The manufacturers of to-day have endeavored to keep, well abreast of the demand and the keen competition which has always existed has been the means of producing more new things in the past few years than has ever been produced in a like period. In many instances too much has been produced for the sake of getting some thing new rather than of confining our efforts to really good pieces that prove their worth by age. The semi-annual furniture sales of the manufacturer have been continued up to the present time. The points most prominent for such exhibitions are New York City, Chicago, Ill., Grand Rapids, Mich., and Jamestown, N. Y., the latter coming into prominence within the last five years. This Was brought about by the large number of factories located there combining their efforts in erecting a large ex hibition building which is open to the dealers during the months of May and November of each year. The selling dates of July and Janu ary are maintained at the other points men tioned. Dealers from all over the country as semble at these sales to purchase their six months' requirements. 'Both the New York and Chicago exhibition buildings show many lines of the cheaper grades of furniture. Both of these cities, however, have many manufacturers of the better grade who exhibit in their local factories. Grand Rapids has for many years stood out very prominently with its lines of bedroom, dining-room and living-room furni ture. No market in recent years has shown more marked progress. This market, like New York and Chicago, has many exhibitors whose factories are located in various sections of the country. Six large buildings have been erected for the convenience of these to show their product, there being about three hundred who exhibit at these semi-annual sales in Grand Rapids. To-day many kindred lines are shown and one can find in this market al most anything that is required in the furnishing of a home or public building. The quantity of furniture manufactured has greatly increased until the total output in this country averages about $300,000,000.
The manufacture of furniture is so easily undertaken that there are a large number of small companies and but few whose volume ex ceeds a million dollars per annum. The same method of starting these companies is true to day where cabinet-makers rally about them a few men and organize a small company. Fur niture factories are located in practically all Of the States of the Union, excepting the prairie and mountain districts. The manufacturers of furniture are fast reaching efficiency methods in both manufacturing and selling. Much has been accomplished along this line in the past few years where costs have been reduced and the production is better. The commercial prod uct of to-day consists of furniture largely made of mahogany, American walnut, oak and other woods that can be enameled in various colors and also decorated according to require ments. Other woods are used in some instances and in the better grades the choicest of woods can be found.
The working conditions have been greatly improved, and labor is receiving a much larger .compensation than in the past. The majority of furniture factories in the country are work ing on the 10-hour a day basis. This is tree especially with the factories located in the smaller towns. Some, however, have adopted
the nine-hour a day basis, Grand Rapids being one of the most prominent centres working on this basis.
The exporting of furniture is still very limited, •although certain grades of chairs and office desks have been exported for some years. Just before the World War our South American markets were making purchases from manu facturers of the better quality furniture and from reports received our furniture has proved quite satisfactory in South America. Manu facturers are in a fair way to do much more business there when the shipping conditions between the two countries become more favor able.
During 10 years (1907-17) there ,develqped quite a departure in office and public building furniture, such as desks, tables, chairs, filing cabinets, wardrobes, etc. All of these articles being also made of steels, painted or finished to, imitate mahogany. Metal furniture, how ever, has not come into favor for the home ex cepting the brass and iron beds, which have been made for many years and continue to be made. These articles, however, have been changed to more refined lines and proportions. Articles for the kitchen and bath-room are also made in metal and are growing in favor.
We are fast becoming lovers of outdoor life and our homes are being built with large porches both cipen and closed. This calls for a different class of furniture. The demand is supplied quite largely by reed, rattan and fibre seating furniture, trimmed with bright colors of chintz or cretonne. This character of furniture has increased in demand very materially. The breajcfast room is much more common in our modern homes and therefore a bit of color or fancy wood is very appropriate for such fur nishings, thereby' calling for changes in design to meet new needs.
This industry was affected to a considerable extent by the World War. The furniture business is commonly considered as one of the non-essential industries on account of the in ability of the government to supply orders for m6re than 10 per cent of the output of the woodworking factories of the country. Every manufacturer hoped, however, that his organ ization could be held together by older men and the women who were fast filling furniture factories. For the duration of the war the manufacturers entered into an agreement with the Conservation Division of the War. In dustries Board at Washington, to produce no new pieces of furniture and to discontinue spe cial sales seasons of July and January, Novem ber and May, and established one sale season a year during the month of May, this sale being held at the various points at the same tithe. Many other economies were inaugurated. Knock-down construction whenever possible was demanded to save shipping space. Metals and glass were largely conserved owing to the great shortage of the raw product. To conserve capital, the variety of de signs was reduced 50 per cent. This con servation program caused some manufac turers to take up other lines of work more essential to winning the war. It also created quite a change in the present method of doing business, and especially after the war. Some factories were unable to stand the strain, and all of the war casualties were not found in Europe.
Was. H. GAY.