniture, have modernized the place so that it eqnals the best that could possibly be secured by the girls in summer hotels. @ * @ One Thousand Dollar Bedroom Snites. John Mowatt, superintendent of the Grand Rapids Chair company, was employed by the Berkey & Gay Pllrnitl1re company in the same capacity in the year 1876, the year of the centennial exposition. Mr. Mowatt spent considerable time with the company's exhibit of bed-room suites in Philadelphia. Among the suites was one bearing the price mark $350. A lady whose home was in San Francisco passed the exhibit one- dav and remark-ed HI have three of those suites in my hO~le and I paid $3)000 for them." At this instant the lady's eyes rested on the company's price card. "Do you charge but $350 for tbis suite?" "That is our price to the trade." HWell I have been swindled. When I need furniture again I will ,vrite your company," "That would be useless;" responded :Mr. l\lowatt, '\ve could not sell you." @ * @ Crowding Out the Weak Ones. A gentleman largely engaged in jobbing metal beds is responsible for the statement that many of the small and moderate sized manufacturers of metal bedsteads have been or soon will be crO\~rdec1out of business by one or two large corporations, which seemingly are deter, mined to gain control of the trade. The corporations make no secret of their purpose and the means employed are as destructive of the interests of small manufacturers as the steam road roller ,",vouldbe to human life. Neither prices nor terms are considered when the agents of the big bed makers want orders. @ * @l The agency that ordered 1,000 saw mills shut down pending advancement in prices for lumber is not a trust lumbermen declare, but it serves trust purposes yen: efficiently. • 4 ;v1ICHIGAN ARTISAN the race. He says he will probably make an announce-ment in a few days. "Gus" Nom,veiler, ()f the Evansville Furniture Com-pany, has been boomed as an independent candidate for mayor. He says he is not going to make the race as he has all he can do to attend to his furniture. :~dr. Non-weiler says that during the last year their plant only run one third of the time, bnt that this year they are running 011 almost full time and are enjoying a good business on their new lines. "Bert" Nonweilcr, of the Evansville Furniture Com-pany, is buildiug an elegant new home on \Vashington avenue to cost from $12,000 to $15,000. William A. Koch, of the Evansville ylctal Bcd Com-pany, is erecting a nice home on Upper Second street near 1.fadison avenue. ~fr. Koch is one of the most en-terprising manufacturers of this city and is interested in a dozen of the city's leading industries. The Crown Chair Company, managed by Fred Stoltz, is "doing a fair business at the present time. The plant is operated fifty-five hours a week. Business with the Evansville Metal Bed Company is very good according to reports from the office of that company. In fact it is much better than it ''las last year and the management beilieve it will continue to get better all the time. «Gus" Stoltz, of the Stoltz Schmitt Furniture Com-pany, says that March was the biggest month for them for the past year or so, bnt that April is not ·so good. He thinks there will be a picking up of the furniture business after the tariff question has been settled. Plans for the factory building for the Hygiene Metal Cabinet and 1\1anufacturing Company are now ready according to C. F. Schroeder, the manager of the com-pany and bids will be received in a few days. Construc-tion work will commence as soon as the contract is let. Benjamin Bosse of the Globe Furniture Company has returned from Chicago, ,vhere he spent a few days. The desk company at Henderson, Ky., are erecting a large addition. Ed\vard Ploeger, the well known furni-ture manufacturer of this city is interest~d in the Hender-son factory. \Nork on the erection of the new factory for the Scheloskey Table Company will start in a short time. Local contractors will build the factory, which will cost about $18,000. c. W. B. @ * @ Sheboygan, the Chair Town. Sheboygan has a national reputation as a chair manu-facturing center. The Sheboygan Chair Company, the Phoenix Chair Company, the Crocker Chair Company, George Spratt & Company, and the American Manufac-turing Company operate large factories, and their goods find a ready sale not only in every state in the Union, but in almost every town large enough to need a furniture store. Then, ''',Then one adds the Northern Furniture Company, and the Shehoygan Novel~y Company, Preuss- , leT & Sons, bookcases, the American Folding Bed Com-pany (now about doubling its plant), the Art Furniture Company and others, one finds that Sheboygan is very much on the map. The Sheboygan Chair Company are having a satis-factory trade, and as one man said to the writer, "mak-ing the best chairs on earth for the money." They give the dealer his money's worth eve·ry time. Several of these chairs are illustrated in this issue, and more will follow from time to time. The furniture dealer who has not a copy of their catalogue is in blissful ignorance of how much money he is losing every year. George Spratt & Company are among the chair makers who know how to make chairs, and how to sell them. Dealers will find it to their interest to watch the pages of the Artisan during the next few months and see the pic- .. ~ •I• Fred J. Zimmer 39 E. BridgeSt•• Grand Rapids. Mich. I Maker of I I ~HIGH GRADE I UPHOLSTERED II FURNITURE II Writefor •I Cut$ and Prices. III Every Piece Guaranteed I PERFECT. II ~• -- ----- --_...I. hues of their chairs. Somebody has said that a crank can never make anything good because his head is wrong, and can't appreciate a good thing when he sees it. The opposite is also true. The man \vith the perpetual smile; the luan who is blessed with a sunny disposition; who likes to do right and loves the beautiful in all things, is sure to do his best in whatever he undertakes. That man is George Spratt. It's worth a day's ride to go to the Phoenix Chair Company and spend an hour with "-fr. Thumas M. Black-stock, president of that company. Although seventy-six years of age, and having the charge of one of the largest chair factories in the country on his hands (and the Phoe-nix under his care has been a success for more than thirty years), he has always a pleasant greeting, and some wise connse] for those that will seek it. But it is when he is in a reminiscent mood that he is most charming, for he has the rare faculty of remembering everthing, and will en-tertain you with a treat that you remerriber for years. His hiography, if he should choose to write it, would be an interesting contribution to the business literature of the world. @ * @ Marquetry is used but moderately. In the west and south there is practically no call for it. When ~pplicd in moderation this form of decoration appeals to re-fined tastes. It is seen to the best advantage on pian0s, music and parlor cabinets. MICHIGAN ARTISAN 5 'There is never a year that Rockford does not add to its manufacturing industries, and make substantial pro-gress ill the building line. Everybody in the furniture business knows about Rockford, and its twenty or 1l10re furniinre factories arc now ranning \vith a fair trade. .\"early all llla~e semi-annual exhibits in either Chicago or Grand Rapids, and a number in both cities, and all \vill have some new and attractive patterns to sho\y in July. The Rockford Chair and l'urnilure Company are operating two big' factories, and report a fair tracle. They will show in Grand Rapids in the K10dgett Building as usual and since they have added dining tables to their line their business has largely increased. They are nmv making china closets, buffets. dining tables, as well as their usual line of library and combination Dookca:-;csand fancy furniture. The Rockford Frame and Fixture Company make the largest line of fancy furniture in the west outside of GranciRapids. They show in Chicago and Grand Rapids, and \yilt add many beautiful pieces to their July exhibits. Under the management of ~Irs. Hoffman the company is prospering. The \Vest End Furniture Company \vill have some surprises for the buyers \vhen they visit Grand Rapids in July. The A.rtisan is not pertllitted to g-o into details at this time. The l\lechanics Fnrniture Company \vilt shmv some new things in dining room and library furniture at 131~) l\Iichigan Avenue, Chicago. The Rockford National Fl1rniture Company has been doing well this year. It is a surprise how rapidly this company came into prominence. I-Iardly more than a yearling, it stands right in the front rank of the Rock-ford factories. Library and dining room fnrnitl1re is their linc~ and it is a good one from start to finish. Oscar Bergquist, the tHan who runs the R~)Lkford Desk Company~ says he \vill have a hunch of new things in July to please the dealers. 1Ic Bergquist has Lcen making ladies' desks and bookcases so long that he kl1o\VS how to make them right. The latest factory to be enlarged is the Union. Their present plant is large enough to contain a half dozen onlinary factories and then same. I. @ * @ Mahogany Knobs Preferred. Buyers of furniture are more discriminating in the purchase of case work with knobs of vvood than formerly, and are confining such purchases almost exclusively to mahogany. Knobs of Oak~ ash, or natural birch or birds-eye maple do not satisfy the public so well as brass or glass handles, either drop or rigid. On colonial case \vork in mahogany wooden knobs are very appropriate. •~, ----------_._--------. III I Sectional Bookcase •II I I• Up to date; making the dealer a profit of 55%. All woods and finishes. Write for catalol!ue. No. lo.F. Ouarterecl Oak. Order sample List $16, less 35%. stack at once. I Humphrey-Widman Bookcase Company SHEBOYGAN, WIS. No. 542 Oak, Sollo Seat. Price, $17~~~. No. 540% Same as No. 542 on Iy OLlartereo Oak Veneer Seal. Detroit, Michigan ._--------------------- ,I GEO. SPRATT I & CO. III I ------.It I Po. DOl. Manufacturers of Chairs and Rockers. A com~lere lint: of Oak Diners with quarter sawed veneer backs and seats. A large line of Elm Diners, medium priced. A select line of Ladies' Rockers. Bent and high arm Rockers with soLid seats, veneer roll seats, cob-bler seats and up-holstered leather complete. High Chairs and Children's Rockers. You 'l.vill gel in on the ground Ifloor when you b"y (<om "'. II II IIII I I 1I No,542 j ...