sligh furniture company - GRPLpedia

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Sligh's Superior Styles Sell
ALL THROUGH THE SEASON
No complaints of dull trade uttered by dealers
handling the SLIGH LINES
... THE PAST SEASON'S SALES OF SLIGH GOODS A
~ RECORD BREAKER.
~
CORRECT STYLES, GOOD MATERIALS AND HONEST
WORKMANSHIP, STRONG FEATURES IN THE SLIGH
LINES.
A Mammoth Exhibition of Fine and Medium Furniture for
the Bedroom Ready on June 17, 1907
SLIGH FURNITURE COMPANY
BUCHANAN STREET, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.

1883 --- 1907
Michigan Chair Company
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
"FOREMOST CHAIR FACTORY IN MICHIGAN"
IIHE opening day of the coming Furniture Sales Season, June J 7th, is
a holiday in many sections of our country, and we are going to celebrate
same by having our warerooms dressed in very attractive attire.,
From one end to the other will be seen handsome Chairs, suggestive of comfort
and usefulness with a range and scope so broad as to make selection merely
a matter of which and what.
A carriage to come in if you wish -and to go as well. Cordial greeting
and best attention.
East:
CHAS. H. cox
ROBT. E. WALTON
CHAS. F. M

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4
A B
L
FOR EVERY ROOM BUT THE KITCHEN
-----------
187~
L E s
THE MOST COMPLETE LINE OF
EXTENSION TABLES
. MANUFACTURED IN AMERICA
,
1 PILLAR TABLES FROM $12.50 UP I
!
No. 615
OFFICE TABLES
ALL SIZES
PARLOR TABLES
LIBRARY TABLES
DEN TABLES
MEDIUM PRICED
MAHOGANY
SAMPLES ON EXHIBIT
AT THE FACTORY
TAKE SCIUBNEJt ST. CAR. No. 617
I IMPERIAL FURNITURE CO.
I Grand Rapids. Mich.
I

Grand Rapids Chair Co.
Strictry
High-Grade
Furniture
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.
weare I
iSinil.tors !
. nor I
I__ ~.~.....-.a. llators_J
Desks
Buffets
Sideboards
Hall Racks
China Cabinets
Music Cabinets
1186 BUFFET
Tables
Hall Seats
Cellarettes
Book Cases
Hall Glasses
Chests and Boxes
At
Medium
Prices
Goods shown at our factory only. Full line now ready.
5

6
ORIEL
Cabinet COlnpany
======Grand Rapids,Mich.======
La~gest Manufacturers In the W orId
OF ------------
Furniture N ovelties
Line Ready for Inspection
by the Trade on
June 17, 1907

The Higher Degrees of Furniture Construction
Have Been Taken by the
ESTEY MANUFACTURING CO.
For Workmanship
For Quality
CHAMBER SUITES
No. 912
SIDEBOARDS and BUFFETS
OWOSSO, MICH.
CATALOGUE TO THE TRADE ONLY
For Designs
For Finish

~---------------- -- -
.
The Line with Invincible Points of Merit
Inspect Our
Parlor Cabinets
Music Cabinets
Hall Trees
Hall Seats
Hat Racks,
Framed Mirrors
No. 320 Table
No. 680 Cabinet
Inspect Our
Buffets
China Cabinets
Combinations
Gents' Wardrobes
Shaving Stands
Ladies' Dressing Tables
Ladies' Dressing Chairs
WITH
PATENT ADJUSTABLE FiXTURES
Full of NOVELTIES and USEFULNESS
. Show Rooms:
GRAND RAPIDS
2d FLOOR
BIG BUILDING
CHICAGO
6th FLOOR
FURNITURE EXCHANGE
With PECK &: HILLS
Show Rooms:
NEW YORK
4th FLOOR
NEW YORK FURNITURE
EXCHANGE
With THE: WEATHERLEYS
It will pay you to look
our line over even if you
don't buy.
ROCKFORD FRAME andFIXTURE CO. ROCKFORD
IWNOIS

THE
Manistee Manufacturing Co.
- .
MANISTEE, MICHIGAN
CJl We say but little but do a lot in the way of bringingout one
of the strongest lines of Sideboards, Buffets, Chiffoniers, Odd
Dressers and Gentlemen's Wardrobes there is on the market.
This is
One of Our
BEST
No. 266 Sideboard. Top 25x60; Minoy 18x50
This is
One that will
SELL
CJl Our full line of one hundred patterns will be shown on the
6th floor, spaces 17 and 19, Manufacturers' Exhibition Building
1319 Michigan Ave., Chicago.
We make our own Exhibit. Call in and we will treat you right, and
give you your money's worth.
CHAS. ELMENDORF, in charge.
9

---------------- ---
I·
l
10
Berkey & Gay Furniture Co.
Grand Rapids
The Line will be ready for
inspection by the Trade
Monday
June 17
1 907
Chamber Furniture
Dining Room Furniture
Library Furniture
It is all Furniture of Character That Has the
Charm of Quality

i
I
I
..I
Luce Furniture Company
Godfrey Ave" GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.
Line Ready at
FACTORY
JUNE 17, 1907
New Features in Upper Class
Circassian Walnut
A Large Addition to
Our Line of Staples·
Medium and Fine Furniture
for the
Chamber and
Dining Room
11

~------------
12

~~IIMPORTANT!~1~~
It is a matter of IMPORTANCE to every Furniture Buyer that he
inspect our Fall Line before placing orders for
Davenport Sofa Beds-Box Couches
Adjustable Sofas _.Plain or Tufted
Couches and Davenports
.... WE HAVE THE STYLES AND THE VALUES ....
No_ 583 .. SIMPLICITY t1 Sofa Bed, a popular medium priced pattern from our Spri[]g Line
AN INNOVATION
We will also show our Initial Line of TURKISH CHAIRS and ROCKERS in
"RELIANCE" LEATHER. A sensational short line of sure sellers.
We Exhibit at Grand Rapids only. JUNE·- JULY SEASON.
JAMESTOWN LOUNGE COMPANY
Manufacturers 01 Superior Guaranteed Upholstery
JAMESTOWN, N. Y.
13

14
Royal Furniture Company
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
Dining
: Library
Bedroom
Suites
HALL CLOCKS
IN
"COLONIAL" STYLE
NEW
ADAPTATIONS
Ready for Inspection
June 17, 1907
SHOWN AT
FACTORY SALESROOM
THE ROYAL fURNITURE Co.
GRANO RAPIDS,
MICHIGAN,

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Why Biggest in the World?
At the coming Furniture Exposition at Grand Rapids (opening June 17th), and that in
New York (from July Isth to August 3rd), the Northern Furniture Company will as usual,
have the largest space of any American Manufacturer. Though but a few years old, the
Northern makes more bed-room, dining-room, and kitchen furniture than any other Ulanufacturer
in this country, and that means' in the world.
WIlY?
Why' 7:oasJ.Vorthern space last 'year more cro7:oded than any other at these f'lfJO expositions?
BECAUSE-
The Northern line sells best on the floors of the ,.etail dealers. It's a quick mover. It
doem't get stnek. It gives satisfaction. The prices are the kind the people want-not so
low as to necessitate poor workmanship, not so high as to be fancy.
The Northern line is noted for its elegant simplicity.
J t is stylish without being over-iJrnGtnented.
[t is substantial without being gaudy.
[t looks well for years and it wears

12th- Season CHICAGO
Commencing July 1, 1901
12th Season
Commencing July 1, 1907
MANUFACTURERS' EXHIBITION BUILDING CO.
The Original Building-1319 MICHIGANAVE.-Admission to Dealers Only
American Furniture Co., Bassett, Va.
American Metal Ware Co., Chicago.
Banta Furniture Co., The, Goshen,
Ind.
Bassett Furniture Co" Bassett, Va.
Blanchard-Hamilton Furniture Co.,
The, Shelbyville, Ind.
Billow-Lupfer Coo. Columbus, O.
Bissell Carpet Sweeper Co., Grand
Rapids, Mich.
Booth Furn. Co., Peru, Ind.
Brumby Chair Co., Marietta, Ga.
Buckeye Chair Co., The, Ravenna, O.
Burkhardt Furniture Co" The, Dayton,
O.
Bay View Furniture Co., Holland,
Mich.
Cad.illac Cabinet Co., Detroit, Mich.
Campbell, c.. H" Co., Shelbyville, Ind.
Campbell, Smith & Ritchie, Lebanon~
Ind.
Capital Furniture Manufacturing Co.,
Indianapolis, Ind.
Capital Rattan Co., The, Indianapolis
Cass, .R T. & Co., Chicago.
Cates Chair Co., Thomasville, N. C.
Central Bedding Co., of Illinois, Chicago.
Chippewa Falls Furniture Co., Chippewa,
Falls, \hlis.
Choate· Hollister Furn. Co., Janesville,
Wis.
Conrey & Birely Table Co., The,
Shelbyville,
Conrey-Davis
Ind.
]"'lanufacturing Co.,
Shelbyville, Ind.
Co-operative F.urniture Co., Rockford
Coye Furniture Co., The, Stevens
Point, \Vis.
Cramer Furniture
N.C.
Crowell Furniture
Co., Thomasville,
Co., Bassett, Va.
Davis, Horwich & Steinman, Chicago.
Dillingham .Manufacturing Co., Sheboygan,
\-Vis.
Dixie Furniture Co., Lexington, N. C.
Dunn Co., John A., Chicago.
Eckhoff Furniture Co., St. Louis, 1:10.
Elk Furniture Co., Lexington, N. C.
Emmerich, Charles, & Co., Chicago.
Empire Furniture Co., Jamestown
Empire 1'loulding Works, Chicago.
Emrich Furniture Co., The, Indianapolis,
~Ind.
Fall Creek Manufacturing Co., Mooresville,
Ind.
Faultless Mfg. Co., Geneva, Wis.
Fenske Bros., Chicago.
Ferguson Bros. Manufacturing Co.,
Hoboken, N. J.
Fisher, Charles A., & Co., Chicago.
Foster Bros. Manufacturing Co.,
Utica, N. Y.
f'uUer- Warren Co., The, Milwaukee
Fulton Manufacturing- Co., Chicago.
Frank Todd, Chicago;
Freedman Bros. & Co., Chicago.
Garvy Co., The,' Chicago.
Globe-Home Furniture Co., High
Point j N. C.
Golden Furniture Co., Jamestown
Goshen Novelty & Brush Co Goshen,
Ind.
Heroy Glass Co., Chicago.
Herzog Art Furniture Co., Saginaw,
Mich.
Hillsboro Chair Co., Hillsboro, O.
Hodell Furniture Co., The, Shelbyville,
Ind.
Hohenstein- Hartmetz Furniture Co.,
Evansville, Ind.
PAI\TIAL LIST ON EXtiI&ITOI\S
Hollatz Bros., Chicago.
Hood, F. L., & Co., Nashville, Tenn.
Hulse, E. 1\01., Co., The, Columbus, O.
Humphrev Bookcase Co., Detroit
Ideal Register & Metallic Furn. Co.,
Detroit, 1-1ieh.
Indiana Brass & Iron Bed Co.I Indianapolis,
Ind.
Indianapolis Chair & Furniture Co.,
Indianapolis, Ind.
Johnson & Sons Furniture Co., A. J.,
Chicago.
Kelly, J. A., & Bros., Clinton, Ia.
Kelly-Sorenson Furniture Co.,. Clinton,
la.
Kemnitz Furniture Co., Theo., Green
Bay, Wis.
Kendallville Furniture Co., Peru, Ind.
Kincaid Furniture Co" Statesville,
N. C.
Kindel Manufacturing Co., St. Louis
Kinney-Rodier Co., Chicago.
Knoxville Table & Chair Co.,
ville, Tenn.
Lamb, George L., Nappanee, Ind.
Langslow-Fowler Co., Rochester, N.Y.
Landay, Joseph 1., St. Louis, Mo.
Landay Steel Range Co., St. Louis
Lathrop Co., The, Chicago.
Lilly Varnish Co., Indianapilis, Ind.
Lustre Chemical Co., Chicago.
Manistee ~'1anufacturing Co., Manistee,
Mich.
Marietta Chair Co., Marietta, Ga.
Marvel Furn. Co., Jamestown, 'N. Y. .
1Jayhew Manufacturing Co., Milwaukee,
\Vis.
McDougall, G. P., & Son, Indianapolis,
Ind.
Mechanics' Furniture Co., Rockford
l\'[eier & Pohlman Furniture Co., St.
Louis, ·Mo.
1linneapolis Furniture Co., Minneapolis,
Minn.
;':1ission Furniture Co., S1. Paul. Minn.
Modern Furniture Co., Cincinnati, O.
Naperville Lounge Co., Naperville, Ill.
National Carriage & Reed Co., Cincinnati,
O.
National Table Co., Marietta, O.
Norquist Co., A. c., The, Jamestown,
N.C.
Oakland Manuafcturing Co., Winston-
Salem, N. C.
Oberbeck Bros. Manufacturing
Grand Rapids, Wis.
Onken Co., Oscar, The, Cincinnati,O,
Palmer Furniture Manufacturing Co.,
A. E. Adrian, Mich.
Palmer Manufacturing. Co., Deb'oil
Pana Metal Bed & Manufacturing Co.,
Pana, Ill.
Penn Furn. Co.. Huntington, W. Va.
Pioneer Manufacturing Co., Detroit
Plimpton, F. T., & Co., Chicago.
Posselius Bros. Furniture Manufacturing
Co., The, Detroit, Mich.
Manufacturers' Exhibition Building Co., 1319
Preston & Khouri, New York.
Probst Furri. Co., The, Pomeroy, 0.
Pullman Couch Co., Chicago.
Queen Cbair Co., Thomasville, N. C.
Ranney Refrigerator Co., Chicago.
Richmond, . Ind., Manufacturing Co.,·
Richmond, Ind.
Rishel Furniture Co., J. K, Williamsport,
Pa.
Rockford Furniture Co., Rockford, Ill.
Rockford Standard Furniture Co.,
Rockford, Ill.
Rome Metallic Bed Co., Rome, N. Y.
Root Furniture Co., Shelbyville, Ind.
Rothschild-LuskY Mfg. Co., Nashville,
Tenn.
Royal Mantel & Furniture Co., Rockford,
Ill.
Sanitary Feather Co., Chicarro.
Sanitary Steel Couch Co., Elkhart,
Ind.
Schneider & Allman, Chicago.
Knox- Schram Bros., Chicag-o.
Schultz & Hirsch, Chicago.
Sellers, G. 1., & Sons Co., Elwood,
Ind.
Sextro Manufacturing Co., Cincinnati
Shelbyville Wardrobe Co., Shelbyville,
Ind.
Shreve Chair Co.) Union City, Pa.
Sidway Mercantile Co., Elkhart, Ind,
Sikes Chair Co., Buffalo, N. Y.
Skandia Furniture Co., Rockford, Ill.
Smith-River Chair Co" Bassett, Va.
Spencer & Barnes Co., The, Benton
Harbor, Mich.
Spiegel Furniture Co., Sh~lbyvil1e,
Ind.
Sprague & Carleton, Keene, N. H.
Standard Chair Co., Thomasville,
N.C.
Standard Chair Co., Union City. Pa.
Standard Furniture Co., The, Cincinnati.
Stickley & Brandt Chair Co., The,
Binghamton, N. Y.
Stomps-Burkhardt Co., The, Dayton,
0.
Streator Metal Stamping Co., Streator,
Ill.
Streit Manufacturing Co., The C. F"
Cincinnati, O.
Sturkin-NeIson Cabinet Co., Logansport,
Ind.
CO'I Swift & Co., Chicago.
Thayer, H. N., Co., Erie, Pa.
Thomasville Furniture Co., Thomasville,
N. C.
Union Furniture Co., ]ame,:;town
\Vashington Manufaetu·ring Co.,
Washington, Court House, O.
Western Hardware & Manufacturing
Co., Mlwaukee, Wis.
\Vestcrn Picture Frame Co., Chicago.
White Furniture Co., The, Mebane,
N. C.
White-McCarthy Furniture Co., Chicago.
Widman, J, c., & Co., Detroit. Mich.
\\Tisconsin Chair Co., The, Port Washington,
Wis.
Wisconsin Furniture & Manufacturing,
Co., The, Neillsville, Wis.
Wolf & Kraemer Furniture Co., St.
Louis, Mo.
Wolverine Manuafcturing Co., Detroit,
Mich.
Yeager Furniture. Co., The, Allentown,
Pa.
Michigan Ave., Chicago

