Determining the Value of a Heywood Wakefield Chair. Pieces made before the company merger of Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company in 1897 were labeled Heywood Brothers. The company used a variety of paper tags on their Streamline Maple line introduced in 1935, but few survive intact due to wear. [6], While its wooden furniture plant in Gardner, Massachusetts closed in 1979, a branch in Menominee, Michigan continued to manufacture metal outdoor seats, auditorium seats, and school furniture. 1980s to 1990s. Next week: Tiny Templeton High wins state baseball championship against Boston-area power Somerville (June 1936). I have a Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Co. Chicago, Il. Heywood Wakefield started off as two separate companies. I circled with white pencil the problems I found while taking the pictures. From that day forward, his was the guiding hand in the affairs of the Wakefield Rattan Company. Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Co. Although Wakefields estate papers indicate that on the day he died, he had rattan and spice cargoes at sea on over twenty vessels, he did not, at least directly, own any of the vessels. ), [Trade catalogs on portable and folding seats, auditorium seating, theatre seats: streamline, streamline metal edge back, I hope I can see new posts coming from you but I suggest that please post by category. Collector Books, 1994. In 1992, South Beach Furniture Co. acquired the rights . I have a Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company, Chicago chair. In 1930, the Company closed its Wakefield plant. Curved demilune back sits on 2 rectangular, 2 round. [6] The Heywood-Wakefield Company Complex in Gardner was added to the National Historic Register in 1983. Other manufacturers like Nichols & Stone, S. Bent & Brothers and Conant Ball which helped Gardner gain the moniker of The Chair City would follow suit. ), Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company, makers of cane and wood seat chairs, reed and rattan furniture : chair cane and cane For more information, see our biography of Cyrus Wakefield, and the story of the Wakefield Rattan industry. Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company, Chicago, Oak High Chair. WorthPoint is the largest resource online for identifying, researching and valuing antiques. written by John Wall Set of 4 Vintage Heywood Brothers & Wakefield Company Chicago Chairs All 4 have their original labels with half of the label being missing/torn (last 2 pix) They did belong to an artisst/painter and have some paint spots on them. Heywood-Wakefield purchased the patented loom in 1920. Theresa1, 1 year ago Thanks for that info! Their bucket seats proved successful and rail companies began to follow suit. If I do find something, I will send you a message. This is what antiques dealers use to determine what they are willing to pay for such vintage pieces. The most recent version of the data is from For all intents and purposes, it would signal the beginning of the end. Book Dated June 1, 1877, the list details 255 rattan products, 75% of which fall into the category of furniture. Experience, 40+yrs.Dealer buying/selling antiques.14+ yrs. Less than ten shares were owned by others. Baker, Donna. One such company was the Boston and Maine Foundry, established in 1855 on the east side of what is still called Foundry Street. It was a sad and unfortunate end to the proud chair manufacturing giant, and over the next decades the exodus would be on. Over the years, the name Heywood would become one of the most recognizable in Gardner. The history of the Wakefield Rattan Company and its successor, the Heywood-Wakefield Company is a story told in two parts. We stock between 400 and 500 pieces of the finest antique wicker furniture. Wakefield was soon to learn however that after purchasing his raw rattan, his tradesmen-customers incurred sizable labor costs because of the need to split the long rattan stems by hand. Topic: Furniture. Heywood Brothers was established in 1826, whereas Wakefield Company opened up in 1855. Warehouses were in operation in Chicago and San Francisco in 1883, and in 1887, a factory was established in Chicago. He was soon elected the new president of the Wakefield Rattan Company, a post which he held together with that of treasurer, alternating with Mr. Joseph B. Thomas. July of 2022. This firm later became the Smith and Anthony stove works. and chapel chairs, Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company, makers of Pullman sleepers, runabout sleepers, collapsible go-carts, sulkies, go-carts, Their main rival, the Wakefield Rattan Company began operations in 1855. President Richard N. Greenwood noted it would be impossible for the plant to continue operations under the terms of that new vote and announced on Jan. 13, 1961, that Heywood-Wakefield would close. ), Danish modern and beyond : Scandinavian inspired furniture from Heywood-Wakefield, Annual catalogue of children's go-carts, gocarettes and convertible and carriages : petanted Nov. 14, 