---------------------------------------~ $18 6 MICHIGAN ARTISAN The Art of William Morris. A book entitled "William Morris, His Art, His W rit-ings and His Pnblic Life," written by Aymer Vallance was pnblished in London in 1897 by George Bell & Sons. The author was collecting the material for several years in which he was helped by William Morris himself but was not allowed to pnblish the same nnti! after Morris' death in 1895. Sir Edward Burne-Jones, Morris' inti-mate friend and business associate and others also con-tributed to the book. The .life of \Villiam :Morris is an interesting onc; his interest in and appreciation of art and architecture was shown at an early age. He said that the writings of Sir Walter Scott did more to arouse that interest than any- Made by Luce-Redmond Furniture Co., Big Rapids, Mich. thing else. His education was received at Oxford where he met Burne-Jones and formed a lifelong friendship and whom he became latcr associated with in business. As poet, architect, artist, art crit and writer Morris was a busy man. His study of architecture under George Wil-liam Street lasted only nine months as he wished to be unfettered and free to pursue an artistic career. It is said that he did more to beautify the plain, everyday home life of the people than any other man of the century. He decorated household articles to perfection. The deco-rative arts through him gained a new impetus and were carried to a greater perfection than ever before reached. "Decoration animates architecture and all form with life and beauty""::""-afact which Morris recognized but he also realized as an architect that ornament was hut an accessory to construction of every kind. He believed that architecture was the basis and crowning point of every other art. The firm of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Company was formed in 1861 and some years later Mr. Morris bought out his partners and conducted the business him-self. Burne~ Jones still made the cartoons for stained glass. Mr. :Morris always determined the color scheme to be used in all the glass work and did a large part of the work. Dante Gabriel Rosetti was also a member of the original firm which was founded without expectation of financial success but which eventnally became very prosperous indeed. Viall papers and tiles were also part of the work un-dertaken by Morris & Co. The green dining room of the South Kensington museum was decorated in 1866. The walls are panelled with wood painted green, rising from the floor to about half the height of the room. The upper panels are gilt, the majority of them being decorated with painted sprays of various trees and flowers while at intervals are panels with decorative figures. Morris said "whatever you have in your rooms, think first of the walls; for they are that which makes your house and home; and if you don't make some sacrifice in their favor, you will find your chambers have a kind of makeshift, lodging-house look about them, however rich and hand-some your movables may be." Morris & Company's furniture was not of William wlorris' own design. Madox Brown and Rosett! both designed fnrniture and there were others. Morris was wont to regret the decay of the art of carving at the present day and the difficulty of obtaining suitable carving for the ornamentation of furn-iture. Some of the firm's furniture was inlaid or orna-mented ,,,,ith paintings. A great number of private houses were furnished and decorated by the company and beautiful effects resulted. As stage decorators, too, Morris & Company were suc-cessful. Settings for two plays by Henry Arthur Jones were painted. A special factory for the weaving of tap-estry, carpets and ordinary shuttle weaving was provided and in dyeing Mr. Morris produced beantiful colors. In decoration Mr. Morris used human figures largely and also adapted floral and vegetable forms. He used the acanthus leaf and said that uno form of ornament had gone so far or lasted as long as that, it has been infinitely varied, used by almost all following styles in one shape or another, and performed many other offices besides its original one." Morris' creative genius brought the design to a magnificent development which seems to have redeemed it and given it a splendid vitality. The snake's head or fritillery seen in the grass fields by river-sides in England in spring was much used. The tulip and rose, columbine, china-aster, sunflower-almost everything can be included in the list. The geranium is not found because Morris thought it ugly. He kept away from stereotyped forms such as ornament of the Louis XIV, XV and XVI periods which he considered were shapeless and senseless elaboration of nothing at all, while flowers have an actual existence. In William Morris' art the Gothic influence can be traced. He is classed as a lineal descendant of the Gothic artists. A strain of Persian and Byzantine origin is also evident; the blending of these elements give a certain complexion to any given design, onc element then another predominating. The man's own individuality was always apparent and dis-tinguished his work from all others. His imitators were many. Morris did all his own designing as he said that it was hard to get original work and he was a great pro-ducer. Perfection in everything turned out of his factory was always considered most important. MICHIGAN ARTISAN Spaniards Prize Catalognes Highly. A. P. Underwood, the secretary of the New Orleans Furniture J\Ianl1factl1ring company, travels quite exten-sively in Mexico, Cuba, Porto Rico and other countries ,",vhereinSpanish is the language of commerce. The com-pany issues very large catalogues printed in Spanish, which the people receiving the same prize greatly. These are carefully preserved and studeied constantly. \Vhen supplanted with new editions the old catalogues are pre-served for the information contained therein. Ivlr. Un-den~! ood anticipates the overthrow of the Cuban govern-ment within a year and the restoration of the United States as the future ruling po\ver of the island. @ * @ Additional "Hullel" Orders. If it were not for the large number of oruers for hotel furniture that have been placed with the manufac-turers of Grand Rapids since the opening of the year, business would be uncommonly dull. Among the recent arrivals of buyers for hotels ,vas H. E. Karns, of the Den-ver Dry Goods company, escorting Sam Dutton, of the Albany hotel, who bought a large lot of choice furniture to be used in the Elms, at Excelsior Springs, l\Io. The house contains eighty bedrooms and the cost of furnish-ing throughout is $50,000. A considerable part oi this sum was invested in Grand Rapids furniture. @ * @ "Run the Shop." One of the boldest store robbers operated in an Okla-homa town recently. He entered the store one morning, The proprietor talked \v1th him a few minutes and then told him he must vacate, as he was going to lock up the place and make a trip in to the country. After he had gone, the thief broke open the store, and stood behind the counter, selling goods for cash. He refused credit to anyone. After he had operated for sonIC time, he left a boy in charge with about a dollar in change, and departed fori/dinner." He did not return, Just how much he got is not kncnvn.-Ex. €I * @ Five Thousand Turks Slaughtered. In connection with the distu rbance in the realm of the Sultan, a furniture merchant in a western city hung a large sign in one of his show windows upon which was painted <lFive Thousand Turks Slaughtered." People rushed to the window to learn the cause of the carnage, and in small type read the proprietor's announcement that he would slaughter 5,000 Turkish rugs within sixty days. @ * @ Having advanced freight rates to cover the shortage in their receipts since the two cent-a-mile laws for trans-porting passengers in many states took effect, railroad magnates are now busily engaged in the courts and legis-latures in efforts to restore the three cent per mile rate for passengers. The money is needed to pay dividends 011 watered stock. i• II III I II II The "ELI" FOLDING BEDS ~~Sfrl~,'1..~~~ No Stock complete without the Eli Beds in Manttll and Upright. E 0 M &. C Evansville. Indiana LI • ILLER O.Wtiteforcutsandpric~ ON SALE IN FURNITURE EXCHANCE, CHICACO. ~----_. ..---------------_._---_.~ I UNION FURNITURE CO. ROCKFORD, ILL. China Closets Buffets Bookcases We lead in Style, ConQrn&on and Finish. See our Catalogue. Our line on permanent exhibi-tion 7th Floor, New Manufact~ urers' Building, Grand Rapids. III .I0. -----_- ---------_. •IM ~!:er!i!~.!!te.!:!.?u~se I Hotel PantJind (European Plan) Rates $1.00 and Up. GRAND RAPIDS. MICH. III II II0-----· The Noon Dinner Served at the Panilind for 50c it THE FINEST IN THE WORLD. J. BOYD PANTLIND, Prop. J 7 8 MICHIGAN ARTISAN Upon the receipt of a request from any responsible dealer, catalogues illustrat-ing, pricing and describing the Qlick Selling Lines of the Big Six Car Loading Asso-ciation will be forwarded. THE KARGES FURNITURE CO. Manufacturers -of Chamber Suites.. Wardrobes, Chiffoniers, Odd Dressers, Chifforobes. THE BOSSE FURNITURE CO. Manufacturers of Kitchen Cabinets, K. D. Wardrobes, Cupboards and Safes, in imitation golden oak. plain oak and quartered oak. THE WORLD FURNITURE CO. Manufacturers of Mantel and Upright Folding Beds, Buffets, Hall Trees, . China Closets, Combination Book and Library Cases. THE GLOBE FURNITURE CO. Manufacturers of Sideboards in plain oak, imitation quartered oak and solid quartered oak, Chamber Suites, Odd Dressers, Beds and Chiffoniers in imitation quartered oak, imitation mahogany and imitation golden oak. THE BOCKSTEGE FURNITURE CO. Manufacturers of the HSuperior" Line of Parlor, Library, Dining and Dressing Tables. THE METAL FURNITURE CO. Manufacturers of "Hygiene" Guaranteed Brass and Iron Beds, Cribs, Wire Springs and Cots. Made by The Karges Furniture Co. The Big Six Manufacturers of Evansville possess unequaled facilities for ship-ping goods promptly. All have sidings in or adjoining their factories and cars can be dispatched direct over the great railroad systems of the East, South and West . • MICHIGAN ARTISAN 9 Made by Globe Furniture Co. >-------_._----------------------------------_. __ ._-_ .I.. ;'Made by V\lorld Furniture Co. Made by Bockstege Furniture Co. Made by The Bocbtege Furniture Co. 10 MICHIGAN ARTISAN Wood Carving in History. "The interest of wood carving is not confinedto its actual practice; the history of the art as revealed in the annals of its craftsmen is intensely inte~esting. We are led to it by the study of examples of different styles, periods and countries; it takes us into many curious by-. ways of history, and this is especially the case with French wood carving. France has always been one of the leading countries in art, and this particular craft has been encouraged and fostered there. The history of the joiners, carpenters, and cabinet~makers in the middle ages is, in France, also the history of wood carvers, as for a long time these crafts were combined. The craftsmen were found in close connection with the court of the king and the courts of his vassals. In a very interesting book called "Le l\Ieuble," written by l\:fonsieur de Champeau, he tells how the furniture of those days followed the kiug and his court from one royal palace to another. The beds wert: packed in large coffers, the plate, rich hangings, and all movable furniture of the rooms were stDwed in large chests. Beds, chairs, tables, armoires, lecterns or lutrins, as they were called, aU were decorated with carvings or rnetal work, and they were generally unique specimens, not produced in hundreds like modern furniture suites. They were real valuables, only found in king's and noble-men's houses, or the houses of wealthy merchants. 1\10n-sieur de Champeau gives the name of a famous craftsman, Richard d' Aragon, a joiner as well as a wood carver, who lived early in the fourteenth century, among whose works were a chest for Philippe V of France, to keep the royal robes in, and another for the queen. There are still a few of these early chests to be seen in the collec-tions in Paris, one at the Musee Carnavalet, and some in the Musee de Cluny. In 1352 there lived a painter known as Girard d'Orleans, who was also a wood carver, cabi-net maker and joiner. lIe made chests and chairs and r-;.Manul .. "" tho Largest LIDe of rOlDlnQ ("AIDS in the United. Scates, sllitable for S II n day Schools, Halls, Steam-en;; and all pllblic resorts. We also manufactllre Brass Trimmed I r 0 n Beds, Spring Beds, Cots and Cribs in a large variety. Send for Catalogue and PriceJ to KAUffMAN MfG. CO. ASHLAND, OHIO I I 1- ._---' tables for the king, and the record of his charges for the same is still extant. He worked for King John, of France, and accompanied him to England when he was taken prisoner by Edward the Black Prince. While he was lodged in the tower of London, Girard made him a new chair, and there is also a record of a carved wooden table made by this artist for Charles V of France. This was during the time that the Gothic style prevailed, but the wood carver had an equal prominence through the following period when that most beautiful style of wood carving known as the early French renaissance was per-fected, lasting from Francis 1. days until Henry IV. This style, the outcome Df the revelation of the treasures of Italy to the eyes of the French artist, was quickly assim-ilated by the artists and craftsmen who, grafting Italian ideas on to their own individuality, produced the most exquisite work. All the time the artists and craftsmen \-vere encouraged and honored by the kings of France, lodged in their palaces; having rooms assigned them in the Louvre in Paris,and evidently filling a position in society quite unknown to any of the present English