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Hardwood Record — Veneer & Panel Section 



January 25, I92z 



Normalcy Prevails on Chicago Furniture Market 



By Staff Correspondent 



The virtual return of the furniture industry to normal conditions 

 was indicated by the January market in Chicago, which is now in 

 its closing days. Buying continued throughout the market in that 

 steady, conservative way that is characteristic of the stable days of 

 "normalcy." The spectacular features of the boom days were con- 

 spicuous for their absence and this w^as equally true of the gloomy 

 conditions that prevailed on the first January market during the 

 period of depression. The atmosphere of the market was calm and 

 wholesome. Prices held firmly throughout the market. The buy- 

 ers were in need of goods and seemed to be satisfied that prices were 

 as low as could be. They either placed orders forthw^ith or seriously 

 jotted dow^n memoranda, w^hich are certain to result in purchases 

 within the next two or three months, w^hen salesmen from the 

 various factories get out on their regular post-market trips. Up 

 to Saturday, January 21, 3.832 buyers had registered at the market, 

 smashing all previous records. 



This memoranda taking w^as a conspicuous feature of the market 

 and all who are familiar with the habits and customs of the furni- 

 ture trade took them to mean good road business for the producers 

 of furniture. Wm. B. Baker, secretary-manager of the National 

 Chair Manufacturers Association, was encountered making the 

 rounds on the Chicago market during the third week, and he said 

 that he read the signs of the market to indicate that there would be 

 a good business in furniture for the next three months. February 

 w^ould see a great deal of buying and March would be an even 

 better month. He believed, too, that April might show an improve- 

 ment over March. 



Some firms did so well on the Chicago market, however, that they 

 will not be able to take any of the road business, at least not for 

 delivery within the next six months. These firms managed to book 

 enough business to keep their plants running to capacity for the 

 next three months. 



Good Hardwood Demand Expected 



It is expected that the character of this market will be reflected 

 in the hardwood purchases of the furniture people during the next 

 three months. As there was no sensational buying of furniture 

 there will be no stampede to cover on hardwoods. But the furni- 

 ture factories will get into the market, steadily and substantially, 

 increasing their purchases as the spring wears on. It is known 

 that the majority of the factories are low on lumber and plywoods. 

 Some, however, did considerable buying in the late fall and early 

 winter and will not be taking on much stock for some time. This 

 element will keep buying within conservative bounds. But alto- 

 gether conditions will undoubtedly have the effect of firming prices 

 and forestalling recessions in values, even though there should be 

 substantial increases in output, at the hardwood mills. 



The furniture people, as is to be supposed, have been watching 

 with the keenset interest the progress of the Southern Hardwood 

 Traffic Asociation fight for reduced rates from the southern pro- 

 ducing teritory and it is very likely that shipments, if not buying, 

 will be retarded until the reduction just granted by the Interstate 

 Commerce Commission have become operative. However, a great 

 many of the furniture people are in such a position that they cannot 

 delay placing orders for the needed wood stock. 



Walnut again dominated the Chicago market, evidencing a 

 further substantial strengthening of its position since the July 

 market. An overwhelming majority of the samples shown by the 

 If case goods makers were in walnut. And to mention^-th«-fa-et -that 

 some of these people booked from 70 to over 90 per cent of their 

 orders on walnut specifications, indicates how well walnut fared at 

 the market. 



Italian Renaissance Leads Periods 



The Italian Renaissance period, either in its purity, or in adap- 

 tations, was the ruling period on the market. The period was ex- 



pressed in some beautiful finishes, especially in dining room and 

 living room furniture. The cabinets in these suites have wooden 

 instead of glass doors, which means the use of a great many beau- 

 tiful panels. 



Gum w^as used freely in the w^alnut suites, indicating a sub- 

 stantial increase in the demand for gum as well as walnut, because 

 of the purchases on this market. Gum was used for the rims and 

 cores of many of the handsomest walnut dining room tables. 



Queen Anne was the second most popular period in dining room 

 suites. 



In bedroom furniture w^alnut predominated, with relatively 

 more mahogany being shown and specified than in dining room and 

 living room furniture. Of course, a great deal of mahogany was 

 shown in upholstered furniture. 



Oak enjoyed a further gain in its struggle back to popularity. 

 Considerable more oak was shown in dining room and living room 

 furniture on this market than was to be seen in the July market. 

 The usual amout of golden oak was on display, but the higher 

 class stuff was better handled than ever before. An interesting 

 instance of this is the case of the Knox-Hutchins Furniture Com- 

 pany of Paoli, Ind. This company displayed oak dining room suites 

 and living room and davenport tables in Italian Renaissance de- 

 signes and finishes that are really distinctive and handsome. These 

 new finishes are rubbed effects in mellow browns, of a dignified 

 English atmosphere. One of these finishes is called "Cambridge 

 Oak" and another "Buckingham Oak." An official of this com- 

 pany said that a good many orders were booked in this oak stock, 

 business in this wood having been much better than in July. 



Views as to the state of the market differed as usual, but one of 

 the most interesting insights into conditions w^as given by Edmund 

 Brandts of the Mersman Brothers, and Brandts Company. 



His firm expects to double its output in 1922 and do the biggest 

 business in its history. By doubling the output they figure to re- 

 duce overhead in that proportion, thus being able to cut costs very 

 low^. By taking the lowest possible margin of profit they will then 

 be able to get a big business. 



"But we w^ill have to take it away from someone else," said Mr. 

 Branhts. "There isn't going to be enough business to go around, 

 and the man vf\\o is organized to produce at lo\v cost and sell on 

 small profit will get it. This year will be one of intense competition. 

 The weakest will fall. We expect more failures this year than last 

 because of the hard competition." 



The best attendance of buyers came from the east and south. 

 The middle west sent comparitively few buyers, because of deplor- 

 able conditions in the agricultural industry. Improved cotton con- 

 ditions enabled southern buyers to come to the market, and the 

 east is in good condition. 



The Chicago furniture market this January was, in the final 

 analysis, a complete success. 



Phoenix Starts New Building 



I he Phoenix Chair Company of Sheboygan is starting work on 

 foundations for a new building costing about $75,000 which will 

 provide new offices, large display rooms and additional warehous- 

 ing-facilities. It will be four stories high, 168 by 180 feet in size, 

 and located at Twelfth Street and Virginia Avenue. 



The Manitowac Church Furniture Company of Waukesha has 

 recently taken a number of contracts, among the largest being 

 that for all seating and furniture required for the new $75,000 

 edifice of our Savior's Lutherna Congregation at Beloit, Wis. 