1899-march 12, 1901, Reed and rattan furniture, chair cane and children's go-carts and carriages, Before the Interstate Commerce Commission, Michigan Seating Company vs. Grand Trunk Western Railway Company, et al., I.C.C. Find the Value of your Heywood-Wakefield Furniture. By the mid-1970s, the multistory plant on Central Street became a financial burden and was sold in the spring of 1978 to Gardner Industries Corp. A number of smaller operations moved into the complex, while casket manufacturer Wood-Tek occupied the north side. This stream ran from Crystal Lake eastward under Main Street, later to enter the Saugus River. Furniture & Furnishings The manufacturing schedules of the U.S. Census of 1860 provide even more detail. One can only imagine the feeling of some of the elders of the community who, on a daily trek through the city, may pass by their former place of work and wonder where it has all gone. [7] In 1897 the companies merged as Heywood Brothers & Wakefield Company (this name was changed to Heywood-Wakefield Company in 1921), purchasing Washburn-Heywood Chair Company in 1916, Oregon Chair Company in 1920, and Lloyd Manufacturing Company in 1921. Institute of Museum and Library Services Research material, history, geography. Heywood Bros. & Wakefield Co. chair identification, By entering this site you declare I have an oval table with similar label. As financial difficulties continued, workers were asked to take a 10 percent wage cut in 1960, which was begrudgingly accepted by the union workers. Indeed, Adamson reports that Stimsons Boston Directory of 1843 lists Cyrus Wakefield for the first time at a new address, 15 Commercial Street working as a Commission Merchant. Heywood Wakefield China Hutch Buffet Bubble Crown Glass M1547 on M1544 $1,995 . Through a grant from Heywood-Wakefield, the Association employed a Harvard professor of anthropology, E. A. Hooton, to research rail passenger seat preferences in 1945. Driven out of the European woodenware market, Wakefield turned his attention and that of his engineers to developing improved manufacturing processes to make use of all parts of the imported cane, not just the outer part. The Heywood Furniture Co. opened its doors in 1826 to make wicker and rattan furniture that was popular at the time. My chair has "US" carved into the front of the upper back. The Heywood Brothers - Wakefield Company became Heywood-Wakefield in 1921, so your chair was made before that date. Some chipping on porcelain. It went on to become a major presence in the US. antique hutch. Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company, Heywood Brothers & Wakefield Company Gardner, Mass, Classic wicker furniture : the complete 1898-1899 illustrated catalog, ( The tides shifted when Heywood Brothers & Company developed machinery to automate the process with a loom that could weave the cane. Eventually, Wakefield decided to buy his own ships to handle rattan cargoes. According to Wikipedia. Of the 80 superb pieces on display, about 90% were made by the Wakefield Rattan Company or the Heywood Brothers Wakefield Company. A major fire in 1972 destroyed all but three buildings of the original complex. Heywood-Wakefield -Looking Back In 1897, two prominent furniture companies, Heywood Brothers (est. To compensate for this, the company had to ask workers to take a cut in pay in order to remain competitive in the consumer market, leading to a strike of workers in 1956. This piece features some of the most desireable design elements from that era. Heywood-Wakefield stopped making wicker in the 1930s, although the firm produced hardwood furniture into the '50s." About the 6th paragraph down: Heywood Bros. & Co., manufacturers of chairs, rattan and reed furniture, chair cane and baby carriages by Heywood Bros. & Co ( Book ) 1 edition published in 1886 in English and held by 1 WorldCat member library worldwide by Heywood Bros. & Co ( ) in English and held by 1 WorldCat member library worldwide Another event worth noting occurred in 1886 when Edward Goodrich Watkins joined Heywood Brothers and Co. to work in the department headed by his father, Gardner Watkins. Time recorder instruments and fire alarm systems were produced at Simplex Time Recorder, kitchen cooking appliances were made at Florence Stove, and baby carriages and strollers were the chief product of O.W. In addition, the Mount Wachusett Community College campus was built on the former Heywood Farm. Our collection database is a work in progress. These two companies merged in 1897 as Heywood Brothers & Wakefield Company; the name was changed again in 1921 to the now familiar name Heywood-Wakefield. Adah's sonTubal Cain, a teacher of music and patron of 'all such as handle the harp and organ' (Genesis 4:21), had the Brontes among his following. Required fields are marked *. In every reporting year, the Wakefield plant performed well, being profitable even during pre-World War years 1910 to 1917 which were occasions of major strikes and labor unrest. The Gardner, Massachusetts public library, the Levi Heywood Memorial Library, has in its Heywood Wakefield Company collection a fascinating leather bound three-ring binder containing approximately 100 pages of precisely handwritten company data analyzing and comparing all locations, departments and production records of the company in matrix chart format. In time, the factory expanded with the development of the flatiron building on the right-hand side of Central Street, as well as two buildings on Central and Pine streets. Portland, OR. Interested in Heywood Wakefield furniture. Value? I think it is early 1900s. antique flag. [6] Both firms produced wicker and rattan furniture, and as these products became increasingly popular towards the end of the century, they became serious rivals. Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company, Most widely held works by Founded specifically to carry on the trade of buying and reselling the rattan lots discarded on Boston docks by visiting cargo ships, the Wakefield Rattan Company prospered by satisfying an increasing demand for rattan among local furniture makers. future knowledge work of librarians. To the town of Wakefield, this meant the loss of hundreds of manufacturing jobs, some of which were moved with equipment to the Companys main facilities in Gardner. Meschi, Bob. Heywood-Wakefield, the nation's oldest continuously operating company, was declared bankrupt in 1980. At that time, Lloyd and other manufacturers were experimenting with materials as diverse as prairie grass and paper. In 1921, the firm reincorporated under the name Heywood-Wakefield Company. Throughout these changes, the old Wakefield Rattan Company continued in profitable operation in its original Water Street facilities. 1900 from Baton Rouge, Hour 3! Although the Wakefield Rattan Company had been weaving cane webbing for chair bottoms since 1870, even into the twentieth century, rattan furniture still required significant hand-weaving. antique garden. Vintage Postmodern Swivel Vanity Chair c1980 - $275 Round swivel vanity chair with tan painted walnut base and back, 4 square tapered legs. The building occupies a plot 100 by 200, extending through from West 34th street to West 33rd street, the twelve stories and basement being occupied entirely by the Heywood Bros. & Wakefield Co., a branch of which is located in Chicago. In 1831, Levi moved to Boston, Ma. It has a label on the bottom of seat & Chicago on the - Answered by a verified Antique Expert. . Of the 80 superb pieces on display, about 90% were made by the Wakefield Rattan Company or the Heywood Brothers Wakefield Company. In addition to being the general manager of the Wakefield Rattan Company, he held positions on the boards of directors of four other U.S. and Canadian rattan furniture companies. Fine Wicker Furniture: 1870-1930. 112 talking about this. you have an Antique Maple Rocking Chair with Bentwood Arms. This reduced the price dramatically and the two companies competed heavily during the 1870's-1880's. Wakefield Company and Haywood Brothers & Company ultimately merged to form Heywood-Wakefield Company in 1897. If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. As wicker began to decline in popularity, the company expanded its production of wooden furniture in the Art Deco and Modern styles. In 1897; these companies merged, thus forming Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company. It was a US furniture manufacturer established in 1897. Antique Heywood Wakefield Signed Wicker Accent Occasional or Side Chair, Late 19th. Trade catalogs from Heywood Bros. and Wakefield Co. The final chapter on the Wakefield Rattan Company and its furniture was written in the summer of 1993 when the Renwick Gallery of the National Museum of American Art of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. mounted an exhibition of rattan and wicker furniture. Santa Rosa, CA. What company was founded in NY in 1952 as a museum reproduction company and https://www.myantiquefurniturecollection.com/. In 1873, the country and the Wakefield Rattan Company underwent two severe shocks: the economic depression which started in 1872 and the sudden death of Cyrus Wakefield. That year a store was opened on Broadway in New York City, soon followed by two wholesale establishments on Pearl and Cliff Streets. Heywood Wakefield operated its Gardner, Massachusetts, plant until 1979. "Wakefield Rattan Company" (1855-1897) "Heywood Brothers & Company" (1868-1897) The fur- . you read and agreed to the. The Streamline Maple line was renamed Streamline Modern in 1937. By 1894, at the 250th anniversary of the founding of Reading and Wakefield, the Wakefield Rattan Company was the largest business of its kind in the world.. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Mar 11, . This figure grew to over $349,000 by 1885 and to $385,000 by 1890. Between the years 1870 to 1897, a rapid expansion took place and chairs and furniture of reed and rattan were added to the regular line of wooden chairs. Is there another option for getting more information on my chair? The firm was impacted by the negative publicity, which spread nationwide by the initial closing announcement. To submit your vote please sign in or sign up, it is free and takes a few seconds. Heywood-Wakefield furniture is an American brand founded in 1897. You are welcome Lucy. One of the factors which greatly contributed to the success of the Wakefield Rattan Company was no doubt Cyrus Wakefields ability to chose men of genius and intelligence as his key employees. Work began to be outsourced, with many of the wooden pieces being cut and shaped overseas only to be assembled at the Gardner plant. No bad smell of the wood.For shipping options please message and I will get a quote from either UPS or FedEx. I think it is early 1900s. The WorldCat Identities data Heywood Brothers & Wakefield Company label. Scavenging commercial refuse was one of the few ways a young person could, without borrowing, gather the capital necessary to start ones own business. Hand weaving of rattan chairs and sofas is shown in process in the rare interior photograph. The company became widely popular during the early to mid 20th century for it's solid wood Art Deco inspired mid century modern furniture. As a young Boston grocery clerk in the late 1820s and early 30s, Cyrus Wakefield is reported to have worked an after-hours, second job as an independent jobber, reselling cast off wooden barrels and casks. Old swivel chairs made by Brody furniture from Chicago. During the war years in the 1940s, the plant made wooden ammunition packing cases for the government. Cyrus Wakefield had a second major success also around this time when he succeeded in buying up the complete supply of rattan in New York. And if you were seeking furnishings to outfit your infants nursery, you would look no further than Gem Crib and Cradle Co. or Thayers. strollers, strollerettes, sleepers, bassinets and high chairs], Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company makers of cane and wood seat chairs, reed and rattan furniture, Heywood-Wakefield reed and rattan furniture, Cane and wood seat chairs : revised price list, September 1898, Price list of chairs : set up and finished, Folder contains photograph and information sheet related to a wicker child's rocker, ( The basket line, however, had increased significantly and included some of the rarest of Wakefield Rattan Company products: their rattan Scholars Lunch Baskets in three sizes, rattan church collection baskets, an infants walking stool on castors and the curious Gents toilet, lined, trimmed and mirror. The Henry Heywood Memorial Hospital, the Levi Heywood Memorial Library and the Greenwood Memorial Pool all have their roots with the Heywood name. 3, Heywood Brothers & Wakefield Company, Chicago : makers of cane and wood seat chairs, wood and cobbler seat rockers, spring The Association of American Railroads' Mechanical Division and Heywood-Wakefield became involved in the quest for more luxurious seat design. Attended by nearly a quarter of the nations population, the Company could not have chosen a better time and location to show of its wares. About this product. 8, 1912-1913 Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company [catalog], William F. Crowley photographic collection of fences, ( How much is your Heywood-Wakefield Furniture Worth? [6][8], Both founding companies produced wicker and rattan furniture in the late 19th century. So using . Just nine days before his death, however, Wakefield, on October 17, 1873, incorporated his rattan business only, under the name Wakefield Rattan Company. [7] Its furniture was exhibited at the 1933 Century of Progress exhibition and at the 1964 New York World's Fair. The timely incorporation of the Wakefield Rattan Company almost certainly saved hundreds of Wakefield jobs. 2 These circumstances combined to cause the stock market crash of September 19, 1873. He resold a portion of his other properties to businesses in which he had an interest, including real estate, banking and utilities. Additional . Rouland, Steven and Rouland, Roger W. Heywood-Wakefield Modern Furniture. Both companies produced rattan and wicker furniture that became very popular during the last quarter of the 19th century as outdoor and conservatory furnishings. However, when management made the same request a year later, it was turned down. In 1912, Charles Lang was elected president, a post he held until his death in December, 1921 when he was succeeded by Levi Heywood Greenwood. By 1860, town tax records reveal that the Wakefield Rattan Companys factory consisted of five large buildings valued at around $7000. Classic Wicker Furniture by Brothers Heywood, Heywood Brothers, Wakefield Company. chair that I have is too old to be in the book you suggested. co-wife of Lamech with Zillah. upholstered, and all steel chairs ; school furniture: desk sets, typewriter desk sets, graded all-purpose chairs, students' Our items date from the 1860s to the 1940s, and many of them are signed pieces from the largest makers of the periods, such as Heywood Brothers, Wakefield Rattan Company, Heywood/Wakefield Company and Whitney and Reed Company.