27th Year-No. 24. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH., JUNE 25, 1907.
TALKED ABOUT TREES.
Timber Topics Discussed by Members of a Michigan Horti-
cultural Organization.
The June meeting- of the Grand River Valley Horticultural
Society was devoted to the discussion of "Trees and Timber."
William H. Anderson, presidcllt of the Fourth National Bank
of Grand Rapids read a paper Oll the "Comparative GrO\.vth
of Trees" in which he showed that the harder and more valuable
timber is from trees of slo-w growth. The whitewood
or poplar is the most rapid grower among Michigan trees
while the boxwood 15the ;-;lowest.
Prof. Filibert Roth, state forest warden talked on "Reforest
ration as an Investment." He presented figures showing
the state could set aside land now held at a dollar an acre,
plant trees, care for them for forty or fifty years and-eliminating
taxation-realize 100 per cent profit, in addition to
compound interest on the entire investment. Taxation, he
said, is a bar to reforest ration by private parties, The local
assessing officers value the property so high that the taxes
more than over balance the profits. He charged the assessing
officers with having hastened the wanton destruction of Michigan
forests. By overtaxing timber lands they conlpelled the
non-resident OW'ners to cut the timber as soon as possible
and allow the land to go back to the state. The state does
not pay taxes; therefore it is not handicapped in that way.
Prof. Roth spoke of erroneous ideas, frequently expressed
in the newspapers, as to what the forestry commissioners arc
doing and from his statements it appears they are not doing
much in the way of planting trees. It is not necessary to
replant the pine barrens of Michigan in order to make them
valuable and a source of profit to the state. There are plenty
of young trees-many varieties-now gro\ving on nearly all
of the so-called waste lands, he said, and all that is necessary
is to keep the fire away from them and allow them to grow.
Four years ago the commissioners asked the legislature
to set aside a few thousand of the six mitllon acres of waste.
lands owned by the state, to be protected and used as a forest
reserve. The request was granted, but the state officials
were not friendly to the i

--------------------- - - -
I
Central furniture Company
ROCKfORD, ILLINOIS
WHOLESALE MANUFACTURERS OF
"IG" GRADE fURNITURE
COMBINATION BOOKCASES
LIBRARY BOOKCASES, CHINA CLOSETS
BUFFETS
(jj Better made goods than ever.
(jj Better styles than ever.
(jj Better prices than ever.
(jj WHY? Because we do not spend hundreds of dollars
showing our line at Furniture Expositions.
F. T. PLIMPTON & CO.
8th Floor, 1319Michigan Ave., CHICAQO
Humphrey Book Case Co.
Sedional Book Cases, Phonograph Cahinet'
Banta Furniture Co.
Extension Tables. Dining Room Suites
Campbell Smith Ritchie Co.
Kitchen Cabinets, Wardrobes
Sidway Mercantile Co.
Alwin Go-Cart., Shaving Stand., AdjuStable
Bed-Tables
REPRESENTING:
Preston & Kourki
Imported Brass Novelties, Oriental Rugs
Goshen Novelty and Brush Co.
Novelties in Mission F urnifure. Lamps
Billow-Lupfer Co.
Mattresses, Feathe", Box Springs--guar.
anteed Five Years
Spencer & Barnes Co.
Bed Room Furniture·-·Mahogany, Birdseye
Maple, Oak
===== BissellC~et Sweepers .- Brass Candle Sticks =====
Samples on 5th Floor. Open Entire Year
.

M,esserSMiDis
An Advertisement Reproduc6u from the Buffalo Courier of April 28, 1907. The Original Occupied Space
181nches Deep Across SiR ColulDns,
19

20
(Continued from Page 17.)
Africa and other sections of the world, but the true mahogany
tree is found only on the western hemisphere and there north
of the equator. Mexic.an mahogany and, lately, the African
variety are largely used by the furniture makers, but the best,
-the true mahogany-comes from the West Indies, the very
best from San Domingo. The tree grows frequently to a
height of 150 or 175 feet-70 or 80 feet without a limb. The
limbs branch out like those of the live oak, the top spreading
over a space 150 feet in diameter. In order to stand against
the hurricanes of the tropics the tree is buttressed or braced
by the roots which arc of immense size above the ground.
In order to fell a tree it is necessary to erect a scaffold on
which the workmen stand to cut it off above the bracing
roots.
In speaking of the English auctioJ1s I\.Jr, Widdicomb said
that in 1903 two mahogany logs were sold at Liverpool fOJ"
something over $8,000. A sman log brought $300 per thousand
feet, board measure. Later a single log-sQuared-sold
for $15,768. It was bought by Americans and the speaker
modestly admitted that the Widdicomb Furniture Company
is tense with desire. Just at the right time he gives it a toss
and away the beautiful thing soars to meet the sky. He was
ready when the wind blew.
:Many failures in this world come from trying to fly kites
after the wind has reached its height and begun to die down.
The mall that tries that way may get his kite up half way and
then see it drop helplessly to the earth. Discouraging, isn't
it? Out West there are a good many land
booms. Who are the men that make money
out of them? K ot the men who come late and buy
land when the boom has reached the crest and begun to go
down on the other side. Oh, no. It was the man who was
on the spot early and was ready to sell when the price had
climbed to the top and the late-comer put in an appearance.
Out in the western part of this state a man had a
thousand bushels of potatoes to sell one -year. He thought
he saw a chance to make some money out of the crop. They
were bringing·a good fair price, but he thought that wasn't
just time to sell. He would wait till they were a little higher.
And he did wait. The price began to go down. The breeze
had spent its force and his kite was still in his hand waiting
-~--=..-~-:~-_..~
A FEW SAM.PLES FROM THE LARGE LINE OF DlNING TABLES MANUFACTURED BY THE
IMPERIAL FURNITURE COMPANY., GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.
got" a piece of it." These logs were from San Domingothe
true mahogany. "The English manufacturers," said Mr.
Widdicomb," are frequently quite jealous, when Americans
out-bid them at the auctions."
Ernest A. Stowe, president of the Grand Rapids Board of
Trade talked on the "Use and Abuse of Trees" giving some
valuable information as to the value and care of shade trees.
Proper Time to Fly Your Kite.
Have you ever tried to fly a kite? If not, watch some
little chap before you begin. You will get some pointers about
the matter that will stand you in good stead, not only in the
business of flying kites, but also in the more serious affairs
of life. The kite is done. The tail is furnished with bits of
paper or cloth to give the proper balance, The lad is out
on some high point of land. watching. Watching? For what?
Listen! "Here she comes! Get ready for it!"
Down there in the valley yon hear· a rushing sound. The
trees bend before the wind. In a moment it will be here.
Get ready. And the lad does get ready. Before the breeze
strikes the knoll his kite is face to the wind. Every nerve
fo" the fresher gale .. It did not come. He kept his potatoes
till they went clear down to smash. Many of them he fed
out to the cattle. Did it pay? A::;k him. He has some
positive views on the subject now.
The time to fly kites is when the wind blows. What is
your particular line of business? Be ready for the breeze.
Put up your kite and see it sail to the sunshine. Takes a
smart man to know just when to do that. It certainly does,
but it is the smart men that win. in this world.
All the rest are sitting under the awning
wondering why luck did not stand by them as
well as by the other feHow. Half the victories of this life
come from knowing when to strike. How can a man get the
gift of hitting the spot at the precise moment? Isn't it, after
all, a gift, and not something everyone may have? The
secret of it is in this plain truth: No hound ever caught a
fox unless he kept his eyes open, his mouth open and his legs
on the keen scoot.-Spare Moments,
Wise is the man who knows just what to say-and when
not to say it.

Secret of Remarkable Success.
Many furniture men are interested in the extraordinary
sUccess of the Northern Furniture Company of Sheboygan,
'Vis., Wl1ich, in a few years, has grown from a modest beginning
to the largest manufacturers of bedroom, dining room
and kitchen furniture in the world. Just ",,-hathas caused or
contributed to the phenomenal success of the Northern is a
matter of something like mystery to many less successful
manufacturers, though most of the dealers know how Oley
do it. Those well acquainted with the product of the company
and who have met the managers and salesmen can g-ive
good reasons for its success, but to those who have not b-een
so fortunate a little explacation may be acceptable.
One of the leading causes of the success of the Northern
was the fael lhat its managers ·were among the First to notice
the drift of public taste toward the simple though elegant and
tasty styles. For years most manufacturers and dealers had
entertained the idea that only the wealthy possessed taste
good enoug"h to appreciate simple designs and plain elegance
in furniture. For the masses it was thought necessary to
provide cheap, over-ornamented, highly colored stuff, but the
Northern people djd not like that idea. Tbey believed tbat
the ordinary people had taste equal to that of the wealthy
Richmond Chair CO.
RICHMOND,,\;INDIANA
Doullie Cane Line
SEE OUR NEW PATTERNS
CATALOGUES TO THE TRADE
and they proceeded on that line. They threw out most of
their carving machines, turned their attention to the plain and
durable, though really elegant designs, used good materials
and the best of workmanship even on their cheapest productions
and the results were surprising even to themselves.
The plan was a success from its inception.
Another point in the success of the Northern people is
that their aim is not merely to unload their furniture on the
retail dealers but to see that it moves quickly out of the dealer'swarerooms
to make place for another order. The Northern
people would rather destroy a job lot than force it on
Made b}~Mechanics Furniture Co., Rockford:, Ill.
some dealer who would not be able to sell it. Their motto
is "Sell only quick seIIers."
Still another element in the success of the Northern
people is the fact that they are good advertisers. They also
conduct business on thc highest plane, give each and all fair
honorable treatment and thus secure the respect anq confidence
of their patrons_
Advertising "Before the War."
The New York Press recently reproduced a few advertisements
that appeared in Horace Greeley's NewYork Tribune
in 1859. The advertisements in those days "before the
·war" did not "run to spate and display" as much as they do
nowad;tys. Neither did they go into particulars to such an
extent as at present and the cuts were lacking. Here is a
copy of one used by one of the most enterprising furniture
dealers of hj5 day:
"FURNITURE EXTRAORDINARY."
The finest kind of Broadway furniture ean be purchased of
H. P. DeGRAAF,
at K o. 87 Bowery, at about half Broadway prices. He employs
150 hands, and lays in his stock for net cash. His
store is 240 feet deep, and six stories high, filled from
ROOF TO BASEMENT
with all qualities of
FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES
And-he says he will not at/ow himself to be undersold by
any man.
21

TheM and s Line
IT SELLS
and
SATISFIES
Do you know that we. have been making
upholstered furniture more than two decades
and satisfying our customers every minute of
that time? We are making the line that Sells
and Satiyies and would be pleased to add your
name to our list that you may become a satis-
fied customer.
Everything for the Parlor, the Library and Drawing
Room will be found in oue July Exhibit.
MUELLER & SLACK CO. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.
OF COURSE
THE STANDARD LINE OF AMERICA IS MADE BY THE
ROCKFORD STANDARD FURNITURE CO.
No. 919 Buffet
ROCKFORD, ILL.
WHO ELSE
COULD MAKE IT)
China
Closets
Combination
Cabinets
Buffets
Library Cases·
Write for New Catalogue.
Watch for oLlr ad next month.

Valley City Desk Company
No 114
CATALOGUE MAILED TO DEALERS ONLY.
Grand Rapids,
Mich.
We can furnish you desks in
any grade. Reasonable prices and
high quality are what you are looking
for. Our line on exhibition
Top Floor, North,
Furniture Exhibition
Building
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.
Quality - Individuality r;:::::::= ,
The distinguishing
•
feature of a
is its
PAINE PIECE
INDIVIDUALITY
We make
Davenports, Odd Sofas
and Library Chairs.
Suites and Leather Goods.
We make them
GOOD
and we make them
DIFFERENT
No. 275
Quality in Upholstery
C. S. PAINE CO., Ltd.
GRAND RAPIDS
23

CHEVAL
BED
DRESSER
LOUIS XVI SUITI:: IN SOLID MAHOGANY
MADE BY THE
NELSON-MATTER FURNITURE CO ..
GRAND RAPIDS. MICH.
CHIFFONIER
TOILET TABI-E

THAT PACIFIC COAST TRUST TRAIL.
Charges in the Indictment Against the Furniture Men in the
Far West.
During the first week in June the federal grand jury in
Portland, Ore., found 182 "true bills" against furniture manufacturers,
jobbers and retailers in California~ Oregon, \Vashingtoll
and Idaho, who are charged with having organized
and maintained a conspiracy to restrain trade in violation of
of the Shennan anti-trust 1a,'l_ The charge as set forth in the
indictments reads as follows: "That during the whole or a
part of the time [lioresaid (being from June 7, 1904, to June
Made by Mueller & Slack Co.• Grand Rapids, Mich.
6, 1907,) defendants were members of at least one of certain
retail furniture dealers' associations, namely, the Northwest
Furniture Exchange, the Northwest Furniture Dealers' Protective
Association, the Oregon Retail Furniture Dealers'
Association, the Portland Retail Furniture Dealers' Association
or the Lewiston Furniture Dealers' Club, engaged in the
business of buying at wholesale and sclling at retail, furniture
and household goods, vvhich they, the said retailers and members
of the aforesaid last-mentioned associations would and
had secured and purchased from the said manufacturers,
wholesalers and jobbers of the same, who resided and were
doing business in states other than those in which said retailers
resided and ,vexe doing business, and Frank F. Freeman,
who was at the time aforesaid the secretary of the aforesaid
the Northwest Retail Furniture Dealers' Protective Association,
and who was at the time aforesaid the secretary of
the Oregon Retail Furniture Dealers' Association, and who
did during the period aforesaid co-operate with and assist
the above-named defendants in the organizing and bringing
about of and accomplishing the purpose of a certain unlawful
combination, conspiracy, confederation and agreement hereinafter
in this court more del-lnitely set forth, the aforesaid
defendants and all of them in the 1:itateand district of Oregon
and within the jurisdiction of this court did, during the period
aforesaid, knowlingly, wilfully, unlawfully and maliciously
conspire, combine, confederate and agree together between
and amongst themselves to restrain trade and commerce
amongst the several states of the United States, and parti-
cularly amongst the States of Oregon, Washington, California
Montana and Idaho, and engage in a certain combination,
conspiracy, confederation and agreement in restraint
of trade and commerce then being carried on among the
several states in the United States, and particularly among
the last-mentioned states; that is to say, a certain combination,
conspiracy, confederation and agreement in restraint of
trade al1d commerce, t]len being carried on among said states
in furniture and household goods, and that said unlawful combination,
conspiracy, confederation and agreement for the
restraint of the said commerce."
As 'will be seen in the charge the "trust" is alleged to have
existed for the past three years. The methods of transacting
business are said to have been very much like those used by
the "Prudential Club" ",ihich recently "came to grief" in
Chicago, but the western organizations have a much wider
scope and their rttles and regulations are not so stringent nor
so effective as were those ttsed by the church and school
furniture men. It is said that very few of the indicted dealers
had any intention of violating the law when they became
members of the organizations. The manufacturers also deny
their guilt. And it is said none of them will plead guilty.
The indictments, however,are accompanpied by specific charges
describing certain transactions showing how the combinations
were managed and if these allegations can be supported by
sufficient evidence some of the officers and managers seem to
be in danger of conviction.
Window Trimmers and Advertising Men.
In the smaller stores, the manager or owner of the store
does the advertising, so that it is easy for the window~trimmer
and this advertising man to get together and plan out the
best things to put in the window. But in the larger store,
where there is an advertising man, when he conceives an
idea for a special sale, it is only proper that hc and the
window artist discuss the question of getting the public interested
as much as possible. How the goods shall be placed
in the window will, of course, be left to the trimmer.
In some stores the trimmer does the advertising for the
store, and this man can supplement his ads with windows of
the same goods or supplement his windows with advertisements
of the same wares. You can readily imagine that this
combination would bring results granted, of course, that the
man was capable. This same close relation of the two departments
should obtain e'iten where they are presided over
by two individuals. These heads of departments should work
together for the common good.
Grand Rapids Caster Cup Co.
2 Parkwood A.... Grand Rapids, Mich.
We arc now putting aD the best Caster Cups with cork bases ever
offeree to the trade. These are finished in Golden Oak and White Maple
in a light finish. These goods are admirable for polished floors a~d furniture
rests. They will not sweat or mar.
PRIGES:
Size 2U inches••.... $4.00 per hundred
Sizt;2Minches······ 5.00 per hundred
T1'jIa Sample Order. F. O.B. Grand .Rupia..
25

