The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-04-20
THE FURNITURE TRADE.
Cabin ct t-Naking Runs to spocialties and
Little Is Handmade.

Cabin net-Mnking Runs TO spociaiutef hHu
Little Is Handmade.
Referring to recent Developments in
cabinet-making manufacturer said!
"Changes in style, coverings and woods
are not the most observable In the busi-
ness. Furniture naturally falls into
classes, such as parlor furniture, bed
room sets, upholstered pieces, and the
like, and the whole business Is conse-
quently running to specialties. One
factory makes only chairs; another
only tables. One manufacturer makes
u speciality of bedroom and another OF
of parlor furniture. The matter is even
carried to the manufacture of the
parts of an article. Many men who are
ostensibly cabinet-makers are nothing
more than frame-makers or finishers.
The bulk of the furniture now used 10
machine-made, and the men who make
IL are in nowise cabinet-makers in the
old sense, but machine tenders.
whether or not this is for public
benefit may be subject to question. 1t
has certainly gradually been reducing
the cost of making, but it has also in
| troduced n number of evils which for
merly were little known. Factory work
is largely machine work, and machine
work is far more likely to be crude or
| imperfect in make and finish than that
which is turned off by hand. On all
our best goods machine work is minim-
| lied. The cheap stuff is simply thrown
| together, with scarcely the intervention
Of manual labor. Thus many of the
smaller concerns which to all appear
ences turn out work with which ma
| chimes have little to do are in reality
nothing but finishers for the big fac
| tories"
Have not the patent room-saving
devices in furniture cut into the regu-
lar trade?"
"Yes, largely, especially in city
trade. Living in small quarters for the
purpose of saving rent has made the
folding-bed and various combination
pieces of furniture very popular.
These. of course, are made by but a
few manufacturers, who thus have 8
very good thing in the sale OF thel-
| goods. Relatively to the gross number
of our population / don't think the sale
| Of bedroom sets compares now with
what it was few years ago, before the
| folding-bed came into vogue. People
now use their sitting-rooms and even
parlors as sleeping apartments, thing
| utterly unknown formerly. 10 make
things harmonize, combination pieces,
or rather pieces of bedroom furniture
in disguise, are used. This sort ol
| thing, of course, does not obtain among
| people who own their homes and are
not limited in space, but in a place like
| Chicago, where the influx of people il
| so great and regular, there is bound tc
be large percentage of people who
have to take rooms, and with all renters
the patent furniture is more popular
| than the old-time styles.
| There is another noticeable change
in the furniture business, that, how
ever, affects the retailers more thar
| the manufacturers, and that is the plar
so popular of late of selling on Install
ments. Many dealers who continue tc
do business in the old way are unwill
ing to own that the monthly paymen
plan affects their business. 1t doe'
not with wealthy and well-to-do peo
pie, but the great multitude of working
people are gravitating toward the pay
ment stores. They are able to pay ;
little more for the privilege Of paying
this way. and the experience of men il
that kind of business has shown tina
the risks are really very light. Ger
tainly the greater risks assumed by
store-keepers are not out of keeping
with the larger profits they make OF
what they sell. 1t is also undoubtedly
true that many people in moderate cir
aumstances buy much more than they
yould were they obliged to pay casf
.or their goods. Chicago News.