cab-inet makers or carvers. During this period are found such famous men as Germain PilIon and Jean Goujon, and their eminence continued through the French styles of the three Louis, until the art of the wOvd carver grad-ually declined before the introduction of the marqueterie and ormolu worker. Furniture was decorated with china plaques, precious stones, and veneers of precious woods, until most of the work of the artist craftsman went com-pletely out of fashion during the terrible years of the French revolution, dying for want of the patronage it had hitherto received in such abundance. All this art history is not confined to Paris. North, south, east, and west France was full of art centers, such as Lyons, Orleans, Rheims, and Rouen; where crafts-men worked in their own style and never thought of copying a dead one; never merely reproducing the art of the past as is done so much in modern English work-shops, but studying these former styles carefully as a basis on which to develop their own ideas, until they too had evolved a style on which their successors could build. All this can be seen by any wood carver who, when on his travels, will take the trouble to study the subject both in the museums and in the private collections of France, and the student will be well repaid by the added interest with which he will return to his own efforts in the craft that has given material for such a noble chap-ter in the history of art. The above is taken from a book called "Some Arts and Crafts" for which seven writers contributed, discus-iug a number of subjects including furniture and decora-tion, wood carving, art of enamelling, book-binding and other topics. The book is in the Ryerson Public Library, Grand Rapids. @ * @ The proposition pending in congress to levy a tax of five per cent upon mahogany logs, equal to about $5 per M. does not afford unalloyed pleasure to the manufactur-ers of medium and high grade furniture. ..---_._---- III I II I I•• IIII I• MICHIGAN ARTISAN 11 Michigan Furniture --------------------~ I Co. II ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN M-anufacrurers ot CHAMBER FURNITURE Mahogany, Quartered and Plain Oak. Odd Dressers in Birch and Imita-tion Mahogany. The best goods for the price on [he market. Write for prices. No. 116. •~------- Not uGood Enorugh." A man in Chicago said to the I writer, HThe cheapest thing that will ans\ver is good enQugh." 'That man has shut the door of improvement in hip face. \Vhat's the use of striving for anything better if his position is correct? Under such teaching nothing but [stagnation would pre-vail. Happily, such men are few ih number and their in-fluence is limited. These thoughts iare suggested because quite frequently we see a piece of beautiful furniture with the dra\ver front's marred anti scratched by reason of loose pulls draping down. One s'uch scratciting will do more damage than the cost of a full set of pulls having the Grand Rapids Brass Company's lirfo-Kum-Loose" attach-ments. No manufacturer of furpiture having drawers (either cheapJ medium or high I grade furniture) can afford to send out a piece of furnitttre without this attach-ment. The merchant cannot affotd to accept a piece of furniture that does not have this I attachment, and every purchaser of a piece of furniturF should be instructed No, 116 I• I• It III• I -------------- •I about this. For it Saves the piece of furniture from mar-ring, saves money, and an endless amount of trouble and explaining. Besides all this, the manufacturer does not have to pay one cent for these little fasteners. The Grand Rapids Brass company have made millions of these fas-teners, and the demand for them is steadily growing. @> * @ A Novel Gift Distribution. One thousand clollars were distributed by a merchant doing business in an eastern city a few months ago as follows: For ,every t\~Tenty-five cent purchase in any de-partment a voting coupon was given. If the holder wish-ed to enter the contest he wrote his name on the coupon or the name of any individual or institution he desired to favor. On a bulletin board were the names of several charitable, beneficiary and religious societies, in addition to the names of private persons. The sum of $1,000 was divided into twenty-five prizes ranging from $150 to $5. Of the names on the list the twenty-five highest in num-bers were awarded $1 each at the dose of each week. The contest, which lasted sixty days excited a great deal of interest, and proved profitable to the merchant on account of largely increased sales. @> * @ Grandeur, Elegance and-Grace. The style of Lonis XIV is noted for its grandeur in ornament; of Louis XV for its elegance and of Louis XVI for its grace. 12 MICHIGAN ARTISAN EVRNSVILLL Evansville, Ind" April 20.--Business with the furni-ture manufacturers of Evansville and vicinity contilU.1CS on the upward grade. The month of lvlarch was un-usually active and while April has not been quite so good the manufacturers say it has 5hO\"'"11 some improve-ment. Crop conditions in this section of the country are quite promising and the farmers are planting liberally. The retail trade is shmving signs of picking up. Reports from the southwestern states are encouraging and from all indications trade during the summer and fall months will be much better than last year. The \Visconsin Chair Company (a new concern that has been in operation here for a few months) have added fifty men to their pay rolls. They report that they have been doing a very nice business since starting. The new furniture exchange building at the corner of Fourth and Vine streets is about completed, and by the time this letter is published the building will probably be occupied. It is a handsome structure, and reflects great credit upon the furniture manufacturers of this city, and marks a new era in the industry. It is made of pressed brick and stone and is seven stories high. The building is modern in every particular, and it has required about a year for its construction. The manufacturers have selected their floor space, and are moving in their goods where they will be exhibited every day in the year. The fifth and sixth floors lTave been selected by the factories in the Big Six Carloading Association, while the third and fourth floors have been reserved for the manufacturers here who are not in the combination, such as the Cres-cent; the Specialty; the Evansville; the Indiana; the Uuited States; the Stoltz-Schmitt Company and several others. The fourth floor has been reserved for chair and other lines. The goods exhibited from the factories outside of the Big Six Carloading Association will be known from this time on as the Crescent City l\t1ixed Car Association, and this name promises to become well known all over the United Stales. The front part of the building on each floor is devoted to office space, and all of the offices have been rented by lawyers, and profes-sional men of this city. The front part of the first floor is occupied by a local bank just formed. The building is well lighted, well heated and centrally located, and the manufacturers are justly proud of their work. The fol-lowing well known furniture men served on the building committee, and had charge of the supervision of the work: Edward Ploeger, of the Bosse Furniture Com-pany; A. F. Karges, of the Karges Furniture Company; H. H. Schu, of the Crescent Furni~ure Company; Henry Rusche, of the Specialty Furniture Company; Benjamin Bosse, of the Globe Furniture Company; and William A. Koch, of the Evansville Metal Bed Company. The plans for conducting the building are not yet definitely com-pleted, but it is kno\""n that it \,~rillbe open every business clay in the year. In some places where manufacturers give exhibits, the exchange building is practically vacated after the exhibition, but it \-villnot be so in this city. The exhibits will be seen the year round, and buyers who come here may have the advantage of seeing all the furni-ture and stove lines of the city in one building. Henry Rusche, of the Specialty Furniture Company was in St. Louis a few days ago on business. II. H. Schu, of the Crescent Furniture Company says business is about the same as it was last month. He MadQ by Richmond Chair Co., Richmond, Ind. says that while it is not as good as it ought to be, he looks for improvement in trade· from this time on. The plants of the Big Six Carloading Association are running on full time, and a good many orders are being received, and night shifts are at work in the plants of the Globe, the World and the Bosse. Edward Ploeger, of this company, says April, thus far, is a better month than April of last year; he also states that during the month of March the Globe and the Bosse broke all pre-vious records in shipments, and if this keeps up during the balance of the year, it will mean a banner year for these h'\lO factories. :Mr. Ploeger says that trade is im-proving right along, and he is highly pleased at the out-look. John Schwann, of the Eli D. Miller Company says the folding .bed business is picking up nicely. One week this month orders for something like 100 folding beds \-vere received. The factory is operated on full time, and the outlook for the future is bright . . Eli D. Miller, the well known manufacturer, is boom-ed by his many friends as republican candidate for mayor. He has not yet made up his mind whether he will make MICHIGAN ARTISAN r--- -1--_____ -------- - -~ l_THE BI!,G WHITE S-HOP •II I We FurniJh Every Article of Printing I Nee~edby Business Men WHITE PRINTING COMPANY IfS, 110, and 112 North DivisionStreet, I ! Grand Rapids, Mich. I --------+-' - -_. __. rTHE ~IG WHITE SHOP] j,.--------------------- ! -- - -- • 13 II! !I I, I 14 MICHIGAN ARTISAN ESTABLISHED 1880 ~UeI.15...eD lilT MICHIGAN ARTISAN CO. ON THE 10TH AND 25TH OP' EACH MONTH O......ICE-108.110. 112 NORTH DIVISION ST., GRAND R....P. IDS. MICH. EtiTERED IN THE POSTOFFlCE AT OIiAND R,o,PIDS, MICH., A8 SECOND ClUB MATTER, An enterprising dealer purchased the factory stock of a cross roads manufacturer operating a plant with an annual capacity of $10,000. The goods purchased may have heen valued at $2,000 or $3,000. During the follow-ing three months the dealer advertised the stock for sale, using full pages in the newspapers and hundreds of yards of bill hoards. The stuff was low priced and the lot should have closed out in one week's time. Probably it was, as the dealer sells fully $150,000 worth of furniture annually. The sale of the factory stock lasted three months, hut the goods furnished were not those of the cross roads manufacturer. It is a question whether such sales are profitable in the long run. + + The manufacturers of case goods will meet in Chica-go early in the coming month to consider prices and other matters pertaining to the merchandising of furni-ture during the remainder of the year. It is hoped that definite information in regard to the effect of the tariff bill, pending action by congress, will be obtainable before the meeting of the association. + + Confidence is inspired in the mind of a customer when he examines an article bearing a trade mark. He takes no chances on getting the worst of a bargain. He knows what he is buying. + + The merchant who courageously uses money as a means to attract people to his store will reap a greater reward than the man who stands guard over his wallet. + + Spreading the message and taking the goods needed by the people economically to the point desired should be the aim of advertisers. + + All persons are influenced in buying the things they need by friendly feelings toward the dealer or the manu-facturer. + + In "doing things" many merchants make mistakes, hut avoid the greatest mistake of all-doing nothing. + + The wise merchant creates a demand for things he has to sell by strong, persistent adverti§ing, "Cut Out" the Wabash. Following the reading of an interesting history of the business of manufacturing furniture in Grand Rapids, before the' local historIcal society, on April 21, \;VilIiam V/ic1dicomb recalled the organization of the first railway tariff commission the year 18'76. The