26
ROYAL MANTEL & rURNITURf COMPANY
ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS
Manufacturers of FINE and MEDIUM FURNITURE
WE DO Nor MAKE MAN7~LS
TJ-\t:= ROYAL LINE:
will be found as usual in CHICAGO, 6th floor,
1319Michigan Ave .. and in NEW YORK at the
Furniture Exchange during July.
Buffets, China Closets, Combination Bookcases
SPRATT'S CHAIRS
ARE THE JOy OF THE CHILDREN.
Our new CHILD'S MISSION ROCKER was a winner from the start.
Write for Catalogue and prices. Our line is large and prices are right.
and Library Bookcases.
We make
CHAIRS
GROWN-
UPS
as well as
CHILDREN.
GEORGE
SPRATT
& co.
Sheboyvn,
Wis.
Say you SQ=
tllis ad in the
Michigan Arti-
san.
The White Directory
CONTAINS A CAREFIJLLY COMPILED LIST
OF MANIJFACTIJRERS OF
FURNITURE, PIANOS,ORGANS,
INTERIOR FINISHES
AND KINDRED INDUSTRIES
Now Ready. Send inyour order.
WHITE PRINTING COMPANY
PRINTERS. ENGRAVERS, PUBLISHER.S, BINDERS
2-20 LYON ST., GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.

Our New nand and foot Power Cll"cula ...Saw No.4
The strongest, most powerful, and in ~very way the best
machine of its kind ever made, for ripping,
cross-cutting. boring and grooving.
Caliinet Makers
In these days of close competition,
need the best possible equipment,
and this they can have in • . . •
BARNES'
Hand and Foot
POWER
Machinery
Send for our New Catalogue.
"W. F. ®. JOHN BARNES CO.
654 Ruby Street. Rochford. Ill.
The Ford 8 Johnson Co.
MANUFACTURERS
Chicago Salesroom
Ford-Johnson Bldg., 1433-35-37 Wabash Ave.
For the July market we will have many new things
to show. All furniture dealers are cordially invited to
call and inspect our line, which includes Chairs, Rockers
and Settees---all goods; Dining Room furniture; Mission
furniture; Fiber Rush and Malacca furniture; Reed Rockers; Children's Go-Carts and
Carriages, etc.
WE ALSO SHOW SAMPLES AT OUR OWN SALESROOMS IN
Cincinnati Atlanta New York Boston
27

28
Use for Mail Order Catalogues.
There is said to be nothing so bad but what it might be
worse; there is nothing so utterly useless but what it might
be put to some good use. As an eye-opener to many a sleepy
dealer, the mail-order house catalogue is a whole brass band
at the head of a torch-light parade.
"I never thought before that people would go to a hardware
store for that/ remarked a small~town dealer recently
in the writer's hearing, "until I noticed it was listed in the
hardware department of a mail-order house catalogue. Oh,
yes, I read them regularly now; it used to be spasmodic, till
I got my awakening jolt over this little article. When I
first saw it listed I laughed to myself, then got to thinking
it over and wondered, why not; then it occurred to me that I
had had a few calls for that very article. Now I look over
all the mail-order catalogues I get my hands on and very
often get awakened to SOUlenew thing that I ought to keep
and don't. Those fellows as a rule are bright men, and know
what the people want, often better than I do. Several articles
they have by their lists induced me to keep in stock I
bave found to bc exceptional sellers.
"It has taught me this lesson, too. If I, with a life long
experience, do not know what I want to keep in stock until
I see it listed elsewhere, it is pretty good evidence that there
are others who want something that they do not realize until
they see it; then they buy. If they had happened to see it
first in some house catalugue the chances are they would
have bought there and probably a lot of other stuff along with
it. 'Vbo could blame them?
One thing though, make all the use possible of the mailorder
house catalogue but do not leave it kicking about the
store or office. If a customer happens to see it be may become
interested, if he hasn't any particular scruples against
dealing with foreign firms; if he has, he will conclude that I
am myself a patron of the catalogue-house and that if he is
to take that quality of goods from the -local store anyway, he
may as well send off direct and get the goods first hand. It's
good logic on his part, if he catches yoU studying these catalogues;
but it isn't good business on your part to let him
catch you."-H~ware.
Made by Valley City De8ki:Co., GrandJRa,pids, Mich.
Underwriters Discuss Protective Methods.
The eleventh annual convention of the National Fire Protection
Association was held in New York. The usual discussions
on modern methods of fire protection and the reports
of -committees on special hazards were listened to with deep
interest.
The importance of the work which the Association is
doing in the direction of standardizing fire protection devices
and bringing about uniform requirements for betterments in
construction was forcibly brought out in the opening address
of President C. A. Hexamer. A comparison, he said, of the
per capita fire loss in this country in 1906 with that in six
prominent countries of Europe shows that the former was
$3.30, including the San Francisco loss, and $2.25 excluding
it, while the latter was only 33 cents. The percentage '0£
loss to premiums received by all the fire insurance companies
reporting to the New York department last year showed the
unprecedented ratio of %.9 per cent, a ratio, continued Mr.
Hexamcr '~lhich certainly merits the attention of the highest
legislative bodies of the nation.
The committee 011 special hazards and fire record submitted
a report which stated that the year 1906-7 was especially
noteworthy in the large Humber of heavy losses due to failure
of sprinklers to hold fire in check. Of seven fires which
caused a property loss of two millions of dollars, three were in
New England, viz., thc Lynn fire, the Dover (N, H.) fire and
the Springfield (Mass.) fire.
Tips Exceed Wages.
The large furniture houses have men to go around and
fix up any scratch or damage a customer may find in goods
he has bought. His presence in a house, with his snug kit
of tools and polishes, usually emphasizes the wabbly legs
of an old chair, the scar· in the table top which Freddie's shoe
made months ago, and a score of other things with which
the repair man has no concern. But he fixes them readily
enough, though sometimes pressed for time, and he always
carries away a good-sized tip. Some days the money thus
earned "on the side" exceeds the repairer's salary from the
firm.-New York Sun.

Character in Furniture.
"Quality" in furniture is not so lightly

IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE THE RIGHT KIND OF MECHANICS THAT ~ MAKE THE
RIGHT KIND of FURNITURE
UNION FURNITURE CO.
E manufacture the larg-
W est line of FOLDING
CHAIRS in the United
State8~ 8ttitable for Sunday
Schools, Hall.s, Steamers and.
all PUblic Resorts. . • . .
We also manufacture Brass
Trimmed Iron Beds, S-pt'ing
Beds, Cots and Cribs in a
larKe variety. . . .
~d for Catalocue
aDd Price. to
Kauffman Mfg. CO.
"SULANO. OUIO
ROCKFORD, ILL.
China Closets
Buffets
Bookcases
We Icad in Style, Comtrudion
and· Finish. See our Catalogue,
OUT line on permanent exhibi~
lion 7th Floor, New Manufacturers'
Building, Grand Rapids.
MECHANICS
FURNITURE
COMPANY
• ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS
Write for neW Catalogue
and keep your eye p~eled
for this space ne~t month.
The New Banquet Table Top
a~weil aI OFFICE, DINING and DIRECTORS' TABLES are 001'" specialty.
STOW & DAVIS FURNITURE CO.. 2:clt..':""'·
Write far Catalogue. Gel sample:tof BANQUET TABLE TOP.
Thousands in Use
Furniture Dealers need have no more
fear. With the use of Cline's Caster
Cup one table may be placed on top
of another without injury. Made in two sizes in the follow~
tog finishes: Oak, Mahogany and Ro-5ewood. Special prepared
felt bottom, preventing ,sweat marks, scratching, etc.
Price: 2)( in. per 100, $3.50; 3);; in. perlOO. $4.50
We alsomanuiacture IRe most reliable C.s.rd Holder on the market.
Write for our new 40 page Catalogue.
L. Cline Mfg.Co.• 123.Wah •• hAv ... Chicago

Something DiffERENT in Couches
No. 155
WOVEN WIRE
COUC"
$4.00
Net
We have made for some time, Couches and Davenports with woven wire tops. OUf latest essay in
this line is Dlffl:RENT. Made and shipped K. D. Easily set up. A trIal order will convince.
SMIT" ~ Dt\VIS MfG. CO., St. louis.
Johnson Chair CompJny
CHICAGO, . - ILLINOIS
Manufacturers _
Office Chairs,
Dining Chairs, Bedroom Chairs,
and
Parlor Rockers
Sendfor our new catalogue, just out,
illustrating our entire line.
PERMANENT EXHIBIT:
Furniture Exhibition Building, 1411Michigan Avenue
31

32
PACIFIC COAST CONDITIONS
BUSINESS IN SAN FRANCISCO DEMORALIZED BY
LABOR TROUBLES AND A HALT IN REAL ES-
TATE SPECULATIONS.
Bankers and Business Men Combine to Fight the Strikers
and Speculators-A Slump in the Price of Lumber.
"Business affairs in San Francisco are in bad shape," said
Charles R Sligh, the well known Grand Rapids furniture
manufacturer, who has just returned from the Pacific coast,
where he spent four weeks looking after his business and timber
interests. "I was in San Francisco in June last year-about
six weeks after the earthquake," he continued. "Then the
future of the city \vas doubtful. Some thought it would
never be rebuilt, but doubt gave way to confidence and the
city has already been rebuilt to a large extent and there is
now no question as to its future. The amount of rebuilding
done during the year is surprising. Comparing present conditions
,""ith those of a year ago it does not seem possible
that the change was made in so short a time.
"Just now, however, building operations are practically at
a standstill and business of all kinds is more or less paralyzed.
The trouble is due mainly to the strikes, but a halt in real
estate speculation has also had. a bad effect. When I left
the city there were no less than seventeen strikes in progress
besides the street railway strike. Most of the strikes
are in the building trades, but all kinds of business are affected
and there is no telling when the trouble will end. The
bankers and business men have apparently joined with the
the contractors and manufacturers to down the strikers and
there is little doubt of their success, but it may be a long
fight.
"The bankers have also shut down on the real estate and
other speculators. Real estate speculation had been carried
to an extreme that made it dangerous and the bankers were
obliged to make some effort to call a halt. There is plenty
of money in the banks, but it cannot be borrowed for speculative
purposes. The speculators, when they cannot obtain
money to meet their obligations will have to throw their
holdings on the market and sell for whatever they can get;
some of them have already been obliged to do so. As a
consequence values are uncertain and their business is demoralized.
"The halt in real estate speculation is not confined to San
Francisco. It extends to all towns on the coast, or, at least,
all north of San Francisco, though it is not so noticeable in
(ESTABLISHED lass)
THIS IS THE CAN
AND LABEL
Oregon and Washington. I did not go down to Los Angeles.
In Oregon and Washington-at Portland, Seattle
and Tacoma-general business is good. Those towns have
certainly been benefited by San Francisco's misfortunes. They
have felt no falling off in any line of trade or industry, except
in the lumber business. There has been a slump of
$1.50 to $2.00 per thousand in the price of lumber recently,
due, in part at least, to San Francisco's halt in building operations.
"Whether San Francisco dealers will buy as freely as usual
at the summer exposition is doubtful. Conditions there are not
Made by Valley City Desk Co., Grand Rapids, M.ich.
encouraging, but they are hopeful and may bank on an early
settlement of the labor troubles which would assure them a
booming fall trade. Dealers in Washington and Oregon are
prosperous and will probably place orders larger than usual."
Merchants Organize a Fire Insurance Company.
The Retail Merchants Exchange of Los Angeles, which is
composed of sixteen commercial organizations, at a recent
meeting took preliminary steps to organize a mutual fire insurance
company, which is to be known as the Merchants'
Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Southern California. It
was decided that the company should have a reserve fund of
$50,000 at the start and to bea "non-boarder."
BERRY BROTHERS'
Rubbing and Polishing Varnishes
MUST BE USED IN FURNITURE WORK TO BE APPRECIATED
THEY SETTLE THE VARNISH QUESTION WHEREVER TRIED
WRITE FOR INFORMATION,
FINISHE.O WOOD Si\MPLES, AND LITERATURE.
BERRY BROTHERS. LIMITED
NEW YORK,
ii10STON,
PHIUDELPH'A,
VARNISH MANUFACTURERS
DETROIT
BALTIMORE. CANADIAN FACTORY, WALKERVILLE ONTARiO
CINCINNATI,
ST. LOUIS.
SAN ..RANCIBCO.
CHICAGO,

