The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-11
TRADE TALK.
OBSERVATIONS BY OUR MAN
ABOUT-TOWN YESTERDAY.

uofs'-s "iiai t"'"iN
Seneca says. life Is warfare
lie was right. add like good generals
all men should seek to marshal their
forces, keep their lines OF commnnica-
ton protected. and husband every re-
source in order TO win in the battle OF
life.
The TINES has been doing good work
in showing examples wherein methods
of this sort having been practiced have
brought forth satisfactory results.
Il started to write to the TINES sun
day, 10 congratulate the paper on It's
trade talk Society events are all
good enough. but strangers coming
here. and people abroad, want to know
something about our business matters
what we are dong in the trade word
and matters of that sort. sad gen
tleman yesterday, prominently known
here as one of our most progressive
citizens. in all matters of public spirited
import.
This man has made n success in busi-
ness by adopting the fearless maxim,
'act uprigstly and you may defy the
devil. and ne is only one of the nu-
merous cases that can be cited where
fortune assists the bold and repels the
coward.
Take the wings Of the morning,
null Yourself together in travelling
plight. and 20 with the TINES trade
explorer. and he viii show you sights
that YOU have never seen. will change
your mOss-cOvercd ideas TO golden real
ity when YOU see with him the possibii-
tiles that are presented here for the
utilization Of capital. and the gathering
in of many If the comforts Of this life.
if your sense of appreciation and know
ledge of application IN the line fields
that will BE- opened up to your view Is
worth anything.
As far back as 1880. Mr.. james A..
Bslvin founded cabinet making es-
adjustment on lower Main street.
Richmond was not by any means then
what il is at present. Trade was IN
crude state. and the James river showed
more signs of commerce upon It's blonde
face by tcnf0ld than 1t does 90 day. for
a,that time there were few railroads, and
the water ways were largely ahead In
transportation of freight Mr.. Balvin
had only one hand. and ne was an APP
prentice boy, but he sat on; with fear
less determination To WIN. and alter
wards il was from his establishment.
that grew and grew. Ii Ike the peach IN
the orchard. that the ma iOrity Of skilled
cabinet makers of the South were turned
out. As the town increased 80 did Dir.
Balvin 's business, and later on he could
have been found at No. 10 Governor
street, prosperng. and with a growing
trade which his energy had built up
Al the death of Mr.. Belvin. his sou.
Preston BelviD. succeeded TO the busl-
ness. and his ware-rOOms are now at
No. Is Governor street. The son WORTH
" upheld the fine reputation Of the
house. and established factory at 1907
and 1909. on Franklin street. The
splendid assortment Of goods found in
the ware<OOms on Governor street, are
all manufactured at Mr.. Belvln's fac
tory. He imports all of his upholster-
ing stock, and great deal Of the fine
mahogany that is used IN the manuiac-
ture of the articles he exposes for sale.
To show that the business has in
creased in the lapse of years. 1t can be
be said that within the recollection of
the proprietor. Preston Bevin, TIE
house used to carry only one-half dozen
parlOr suits as samples against one
hundred of to-day, and about the same
number of chamber suits for the same
purpose against one hundred 10
day isixty-five sample side-bOards.
sixty-fve hall stands. and same
number OF sample side-boards. P,Llor
cabinet furniture of all sorts is
manufactured here in the well
appointed factory Of Mr. Belvin. You
can see marble nantes and brio a-brac
in all sorts of beautiful and rare de-
signs that will please the eye and de-
light the fancy of the most faslidlOus.
In the brave old days of old. fine furni-
lure was made almost exclusively of
mahogany and rosewood. and great
care was taken in selecting the best
material of which the great numbering
bedsteads, generous sideboards and
massive bureaus If the times
were built. The work was done
almost altogether by hand, aud
the greatest pains and care was taken
in putting work together. a good
many of the cabinet and furniture
makers received fiue wages, and first.
class workman was man Of great con
sequence in the community IN which
he lived. Now the machinery and the
great Improvement made in tools
makes one man equal TO two. and
greatly supplies the business; but. all
the same. such is the wide range Of bust
ness done by Mr.. Belvln that he to day
employs fOrty-five men, and his pay
roll discloses an annual expenditure OF
at least $50 ,00O
Later on came the walnut rage. and
such was the popularity of this furni.
ture, that 1t held its own against all
competitors for ut least twenty years.
Next the antique oak. and
"shalt thou retire alone. nor couldst thou
wish couch more magnihecnt'--
than can be seen to day at Preston Bel
wins ware-rOoms. made from this ma
terial. The fine goods are all furnish
ed i'm the Sixteenth Century style.
MANY OF them are of The English Pol
lard oak - 80 cslitd because of the fact
that "a man named Pollard was the first
10 quarter English OAK.
The designs are all artistic. the cary
ing done by hand, and the beauty II
flush unsurpassed. The ware-rooms
on Governor street are four stories
in height In the basement or first
floor are kept the office line Of goods;
on the second floor nne chamber sets.
&c; third floor. chairs. folding beds.
bronzes. etatuettes. various articles OF
bric-a brac; on the fourth floor, parlor
suits Of richest design. sofas, uphol
stored in imported goods Of Turkish
Persian, aud other foreign designs,
chairs, easels, &c. The house has
no lost space, every available inch being
occupied. and covers more display
room than any IN Richmond or the
South. aud has more capital in the re
tail line than any house. perhaps. in
the United States; certainly more than
any house outside of Cincinnati. The
highest priced chamber set Of furniture
is 1900 ard the same for parlor set.
The lowest is S25.
Now. much more could be said. aud
- a. l.a. tf.tA !,