cheap bedsteads manufactured by the Widdicomb Furniture company were changed from the third to the first class in the first rate ~heet brought out by the commission and if enforced \vould have proven disastrous to Mr. \Viddicomb's com-pany. Fortified by facts to justify his claim Mr. Widdi-comb visited the general freight agent of the Lake Shore railroad, at Cleveland, a.nd persuaded that official of the justice of his request for a reversal of the order of the commission so far as it affected the business of the Wid-dicomb Furniture Company. The New York Central railroad had ordered that their local rate be added to the local rate of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern on shipments to eastenl points, and IVIr. Widdicomb pro-ceeded from Cleveland to Buffalo where he met the gen-eral freight agent of the New York Central railroad and presented his claims for a modification of the rate. On the following day the concession requested was accorded Mr. Widdecomb and he started for home very much elated in spirits over his successful mission. At Toledo he sought an interview with the general freight agent of the Wabash railroad, and was permitted to enter the office of a pompous and blustering official. uI have no time to spend in bothering with you or your complaints," he assured J\.fr. Widdicomb. "Very well, sir," the latter remarked and withdrew. "From that day to this," Mr. \Viddicomb continued, "we have not sought for the trade of dealers doing business in towns on the lines of the \Vabash and have never routed a shipment over that railroad." @ * @ Graud Rapids Furuiture Club. On Saturday evening, May 1, the manufacturers of furniture residing in Grand Rapids will hold a meeting for the purpose of considering plans for the conduct of the furniture club, The rooms have been fitted up in black ash panels, with different rooms in an individual finish. T~ere are reading rooms, large and small dining rooms, reception room and other conveniences in arrangement. There is direct connection with the Pantlind hotel and an entrance from the street. The former connection will be of great convenience when social gatherings are held in which din-ner service will be a feature. The club 'i\Till be tendered to the use of buyers free during their stay in Grand Rapids. @ * @ A Louis XV Htraveling bed" was disposed of recently in New York. It is both beautiful and curious and re-calls a period in history when notables carried their own beds on journeys. The fram-e is of rosewood and is fit-ted with attachments of solid silver, permltting the tak-ing apart and erecting the piece easily, It is beautifully carved. MICHIGAN ARTISAN 15 Store Features a Surprise to the English People. In the short time Selfridge's establishment has been open in London, the public has thronged to it and already hvice the amount of business reckoned on in advance has been dOlle. The English marveled at the comforts and conveniences prepared for their use in the \va)' of rest rooms, a lounge rOOm for men, a well-stocked library, postoffice, passenger ticket office for steamship or raihvay travel, a theater ticket office, a bank and a restaurant. I J\1ore original than the::e, hmvever, arc the fouf '(national" rooms-American, colonial, French, and Ger-man. Mr. Selfridge declares that the big store is British in the sense that it is intend-ed primarily for the people of the United Kingdom, though American in its general plan and organization. The employes, so far as is possible in consistence \vith the ob-ject in view, are British. But he aims to make the establishment cosmopolitan, cater-ing to the needs of all the nationalities that meet in London. In each of the four rooms last mentioned there \vill be a special atten-dant of the nati<mality for \vhich it is named. The furniture, fitting-si and decorations of each room are also distinctive. to the people in as plain English as' we could use that t.his \vas to be their store, and that everywhere in it they were to be at home; that they \vere to be at liberty to go and to come exactly as they liked. [am happy to say that they have taken us at our \vonl, and in doing so have shown themselves most appreciative and most orderly. In the t\VO\vceks and a little more that the place has been open we consider that ' ..·.e have jumped into a business which is fllily twice as great as \ve expected it to be. \Ve mark all our merchandise in plainfigllres, from which we never deviate, and the best advertising that we have is The English have learned to use the ele-vators and it is said more business is done on all the other floors than the ground floor. The art of window dressing as exemplified by Selfridge's is a revelation to the people in London. The air of hospitality is offen-sive to the Englishman in trade, who im-presses a foreigner with the idea that he is expected to buy it he even enters the store. Americans abroad can have their mail addressed to Selfridge's before their arrival and after departure have it forwarded. The sending and delivery of dutiable goods is another specialty of the company. All these expenses can be paid in advance saving a lot of trouble and annoyance to American Cl1S-t. omers. 1f1'. Selfridge offers to send every young v"roman in this country! a small sterling silver key provided that she ,viII "rear it on her bracelet as a bangle, The idea is that the store is the key to London for every American who 'will use it. Mr. Selfridge said: "The public has taken hold of the idea of the store vvith rernarkable alacrity. \Ve have said illade b)-I LItre Furniture Contpany, Grand Rapids, Mich. ~I ---------_.------- ,, I Henry Schmit 8 Co. I I, maken, of HOPKll"S AND HARRIET 51'S. Cin(linnati. Ohio Uphol&tered Furniture I II I,,, ,I fo' LODGE and PULPIT, PARLOR, LIBRARY, HOTEL and CLUB ROOM the complaints of OUf competitors that we are selling be- Jow the line of profit" @ @ Baby Day. A prominent firm in a western city has an annual day for babies, \vhen prizes are awarded to babies under one year of age, "Vlhoare weighed at their store on baby day. At the last distribution $12.00 in cash was paid to the mother of the heaviest baby; $10 to the mother of the lightest baby; $7 each to the second heaviest and the second lightest babies. To twins five dollar gold pieces were given and a mother with triplets was rewarded with $25 for her achievement Every baby weighed was gi ven a doll and photographs were distributed to all mothers \vho asked for them. The company's store was thronged during the last baby day, and the results proved • the value of the scheme. 16 MICHIGAN He Wanted Grand Rapids "Cheap" Furniture. \Vhile sojourning in Pamama a few weeks ago Th1r. Foote! the treasurer of the Grand"Rapids Chair company, met an American gentlemen who had spent many years on the isthmus. During one of their many conversations the Panaman related an experience last year in New Yark as follows: "I had not visited the states, during the pre-ceding twenty-five years and the changes made in the cities I visited were simply astonishing. I had heard of Grand Rapids and its fame as a furniture producing center Grand Rapids Caster Cup Co. 2 Parkwood 4ve., Grand Rapids, Mich. III We are now putting out the best Casler Cups with cork bases ever II offered to the trade. These are finished in Golden Oak and White Maple in a light finish. Thelie ~oods are admirable for polished flOOTSand rurn. iture rests. T hey will not sweat or mar. I PRICES: Size2};( inches ••.... $4.00 per hundred I Size 2% inches······ 5.00 per hundred I Try a SampleOrder. F. 0, B. Grand Rapids. I ~- ,--- ..1 and when I called upon a dealer during my stay in New York and stated that I wished to purchase cheap furni-ture manufactured in Grand Rapids he informed me that he could not fill my order, Naturally I desired to know \""hy he could not furni8h the goods I needed, when he said: HCheap furniture is not made in Grand Rapids. Twenty-five years ago Grand Rapids was noted for the cheapness of the goods turned out by a number of her manufacturers, but all such have gone out of business or ill1proved the quality of their product. I purchased Grand Rapids goods medium priced." Twenty-five years ago seven manufacturing houses of Grand Rapids were selling eight three piece hardwood chamber suites with 30x24 German plates for $100 and other goods at relatively low prices. The business was not profitable as \-vasproven by the failure of the Worden Furniture company, Kent Furniture company, Stockwell & Darragh, the Peninsnlar Furniture company, Luther & Sumner and others of their kind. @) * @ Daily Shipments of Furniture. In a large manufacturing business it is of the utmost importance that a close record be made of daily ship-ments of goods. Not only is such a record necessary for the use of the accounting department, but the officials charged with conducting the correspondence involved in the transaction of the business of such an establishment must have reliable data at hand from day to day in order to perform their duties properly. Secretary Covode of ARTISAN , the Berkey & Gay Furniture company, Grand Rapids, uses a little book in which is noted each day the quantity of goods shipped, to whom shipped with the total for the month to date, The record extends back nearly twenty years and at a glance it can be seen how the business of today compares with any corresponding day during all the period, After running over the little book a few times :Mr. Covode remarked: "Business with us has been very satisfactory. The first three months show a marked improvement over the first three months of last year and compares favorably \vith other years. \Ve could have done more, but under the circumstances we are very well satisfied, @ * @ Cheap Freights on Bedding Malerials, When the Union and Central Pacific railroads were opened for business between Omaha and San Francisco, naturally freight rates on all classes of shipments were very high, Prior to that time dealers located in the Pacific states obtained supplies of furniture and kindred goods by water transportation from points all the Atlantic coast. \Vith the opening of railroads the business men of that section sought markets nearer home, and St. Louis, Chicago and Grand Rapids secured a large volume of new trade which the manufacturers of those cities Ma.de Nelson-Matter Furniture Co. Grand Rapids, :M1oh. retain. l.;arge ql1ainties of hair, tow, ticking and other materials used by mattress makers were shipped to Grand Rapids had stowed away in the drawers of bureaus, chif-foniers, bookcases and dressers for shipment as a part of stocks of furniture purchased by the dealers of the coast, The plan was followed successfully for a number of years. @) * @ The liberty to express one's talents in ways that serve the common good, is a great inheritance. MICHIGAN ARTISAN Inset ~• -------_._-_._------,-------------, Woodard Furniture Company OWOSSO MICHIGAN Manufacturers of HiS!>.Grade Medium Priced BEDROOM FURNITURE In all the Fancy Woods and Finishes. Line especially strong on Circassian Walnut New catalog just out. If you have not received one send for it. •• I I CHARLOTTE VISIT AT ANY TIME GRAND RAPIDS Furniture Exhibition Buildinll CHICAGO 192 Mivbillan Avenue CHARLOTTE MAKES GOOD TABLE S ! 1 III III I"-------- ------_._-------------'-------~ NQ.892. 48,,30. I CHARLOTTE ~[FG. CO. CHARI,OTTE. MICH. h_______________ .-----------------..-.--. 