REMINISCENT.
Twenty-eight years ago the writer gained his first irnpres~
siems and knowledge regarding the Grand Rapids furniture exposition.
No ol1t-of-to·wn lines were exhibited and the
local lines werE: few in number and, in comparison with the
Jines of today, unimportant. The Berkey & Gay Furniture
Company, Nelson & 1\Jatter, the \Viddicomb Furniture
Company, the Phoenix Furniture Company and the Grand
Rapids Chair Company and Stow & Haight were the only exhibitors,
and yet in view of the fact that the lines exhibited
would be considered of little conse.quence today they were
strong enough to attract huyers from the leading retail houses
of the United States to Grand Rapids. The writer remembers
having met in the market twenty-eight years ago ]'Vfr.
Hildreth oi Holton & Hildreth, 1h. Schone of Vv'irts &
Scholle, Jacob Beicrsdorf, Harry \Vright of the Tobey Furniture
Company and John II,!. Colby of Chicago; Mr. I\Jatthews
of Milwaukee; Clark A. Brockway, representing Marcus Stevens,
and George \V. Fowle of Detruit; A, S. Hereoden and
Mr. Barstow of Cleve1alld; C. F. Doll of Schlund & Doll, Buffalo;
Johnny Hand, Fred Pulhrnan, R. 1. Horner and Mr. De-
Graaf of New York; '\ilr. Stone of Dewey & Stone, Omaha;
Mr. DeCostar of DeCostar & Clark, St. Paul; 1'\'1r.Phelps of
Phelps & Bradstreet, Millllcapolis; Co1. Abernathy of Leavenworth;
John H. Sanderson (of capitol furnishing notoriety),
Philadelphia; \V. B. J\'loses of \Vashington; Mr. Minch, 1'/1r.
Chalmers and Mr. \V2.Lte of B;l1timore; Sam Burrell and Mr.
Jones of St. Louis; }1r. Elder of Indianapolis; Mr. Barth
of Louisville; Mr. Plum, Mr. Heeney and 1'fr. Cole of San
Francisco. 1'l1r. Conant and :r..-rr. IVleilink of Toledo; Mr.
Orison and Mr. Keith of Kansas City, and othe-rs whof-c
l1am~s are for the moment forgotten. The spring season
opened in March and the fall season in August. Of the salesmen
who received and attended the visiting buyers, :.vir.
\Vheelock and 11r. Fitch of Nelson & ::'I.'1atter,!'vir. Sligh and
¥r. Corson of the Berkey & Gay Furniture Company, Mr.
Foote of the Gr::tl1dRapids Chair Company, Mr. W. H. Jon~s
of the Phoenix, Jacob Moore of the Grand Rapids Furniture
Company, John E. Foster of the \Viddicomb Furniture Company,
and R. J. Stow of Stow & Haight are remembered. The
hotels were small, and many of the conveniences deemed
essential to health and comfort by the commercial tourist
of today were lacking. ]\1any of the buyers mentioned above
have passed away, but the market grows and will continue to
grow in importt.nce to the end of time. The art of manufacturing
is planted in Grand Rapids as firmly as sculpture
i.n haly, painting in France and music in Germany.
A. S. WHITE.
"Fancy Furniture."
~lallY years ago the Oriel Cabinet company commenced
advertising their lille as "fancy furniture." The goods were
morc realistic than fanciful, although in their design play
was given to the ingeniollsness of the designer. Factories
producing "fancy furnitme" began to multiplY and so lllaHy .
"freaks" were brought out and designated "[auc.,,-· that lrauagel'
C. \V. Black, decided upon a departure for the Oriel
Cabinet company. Sometime ago it was annolltlced that
the OTicl. Cabinet company .vauld thereaitcl.· manufacture
furniture novelties, a term that suggests the line of work produced
more tittillgly than·' "fancy". The Oriel is showing
many furniture novelties this season.
Steadily Progressing.
Since the new purchasers of the Grand R~-ipids Farnitt:re
company (formedy the Nev,.· England) took 1JOS3C·.~;~('1l of the
property, steady pTogress has been made in improving the
quality of the line and in placing the same on the floor of the
leading retailers of the United States. A marked advance has
bcen made for the fal! season of trade, and buyers visiting
Grand Rapids should not leav{~the market before making an
inspection of the company's offerings.

34
The Udell Works
1245 Mission Desk
LARGER
BETTER
CHEAPER
Are Now Ready With Their New Line 01 Sample,
in Grand_Rapids Only. July, 1907 Exhibit.
4th Floor. S,,-uth Hall. Furoiture Exhibition Buading.
THE UDELL WORKS, Indianapolis,Indiana,U. S. A.
fJ Get on our Mailing List for New Catalog in July.
Robbins Tabl6 60.
OW0550, Mi6higan
No. 318. AMERICAN OAK.
44x48IN. TOP, AMERICAN BASE.
7 IN. PILLAR.
Ladies Desks,
Music Cabinets,
Bookcases.
Library Tables
YOU will be the loser
if you don't see them.
1242 MiSHion Desk
The New
"PERFECT"
FOLDING CliAIR
Comfortable Durable
Simple Neat
The Acme of Perfection in the line of
Folding Chairs.PBRP"H(:T COMPACTJ'(ESS
when folded.
WRITE for PRICES
The PeabodY School
Furniture Co.
North Mancheater. • .. lndlana
MANUFACTURERS OF
HARDWOOD ~~~~i
SPECIALTIES:
~'l.U;1?l'l3QUAR. OAK VENEERS
MAHOGANY VENEERS
HOFFMAN
BROTHERS COMPANY
804 W. Main St" FORT WAYNE, iNDIANA

t.
EXTENSION TABLES
Complete Line sho\lln in
(lur new space
ST. JOHNS TABLE COMPANY
CADILLAC, MICH.
Cf\}3lNET Mf\KER~ CO·
New Dining Room Suites
FURNITURE
EXHIBITION
BUILDING
First Floor, North Half.
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Grand Rapids,
Michige.n ...
No. 1115, CUBAN MAHOGANY.
New Library Tables, Desks and Sewing Tables.
These are all novelties---something different from anything on the market. FIRST
FLOOR, SOUTH HALF, MANUFACTURERS' BUILDING.
John Samuelson, F. H. Bogges, C. F. McGregor, M. D. Blum, A. T. Kingsbury and Robert Baxter.
3S

36
ESTABL.ISHED 18BO
",(i "
,
,"'~~ , '-~ .~:\.
~ ~ --"""""'!' ~
- -
PUElL.I$HI!!:D BT
MICHIGAN ARTISAN CO.
ON THE 10TH AND 25TH OF EACH MONTH
OFF1CE-2-20 LYON ST.• GRANO RAPIDS. MICH.
ENTERED AS MATTER OF THE SECOND Cl.AS~
The growth of agitation in the trade press and retail merchants'
organizations against what they call the mail-order
evil, affords opportunity to a class of promoters who, without
any personal preference or interest in the matter, offer to cooperate
with the oppressed merchants in their efforts to
check the advance of the enemy. Those promoters advance
various schemes to put the mail-order houses out of business,
but nearly all of them arc merely plans to bleed the merchants
individually or through the associations. Very few, if any,
of them, even if worked out as planned would have any effect
on. the catalogue trade nor would they benefit the merchants
in any way. In nine cases out of ten, at least, the merchant
who, individually or through association with others, goes into
any scheme to fight the mail-order houses fmds that it costs
him more than he loses through the mail-order competition.
The only way for a retail merchant to meet the dreaded encroac'hments
of the catalogue dealers is to improve his business
methods, make the most of his location and natural advantages
and work his field to the limit. Mail-order competition
has few terrors for the live, up-tn-date retail dealer.
*1* *1* *1* *1*
The past month has been a strenuOUS one for President
Kanitz of the Muskegon Valley Furniture Company, and Secretary
Foote of the Grand Rapids Chair Company. What
with the work of closing up their lines for the fall season of
trade and defending the management of their pet institution,
the Michigan Soldiers' Home, they have llad no time to attend
the camp fires or their regimental reunions. The institution
and the lines are Ila11 right" and ever will be a long as
Messrs. Kanitz and Foote shall remain in their present activities.
Both are honorable and able men.
*\* *\* *1* *\*
The action taken by the railroads in several western
states, as noted on another page, shows that they are determined
to fight the two-cent fare laws to a finish and if defeatedthey
plan to retaliate by raising freight rates through new
regulations and changes in classification. They may sllcceed
in defeating the people in this matter, but it will be an empty
victory. It will only encourage the Socialists and tend to
convince the people that the government should not only
control, but should O\vn the railroads.
*1* *1* *1* *1*
Every customer, whether man, woman or child, rCll'"lembers
the store where they have been kindly treated. Salesmen
should be made to understand that everybody's call is important.
No man likes to be approached by a careless, slovenly
salesman with the question: lIWhat do yon want?" A
man who does not possess the instincts and the training of a
gentleman is hardly fit for serVIce in a barnyard or among
the pig styes.
*'~ *1* *1*
If there is not a r-l:ch 1:' rger turn-out of buyers to the
exposition in Cl~inTn t"C't C· o:·th it will not be the fault of
President ~.Ieyns of the i\Lu'ufaeturers' Exhibition building.
Dud .... ...,.t~·(' r :'~t four I11cnth he has kept the mails well toad-
.cd \vitl1 letter;; ~:ddressed to dealers, setting forth substantial
reasons why every dealer should become a market buyer.
The arguments presented by Mr. Meyers are unanswerable.
*1* *!=ll *1* *1*
"Salesmatlship is a profession in itself," remarked a veteran
merchant. I'The salesman who is able to ascertain why the
public buy, and who is able to inspire enthusiasm in the minds
of prospective purchasers, is sure of advancement and' steady
employment. By taking a correct view of their' profession
and making good in its practice the op?ortunities for conscientious
and industrious salesmen are unlimited:'
*1* *1* *1* *1*
Failing to receive prompt attention, when apparently there
is no cause for delay,' makes a customer "grouchY," and when
a merchant has more people in ,his stme than can be waited
on ii is his misfortune. Salesmen cannot inspire enthusiasm
in customers when flying from one to the other. Men are
especially keen in their remembrance of how they are treated
by the storekeepers and their employees.
*\* *\* *\* *1*
Want of tact is almost a common fault in salesmen. ",'hen
this is combined with carelessness the explanation is furnished
why many individuals employed by merchants earn
so little. The best training schools for salesmen find the
correction of these faults very ditlicult to accomplish. Slovenly
persons arc disposed to remain slovenly all their days.
*1* '*1* *1* *1*
Visitors to the mid-summer expositions in Grand Rapids
and Chicago will be pleased to learn that the Hotel Ottawa
thirty minutes ride from Grand Rapids al1d five hours by boat
from Chicago, will be open for the reception of guests on
July 1. In the past this resort has entertained large numbers
of fllfIliture men.
*j* *1* *1* *1*
Many samples were received in Grand Rapids during the
first week of June and the w~rk of putting the floors in order
has gone steadily forward since. The placing of the lines
on the floors is not easily accomplished. Often weeks are
required to properly display a single line.
*1* *1* *1* *1*
Fears are expressed that on account of the indictment of
two hundred furniture men on the Pacific Coast the attendance
of buyers from that section will be smalL Many will
have pressing engagements with their lawyers during the midsummer
season.
*\* *1* *1* *1*
During the months of July and August large red spots will
appear on the maps of the United States. These will indicate
the locations of Grand Rapids, Chicago and New York,
the great furniture centers of the world.
*1* *1* *1* *1*
The successful merchants of the future will be the men;
who have had experiel1ce on the f1!)ors of mercantile houses
with Cllstomers. The office offers no such opportunities as
the floors or the road to acquire power in salesmanship.
*1* *1* *1* *1*
There is a steadily increasing demand for f~rnit\\re made
of toona mahogany. Many supposed that the light finish
employed on this wood would not remain long in favor, but
it seems to have gained a lasting position in the trade.
*1* *1* *1* *1*
It seems to be a well established principle that a manufacturer
has the right to open his exhibit whenever he pleases,
and to close it at any time, without asking the cons.ent of the
sheriff.
*1* 1111*1* *1*
Incivility and lack of attention on the part of satesmen
caUses the loss of more trade through the resentment of
customers than the delivery of inferior goods or the pay-
ment of excessive charges .

"INCOMPARABLE
CENTURY LINE"
PARLOR. LIBRARY AND LIVING-ROOM
FURNITURE IN MAHOGANY. WALNUT.
_._--------------------
AND GOLD LEAF. ALSO MAHOGANY DINING-
ROOM CHAIRS AND CHAMBER CHAIRS AND
ROCKERS.
REPRODUCTIONS FROM THE FRENCH. OLD
ENGLISH AND THE COLONIAL.
REPRESENTATIVES:
L, D, BERRY W. T. WELCH A. T. KI NGSBURY ROST, E. BAXTER
CENTURY FURNITURE CO.
SALES-ROOM 153-159 CANAL ST .. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.

38
Detroit, June 24.-A. VV.Bosley has purchased n:e stock
of furniture and good will of tl:e estate cf the late W. E.
BarkeT at 211-14-16 Michigan avcm,e, and will contil1ue the
business at that location in addition to his present store at
14-16 Gr::.ttiot avenue. lvIr. Bosley has been a successful iUT
nituTe merchant in Detroit for nventy years or more and is
a man who has done and is doing his full share to advance
the city's prosperity. Victor V. Cel1lebroek, who has been
with the IVlichigan avel'l".C store sillce it started, rC11la:l;S with
Mrs. Bosley in charge of the alTice. ~dT. Ceulebrce~k has
been in the furniture business as a manufacturer, salesrr.an
and with Mr. Barker in the store almost sil1ce boyhocd, and
his many friends ·will be glad to know he is still in ·the business.
Idr. Bosley has the best wishes of the rVlichigal1 Artisan
for success in his l~ew vcr.ture, and he will surely win
it as he 'deserves to do.
The Possclius Bros. Furniture Manufacturing Company
·will show an entire t'.ew line of dining extension tables at their
permanent show rooms, 1319 :'lichigan avenue, Chicago, in
charge of l\Jessrs. Kueey, Kemp and Armstrong. This is
one of the largest lines of extension tables in the market
and in addition to thc famous Victor, their line en:braces
Murphy Chair Co.
MANUFACTURERS
A COMPLE.TE
DETROIT, MICH.
LINE.
Pioneer
Mfg. Co .. ,
DETIlOIl, MIen.
Rood furniture
Babu GarriaOllll
Go-Garts
Fall line l'hown lJon
second floor, 1319
Michll!an Ave., Chi.
calilo, in 'anuary.
ItOOKWOOD
and a general line of
fl\NGY TI\BlfS
Write for Cuts and Pricea
........
PALMER
Manufacturing Co.
115 to 135 Palmer Ave.
DETROIT. MICH.
Full line -.hown on teeond
£100", 1319 Miehigan Ave.,
ChiealrO. in January.
many pattcrns in round and square tops, in mahogany, quarter
sawed golden and mission oak. It is so large and varied
that i,t cannot fail to be one of the slrongest lines in the buildiug.
The Safety Folding Bed Company will show their full line
of metal safety lockless folding beds on thel1rst floor of 1411
Michigan avenue, Chicago. .\lessrs. Fitzpatrick, Ryan and
Radtke wilt have charge of the line ;and it will be a winner.
The Palmer IVTanufacturing Corhpany will have a beaut:ful
line of library anl parlor tables, pedestals and tabourettes
on display at 1319· Michigan avenue, Chicago. The Pioneer
Manufacturing Company show their fine line of reed and rattan
rockers, children's ..:arriages and go-carts in with the Palmer
Manufacturing Company.
The Detroit (;:thinet Company'" fine line of fancy furniture
wil1 be shown as usual in the big Furniture Exhibition
building, Grand Rapids.
George}. Reindel's new six story building is rapidly approaching
completion, and when finished he will have one of
the finest furniture stores in the west,
Don't Be a Whiner.
Lucky is the man in business who doesn't feel occasionally
like giving up the fight. There are times when everything
seems to go wrong and nothing comes your way. When in
such a condition the following, written by a buyer for the
An:erican Tobacco Journal may serve you as a bracer:
"Don't, gentlemen, play the part of the under dog. Don't
let the public think that your business is being injured by
the trusts or by any other combination of men or circumstances.
Put \-lp a bold front, look the world in the face and
whistle, whether you win or lose. You can't win anything
with a whine. Thc man with troubles r::ever lacks an audicnce,
but his auditors seldom leave him with more respect
for him as a man than they had before they knew he had any
troubles.
"Humanity is a peculiar proposition, anyhow. Give them
somcthing to look at; put up a show of sightliness; keep things
ncat, attractive and cheerful and you will get the business regardless
of other things. To hold a business you have got
to have, something else of merit, but to hold trade you must
have some trade to hold in the first place. It isn't necessary
to brag, but it is viblly necessary to keep the public thinking
you are ;1l1 'is-cr' and not a 'was-cr.' If once yOll let the
people thick yOU have gone 1111derthey will fall on you like
Sibcrian wolves alid eat yoU Up. Every time and all the
tirrc people follow th~ successful man; they trade with him
and try to tn8ke friends with him."
The buyers bought light in January

i
To Make Sdre of It, When in Chicago,
Go to 1411 MICHIGAN AVENUE
F1RST FLOOR NEAR THE ELEVATOR
AND SEE THE
Safety Lockless Metal Folding Beds
·---------1-1 -- MADE BY THE
'-------------1
Safety
Folding Bed
~\. C L d
) ,If{"; il~, 0., t.
I DETROIT, MICHIGAN
I
J. d~"fTHrs' FITZPATRICK,M. E.RYAN .,dA P.RADTKe
I
•
----
I
I
Np-KUM-LOOSE
FASTENER
is the only device th t makes it absolutely impossible for the Knob, Pull
or Toilet Screw to grt loose or come off. As they cost the manufacturer
absolutely nothing af.all, no manafacturer c~n afford to trim his furniture
without using these rasteners. Manufactured under the Tower PatentS
only hy the
GRAND RAPID~ BRASS CJ.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICmGAN
I
I
4
\I' 1\\
39

ARE BREAD AND
The "ELI" fOL~!~~,~d~i~Mant:Ra~:'~p:~:~ERS
S
No Stock complete wlthou
Evan.ville. Indi~Da
ELI O. MILLER &, CO.Writeforcutsandpnces
TUE BOCKSTEGE fURNITURE CO.
EVANSVILLE IND.
Globe
Sideboards
Are me BeSI on
me G10De lor
me MOney
GET OUR
CATALOGUE
MeQlion-the MICHI-
GAN AR!ISAN
when wnlmg.
Globe
Furniture
Company
EVANSVILLE.
IND.

