Mengel dresser

Mengel Company

Excerpt:

From its beginning in 1877 as a lumber manufacturer profiting from the demand for whisky barrels and tobacco boxes in Kentucky, the Mengel Company expanded its reach to become an international producer of lumber products over its 83 years. The company went on to produce wooden car frames and furniture along with other items like toys, windows and doors. Its proximity to hardwood and the strategic railroad network in Louisville facilitated its growth regionally and eventually its ability to include a fleet of ships for exporting overseas.

Comment: For guest bedroom remodel ($ 110)

Measures 34 1/2 inches wide, 19 inches deep, and 32 inches tall. The top drawer measures 34 inches wide and 5 inches tall. The bottom 3 drawers each measure 34 inches wide and 6 inches tall. The drawers all glide easily and quietly.

Dresser waiting for paint & carpet to be completed. My tractor in background #jimpeet69 pic.twitter.com/ap3pjRHbbx

— James Peet (@jrpeet) March 2, 2019

Park Furniture - Rushville Indiana

 

When making furniture was king

Excerpt:

I have fond memories of Rushville when it had three lumber yard/coal yards, four railroads went through town, the city owned the electric utility and the phone company was user owned and operated. The main industry was furniture, with three large manufacturers in town. International was the biggest by far and finally had over 300 employees before it left town. Rushville Furniture was a Lee Endres owned and operated plant on 11th and George in front of International’s office complex. Park Furniture was on 11th and Oliver by the railroad and made cherry bed room furniture basically.

The high school Vocational Department had one of the best wood working vocational programs I have ever seen. I remember many items coming out of that wood working class that were beautiful and wonderfully made. Those young men would in later years work for the local furniture industry. My family even had a cotton processing plant on 7th and Oliver that was basically started because of the furniture industry in town. My brother Gene was hired on after World War II by Carl Niessen and eventually became President of Schnadig Corporation, the latter day owners of International Furniture. The vocational program at the high school was basically directed toward the furniture industry or farming.

Comment: We bought a nice dresser, found on Craigslist, to be used in our master bedroom closet. Guessing 100 years old. Solid but ... nicked up a bit ... about 100 years a bit! Details: Measures 37 inches wide, 21 inches deep, and 47 inches tall. The top drawer measures 33 inches wide and 5 1/2 inches tall. The second drawer measures 33 inches wide and 6 1/2 inches tall. The third drawer measures 33 inches wide and 7 inches tall. The fourth drawer measures 33 inches wide and 7 1/2 inches tall. The bottom drawer measures 33 inches wide and 8 1/2 inches tall. All 5 drawers glide easily and quietly.

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Update on 7/19 from the Rush County Historical Society:

Dear James,

The Park Furniture Factory was in business until 1954, but was sold to an out-of-town company in the mid-1940’s. Your dresser was probably made before that sale date. Hope this helps. Enjoy the dresser.

Sincerely, Libby Smith, museum volunteer

The “double Windsor chairs without a division.”

Couched in History

Excerpt:

Craftsmen on both sides of the English Channel tried out many prototypes before inventing sofas that resemble the models we use today.

Comments:

• AKA, the sofa, the couch, the lounge, the canapé, the davenport, the divan, the settee, or the chesterfield. (see also futon!)
  
• Growing up, we called them davenports!
  
• When I had my first job and moved to Tampa, I bought an entire living room set used - a couch, a recliner, 2 end tables, and a coffee table. All of the 'early American' style. It was upholstered in a red floral print. Kathee absolutely hated it. When we got married I sold it (hard to believe it had a third life!)
  
• As newlyweds, our first couch was from Kathee's parents (used but serviceable)
  
• We still have the first couch that we bought new. Now 35 years old. It is an Ethan Allen convertible sofa bed. We had it reupholstered about 18 years ago. Still looks nice!
  
• Because of my handicap, I have a very hard time standing up from a seated position on a couch. I need at least one armrest and two are better to stand up from sitting.
  
• The last time I sat on a couch was when Kathee had some sort of ladies' meeting at the house. I was banished to the basement (we call it the "lower level"). I sat on our green leather couch. A cat was beside me. I browsed the internet until the meeting was over.
  

Be sure to click through to the article for the photos! It took another 250 years of technological advances before the La-z-boy was invented!