2121 r--- III II II, I III II II; II !, II • Inset MICHIGAN ARTISAN ------------------ We make Buffets that sell at a profit for the dealer. I Our 186 shown here ~ Is a good one. We have man}' others. Refer to our Janua-r'j', 1909 Catalogue, if you hm/c none drop us a postal. Manistee Manufacturing ===Company=== MANISTEE. MICHIGAN Buffet No. 186 Selected Quartered White Oak Golden Finish. Rubbed and Polished. French Beveled Mirror, 12x36. Size of top, 218:46. Height, 58 inches. Swell top and swell top drawers. One drawer lined. Price $18.00 I ~_._---------_._------- -----'II • When in Doubt Where to Buy the Best Birdseye Maple Goods ! Hitch Your Wagon I to a Star If a price of $11.25 for a fnll ser-pentine birdseye dresser, 22x28 plate, 40 inch base, is of interest to you ask us about it, and you will thank your lucky stars for writing us, for you have never seen a better value. A postal brings our catalog promptly. Michigan Star Furniture Co. No. 500 DRESSER. Zeeland, Mich. Qtd. Oak, Mahogany and Birdseye Maple. Top 22x46. Mirror :!:8xM. • • MICHIGAN ARTISAN ,~"---- Ii•j !I I I ----"--------- ----------- . TWO WINNERS IN VARNISH! I This is the verdict of the furniture manufacturer who KNOWS THE EMBLEM OF SUPERIORITY I Paradox Rubbing I Is the best high-grade, quick-rubbing varnish ever produced. Can be re-coated I every day and last coat rubbed safely in three days. I Ti- Ki- Lac Is our high-grade first or second coat varnish. Dries hard to sandpaper over night. Last coat can be rubbed in twenty-four hours. The man who KNOWS is the man who WINS I! ~-----------------------------------------"--------------------------" VARN1SH DEPARTMENT. Acme White Lead and Color DETROIT, MICHIGAN Works ,------------"------------------------------------------------. IIi II I1 The LEONARD Furniture Exhibition Buildin! Is rapidly :filling up. Some of the finest lines in the country \vill exhibit here by manufacturers desiring space in a central location, cheap insurance, R. H__siding and team track at floor level; no smashing of gcods by clumping them on the siele \valk and then down a chute. Elevator and electric light service first class. No danger of losing your s,amples.by l~re just when YOti. need them most, as the prop-erty is sprinkled. In addition to all these advantages there is a GREA T SAVING IK EXPEKSE caused by our lmv rates. \Vrite to C. H, LEONARD, PRES. LEONARD EXHIBITION BUILDING CO., - GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. P. S. Do it 1107-'../ or you may be too late. "---------------------------------------------------' Inset ----...•. Inset M I CHI G A N ART I SAN • The magnet that draws dealers from everywhere The magnetic lines shown constitute the magnet. Is your line one of them? Manufacturers'rx~i~ition Duil~in~Co.' ! 1319 Michigan Avenue, CHICAGO , ~ MICHIGAN ARTISAN 17 ·-Luce~RedmondChair Company, Ltd. I BIG RAPIDS, MICHIGAN L Office Chairs, Dining Chairs. Reception Chairs and Rockers. Slipper Rockers. Colonial Parlor Suites. Desk and Dressing Chairs. _____ In Dark and Tuna Mahogany, Birch, Bird'Hye Maple, Quartered Oak and Circassian W_a_ln_u_!. .. -------------....,, Sligh's Select Styles Sell and Satisfy MANY NEW FEATURES ADDED FOR SPRING SEASON. , I EVERYTHING FOR THE BEDROOM (Medium and Fine Quality). Office and Salesroom corner Prescott and Bucha:Jan I I Streets. Grand Rapids, Mich. "\Tritefor catalogue. I.-- ------_._------_. 18 MICHIGAN ARTISAN ~--_._----.----------------_. J...- _ RICHMOND CHAIR CO, Cabinet Maker and Inventor of the Sleeping Coach. During the delivery of an address recounting tl,e history of the business of manfucturing furniture re-cently, William Widdicomb referred briefly to the fact that the younger Pullman brothers manufactured furni-ture to order in Grand Rapids a number of years previous to 1860. The brothers were good workmen and a few pieces of their product are still in use in the court house of Kent county. The sleeping coach was the invention of A. B. Pullman, it is said upon the suggestion of his wife. Travel by railroad train at night was a hardship before the introduction of the steeping car and it was owing to an experience of Mrs. Pullman on a night train that Mr. Pullman began to study plans for a coach that would eventually render so much comfort to mankind and per-petuate his name. "Db, dear," Mrs. Pullman is reported to have said, "if the seats of these cars could be placelJ so that one could lie down, it would be finch easier to tr::-.vt! at night." }Jr. Pullman's practical mind re-:ognb:er.. the value of the ~l1g;:tt>tion instantly and before t!le E:.~htpa,.;sed away he had decided that two seats of a coach could be set face to face and that the space between could be filled with a cushion, thereby affording the length and width of an ordinary bcd. The division of a car into compart-ments, l\.fr. Pullman considered an easy matter, and-l\frs. Pullman is credited with making the suggestion that the mattresses be constructed in sections. The writer remembers distinctly the first Pullman coaches put into service in_the United States. They were used on the Chicago, Alton & SI. Louis railroad between Chicago and St. Louis. The sides of the coaches were lettered: "A. B. Pullman Palace Sleeping Car." There was nothing palatial in their appearance or fit-ments. A fair degree of comfort was afforded to travel- RICHMOND. "INDIANA DOUBLE CANE LINE "SLIP SEATS" - the latest and best method of double .. seating. Catalogues to the Trade. A. B. PULLMAN. ers, but the luxurious accommodations of the Pullman coach of today had not been dreamed of. George M. Pull-man, a financier of ability, joined his brother in the build-ing and operation of coaches after their practicability had been proven and the poor cabinet maker of Grand Rapids gained not only millions but fame and the grati-tude of the traveling public. @ * @ Culling Stock. Manufacturers are cutting stock for the fall season of trade and will fill their warerooms in anticipation of an active market. Owing to the burdens to be imposed on the industry under the revenue bill pending action in con-gress, prices will necessarily be higher. vVise dealers will order stocks before the prices shall be marked up. @ * @ Light and graceful designs won favor with the public during the Jacobean period. , STAR CASTER CUP CO. NORTH U~ION STREET, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. (PATENT AI"I"LIll:DFOR) We have adopted celluloid as a base for our Caster Cups, making the best cur on the market. Celluloid is a gTeat improvement Over bases made 0 other material. When it is neceSSary to move a piece !>upporterl by cups with celluloid bases it can be done with ease, as the bases aTe peT-fectly smooth. Celluloid does not sweat and by the use of these cups tables are never marred_ These cups are finished In Golden Oak and While Maple, finished light. If you will try a sampli! order of Ule{le goods 'fIO'U will desire to handle them in quantities_ PRICES: Size 2~ inches ..•. ··$5.50 pet' hundred. Size 2~ inches ...... 4.50 per hundred. f, 0, a. Grana Rapids. TRY.d. S.il.MPLE ORDER. • MICHIGAN ARTISAN Hafner Fumiture Compan;l ESTABLISHED 1873. I 2620 Dearborn St., CHICAGO • Couches Box Couches Adjustable Lounges Davenports Bed Davenports Leather Chairs and Rockers CATALOG UPON REQUEST 19 No. 3106 COUCH-Size 76 inches long an!=l30 inches wide. A luxurious couch with a graceful gondola shape. The wide frame is elegantly decorated with rococo mouldings and carved ornaments. Has heavy winged clawfoot legs Frame is made of kiln dried hardwood lumber beautifully finished in American golden grained quartered oak. The upholstering is of the small diamond tufted style with deep snake ruffles on the sides. The filling is of tow with hair top. Hafner warranted steel spring construction having 28 springs in the seat and 9 in the Samples shown at Man- head. Heavy white canvas duck bottom. Shipped K. D. legs off and weighs about 125lbs, ufacturers' Furniture Ex-change, Wabash Ave, and 14th St., Chicago. Price No. 1 Leather, $31. Government Contracts for Furniture Awarded. Jchn Hoult, manager of the Luce l'UrJ1ttllre company, returned fro111 \Vashington on April 23. \vhere he was called by N. Snellenberg & Co., of Philadelphia, to assist Made by Luee-Redmond Ohair Co., Big Rapids, Mich. in preparing bids for supplying the government with a large quantity of bookcases, chests, chairs, etc. The con-tract for the goods, with the exception of one item, was awarded to Snel1enbeTg & Co., and the Luce Furniture company will manufacture the bookcases and chests. The chairs \-vill probably be manufactured by the Crawford Chair company. J\.lr. Hoult has been very successful in the past in handling government contracts, and the filling of the Snellenhurg order assure:; the full operation, in connection \vith the company's regular trade, of lhe Luce factory during the remainder of the year. @ * @ With the Kent Furniture Company. \\lilliam H. Idema, formerly employed by the Young & Chaffee Furniture company. of Grand Rapids, as rnan-agel' of advertising, recently entered upon an engagement with the Kent Furniture company, of reter5b~lrg, Va. 1\1r. Idema had the benefit of years of exp1::rience in news-paper \vork before engaging in the advertising bLlsiness as a specialist, and is well trained in the writing and dis-playing of advertising. .Mr. Idema is pleased with his present engagement and \vith the city in which he is located. ® * ® Flanders Styles Popular. The Berkey & Gay Furniturc~ company brought out a new line of furniture in Flanders styles for the spring season of trade, the sale of \vh1::h has been very satis-factory. @ * @ B. J. Rosenthal has bad plan,; drawn for a furniture exhibition building which he proposes to erect in Cbicago. 20 ~[ I C II I G A N ART I SAN THE WAITING HABIT. Which Mr. MacWhackt Hopes MacWhackt, Iunior, Will Never Contract. HI suppose it's a fact," said Mr. J\facvVhackt, "that about the worst habit you could contract is that of sitting down and waiting for something to turn up. "I've known a lot of men that have had this habit .. but I have never known one of them to have anything come to him yet. Of course there's a chance of a l' man's being struck by lightning, but if you take the total population of the world and divide by the number struck you would find that the chances of being struck are very small, and the chances of anything coming to a man who is waiting for something to turn up are a great deal smaller still. "You see, as I tell my son, \Villiam :rvlac- Whackt, Jr., something, that is to say the some-thing that we are always looking for to turn up, is really not, as you might say, a thing o( a migratory nature, that is, not a thing that :':ieekspeople. In fact one of its chief charac-teristics consists in its inclination to stick somewhere, generally more or less far off, in which it is like gold in its raw shape, which lies buried in the earth at a great distance, \vhere we must" go and dig for it and dig hard if we want to get it. ]\1easles and various other afflictions come to us, but not so, as a rule, with something, meaning prosperity, which we must go out and seek. "So I tell William that I hope he won't join the great army of those who sit down and wait for something to turn up. He might be struck by lightning, but the chances are so much against it that it would be a terrible waste of time to figure 'em out and there wouldn't be anything coming to him then. "What I hope is that William will get out and look and dig for what he wants and not sit down and wait, and he won't find the competition as keen as perhaps he thinks, for really there ate not such an everlasting lot of steady, stick to it diggers. There's a chance that if he doesn't get the biggest prize in the whole world he'll get something, and something worth having, if he'll only get out and get to work around among men in the places where the diggins are found. "That's what I'm hoping William, Jr., will do---go out and work like a· man for what he wants; the thing of all others that I hope he won't do is to sit down and wait for something to turn up."