Kitchen
Cabinets ,
Cupboards
and
K. D.
. Wardrobes.
That Plell8e.
Send for our
1907 C.ta1ague
Now Ready.
The Bosse
Fumiture CO
EVANSVIll.E. IND.-
. nar~es
War~ro~es
are Good Wardrobes
GOOD
Style
Construction
Finish
PRICES RIGHI
Write for Catalogue
Karges Furniture
Company,
EVANSVILLE, IND.

42
===== OUR ENTIRE NEW LINE OF THE =====
~~·I FAMOUS VICTOR 1==--=1
OUR GREAT SPECIALTY
and a full line of EXTENSION TABLES are now on Exhibition .at
1319 Michigan Ave., (2d Floor) Chicago
IN CHARGE OF F. A. KUNEY, J O. KEMP, H. J ARMSTRONG
-- --_ ..- --- ---
----- ---'----
I
POSSELIUS BROS. FURNITURE MFG. CO.
DETROIT. MICH.

Luce-Redmond Chair Co.
Big Rapids. Michigan
Om Largest and Finest Line of
Bedroom, Slipper Chairs and Rockers
Parlor Suites, Office and Dining Chairs
In Mahogany, Oali:, Maple and Chxassian Walnllt
Furniture Exhibition Building, 2d floor, South Half to the front Sections 15 and 16, Grand Rapids.
In charge of ], C. HAMILTON and EDGAR FOSTER, assisted bytbe followiug Representatives:
L. G. WALDRON, J0r.:; T. HEALD, A. D. HUDGINS, :A. R. SANKS lUld
C. R. DAVIS oj the Wisconsin Furniture Co.
43

- - - -- --------- --- ---
44
Grand Rapids Furniture Co.
SUCCESSORS
NEW ENGLAND FURNITURE CO.
Dining Room Furniture in
Complete Suites
MEDIUM PRICES
Side Boards,
China Cabinets,
Serving Tables,
Extension Tables,
Chairs
'1
Line strengthened and mad'(: more Complete
by addition of New and Artistic Patterns.
Show Rooms at Factory IOn Canal St.
On the First Floor at 1319 Michigan Ave., CHICAGO
~TH.ROPCO.
:f 9-
Display complete Lines of samples from the
following factories:
Elk Furniture Co~ } ~~\is~i:RS.
Dl'XI'e" " CHIFFO~IERS.
SIDEBOARDS
Crowell Furniture Co. §~rttAL
Thomasville Furn, Co. ~~'t1KF~~~i~
Standard Chair Co. g~Wci'¥2,O,J' Gd
Queen Chair Co. ~~~AT
Pro bs t - B'Iggs F urn. Co. SIDEBOARDS
Gd BUFFETS
Choate-Hollister Furn. CO.l:I1AA~GGRADE
. TABLES
Oo Iden F urn. Co. CHIFFONIERS.
POLISHED DRESSERS .,.;
All Woo"
SeIIers & S ons Co. KITCHEN
CABINETS
M .. F C MISSiON .,.;
ISSlOn urn. o. ARTSGd CRAFTS
C api·taIF urn. Mfg. Co. OAKPORCH
FURNITURE
GET OUR PRICES AND DISCOUNTS, 'READY JULY 1st.
MANUFACTURERS' EXHIBITION BUILDING, 1319 MICHIGAN AVE" CHICAGO

~MlfrIG7}-N
Fight the Two-Cent Fare Laws.
Eighteen railroad companies in Missouri are fighting the
two-cent fare law which is to take effect in that state on
July 1. They have secured an injunction, from Judge Smith
McPherson of Kansas City, restaining the state officials
from taking steps to enforce the law until the courts have
passed upon a previous petitioll asking that the law be de-
elared invalid all. constitutional grounds. About twenty roads
have taken similar action in Illinois and a smaller number in
Minnesota, Arkansas, Iowa and Nebraska. It is expected
the decision in the Missouri case will be accepted in the
other states, but as that case may be appealed to the United
States Supreme Court the operation of the laws may be suspended
for a year or more. The y;.'iscansin senate, by a
BEDROOM.
MANCHESTER,
ENGLAND
votJ of 6 to 20, killed the twO-cent fare bill 'which had passed
the 'lower house of the legislature.
It is announced that in case the courts uphold the two-cent
fare laws, the railroads wilt withdrawnj all special rates of
less than two cents a mile, except comntutation rates. They
will also withdraw all "less than car load" commodit}" freight
rates and will raise the mll1l1TIUm caT load weight on more
than 90 per cent of the articles named in the western freight
classification, abolish several special commodity tariffs and
restore the articles to classification. Such action would advance
the minimum car load of iron articles, 6,000 pounds,
agricultural implements 4;000, grain products 5,000 and all
other carload commodities from 3,000 to 6,000 pounds, and,
DINING
ROOM,
MANCHESTER,
ENGLAND
with the abolition of commodity tariffs on low grade shipments,
..... vould have the effect of making a general advance ill
freight rates of about six per cent. .
The Sextro Line.
The Sextro Manufacturing Company will have their new
line for the July season on display on -the sixth floor of the
Manufacturers' Exhibition building. 1319 Michigan avenue,
.Chicago. Manager Sextro states that his company have had
an l1l1USllal1ylarge volume of business during the past year
and that :it the present time they are still behind On filling
their ordets. The Sextro table line is one of the strongest
to be found on the markets.
45

46
We Sell to Dealers Only.
New Catalogs Free.
NEW· LINE
on DISPLAY
Manlacturers' Big Exhibition Building
CHICAGO. ILLINOIS
WRITE FOR CATALOGUE
COLONIAL DESIGNS
Appeal to the best trade. Many
new Colonial pieces, with our
complete line of Mahogany, Birdseye
Maple and Q!artered Oak
BEDROOM FURNITURE
will be shown on the Fifth Floor
Manulacturers' Exhibition Building
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS .....
The Spencer & Barnes Company
BENTON HARBOR, MICH.
Some of our Salesmen who will "show you" F. T. Plimpton: & Company,
M. A. Harmon, S, Mercer and E. B Benbow.
THE SEXTRO MFG. co.
CINCINNATI, OHIO

No. 384% Dining Table.
Moon Desk Co.
MUSKEGON, MICH.
HOFFICE DESKS
New Styles for Fall Season
q Line on sale Seventh Flocr, Manufacturers'
Building, Grand Rapids, Mich.
OUR OAK AND MAHOGANY
Dining
Extension
Tables
Are Be:fi Made, Bdl: Finished Values. All
Made hom Thoroughly Seasoned Stock.
No. 3&4~Dining Table
Top. 48x:48. Made in Q!:!arteted Oak.
Full Polished, Nickel Calfters.
NQ. 384. Same style as above with square top.
LENTZ TABLE CO.
NASHVILLE. MICH.
WHITE. PRINTING CO.
I I GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.
HIGH GRADE CATALOGS COMPLETE
47

48
Free Excursions Like Trading Stamps.
During the past two years many towns in Minnesota and
some in other western states inaugurated bargain weeks- and
buying excursions, during the progress of which they offered
Made by Manistee Manufacturing CO.,
Manistee, Mich.
railroad fare free to those who came in from other towns and
bought goods to a certain amount.
The proposition naturally has some attractive features
and at first showed signs of being a profitable investment
for the promoters. Like the trading stamp scheme, however,
it was not long before the idea was overworked. Other
towns' began to employ the same means to attract trade and
eventually the large city of Minneapolis decided to take a
hand in the matter and recently held its tlrst "Free Fare Trade
\Veek."
The jobbers and manufaetttrers of the latter city have
evidently decided that they do not care to continue such methods
of enticing the people to come from out of tOW11to buy
in that market. They apparently believe, as the business men
of every good market town should believe, that they have desirable
lines to after and that no inducements should be necessary
in order to attract business to that center. 1£ each
city were to inaugurate a plan of this kind, no oue would be
deriving 'any henetlt from the plan but illstead the merchants
would be distributing to their customers in the \-yay of railroad
fare a large amount of money, which eventually mnst
be made up in some other way. As- mentioned ahove, it
would practically become a duplicate of the trading stamp
scheme. In summing up the experience gained after its first
trial in Minne'apolis, the North \Vest Trade of that city discourages
the holding of future similar excursions and says:
"No city can hope for commercial honors as a manufacturing
and distributing point where its manufacturers and
wholesalers are called upon to combat such commercial heresies
and methods as exemplified in this scheme, as it inspires,
and justly, a feeling of resentment on the part of the merchants
whose trade is thus raided. 'Free Fare Trade Week'
was not a success. The expenses attending its operation
were almost prohibitive, the more so as it was not inspired
nor put into effect by Minneapolis retailers themselves, but
by a couple of 'promoters' or schemers from the outside
loaded, with' fair predictions and bright promises. The city
has not been crowded, nor has the volume of business shown
any decided increase.
"The single item of fares should have exhausted legitimate
profit on the required minimum of merchandisepu.rchased,
but in addition there were heavy expenses for thegerierotis
newspaper advertising, the strolling band, the maintenance
of the bureau of registration, and last, but by no means the
least, the promoters' share. And the grand aggregate
formed such a handicap that the scheme has been voted
many things but a success."
New Record £0[' the West Michigan.
The business of the ",Vest !vIichigan Furniture Company,
Holland, .~dich.,for the spring of 1907, has been the heaviest
in the history of the company. The line, covering golden
elm, maple mahogany, golden ash, golden oak, imitation figured
mahogany, imitation figured quartered oak, genuine mahogany
and qnartered oak veneered goods in chamber suites,
chiffoniers and dressers, is the largest they have ever produced.
They have also' had a very extensive trade in their
imitation quartered oak sideboards as well as in the genui11e
quartered oak goods.
The managers announce that they will make very few
changes for the fall, the line 'being so popular with the trade
that they do not deem it necessary to make changes. Every
month their business this season has shown an increase over
any and all preceding seasons.
Foreign Trade not Desired.
One of the consular rcpresenfatives of the United States,
in a long letter to the secretary of ,state at Washington ,gives
many reasons why there is no market to speak of in England
for furniture manufactured in the United States. It is a well
known fact that the trade of great Britain is not sought nor
desired by the manufacturers of furniture on this side of the
Made by Grand Rapids Chair Co., Grand Rapids. Mich
Atlantic. So long as the domestic markef takes the goods
produced, why bother with the trade of the tedious, fussy
Englishmen? \\Then the domestic market shall not beab!·
to handle the output of furniture made at home, the American
manufacturers wilt engage in the business of supplying the
English market with such goods as tbat country needs.
The factory cafes, for which Grand Rapids is famous, were
fully stocked up and ready for the enterta.inment of visiting
buyers on June 17.

UNLAWFUL COMBINE ADMITTED
SOME OF THOSE INDICTED FURNITURE MEN
PLEAD GUILTY AND PAY SMALL FINES.
They Adapt Resolutions Withdrawing All Obligations and
Agreements With the Northwest Furniture Exchange.
Sillce the artjcle appearing Oil nnother page relative to the
indictment of furniture men in the far northwe5t was printed,
it is announced from PortlaTHl that sixteen manufacturers and
wholesalers ;llld fOUf rct

50
Spread of· the Mai1~Order Method.
The outcry against mail order competition that comes
from the small retailer is bitter indeed, and- it is not w,ithout
reason. Yet not all retailers join in this condemnation of
CORNER. OF A MORNING ROOM. LONDON. ENG.
a mail-order catalogue for the use of its customers going to
departments of their own. Not only the farmers living in
sparsely-settled western districts purchase supplies in this
manner, but the suburban dwellers abont large eitie's, and the
people living in small cities of the East, and, even residents
AN
ENGUSH
DINING
ROOM
of the largest cities. In New York, for instance, the retail
house that delivers within a few blocks in winter, issues
a mail-order catalogue for the use of its customers going to
the country or seaside in summer, and its trade becomes a
lOllg~distancc business. Among neighborhood retailers the disposition
is to fight mail-order trading; but as soon as the retailer
grows out of his neighhorlcood he turns to and develops
this class of patronage. It is fundamental, and has come to
stay, and when the retailer goes with the current instead of
up-stream he finds it a means of widening his opportunities.
The telephone aed trolley are bringing in new conditions for
merchants, and, perhaps, will be more or less in the nature
of salvation to some of them within the next ten years. The
small retailer, today, is ~ghting against a parcels post Oll the
assumption that it will divert most of his trade to the mailorder
hOllses. But ten years hence he may find ~ueh a service
exactly the thing he needs to deliver packages ordere(l
by telephone and mail. .l\-fail"-ordertrade has been built
up largely by intelligent pron~otive work. The price factor
counts, beyond doubt. En the .local merchant has always
the advantage of being the man on the sp:Jt. He can save
time to his customers, ;ll~d that is a greater advantage, prob~
ably, than the average local merchant re:l1izcs today.-Ex.
Justice Knows No Color Line.
T\vo court decisiOlls recently reported from SouthCaroline
furnish a lesson for dishonest installment dealers and
also indicate that Southern justice does not recognize the
color line. In one case a negro- woman sued the Eagle
Furniture Company (N. Lifchez, proprietor) claiming dam~
ages for being overcharged to the extent of $3.35 on furniture
for which she had agreed to pay $39. She was awarded judgment
for $6UO, the furniture having been seized and removed
hy the dealer, but the judge reduced the amount to $400 on
condition that it be paid 'within ten days.
The other case, which has been affirmed by the supreme
court, seems to put the seal of approval lIpon the action of
jurors "soaking" installment dealers fdr overcharging. In
this case, also, the complainant was a colored woman who
sued the Drake Furniture Company of Columbia and got a
verdict of $100 for havillg her 50 cent tablecloth seized wrongfuny.
The costs fall the total expense of seizillg that tableclcth
up to about $250,
In the Lifchez case the collector alleged $7.65 due, but
Lifechez himself claimed there was $10 due and procecde-d
against the goods. The woman employed a lawyer, who tendered
$7.65, which was refused. Recei.pts were introduced
to show that the bjll had, in reality, been reduced to $4.

GRAND RAPIDS FURNITURE PRODUCTIONS are ~ouli!.ht
and CORRECT DESi~~;orld over by the discriminating buyer of ARTISTIC
In CABINET CONSTRUCTION and FINISH they are the highest possible attainment.
The GUNN. SE~TrONAL BOOKCASES stand ont from all other m"l.kes, Dot only be~
cause of this high grade of construction and finish. but becauSe of the MANY EXCLUS-
IVE, PRACTICAL PATENTED FEATURES of the system.
Points of superiority Over the older makes are; THE ROLLER BEARING. NON.
BINDING, REMOVABLE DOORS NO UNSIGHTLY IRON BANDS OR PROTRUD-
ING SHELVES. '
THE OVER LAPPING DOOR, making a perfectly DUST PROOF CASE UNIFORM
~~ONTj doin~ away with the step ladder effects found in other makes. Sections that
JOID so PERFECTLY, the appearance is that of a SOLID PIECE OF FURNITURE.
Look for the~e SPECIAL POINTS OF MERIT, found only in the "GUNN," before
purchasing.
SAMPLES OF DIFFERENT FINISHES SENT FREE.
TEhx'p'E·rRviTceSsof OUR EXPERT DESIGNER and of our entire force of LIBRARY
are yours to COllllU3.nd.
SEND FOR FREE CATALOGUE TODAY.
Giving valuable hints on the furnishing.
of your home Library. .'

·~MlffIIG?JN
WALL PAPER HISTORY.
THE LEXIN6TON
_ /lInl." 22d Sf
CHICAGO. ILL
Refurnished and re-
fitted throughout. New
Management. The
furniture dealers' bl!ad-
quarters. Most con-
veniently situated to
t b e furniture display
houses.
Inler·Slale Holel CO.
OWNBa &; PROPklETOR
E. K.. Criley. Pres.;
T. M. Crlley, V. Pres.;
L, H. Firey, Sec·Treas.
Present Methods of Manufacture, Conditions and Prices Com~
pared With Those of Forty Years Ago.
S. S. Conner of Westfield, Mass., is said to have been in
the wall paper business longer than any other man in this
country. It was forty years ago that Mr. Conner made his
first venture. l\Iachinery such as is now used was then Ut1unknown,
and all the wall papers were printed by hand. Now
a wall paper .11ial1ufacturer boasts that in two hours he can
convert a tree into pulp, manufacture it into wall paper and
have it on the wall. But the use of the wood pulp without
other stock to strengthen the paper, makes it so brittle that
it is hard to hanule and has little. wearing quality.
Early wall papers were intended by the manufacturers to
last more than a year. Mr. Conner has sold wall paper for
$4.50 and $5 a roll. Of course, this was of the finest quality
and design, which requited considerable time in the process
of manufacture. The most difficult and tedious parto{ the
work was putting on the designs. The paper came in a big
roll drawn over some flat surface and the block on which
had been cut the design was dipped in .the color and it was
then pressed upon the paper. This operation was repeated
with a number of blocks until all the colors required in the
design were put on. 1 The paper was moved along a short
distance and the process repeated.
So well was the. paper made that it would last a lifetime,
and the house\vife never dreamed of having it pulled off ev~
ery fall or spring to be replaced with new, as is the custom
nowadays, when paper can be· bought for 3 and 4 cents a roll.
In the old fashioned days the wall paper tame in rolls
twenty inches wide instead of eight,een inches as at present.
Borders were not made to match the designs in tllC wall
paper, so the customer selected the decoration he wanted for
his wall and then took the border that looked best with it.
Borders with gilt background were in general favor and
most of them were decorated with dark red flecking.
Flecking was produced by covering the gilt paper with a mucilaginous
substance and then sifting through the desig-n velvet
trimmings. After the velvet had dried on, the trimmings
that did not adhere to the glue were brushed off.
Sometimes these borders were flat g.ilt papers, sometimes
the flecking was put on solid. Solid flecking was used for
wall decoratioin up to fifteen years ago when the modern wall
papers began to come into the market.
English wall paper came in rolls of eighteen yards but after
the industry secured a foothold in this country the length of
a roll was reduced to sixteen yards and the cutting down has
been going on ever since, until nOw some rolls do not contain
more than thirteen yards.
Early manufacturers paid high wages to color mixers and
block cutters, men who cut the designs in wood blocks, and
the result was the manufacture of fast colors. It is said that
one firm in New York paid its color mixer $60,000 a year and
he had as an assistant his son, who drew $15,000 a year salary,
and they. only worked eight months in a year at that. Designers
and cutters received $8 a day.
Color mixers soon discovered that arsenic produced the
most beautiful green for printing wall papers and its use quickly
became general. It was not long before its poisonous effects
were discovered, the paperhangers being the first to suffer
from it.
Physicians have reported many cases of arsenical poisoning
from wall paper and only a few months ago the newspapers
printed a story about an Illinois farmer who lost three
wives in three years by death, the cause of which was found to
be the arsenic in the parlor wall paper. According to the
story, tbe women were taken ill immediately after the spring
house cleaning, during which the waJl paper in the parlor had
been brushed. An investigation of the house led to the
dise'overy of the cause of the women's deaths.
Gerieral knowledge of the dangerous properties of green
wall paper caused a falling off in the demand and dealers soon
stopped buying it, with the result t11at the manufacturers to a
large extent abandoned the use of arsenic, so that today there
is very little of this kind on the market.
Soon after the introduction of the printing- presses the
manufacturers vied with onc another in producing artistic
wall papers, the principal object being to put the largest Hnmber
of colors in a design. One Philadclphia firm surpassed
an its competitors in this work and succeeded in producing
designs having eighteen different colors, but this fad died out
and now not more than eight colors are found in one design.
Borders are manufactured to match design in the wall
paper and the paper is trimmed and butted so that there is
very little waste. When wall paper was made by hand, the
borders sold 'IS high as $3.50 a single roll or $7 a double roll,
but now the border and wall paper are sold for the 51-meprice,
Added Dining and Chamber C':1airs.
The Ottawa Furniture company of Holland, Mich., have
added a line of dining and cham ber chairs, in fre1:ihand novel
patterns (;to their" choice lires of furniture for the chamber
and dining rO~Jlll. Samples will be exhibited in Grand Rapids
and New York during the mid-summer selling season
STAR CASTER CUP CO.
NORTH UNION STREET. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.
(PATENT APPLJED JI' ....R)
We have adopted celluloid as a base for ollr Caster Cups, making the
best cup on the markel. Celluloid is a g«'at improvement over bases
made of other material. When it is necessary to move a pie-cesupported
by cups witb cellulnld bases it can be done with ease, as the bases are perfectly
smooth. Celluloid dot's not sweat. and by tbe use of tht'se cup.'i
tables are never marred. These cups are finif

------------------------------------------ -
IN FORCE FROM MAY 15th to JULY 15th, 1907.
We have imported direCt from Japan 300,000 good quality folding Fam. specially prepared,for us, and will give these out to our customers during
thenextsixtydays. Dealers ordering BISSELL'S "eyeo" BEARING SWEEPERS during the period our Fan Offer is in force will
receive the fans free, in accQrdance with the conditions of our Fan Offer.
The Fans will please your customers, thereby advertising you, and at the same time will help
the sale of our goods during the warm seaSOD.
PLEASE WRITE US FOR FULL PARTICULARS REGARDING THIS LIBERAL OFFER
$}
BISSELL CARPET SWEEPER CO., Grand Rapids, Mich.
(LARGEST AND ONLY EXCLUSIVE MANUFACTURERS OF CARPET SWEEPERS IN THE WORLD)
Branches: New York; Toronto: London; Paris,
Woodard Furniture Co.
OWOSSO, MICH
MANUl'ACTUREI

54
Show of Appreciation is Good Business Policy.
Men need a word of cnc.-,ouragement now ar.d then just as
n:uch as they need food. For as food is to the bcdy, so is
encouragement to the n~jlld and heart. A worker who is
discouraged is not half. a man. And even the mo~t liberal
compensation call 110t take the place of a word of appreciation
and encouragement given in the right siprit in the rigH time.
"That is a wMd job, Henry," said a business man
to his clerk, who had jL:st finished ruling a bock for him,
and the young man threw himself into his work with rer:ewed
energy and interest. The man never knew how much that
slight word of approval meant to the clerk, nor how much
it added to his enthusiasm,
Men and women crave assurance that their work is meeting
with satisfaction. To withhold that assurance when it i.3
due is not ITlcrcly poor b1..1Sinesspolicy, but it is also an injustice.
Part of the compensation of every worker is the
satisfaction of knowing that he is accomplishing .something,
and to withhold that satisfaction is often more -grievous than
to hold back money duly earned.
More .and more must tllOsc in authority in business
recognize the human elen~ent in men ar.d women-the
part the heart plays in the world. It is possible, of course,
to say too n1\1ch to a man, gj·..,inghim an over-elated sense of
his value, bllt the tendcl1(:y seems rather in the other direction;
men do not get cllccuragen;,ent enough-V\raldo P.
\Varren.
"An Unburnable City,"
A New York fire insurance man is reported as declaring
"Some day 'we shall have an unburnable city!" The declaration
was made after inspecting the Caledonian building on
Pine street, in the vVall street district, which is considered
morc nearly fireproof than any other large bt1i~ding ill the
city. It is twelve stories high and has a cast iron frame
protected by porous terra cotta and brick. Tts insurance rate
is 5 cents per $100, while the rate 011 the New York Exchange
building, ten stories high, with its metal frame only partially
protected, is 10 ents per $ICO. From this it appears thzt
The Sargent Mfg. Co.
MUSKEGON, MICH.
Bachelors' Cabinets
Ladies' Desks
Extra Large Chiffoniers
----- __ AISO Manufactulell aDd ~ of _
ROLLING CHAIRS
Chairs adapted to all kinds of invalidism, both. for
house and street use.
OVER FORTY DESIGNS TO SELECT FROM
Line on Sale in KUNGMAN BUILDING. GRAND RAPIDS.
7'lR
.
T 115'A.l\I
Tee
Muskegon Valley Furniture Co.
MuskOl!OD.
Mich •.
Odd
Dressers
Chafoniers
Wardrobes
Ladies'
Toilets
Dressing
Tables'
Mahogany
Inlaid
Goods
Ladies'
Desks
Music
Cabinets
Line on sale in
Manufacturers'
ExhibftiQU
Building,
GRANIJ
RAPIDS.
the way to obtain low insurance rates is. to construct fireproof
buildings.
Fans From the Flowery Kingdom.
The Bissell Carper Sweeper Company of Grand Rapids
have imported 300,OCO fans direct from Japan, which will be
distributed to dealers handling the Bissell sweepers free be-
Made by the Spencer & Barnes, Co., Benton Harbor, Mich
tween .the present and July 15. The fans will 'please customers
and will help the dealer in making sales of Bissell
sweepers. The company 'will give the particulars of their
"fan offer" to dealers requesting the same.

OUR NEW 1907 LINE OF ALASKA REFRIGERATORS
with side ice chamber is made in twenty-one styles,
zinc lined, white enamel and porcelain lined. Our
cataloguewill interestyou. Write for it.
THE ALASKA REFRIGERATOR CO.
Exclusive Refrigerator Manufacturers.
MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN.
A Dirge for the Price Cutter.
never pays to cut prices. The cutter is an object of Sl1_~piciol1
from the time he hegins the trick. It is bad practice,
and one that is dcmoratizillg to trade. And, like the boomerang,
it strikes back at the one who thnnvs it.
The retailer-for he is the one \\'ho cllts-only cheapens
the price of hi:; goods to attract customers. He is hungry
for trade, and oftell unwisely thinks that he had rather sell
tJJrce pieces at a pr(Jllt of $2 each than Ol:C at a gain of $5.
Ma.tleby The Spencer & Barnes Co., Benton Harbpr, Mich.
In theory this looks good. But it is Door business. To sell
three pieces he mLlst have thrice the capital or credit that he
,"vollld J,ave to scJl Olle, The less proflt per dollar he tUrllS
.... ·'It on this clpital, the poorer financier he is.
The price cutter is looked upon w.ith lvonder by business
men. Tf he is llOt demanding

56 ·~MI9rIG7}N
The Window's Influence on Trade.
One of the greatest problems of today which the merchant
has to solve is how to influence trade, says C. T. Cullom of
Sedalia, Mo., in an article on "V\lindow Dressing" in the
American Artisan. Naturally the 6rst thing to do is to use
the newspapers freely. Let the public know who you are,
what you are, and impress upon them that you are alive and
up-ta-date, and in position to give them good value for their
money. And when you have advertised be sure that you
have the goods which are, in every particular, an you claim
Made by the Bosse Furniture Co., Evansville, Ind.
for thew, so that your patrons will have confidence in yoU and
your goods. If you can't get their confidence your effort:;
to get their trade will be in vain.
The first step toward gaining the confidence of the public
will be in the appearance of your store. Let a customer
come into your store and find everything topsy-turvy' and -he
will at once lose confidence ill you as 'a storekeeper.
To my judgment the window is the index to the whole
store. When yon Sf.'.f.' a nice window di!'>play,just step inside
and you will find, without single exception, a well arranged
store. You will find each class of goods arranged to good
advantage and well displayed. No jumbled up goods there.
Kinety-nine chances out of a hundred, when you see a store
with attractive window display, inside yOU will find ~nergetic,
industrious clerks and a prosperous -business.
In talking to merchants who do not pay attention to window
displays, it is almost a universal opinion that it is too
much work and expense for the results ohtained. Also, that
it takes a 'window dresser of experience to make an attractive
window. This is a very common idea. For instance,
the display for which the A~erical1 Artisan recently awarded
me the second prize in its contest, took me just two days'
work in arranging at intervals when I was not waiting on
trade. I could easily have arranged it in half a day with
nothing else to do, and all the actual expense was not to cx-
ceed five cents.
I do not pretend to be an expert window dresser; in fact,
my experience is ve.ry limited; and I am encouraged to know
that I was able to win a second prize among so many contestants,
There isn't a store in the country but what has a man
who could with a little time, a few cents, and the good-will
of his proprietor, make a window which would attract a good
deal of attention, and draw trade enough to pay his time and
the few cents spent many times over.
The results obtained from success in window dressing
will fire the ambition of any man and lead to better arrangements
and display throughout the store, "Goo{ls well displayed
are one-half sold." Taking into consideration the
silent salesman, the V.llndow, as per salary you pay, is the
hest investment any merchant can make.
Significance of Colors in Oriental Rugs.
Kot only the designs but the colors of rugs woven in the
Orient are full of significance. They represent national or
individual traditions, they stand for virtues and vices, social
importance or social ostracism. They are the result, says the
Eclectic Church Magazine, of the political and religious histories
of the countries in which they were made.
Tyrian purple is almost universally regarded as royal.
Red was regarded by the Egyptians as symholic of fidelity.
Green has been chosen by the Turk as his gala color, but he
would not approve its use in rugs, where it would be trDdden
by the feet.
Rose tints signify the highest wisdom, black and indigo
sorrow, with the Persians. Preferences for duller tones of
color among the Persians give to all their embroideries and
other products of the loom a certain richness and dignity.
New Furniture
"'T. H. Obling, \Vichita, Kao.
Dealers.
Brunswick Furniture Co" Brunswick, Neb.
Painter & Ehrenberger, Schuyler, Neb.
Albert J. Fountain & Son, !l'1esilla, N. M.
L. Switzer, Kalispell, Mont.
M. Buller, Klamath Falls, Ore.
Sheehan Furniture Company, Couer d'Alene, Ida.
R. L. Loflin---,-----incorporated, $20,(J(JO-Hlgh Point, N. C.
Newell & Co.-incorporated, $lO,OOO-Newport News, Va,
Sheridan Furniture Company, Shcrldan, 'Nyo. Capi.tal
f,tock, $50,000.
Kirkland & Overstreet, Pearson, Ga,
Furniture Fires.
Arthur G. Pike, Chelsea, Mass. Loss $5,000.
Enger & Olson, Duluth, Minn. Loss $800.
Dou'glass Furniture Hospital, Chicago. Loss $6,000.
Bradley & Thomas, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
P. Vl. 'Madsen, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Campbell & Skinner's mattress factory, Reno, Nev.
The Newton Company, San Angelo, Tex.
The Hoffman Company, Wilmington, DeL
W. S. Clark & Son, Seward, Pa.
Mohawk (N. Y.) Manufacturing Company. Plant
pletety destroyed. Loss $75,000; insurance $44,GOO.
rebuild.
New Factory For Grand Rapids.
com-
Will
AHred B. Nachtegal, Julia .Nachtegal and George J. Vie\"heilig
of Grand Rapids, Mich" Stephen P. Spitz of Washington,
·D. c., and James E. Reilly of Charlotte, N. c., have incorporated
the Nachtegal Manufacturing Company, capitalized
at $100,000, with tenper cent paid in, to manufacture and
sell office, store, bank and other fixtures. The factory will
be located in Grand'Rapids.