-Ex. @ * @ the upper vacancies with outsiders. This does not dis-turb the long experienced \vorkers who have grown used to their tasks and would not thrive on a change. The outsiders can quickly learn from these workers enough to enable them to fill the place. The effect is quick and permanent. The Ehiny appearance gives way to the dull finish with the first fev,r rubs, and soon tones down to a darker shade. The same effect may he secured by ill temper and red tape, but there are always some spots in the organization which continue to shine, even if feebly, The Dull Finish. Employers who may prefer to have their organiza-tion done in the popular dull finish, aud avoid the vulgar shiny effect that is occasioned by life, can bring about thc change with little difficulty. The work is so simple that no experience is required. Any short-sighted employer can do it with ease. Some have found it effective to fill Sketch by C. R. Hills, Grand Rapids. in spite of these measures, whereas the other method removes all these shiny spots and distributes the dull finish quite evenly, and prevents it from wearing off. Samples of this sort of work may be seen in a great many places. -Ex. @ * @ Discovered by Raleigh. Sir Walter Raleigh carried mahogany timber from the West Indies to England for the first time. Its adapt-ability in the manufacture of furniture was soon learned, and it has since held its place as the most valuable of all woods. t _-.., ! MANUFACTURERS OF I II HARDWOOD VLUENMEBEERRSI &. !I SPECIALTIES : ~'t'YWEurlQUAORA. K VENEERS MAHOGANY VENEERS HOFFMAN BROTHERS COMPANY 804 W. Main St., FORT WAYNE, INDIANA Ih-.-. _ ------_.__._---"• MICHIGAN ARTISAN 21 ------------------ II ! Over 850,000 Alaska refrigerators sold since 1878, Desirable I features of an Alaska Refrigerator: i Small consumption of ice. I Maximum amount of cold, dry air. t Absolutely sanitary provision chamber. I Simplicity of operation. Perfect preservation of food. We sell to dealers only. WRITE FOR CATALOG. lTheAlt~~i~~~!~~g;~I~~~a~turSompany MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN. _~:..:~ew York Mllnae-er, 3:~::::'::. New York Ci'_Y_, . IF IT'S THE BEST REFRIGERATOR IT'S AN ALASKA Trained for His Duties. H. C. Leonard, the superintendent of the great plant of the Grand Rapids Refrigerator Company, pre-pared himself for the position he occupies by spending five years in the factory and office of the cOl1.1.pany. Commencing in the least important department he H. C. Leonard, Superintendellt Graml Rapid;; Refrigerator Compally. mastered its details and then entered another and still another, until he had acquired a comprehensive know-ledge of the business he \vould soon engage in, in an important capacity. A few months in the office com-pleted his education as a manufacturer. Previous to his entry into the active duties of superintendent lYfr. Leonard had spent years in the p".;)lic schools and in college thoroughly equipping himself for engaging in the large commercial and financial affairs of the C0111- pany. In the big factory under his superintendence six hundred men are employed and the system followed results in a large product at minimum cost. Chippendale Copied Designs. J\iore credit is given- to Chippendale than is due. in the estimation of many art connoisseurs. It is charged that his designs \vere virtually copied from the French, tbe Gothic and Chinese styles, @ * @ Sheraton Well Sustained. Sheraton occupies a well sustained position of emi-nence in the art world on account of his inlays, carving and delicate paintings applied in the construction of fl.1rn· iture. @ * @ 1\.1anyapplications for space in the furniture exposi-tions of Grand Rapids, assure the usual large number of exhibits at the midsummer exposition. .. . i MUSKEGON VALLEY FURNITURE COMPANY ! IMUSKEGON MICH •••• COIOniOiStilles Tall past 8eds I onn oressers I Cnllloniers Warnrooes IlOdies' TOileiS I DreSSing TOOles Manognny InIOId GOMs Line on sale in Manufacturer" Building, Grand Rapids. I ....._-- ._------------.... 22 MICHIGAN ARTISAN SEND FOR CATALOGUE. One Hundred Failed. The fact was recently ascertained by William Widdi-comb that since the first cabinet shop was opened in Grand Rapids in the year 1838, one hundred and fifty individuals, firms or corporations had engaged in the :Madeby Charles Bennett Furniture Co., Charlotte, Mich. manufacture of furniture at different periods in the city of Grand Rapids. Of that number one hundred had failed. The survivors have undergone trials that would have swamped most men in other lines of production. Windows That Speak Unknown Tongnes Longfellow once wrote a poem on the talking oak. Oaks talk, no doubt, and we know all about it since Long-fellow wrote. But no poet has given us any information on the subject of the talking display window. There arc windows that beckon and whisper smoothly and entic-ingly. There are windows that draw one to them. There arc windows that converse in unknown tongues. There are windows that look glum and say nothing.-Ex. @ * @) Brockton, Mass., will establish a school for trammg boys for foremanships and superintendencies of factories. @ * @ White enamel furnlture was introduced 111 France during the life of Marie Antoinette. @) * @ July 12 is the date chosen for the opening of the New York Furniture exposition . ..------_._------. Plonrrn Maoufadurio~ (ompaoJ Di£'tROI't, MICH. Reed Furniture Baby Carriages Go-Carts ~ FuU line 8hown only· at the facto1"!/. MICHIGAN ARTISAN 23 Look here. This is just \vhat you have been looking for to boost your summer bedroom suite trade. Furnished in 5,"','1'1"1WALNUT finish, We claim to have the color right. It is meeting with the best of success, and will help you. Let us tell you ho\v cheap these pieces arc and we \vill secure your order. CHAS. BENNETT FURNITURE CO. CHARLOTTE, MICHIGAN. CHAMBER SUITES. DRESSERS. SIDEBOARDS. Death of John A. Colby, On April 18 inst" John A, Colhy, a pioneer dealer in furniture in Chicago, died at his home in that city aged 7'6 years. Deceased was for 1na11)' years the head of the house bearing his name) but retired seven years ago. his son, Henry C. Colby, succeeding in the management of the business. Cntil recent years he was a regular atten-dant upon the furniture expositions and enjoyed a large acquaintance in the trade. l\:1r. Colby evinced a lively interest in young men, and many who have been success-ful in business attribute their success largely to his coun~ sel and assistance. Among his formeremplayes who held lVIr. Colby in high esteem and regret his demise \vere John E. Bro\ver, the designer, and A. 'V. Hampe, the president of the Royal Furniture company) Grand Rapids. Mr. Colby was very popular among tbe business men and members of fraternal organizations in Chicago. @ * @ A Big Hotel for Salt Lake City. Local capitalists of Salt Lake City, Utah, have organ-ized a corporation for the purpose of ere~t1ng a hotel to cost $1,500,000. Ground has been broken, am.l an archi-tect from New York is drawing the plans. The builders hope to complete the structure this year. A local dealer will supply the furnishings. @ * @ B. Rich, (he ought to be) of Kashville, Tenn" will erect" factory for the use of the Rothschild Lussky Man-ufacturing company. Open July 1. The hotel Ottawa, at Ottawa Beach, Mich., under the management of J. 1,1. Rathbone, wilt receive guest~<;on July 1. The house is very popular \'lith furniture men. Ma.de by Richmond Cha.ir Co., Richmond, Ind. It is within one hom's ride of Grand Rapids and mer-chants and sellers alike travel to and from the exposition by either train or trolley at wilL 24 MICHIGAN ARTISAN ~, ---_._~------_._--_._-~-------:-----------~ FIVE COMPLETE LINES OF REfRIGERATORS L at i RIGHT PRICES Charcoal Filled and Zinc Lined. Zinc Lined with Re-movable Ice Tank. Galvanized Iron Lined; Stationary Ice Tank. Send for new Catalogue And Jet 11..5J1l1m~JOU pritt. (~allen~efiefri~mfor (0" GRAND HAVEN, MICH., U. S. A. OpaJire Lined. Enamel Lined. --._-_._---- Unsafe Cunclusions. The livng root of most of the errors that infest the business world-whether those errors concern the ad-ministrative policy of a railroad president or the way the office-boy puts the stamps on the envelopes-will be found in a certain inherent trait of the human mind. .It is the habitual tendency of every h:.:tman being to reduce his observations to dogmatic conclusions, and to begin sub-sequent thought from that point. A composite of the dogmatic spirit is the policy which says: "I always handle that sort of thing this way." Examine a cross-s-ection of the average mentality and you will find it filled with little conclusions. Trace many of those conclusions back to their beginnings and you will find that they have been reached by one or two feeble observations, hastily inter-preted, and a large· measure of unfounded guesswork. The key is turned on that point, and that conclusion, no matter how inadequate, becomes a factor in all subse-quent thinking. Any new thought that disagrees with that conclusion is regarded with sllspicion if not with contempt. Possession of a dogmatic conclusion is nine points of the law of loose thinking. The lazy mind de-lights in a short cut, and the more it gets used to these short cuts the more lazy it becomes. VVhen the mind gets clogged up, and thoughts do not flow freely, it is almost a certainty that one of these little conclusions forms the obstruction. The mind that is ever seeking to know is alive. The one that is satisfied that it knows, and condemns every conflicting opinion, and will listen to ---------' no more evidence, has ceased growing. Fear of new evidence is a self-conviction of insecurity and an unwill-ingness to be found out. A fixed conclusion, based on meager and untypical observation, and that misinter-preted, is the most dangerous instrument ever devised by man. Progress is largely a matter of breaking up such conclusions.-Ex. @ * @ Vocational School at Fitchburg. The state of Massachusetts has appropriated $75,- 000 for the purpose of erecting a vocational school at Fitchburg. Further appropriations will be supplied when needed. Teachers will be provided by the state, but the city of Fitchburg will pay a per capita tax for each pupil in attendance. Pupils will be instructed in practical business affairs, commercial arithmetic, mechanical drawing and designing will be included in the course of instruction. Girls will be taught domes-tic science, se\ving' and housekeeping. Boys will be trained to fill positions in the industries and in com-merce. The work will be elementary, that of the craftsman, rather than the mechanic or machinist. @ * @ It is stated that President Taft was inspired by an economical impulse when he appointed General Dickin-son to the office of Secretary of \Var. General Dickin-son is as large as the president, and his appointment saves the cost of a chair for the secretary. MICHIGAN ARTISAN A Certain Test of Good Taste. There is no more certain test of good taste than the involuntary selection of subjects by the eye on viewing for the first time ornament in objects of art. I\ature works on so large and true a scale that few judge her amiss. That which is majestic, noble, picturesque, or simply beautiful as a vvhole, classes itself at once in all minds, and the fact of a common decision on these points demonstrates the genuineness of the laws of taste. The common mind difIers from the cultivated in its knov ..r1edgc and appreciation of nature's beauty in detail. The fonner sees only partially, the latter grasps the \;<"rhole and distinguishes the parts; nothing, however humble, which goes to make up the chord of beauty, escapes its notice. \Vhere the appreciation of the one ends, the pleasure of the other is but begun, so that his delight is as true and infinite as nature her-self. The natural eye, therefore, sees all things as in a glass. darkly-the cultivated peuetrates the film of nature, and looks into her heart.