J. C. WIDMAN & CO.
14th, 15th, Kirby Ave" and G. T. Ry,
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Man%cturen tJf ---.
Mirrors, Hall Furniture, China Closets, Buffets,
Chevals
PERMANENT SALESROOMS ..
NEW YORK, 428 Lexington Ave. CHICAGO, £,3£9 Michigan Ave.
Art in Selling "Spiffs."
Selling of "spiffs" by salesmcll in stores is a source of rev-
enue that often adds to the \veckly salary and forms a legitimate
means for the clerk to illcrease his income and at the
same time assist his employer.
"Spiff" is a term that is understood well by salesmen and
prohably is seldom heard outside the stores. Spiffs are the leftover:)-goods
that have passed the novelty stage and are not
staple, They arc as good as ever, but their salable quatit:es
have declined until newer goods are IT. ore easily sold.
"VVhCll such goods

58
Jamestown Lounge Company to Make Leather Turkish
Chairs.
Arthur H. ~Greelilund, vice-president of the ]amesto"Wll
Lt'~nge Company is particularly well 'pleased with the new
fall line of J1;5 concern, now practically COI1:1p1etcd. .Mr.
Greenlund's enthusiasm is unmistakable. To use his own
words, "we have outdone ourselves tbis season :111(} we will
show a line at the market which will make lively times around
our space." AsM L Grccnlund has persolJal]y supervised the
designing and production of every new line hrought out by
the Jamestown Lounge Company since the business 'was established,
and has also attended in person every exhibit made
by them during the fourteen years in which they have shown
their line at the markets, he should be pretty well qualified to
judge as to results. The Jamestown Lounge Company were
am011g the lirst of the ot1t3ide manufacturers to recognize
the advantag"c of showing their line at Grand RapiJs, and although
occasioned exhibits have heen made in other markets,
Grand Rapids has long been recognized as their regular ex':
hibition market.
The Lounge Company will surprise their customers this
season by showing for the first tin~e a line of Turkish chairs
and rockers upholstered in "reliance" leather. It was decided
to add these goods owing to the insistent demand for them
by the trade, and although a new department, it will not by
any means be conducted in an experimental way. The company
has engaged as manager for this branch of their business
one of the most expert men In this line of work who has for
many years been in charge of this department for one of the
larg~stconcerns inaking leather furniture. The initial line
will not be large as to number of patterns, but will be confined
to ."l range of tJle most popular gr.ades and wj}l be filled b as
occasion demands.
Although considerable complaint of Quiet business has
been heard throughout the season from both the retailer and
manufactmer, the Lounge company report that while they
INTERIOR OF A COTTAGE AT LETOHWORTH, ENGLAND.
might have handled some more business, their shipments are,
as a matter of fact, slightly in excess of the spring season of
last year, establishing a new record.
The Udell Exhibit.
Indianapolis, June 22.-The "Udell Works will make a big
showing this July seasoll at Grand Rapids, where this com~
pally is now exhibiting exc1uisvely. Manager Cobb states
that the July line ·wj1] be as strong as ever and that it will
be of special interest to the buyers of ladies' desks, music
cabincts, piano player roll cabinets, bookcases and library
tables. He says, however, the quality will 110t be sacrificed
on aCCOl1ntof .reasonable pric:es. The Udell line this season
will show son~e beautiful patterns in Circassian walnut in the
department of one, two or three ladies' drawer desks .. The
ne\v Cdcll catalogue will he ready by the rlliddle of July and
\vill contain sixty or more jlages of ictcrcsting reading and
illustratetI matter. The exhihit this season will be in charge
of the following gentlemen: F. L Billings, who looks after
Chicago antI Milwaukee; Dan G. Williams, who travels in
Pennsylvania and Ohio, also coveril1g Detroit; W, H. Murphy,
middle West; Geo. C. Dyer, the East, and Paul M. Roth
the Pacific coast.
On the Kalamazoo.
Stuart Foote and Russell Taylor, of the Imperial Furnitune
company spent two weeks recently in boating and fishing
on the beautiful Kalamazoo river. After a few day on the
river they becarr:c dissatisfied with the boats for hire On the
stream and proceeded to Muskegon where they purchased a
neat little naphtha launch and in eight hours made the ruri of
fifty miles from Muskegon to Saugatuck, on Lake Michigan,
The outing was greatly enjoyed by the young men, and they
returned to prepare for the opening of the season "reinvigorated
and in jubilant spirits.

REX [;:;t:~]MATTRESS
CHAS. A. FISHER & CO.,
1319 Michigan Ave., Chicago.
WRITE FOR
BOOKLET
AND
PROPOSITION
WarehOUlIelil
ST. LOUIS, MO. KANSAS CITY, MO.
PEORIA, ILL LINCOLN, ILL
MINNEAPOLIS. MINN.
CHICAGO, ILL.
EVANSVILLE
Eva nsvillc, Ind .. J tllle 22.- The }'1etal Furniture Con-p,,-cy,
which erected a larg-e plant and cOlllmenced the manufacture
of brass

60
MiEcellaneous Notes.
The Imperial Furniture Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.,
have sold their sectional bookcase business t'O the (). C. S.
Olsen Company of Chicago. The space hertofore used by
that department will be used to increase the output of tables.
The White Furniture Company of Mebane, N. c., recently
shipped several carloads of furniture billed "To Uncle Sam,
Panama." The cars were decorated with ballflcrS inscribed
"For the Big Ditch; From the vVhite Furniture Company."
The Dodge-Spear Company, successor to the old house of
Pitts, Kimball & Co'. of Boston, is facing a petition in bankruptcy,
filed by creditors W}lO were dissatisfied with the appointment
of a receiver selected by the debtors.
I Eldredge & Peabody of Boston, who were burned out in
December last, took possession of an elegant new store on
the old site during the jirst week in June. Mr. Peabody will
visit the Grand Rapids market as usual.
J "VV. Dunwell of Butler, Mo., has sold l1is furniture business
to James T. Glanville, a brother of F. J. Glanville, the
well known furniture dealer of Kansas ,City, Kan,
John Hummel, furniture dealer of BroDklyn, N. Y., who
recently made an assignment for the benefit of creditors, will
pay 100 cents on the dollar and continue business_
The Gutter Fumiture Company of Port Huron, Mich.,
will soon move into larger quarters, having leased and remodeled
the armory building on :\lilitary street.
Pritz Brothers, furniture dealers of South Bethlehem, Pa.,
were closed out by the sheriff on June 10. The creditors; received
less than 25 per ccnt.
Turner & CUne, furniture, hardware and undcrtaking,
Bradshaw, ).Jeb., have dissolved partnership. A. B. Turner
continues the business.
Conrad & Kiesker, furniture dcalers of Fresno, CaL, made
an :l5sjgnnH',]]L \V. Parkcr Lyon bought the stock in bulk
and crcditors were paid in full.
The plant of the Kincajd Furniture Company, Statesville,
N. c., was damaged to the extent of about $2,000 by a wind
and hail storm recently.
The general offices of the Simmons rVIanufacturing Company
have been moved from Chicago to the factory at Kenosha"
Wis.
The Fisher-Herrington Furniture Manufacturing Company
of Allentown, Pa., recently embarrassed,will pay 75 cents on
the dollar.
The Steel Fixture Manufacturing Company is ,a ncw CDIl-
"-crn in Topeka, Kan. Thcy make steel fmniturt, lockers,
etc.
Creditors have filed a petition in bankruptcy against the
Happy Home Furniture Company of New Bedford, Mass.
The Laupheimer Furniture Company of Baltimore, Md.,
has been placed in the hands of a receiver;
An involuntary petition in bankruptcy has been filed
against the Danville (Ill.) Rarg

---------------------------~----- - --- -
HOLIDAY GOODS CAME LATE
BUT DEALERS IN THE FAR WEST HAVE HAD A
GOOD SPRING TRADE.
Arthur F. Switz Tells of Condition on the Pacific Coast and
in the Mountain States.
Arthur F. Switz. a resident of California, who represents
the Sligh Furniture Company of Grand Rapids and several
other good furniture manufacturing houses on the coast, arrived
in Grand Rapids on June 14, accompanied by his wlfe,
preparatory to spending- the mid-summer season in the market.
j,.fr. S,vitz reported the outlook for trade in Caliiornla
as not very encouraging, but in Oregon, \Vashington and the
mountain states, a heavy serlson's trade is looked for. The
dealers of Seattle, Spokane, Portland and Tacoma have broken
their records of sales over all seasons of the past, in quite a
number of il1stances the increased sales averaging from Gfty
to seventy-five per ccnt, though dealers have been greatly inconvenienced
and ;:I11noyedin the delivery of goods from the
cast. Thc folJm:ving furnishes an idea of the trouble growing
out of the cause mentioned. Frederick Ncl!-iotl oC Seattle
unloads one car, on an average, every day in the year. For
four months follmving December 15 last not a car of furniture
was received from the eastern territory for this hOllse. ,\Then
the blockade was raiscd and the goods commenced to arrive
in train Jots, thev.'ork of removing the goods from the railroads
to thc "\varehouses of the company can be more easily
imagined than described. Tn Spokane, after many months
of blockaded freights, Tull & Gibbs received from seven to
ten carloads per day, and spring style goods went out of fashion
before they 'were received by the purchasers. Mr. Switz
mentioncd a shipment made from Grand Rapids in ]anu

62
No. 944 in Mahoga.ny. Top 34x60.
No. 953 in Oak. Top 28x48.:
MANUFACTURED BY ORAND RAPIDS CHAIR CO., GRAND RAPIDS MICH.
ALL IN MAHOGANY AND OAK

SHELBYVlLLFJ
Shelbyville, J Ulle 23.-C F. Schmoe & Co., wanufacturers
of kitchen cabinets, gCllt[cmen's wardrobes and chiffoniers,
will exhihit all the sixth floor of the l\lanufactnrcTs' Furniture
exchange, Chicago. during the July season. :\lr.
Scl11roe \vill 1:e personally in charge of the Schmoe exhibit
and slates that their line will consist of twenty-one patterns
in oak and satin walnut. He reports the trade as excellent
the past year alld that they have done twenty-five per cent
more business in the month of June than they did hst year.
His trade, he states, dropped off to some c"tellt last Jal~uary
011 account of the floods prcvailing at that time.
The Shelbyville Desk Company aTC getting (Jut. their 11('\,\,
catalog-llc

64
-~- ---------
Furniture City Bedding Line
We have factory facilities and equipments to produce the very be:!t in our line
and respeCtfully solicit your patronage. Catalogue and particulars to the trade.
HOT BLAST FEATHER CO.
Penn Tables in Grand Rapids.
The Penn Furniture Company, which operates factories
in Huntington, \V. Va" and Conneautville. Pa" have brought
out large lir:es of tables in new patterns for the fall season of
trade. Forty-two samples, induding many new designs,
made of quartered oak and fillishcd golden and in early English,
and also in a new finish which they call "Colonial," have
been placed upon the floors of T. Ashley Dent, in the Klingman
building, Grand Rapids. The factory at Conneautville
is operated in the production of five leg tables, and in the
new, modern plant at Huntington, W. Va" pedestal tables
to the number of 1200 per month are manufactured. The
company is represented as follows:
T. Ashley Dent, 1718 Fuller (Flatiron) Building, New
York.
L. H. Fullerton, New England states and New York.
T. H. Camp, far west.
L. E. Ullman, Metropolitan district.
Sanders Blanton, New York state, Pennsylvania and eastern
Ohio.
These gentlemen will be present during the mid-summer
selling season in Grand Rapids, to meet their friends of the
trade. Buyers "..,ho have not" planned to yjsit the market
can obtain the company's new catalogue and price list by writing
to the home office, at Huntington, W. Va. The business
is under the management of Chas. Svoboda, an experienced
and competent business man.
H~rman Lauter Dead.
Herman Lauter, for tlJirty years a furniture manufacturer
of Indianapolis, Ind., died on June 8, aged 69 years. He was
born in Germany, came to America in 1865 and three years
later established a small furniture factory in New York. In
1876 he WeYlt to Indianapolis, formed a partnership with
Grand Rapids. Michigan
MAlTRESSES
SPRINGS
PILLOWS
A SPEQALLY NOTEWORTHY LINE OF
FELT MATTRESSES
Charles Frese and under the firm natr.e of Lauter & Frese estc!blished
a factory which was rcrr;arkably successfuL Mr.
Frese di~d in 1880 and Mr. Lauter bou;l:t 1-i;;interest in the
factory from the heirs. The business coct'inucd to grow an'd
a few years ago MT. Lauter built a new plant which is now
said to be the largest in Indiana. He leaves a widow, six
daughters and one son-Alfred, who is well qualified to succeed
his father as manager of the business, leaving had several
years' experience in the factory.
A Fast Selling Line of Chain.
A few years ago "Billy" Redmond, a master chair maker,
with a number of associates, commenced the manufacture of
chairs at Big Rapids, Mich. The original line was so full of
merit that the goods bounded into the favor of the trade,
and having maintained the high standard established in the
beginning, the disposal of the output annually has been more
easily aecomplished than the manufacture of goods necessary
to fill the orders. Many new pieces have been added to the
line, which has been placed on sale in the big Klingman building,
Grand Rapids. Associafed with. Mr. Redmond are
Charles A. Luce, a veteran of the furniture trade, and P. W.
Hathaway, an accomplished_ financier and all-around business
man ..
One Hundred Thousand for Adverti5ing.
The Gunn Furniture Company, manufacturers of sectional
bookcases and office desks, will expend the sum of $100,000
dming the fall months of the c.urrent year in advertising their
products. It is the purpose of the company to acquaint the
general public with the merits of the company's furniture and
to create a larger demand for the same -through dealers
throughout the country. An explanation of the plan is published
on another page of the Artisan. It should interest
every dealer.

White-McCarthy Furniture Co.
SALES AGENTS
CHICAGO: 3d Floor,1319 Michigan Ave.
READY JUt Y 1st, 1907
3
LINES OF CASE GOODS
OBERBECK
Bedroom furniture complete.
Oak, Maple, Mahogany, Tuna,
Walnut.
WHITE
Suites, Dressers J Chiffoniers.
The greatest line from the Sout!l.
BOOTH
Special line from Indiana.
Quartered Oak, M a hog any.
Dressers, Chiffoniers, Princess.
AND
3
LINES OF ·CHAIRS
STANDARD
Wood, Cane, Leather, Box Seat
Dining Chairs. Box Seat Bedroom
Chairs.
KENDALL VILLE
Morris Chairs, Rockers. New
Line; New Factory; Less Money.
HILLSBORO
Chea p Oak Chairs. The best
jinished line.
THE MODERN LINE OF HALL FURNITURE
Improvement has been made in every line. The lines
ahound in new .features---cle·ver conceits .from the
hand of skilled designers. See the new Ten Piece
Oldene!m. 'Theclean patterns .from the Southland--the
strong .features throughout. Visit
3d Floor, 1319 MICHIGAN AVE.
White-McCARTHY FURNITURE CO. --CHICAGO--
65

66 ·~~M.19,HIG7}N
THE MONARCH PUSH BUTTON CHAIR
EVERY PATTERN OF
OUR WELL KNOWN
LINE OF MORRIS
CHAIRS WILL BE
EQUIPPED WITH
THIS PUSH BUTTON
ATTACHMENT.
The Monarch is
Perfection, Comfort
and Utility.
Ramsey -Alton
Mfg. Co.
PORTLAND, MICH.
Will Exhibit on the Ground Floor of the Ashton Building (Formerly Pythian Temple),
Grand Rapids, in July, 1907.
What a Retail Salesman Should Know.
How to frame up _and polish arguments so that .prospective
customers may be impressed.
How to conduct the strate"gy of a sale; to guide the customers'
mind; to arouse interest; to win confidence-; to be diplomati"cally
persistent; to awakel~ enthusiasm; to carry conviction.
How to COllvert seeming disadvantages to f-cal advantages
-stumbling blocks into stepping stones. ",
How to rr:eet competition.
How to maintain prices; to close sales; to build business
for the future; .to ~reate new avenues for trade; to keep old
customers in line, and to gain the permanent trade of new
Ones.
When the requirements have been mastered, the intelligent,
thinking salesmen will discover that in many other respects
there is room for self-improvement.
Competes With Himself.
Retail success on a large scale nowadays recognizes some
important divisions in the public. A. cert.ain metropolital1
, merchant maintains two separate establishments, one for the
classes and the othet"for·the masses, and it is said that the
clerks in one do not even know that he controls the other.
He is his own competitor. urging in his advertiS'enlents to the
masses tllat they go to his bargain store and escape being
robbed by high prices, and in announcements to the classes
that they gO to the other place and avoid the crowd.
Strengthened Their Line.
The Rockford (Ill.) Frame & Fixture Company have made
a number of additions to their popular line which is now on
sale in Grand Rapids. There are no startling departures
from previo).ts styles and designs, but nearly all features in
Note the simple yet a~so-
JuteJy rigid constructioti~
Fully guaranteed and protected
by U. S. Letters
Patent Nos. 653,452 and
648,715.
the exhibit have been materially strengthened. There are,
however, several notable improvements in the buffets and
some new patterns of record cabinets are seen on the floors
for the first time.
Strong in Period Work.
, The Berkey & Gay Furniture Company of Grand Rapids
have prepared an unusually large line of samples of fine and
medium quality for the chamber, the library and the dining
room. The "periods" are strongly represented in the designs.
The goods offered are in mahogany, Circassian walnut,
and other popular finishes.
Ikde.by Thos. Md.ddlim.Son & Co., Indiana.polis. Ind.

Penn Furniture
FACTORIES ..
Conneaut'ville,Pa., and Huntington, W. Va.
Company
,---------- MANUFACTURERS OF --- ,
EXTENSION DINING TABLES
Large Line of Samples
----10---
OAK
.
on sale with
-FlNISHED-
GOLDEN, EARLY
ENGLISH AND
COLONIAL
T. Ashley Dent
~~~-?HF~~~ Big (Klingman) Building, Grand Rapids, Mich.
REPRESENTATIVES:
T. ASHLEY DENT, Flat;ron Building,
New rork.
L. A. FULLERTON, Ntw England
States (/nd New rork.
T. H. CAMP, Far W"t.
L. E. ULLMAN, Metropolitan Db/riel.
S.1NDERS BLANTON, Nt'" r"k
St4tt!, PennsylfJt111ia and EaJteril
OJdo.
For new Catalogue and Price List address main office:HUNTINGTON, W. Va.
I
67

68
The Largest Refrigerator· Plant.
-The new plant of the Grand Rapids Refrigerator Company
-the Leonard Cleanable is their principal product-will be
the largest refrigerator plant in the world. It is being constructed
in the form of an "E"with the engine and boiler
room in the middle. The buildings will have three stories
and basement, the main factory being 60 x 350 feet; the south
wing 80 x 100 and the north wing 60 x 100. The enamel department
will occupy one story and basement 80 x 100 feet and
there will he five warehouses each 150 x 150 and 24 feet high.
The four dry kilns will be 18 x 100 eaeh cr.ndthe power house
will be 60 x 80. The office building, stan/ling apart from the
plant will be 40x 60 feet, two stories and basement. The
plant is located on Clyde Park avenue, near the end of the
Grandville avenue street car line.
John Wanamaker Company Incorporated.
The application of John Wanamaker, Thomas B. Wanamaker,
L. Rodman Wanamaker, William L. Nevin and Robert
C. Ogden, to secure a charter of -incorporation for the
Wanamaker department store business has been granted by
the secretary of state at Albany, N. Y. ,The newspapers had
it, last month, that the company would be incorporated in
Pennsylvania. Now it is stated that the Philadelphia business
will not be incorporated at present. The New York
business is incorporated under the name of the John Wanamaker
Company, with a capital of $7,SOO,OCO. The directors
of the corporation are the three Messrs. Wanamaker, :\'lr.
Nevin and 1lr. Ogden.
Managers for the Current Year.
The Grand Rapids Furniture Association (trade mark)
held their annual meeting on June 10 and elected W. H. Jones,
R. W. Irwin and F. Stuart Foote managers. These gentlemen
will elect the officers of the association.
A New Station Opened By the Grand Trunk Railway.
On Saturday, June 15, the Grand Trunk railway opened its
new down town passenger station in Grand Rapids which
with approaches leading thereto, has been under construction
during the past two years, involving the expenditure of sey-
MADE BY CEN,TUBY FURNITURE 00 .• GRAND' RAPIDS~MICa
eral million dollars. A fact of interest to all engaged in the
furniture trade is that the new station is located within three
minutes walk of six of the leading ,furniture manufacturing
establishments of the city and from five to eight minutes walk
of all exposition buildings. Fully 50,000 people indulged in
a jubilee on account of the opening of the station.
C. F. SCHMOE. al CO.
Manufacturer of
Kitchen Cabinets, Gentlemen's Combination
Wardrobes and Chiffoniers.
SHELBYVILLE, IND.
Line 00 .ale at MANUFACTURER.S· FURNITURE EX·
CHANGE, Wab~sh and Fourteenth St., CHICAGO.
Write for Print. a.nd Prices.

"THE"
~ "UPHAM"
I July Announcement
fJl SUITES with WARDROBES and CHIFFONIERS-Oak and Mahogany.
fJl Very cheap ELM and OAK SUITES and DRESSERS.
fJl CHIFFONIERS, PRINCESS DRESSERS, CHEAP and FANCY DRESS.
ERS in profusion. (Mahogany, Oak, Ash, Elm.)
fJl A hot line of FLASHY ASH SUITES---heavy rolls, large mirror.,etc.
(jJ SIDEBOARDS and BUFFETS in genuineoak at very low prices.
fJl Don't fail to see the above aggregation-the largest line madein anyone factory.
Upham Manufacturing Co.
1323-25 Michigan Ave .• CHICAGO.2d Floor.
~~ DA VENPO RT BEDS ============--
Dest in t~e Worl~
---at---
Prices to Suit All
We also show the largestlineof
Loose Cushion
Parlor Suites evershown,
also Leather Suites and
Couches.
Don't fail to see our line at our Show 35 to 41 North Capl"tolAve.
Rooms. Over 8,000 ft. of floor space.
Th M dd S & C INDIANAPOLIS,
OS. a en, on o. INDIANA ...•

70
-f'~MICHIG.7lN
. . 17. i
Push-Button Chairs "At Home."
The Monarch Push-Button chairs made by the Ramsey-
Alton Manufacturing Company of Portland, Mich., arc "at
home" for the season on the 1st floor of the Ashton, formerly
the Pythi;lll Temple, building, Ionia street, opposite the Morton,
Grand Rapids. To say that they make "one of the fmest
exhibits in the market" is 110t enough. They are
one of the most attractive collections of easy chairs ever ex-
hibited in any market.
There are almost a hundred--97 to be exact-different
patterns and every piece is a feature of the collection. Abollt
half of the patterns arc entircly new, exhibited fOT the [Lfst
time and there is "0 lack of variety in the matter of shapes
and sizes. They afC made in all kinds of oak and mahogany,
with any finish, on either wood that may he desired, and
upholste;red in any fabric that the taste of the buyer may demand-plush,
vclour, velvet, fabrikoid, roanskin or the genuine
leathers-and the vmrkmanship, on both frames aml
upholstering, is of the best in all grades and shades, every
piece, whether cheapest or best, being made and finished right.
And talk about comfort! It is found to the utmost
degree in the p'ush~bt1tton chair and what is something more,
it is there combined with elegance and beauty. vVhether a
rocker or of the 1-1orris typ'e,it may be adjusted to the ease
and comfort ef the occupant without lea\ring the seat by merely
pushing the button and adjusting the back to the angle de-
sired.
1h. Ramsey is giving the exhibit his personal attention
and is certainly justified in being proud of the results of his
efforts. He has given, much time and study to the sdectiot1
ofst-yles and has produced excellent examples of the
most PORu1

•
The Michigan Chair Company's Excelsior Line.
On account of their determination to climb steadlly upward
and om-Yard, the l\ficbig-an Chair Company might very
appropriately call their exhibit the excelsior line. The moving
spirit of Longfellow's famous poem seems to have been
implanted in the otncials of the compallY. Every season,
stylc:s new and better arc brought out to replace chairs and
other articles of furniture that v.'ere deemed of especial merit
before, and this Season is not an exception to the record of the
past. The pieces number more than a thousand and cover
•
7IR T I.S'J:L"J
.e 7 $.
as much Boor space as all departments of many chair fac~
tories.
Mr. Taylor Rapid~y Recovering.
Vincent A. Taylor, president of the Taylor Chair Company
of Bedford, Ohio" had one of his legs broken in May by a
plank falJing on him, He has rapidly r('eovered from the injury
and is !lOW able to visit the factory by using a wheeled
chair,
Show in Chicago and New York.
The Herzog Art Furniture Company will show their large
line of mt1sic cabinets, ladies" desks, tables and kindred goods
at the expositions in Chicago and Xew York. The line has
been greatly strengthened in number of pieces and quality,
FOR SALE-STOCK
In Barber Bros. Chair Company at a price that ought to interest
the directors of the company. This stock will be sold
and aIJ.yonewanting to get a good thing cheap will do well to
investigate. Apply to Geo. S. Boltwood,. 605 Michigan Trust
building, Grand Rapids, Mich. 6-25-lt
SHERATON CHAMBER SUITE
------ MADEBy'---- _
BERKEY & GAY FURNITURE COMPANY
Grand Rapids Michigan
71

.
72
SHELBYVILLE DESK CO.
MANUFACTURERS OF
OFFICE DESKS
Mahogany, and lmilation Qgartered Oak, Plain
I
Oak in Three Grades.
SPECIAL FEATURES
A SQUARE DEAL
Write for latest CAtalogue.
SHELBYVILLE, IND.
Carson Excelsior Factory Will be Rebuilt.
The J. A. Carson Company's excelsior factory at Sutton's
Bay, Mich., was totally destroyed by fire recently. The owners
had their all invested in the business and had no insurance,
but citizens held a mass meeting and subscribed enough
to insure the rebuilding of the plant.
A Larger Line in Circassian Walnut.
The LtlCe Furniture Company of Grand Rapids offer many
new patterns of furniture for the chamber and the dining
room, including a large addition of pieces in Circassian walnut
of the better grades. The company will also show the usual
number oi staples in mahogany and domestic woods.
•
,.
A Pair 01 Whys.
The opportunity is presented for ev'cry dealer in furniture
and kindred goods to become a tuail-order merchant.
But little additional capital is required, as goodspufchased
by mail arc paid tor before ddiv

u-----
RELI4BLE and SUBST4NTI4U fURNITURE
SUCH AS WE
MAKE IS EVER
THE SOURCE
OF PLEASURE
AND PROFIT
[TO THE
RETAILER AND
THE
PURCHASER
"o(Mor~ (~air
an~furniture (0.
ROCKFORD, ILL.
Blodgett Block. Grand Rapids. In JUly.
"The Moulding of Quality"
We are
the Original
Manufacturers
of
CARVED
MOULDING
No. 57. ~,1. 1Mand IX. inch.,
No: a.ROPE. ~t~IWlneh.
300 Patterns iiil 7 jilt jjj .. I
'No. I. BEAD. ~. * and ~ Ineh.
Have Been
in
Business for
20 Years,
Send for Folder.
Samples on Applicatton.
Grand Rapids Carved Moulding Co.
FACTORY CORNER FRONT and MYRTLE STS.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.

~:
l
l
MORRIS CHAIRS
·-FROM--.
$6.25 to $30.00
CATALOGUE UPON APPLICATION
The ROYAL
ROYill Chair Co.
STURGIS, MICH.
Chicago Salellroom; let Floor, G. D. Williamll Co.,
1323 Mich. Ave., CHICAGO, IlL.
TAKE
Summer
YOUR
Northern Michigan
Through Sleeping Cars from Chicago, St. Loui., Cincinnati,
Delroit, Louisville. Indianapolis and Grand Rapid.
==== Send for ====
"Michigan in Summer"
•
IS
the Origirial
THE"ROYAL
PUSH BUTTON
MORRIS CHAIR
Outing
Some of the most Comfortable places are to be found in
Push Bulton
Morris Chair
Ei12ht lean 01
Test Have
Established- Its
Supremacy.
All OtLer!
are Imitators.
No Others
So Good.
IN
COMFORT
amongst its hundreds of SUMMER ..RESORTS which are
reached most comfortably via the
GRAND RAPIDS & INDIANA RAILWAY
Profusely· illustrated and
descriptive of thegeresons
..Where to go Fishing"
Containing many Photos and Information regarding
the fishing places along the G. R. & I.
"HIAWATHA FOLDER"
Beautifully illustrating the Indian Play "Hiawatha"
given at Wa.ya-ga-mllg near Petoskey and Time Folder.
Address:--c. L. LOCKWbOD, Gen. P.". Agl.
GRANj) RAPIDS, MICH.
I