- James J. J antis. @ * lSi Hotel Furniture Buyers Ar-rive in Grand Rapids. On April 14, C. J. Owens, manager of the New Ad-dison hotel in 1Iinneapolis, arrived in Grand Rapids for the purpose of purchasing furniture. I-Ie ,vas accom-panied by Walter D. Boutell, Otto J. Marewetz and W. F. Behrens. The hotel is to be one of the finest and best appointed houses of its class in the northwest and ,viii contain 3~~5r00111S. The furnishings are to be artistic throughout and will represent an investment of more than $200,000. It is estimated that the furniture alone will cost $100,000 and it is certain much of this will be of Grand Rapids production. In general it \vill consist of mahogany and Circassian \valnut. \Vallack Brothers, who own and operate hotels in New Y.ork and Cleveland, ar-rived on the same day and placed orders. @ :;: @ In all probability the aJvancecl rates on mirrors c.nc1 the imposition of a duty on mahogany, contained in the tariff bill passed by the national house of representat; ve..." will be retained by the senate. J\lanufacturers ·of furni-ture and kindred lines \V·ill be obliged to add the aclcli-- tiona! cost of these materials to the goods now in pfE'par-ation for the fall season of trade, \\Tith a dull market and no immediate prospects for a revival, higher pri('e~ for goods \villnot put life into trade. @ * @ The way a man receives something new reveals his standing either as a "has been," a Hnever \vas," or an "up-to-date" individuaL r--------------------------------------------------------·---------- I ---_._--_._-~II HAND CIRCULAR RIP SAW MORTISER COMBINED MACHINE No.4 SA W (ready fo(cross-cutting) Complete Dulfit of HAND and FOOT POWER MACHINERY WHY THEY PAY THE CAelNET MAKER He call S::ll'ea manufacturer's ~lTofitas well as a d~aler's profit. He can make more money with less capital invested. He can hold a better and more satisiactory trade with his customers. He can manufacture in as good style and finish. and ;Ltas low cost as the factories. The local cabinet maker has been forced into onlv the dealer's trade and profit, because of machine manufactured goods of factories. An outlit of Barnes' Patent Foot and Hand-Power Machinery. reinstates the cabinr:::tmaker with advantages equa.l to his competitors. If desired, these machines will be sold on (rial. The purchaser can have ample time to test them in his OW1l shop and on the work he wishes them to do. J)t8criptiv, cataloy'l1.dand price list fru. W. 1'. Ii JOHN BIlRNES CO.,654 Ruby St .. Rockford, III. No, 3 WOOD LATHE No.4 SAW (ready for ripping) No.2 SCROLL SAW No.7 SCROLL SAW >---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~ FORMER OR MOULDER HAND TENONER 26 MICHIGAN ARTISAN Modern Salesmanship. Salesmam.hip as it was studied and defined twenty-five years ago has been overturned, ripped up, whip-saw-ed right and left, and reconstructed until its own son wouldn't know it. The old time salesman did not resign his job volun-tarily. He was pried loose from it. The evolution of the business \"chich he once represented has become so effectually out of harmony with such repre~ sentation that he's had to go into some other line altogether. If he were a marked success in his clay he may be working ~ol11ewhere as a promoter. He may be selling fake mining :;tock or framing something ne,,, in the green goods line. To a certainty he isn't selling l{co(:s any n~()re for the up to date, solid busi-ness house \vhich has a prosperous present and is building for a greater future. The conditions unuer which salemen make a sale are changed completely from those that governed hventy years ago. He needs all the knowledge possible of the thing he sells. He must know all that it will do under normal conditions. lIe may venture a little into what might do under conditions that are exception-ally favorab1.e. But he must 110t make hot, atmospheric clainls to the manufacturing ex-perts in his establishment. Oddly enough, it has come about that the furniture salesman is required to know about as much of the business of a competitor as he knows of the business of his own house. Virtu-ally everything that he can pick up rega,rding his competitor's business is of use to his own bouse. In this work be cannot be too good a mixer too overburdened with tact, or carry t{lO111uch.judgment for application everywhere in sane perspectives. Once upon a time the salesman could dis-miss his competitor with a look of contemptu-ous scorn. He thought he could, at least, and he applied all manner of epithets reflecting up-on the character of his rival, the quality of pro-duction and methods of doing business. But today the up to date possible customer knows something about the solid,"substantial rival. He doesn't do business on the basis of vituperation and denunciation. The sales-man must meet the mention of his competitor's name with indications that he knows what his rival is doing and how he does it. But it may be said broadly that wherever a salesman is representing any line of goods that has come into wide use enabling the general public to get familiar with the average of expectations as to its uses, durability, cost, and like facts shown by experience, hot air salesmanship has vanished. It doesn't pay the estahlished house to have a talkative, meteoric salesman rushing a customer through into a purchase half against the purchaser's will, only that later he shall discover more and more of the unsatisfactory, disappointing features of his investment. The principle is accepted almost everywhere hy the n:odern department store as applying to the clerk at a WHITE PRINTING CO., GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. PRINTERS OF CATALOGUES and everything Deeded by busillCN men Made by Warld Furniture Co., Evansville, Ind. counter. Bring a young clerk to a city store from the average country store and put him on the "floor and a thousand of him on a first day might do a million dollars' damage to the business. In the average couutry town the competition between d "Y' g:,",):, ,toees is likely to be especially sharp. These stores do not take farmers' produce in exchange as the grocer often has to do. When a customer comes in, and has taken up five or ten minutes' time of a clerk, passing out without buying, 'the storekeeper is most likely to make inquiry why the clerk didn't make a sale. In expec-tation of this the clerk feels the pressure upon him to make a sale if by any means he can talk the person into buying. In the department stores of the cities, however, the work of the counter saleman has become radically differ- :VIICHIGAN ARTISAN ent through evolution and changed conditions. The salesman \vho doesn't make a sale is no longer questioned why he failed. An unalterable price mark is attached to every article in his department. 1\lore and more the pres-sure comes upon store managements to make the pur-chaser of an article satisfied with that purchase. It isn~t policy to try to talk him into buying something of \vhich he is half doubtful. If he finds he isn't satisfied the house invites him to bring it back) get something better, or have his money returned to him. Persuasive salernanship evcry\vbere is becoming one of the lost arts.- Ex. @ * @ Hearse Driver's Signal. It is a C0111mon thing for the driver held up by a block ahead in a city, to thrm\' up his whip hand as a sign to Made by Charles Bennett Furniture Co., Charlotte, Mich. drivers following him. All ,':.:ortsof drivers do this; and yet it seems strange to see the sign given by the driver of a hearse. Funerals are net ccmrnonly seen in the crowded busi- ,. 'r;~ s;.:-cds cf tll:: city whe;-c the sign may be necessary; they a::-emet ofte:le~t in residence streets, where! the traffic is not likely to be obstructed; and so one might, in the course of time, see many funeral proccssions pass and never once see the hearse driver give the high sign. But the hearse is not always seen at the head of a fun-eral procession; it lTlust of course go to and from the place at which it is to head the line of carriages, and then it moves alone like any other separate vehicle in the midst of a crush of trucks, wagons, carriages and 2i automobiles; and hereJ \vhen there was a block ahead, the man on the box of the hearse threw up his whip handJ just like any other driver. @ * @ iiFiredJ ' and Prospered. There are 10,000 individual examples of men making a success in life who, if they told the \vhole truth as to their careers, would tell you that they had been "fired" into their present positions. Fired once, twice, maybe a dozen times, until with the accruing experience and with common sense trimming and training and adaptation of themselves to circumstanceJ these men have at some time awakened to the fact that in "firing" theyexperi-enced the most beneficial influences of their lives.-Ex. @ * @ Bailey, Jones & Co., to Furnish Tables. It is reported that Bailey, Jones & Co., of Jamestown, N. Y., will furnish the tables contracted for by Gimble Brothers for supplying-army posts of the general govern-ment. @ * @ "By their fruits ye shall know them."-Scripture. Not in the furniture trade. \Valnut lumber takes a mahogany stain beautifully. @ * @ The manufacture of tables will soon be commenced at High Point, N. C. by E. L. and E. V. Cronch. ----_._---~ I The Ford & Johnson Co. CHICAGO This is one of our popular Hotel chairs. Our chairs are found in all the leading Hotels in the country. The line includes a very complete assort-mcnt of chairs, rock-ers and settees of all grades; Dining Room furniture, Reed and Rat tan furniture, Special Urder furni-ture, etc. Our complete line of sam_ ples are displayed In The Ford tJ Johnson Building, ]433-37 Wabash Ave., In~ cludinll a special display of Hotel Furniture. AlL furniture dealers are cordially invited to visit our building.' I,• 28 MICHIGAN ARTISAN •~--- -----------. --- 4 . _ 4 • Single I II t Cone All Steel Springs Are very popular with the Furniture Trade. $2QQ $200 Each Net No. 46. Single Cone. $2 Each. Net. We manufacture a full line of Single and Double Cane All Wire Springs. SEND US YOUR ORDERS. I ~- --------------------------------------_ .... Each Net SMITH &. DAVIS MFG. CO., St. Louis. Differential Rates Threatened, The proposed abolition of rail differentials in the New England states has caused a commotion among the manufacturers and jobbers of that region. Enor- Made by Luce-Redmond Ohair 00., Big Rapids, Mich. mous interests would be affected diversely, and the business associations of Boston have called a conven-tion of representatives of six states to take concerted action in regard to the matter. It is claimed that New England produces fifty-two per ceut of all the cloth produced in the United States, thirty-one per cent of the paper, thirty-five per cent of the leather and its products, .twenty-three per cent of the marble and stone. Massachusetts itself produces forty-five per cent of all shoes, thirty-one per cent of all woolen goods, twenty-eight per cent of all cotton goods, thir-ty- one per cent of all worsted goods, seventeen per cent of all paper and wood pulp, twenty-two per cent of all rubber and elastic goods. Metropolitan Boston alone has, increased its industries fifty-six per cent in a decade. In discussing the proposition, P. A. O'Connell, vice president of the New England Dry Goods Association, said: HIt would be a great blow to our industries, and would tend to create a loss to other industries in general throughout New England. To offset the. loss of ,differentials the manufacturer must either move or put up his prices. Either of these alternatives would reduce the purchasing power which would chiefly in-jure the dry goods business. I doubt if the increased price of sending freight would make much difference to us. This is of minor importance as compared to the loss of purchasing power, for the public would have, to pay the extra cost." @ * @ Adding Furniture. Quish' & Pratt, dealers in hardware, Dexter, Mich" will add furniture and would be pleased to receive cata-logues. MICHIGAN He Knew His Business. Wm. H. Rouse, who for several years has been in charge of the Grand Ledge Chair Company's show rooms in Grand Rapids, \-vas for many years a traveling sales-men. \Vhen the Old \Volverine Chair Company ,..'a. s in business, (making as good \valnut diners as ever came out of a factory) Mr. Rouse took the photos oue day and went to New York. There was an eccentric in the furn-iture business of that city whom \ve will caU Jones, a ter-ror to the traveling man. j\1r. Rouse went into the store and found Jones busy in his office, and presented his card. Jones looked up at him and blurted out "Young man, didn't you see that sign out there indicating the time when drummers would be received? HI did not come here hunting for signs, sir, I came here for business," was the reply. "\Vell, I \-vant you to understand that that sign means what it says. If Y011 come here at two o'clock, (not five Ininutes to hvo or five minutes after) I'll see what you have." HAll right, I will be here," ,vas 1\.1r.Rouse's rep1v, and he arriv·ed on time and so did Jones. - Jones took UP one of the photos and said, "How wide 15 the front' of this chair?" "Eighteen inches." "What is the length of the front stretcher?" "Fourteen and three-quarter inches." HBack stretcher?" "Thirteen and a half inches." "1Nidth of chair at top of back ?" "Fifteen inches," "Distance between back posts at back of seat?" IiTwelve and one-quarter inches.~! "Well, young man, you knmv your business, and I will give you an order. I am tired of the fellmvs who come here and don't know anything about the goods they are selling." @ * @ "Serious Attention." A story is afloat in the furniture trade (whether it true or not is of small consequence) to the effect that when the communication of the National Case 1\1akers' Association, protestng against the enactment of the mirror glass schedule, as reported in the Payne tarifl-bill, reached the hand of a prominent member of the senate, vi/hose name is so commonly kno,vn that it need not be mentioned, the usual courteous reply was pre-pared and mailed by the senator's very conrteous and extremely obsequious secretary, as follows: HI respectfully acknowledge the receipt of your esteemed fa';"Tor of recent date in respect to the tariff bill. pending action in the house. Be assured that when the bill shall have passed the h0use and brought before the senate for consideration, it shall be my duty to give the paragraph relating to taw cotton ser-iOllS consideration. Ii\Vith assurances of my great respect and esteern, I am," etc. ARTISAN 2') , a a Bargain Bargain Here95 That i5 Quarter Saw:';' 53~a~:X4~~:~s$7 50 I Band Rim, Polished, ..• • I You can't make money faster than by buying Ihis fine library Table by the dozen, unless you make up a carload out of this and other good things we have to show YOIl. PALMER MANUFACTURING CO. 1015 to 1043 Palmer Ave., DETROIT MICH. .._--------------------------------------', Forget It That Rack and Rod Morris Chairs were ever made and Buy Nationally Advertised ..mslJ tl.e Button-and ~st" Royal Chairs "The Push Button Kind" with or without footrest, Made with loose cllsh-ions or uphol~ stered. ( All interchangeable) III!II ROYAL CHAIR CO., I'-----------~------~ So that jf your customer likes a frame that has loose cushions on, take them out and put in the upholstering. Your customers want Royal Chairs. Write for catalog. STURGIS, MICH. J 30 MICHIGAN ARTISAN .--------_.------------~ fII I!! II , IIII III !I II , I MUSKEGON' Moon Desk Co. MICHIGAN 52" long; 30" wide. Furnished with cen-ler drawer with lock. Square edge construc~ hon, sanitary style. Satin Finish - Golden oak, weathered oak, or imitation mahogany. I!A Desk within reach of all. --- ._--------_ ..---- the MOON DESK CO. MUSKEGON, MICH. -----------_._------..: for the term of ninety-nine years. The rental to be paid is $10,000 a year for the first two ye,tr;, ~::o,oooan-nually for the following fifteen years, $33,000 for the succeeding ten years and $35,000 for the remainder of the term, the total amounting to $3,220,000. The average n.'ntd, $.33,535, represents a four ptr cent valt1ation O~_l $838,383 on the land. A building to cost not less than S. Karpen & Bros, Conclude an Important Long Time Lease. On \Vednesday, April 21, S. Karpen & Bros., exten-sive manufacturers of upholstered furniture in Chicago, closed a lease with the estate of Otto Young on the corner of lVIichigan boulevard anti Eldredge court, 134x249 feet, ,• ..-------------------- .... Here is a Rocker That's a seller. Write for the price. Geo. Spratt B Co., SheLoyQ8D, Will. Made by Nelson-Matter Furniture Co., Grand Rapids, Mich. $250,000 will be erected, fronting on Eldredge court, within a year. The firm of S. Karpen & Bros., have been successful not only in their manufacturing business, but in other enterprises. @ * @ Chairs were first used in England during the reign of No~592 Henry VIII. • ~--- - Tom=~. Co':~illC:::;a: ~~~~I:;~; eDta'D1f'! ~ ~ow~;tJ~::::~~ls:o:~~I:~~7te~ Factory PriafJ. Retld elJery word of ~..gJ:'Q17~~ '((Jill be No ConceuiolJS from Publiahed thr. unique dtulaunozntent. _~_. . peNN AVJ!.NUE T(!J'm... _ CONSIGNMENT SALE of a Train Load of FURNITURE From L. F. ~REEMAN FURNITURE MFG. CO., ~~~:~:~~ of SEYMOUR, IND. / t- -~--~~-- TIll!> ,. a BAr-gal" wllh L B1~ "D," C_ .. 1" 0""'. lI"B"'O .od "",."'" R.od Boa' o"d IlllCk. 1'"""" .... ~" <>1 t.>" qual It, ",.pl., woll ..... """l"!. Jt I •.. ]B"" ... nd n,.. oom'o,tobl. "",It." Bn~ .... ",,,"ruo!od a, '0 ollow tho B"'" .,,h,."'f"I~t,,.,,",'"T". Rooker I. p.'ooo! fOsul.,." 01 $3. but "'. p'e~.d up a O"O.'U, "' n 'ow "". and .-111 01"". tb.,. 00\ •• ad""L."d lor Special Pqrcba.e of Rug. and Carpets From the Factory of Alex. Smith & Co., Yonkers, N.Y. In o:mn'ction wit" thi.... Ie, we piokedup a big spedall""'''! ! \1gB and Carpet. from this !atg. linn Bnd the pdces you'l1 get them at are p<actloally wholes.l .. Solid Oak llocker .0 A SAMPLE ADVERTISEMENT. 3r2 ---------;.1I-CHIGAN ARTISAN --_._------ The season for banquets is now: here. Our Banquet Table Top is just the thing for banquets. h _ Furniture Men "Kick." ]. S. Linton, secretary of the National Association of Case Goods Manufacturers, recently" issued a letter to l'very furniture manufacturer in the country, urging activity against the plate glass schedule in the Payne tariff bill. The present tariff on plate glass 16 x 24 inches is eight cents, and the propos·ed rate is 10 cents. The rate on sizes up to 24 x 30 is 10 cents and the pro-poced rate is 120 cents. The present tariff On larger larger than 24x 30 and not exceeding 24 x 60 is 2272 cents, and that is not changed. In his letter Mr. Linton points out the proposed changes and then says: "All glass used in the manufacture of furniture, ex-cept the larger sizes, is to be advanced. * * * The smaller sizes used for the cheaper furniture which goes into the homes of the poorer people bearing such ad-vance. This proposed advance is in defiance of pub-lic sentiment, in complete disregard of the rightfnl in-terests of the consumer, contrary to the spirit of the protective principle and ante-election promises, op-posed to good public policy and inimical to the inter-ests of the furniture industry. The manufacturers of glass, having already been liberally aided and thor-oughly established, have no right to demand that this tax shall now be increased. "Every effort will be made to pnsh this measure through as drafted. If we are to prevent this ad-vance in the glass schedules it is imperative that every n1anufacturer act at once. W rite a letter to the rep-resentative of your district and to the representatives from other districts in your state; write the senators from your state, calling their attention to this matter and demanding that these tariff schednles shall not be advanced. Do this in common justice to your own industry and to the public welfare. The schedule once passed will probably remain unchanged for the next ten years. It is a matter, therefore, of the ut-most importance to our industry and the whole people that the bill as finally passed shall be made as nearly equitable as possible."-Grand Rapids Herald. L_ OUR LARGE NEW UNE OF DINING and OFFICE TABLES are the best on the American market when prices and quality are considered. Stow & Davis Furniture Co. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. City salesroom, 4th floo1", Blodgett Bldg. It has already been explained that when the bill reaches the senate, the skilled manipulator of sched-ules, ~fr.Aldrich, will engage in an extended swapping campaign, and that in the end every interest will gain what it seeks. The mirror glass makers, the silverers, the bevelers and others having special interests to fos-ter, are not worrying over the outcome. @ * @ Not Interested in War. During his stay in Nicaraugna E. H. Foote, treas-urer of the Grand RapidS Chair Company, was so bus-ily employed fishing and pleasure hunting that he paid no attention to the revolution against the government. It is said that he would not attend a dress parade of the George D. Emery company's armed force of 2,000 lum-ber jacks. There might have been a half dozen revo-lutions in full operation for all that he cared, or there might have been none. Having participated in the war hetween the states and knowing the horrors of real fighting,·the little comic opera outbreaks so frequently indulged in by the South Americans fail to create the slightest interest in the mind of Mr. Foote. The Emery Company (a Boston corporation) controls abont all the mahogany bearing lands in Nicaraugua and the government sought to restrict their operations. A few blank cartridges were exploded and then the government at Washington 'raised its index finger and the misunderstanding will be "fixed up" peacably. Mr. Foote visited Panama and inspected the canal and came home via Jamaica and New York. He had a good time, and upon arriving in Grand Rapids was as ready for work as, a newly arrived emigrant from Italy or Russia. @l * @ Millions for New Hote)s. Capitalists of Spokane, Washington, have financed two important hotel enterprises, to be undertaken this year. An enlargement of the Pfister and a new hotel for \V. H. Cowles involve the expenditure of millions for construction, equipment arid furnishings. The last item will not be the least important. - - - _. -- ---------------------- -- - - - INDEX TO ADVERTISEMENTS. Alaska Refrigerator Company .. Aulsbrook & J ones Company ... Barnes, W, F. & John, Company .. Bennett, Charles, Furniture Company .. Bockstege Furniture Company. Bosse Furniture Company .. Challenge Refrigerator Company. Daily Artisan·Reccrd Ford & Johnson Company>. Furniture Exhibition Association. Globe Furniture Co:npany. Grand Rapids Caster Cup Company .. Hafner Furniture Company. Hoffman Brothers Company .. Hotel Pantlind Humphrey-Widman Bookca.£e Company ... Karges Furniture Company. Kauffman Furniture Manufacturing Company. Lentz Table Company .. Luce-Redmond Chair Company. Luce Furniture Company .. Madden, Thorr.as~ & Son ... . .21 .Cover ..25 ..23 · .8-9 .8-9 .27 ,Caver · .8-9 · .. 16 · .. 19 .20 7 5 ..... 8-9 ..10 2 .. ... 17 ..... Cover .. Cover Metal Furniture Company ... Michigan Engraving Company . Michigan Furniture Company. Miller, Eli D" & Company .. , Moon Desk Company. Morton House Muskegon Valley Furniture Company ... .24 Nelson-Matter Furniture Company. 2 Palmer Manufacturing Company. Pioneer Manufacturing Company. Richmcnd Chair Company ... Royal Chair Company. Schmitt, Henry, Company. Sheboygan Chair Company .. Sligh Furniture Company. Smith & Davis Company. Spratt, George, & Company .... Star Caster Cup Company .. Stow & Davis Furniture Company .. Union Furniture Company (Rockford). White Printing Company .. World Furniture Company .. Zimmer, Fred J. .. .. 8-9 1 .11 .. 7 .30 7 ..21 . .... Cover ..29 .. 22 ..18 ..29 .. 15 . 22 ..17 .28 .. .. 5-30 .. .18 . .. 32 7 . 2-13 .. 8-9 4 ...--- ------------- --_._----------- STURGIS, MICH. ASK FOR CATALOG SHOWING THIS SUITE COMPLETE Oak and Mahoganv Aulsbrook & Jones Furniture Co. ..-_._-_. I'------------------ -_._-_._----------" --_._-------~ •II I&-" --------- 1 I ___________________ .1 II· ~~;~?rY- I BW>L\Vf:)E-LY~ . Goods that . .... SELL EASILY • DRESSERS CHIFFONIERS BEDS WASHSTANDS PRINCESS DRESSERS CHEVALS SIDE BOARDS BUFFETS DINING TABLES. CHINA CLOSETS SIDE TABLES IN ALL THE CABINET WOODS AND DIFFERENT· FINISHES Manufactured by The Luce Furniture Company GRAND RAPIDS, MICH, • r, ------------.----.-----------.----.---- ..., Davenport Beds and Parlor Furniture We have the DESIGNS and PRICES. Write for Catalog"es or call and see us. Our 7J)orkmanship of the '(/Cry best. Show Rooms Ii :35 to 41 North I Capital Ave. Variety to select from the largest. One of our big selling Davenport Beds, miuion design. THOMAS MADDEN, SON & CO., Indianapolis, Ind. --_.__.__._----_. " ~I IIIII • , I

Date Created:

1909-04-25T00:00:00Z

Data Provider:

Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)

Collection:

29:20

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/53