New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-17
AMERICAN FURNITURE ~ ENGLAND.
CONSUL noY1E GIVES SOME VALUABLE HINTS 10
MANI-FACTt RERs

consul. noYr.r GIVES SOME VALUABLE HINTS 10
MANUFACTrRERs
Washington Sept IL (speciap.-AccordinE 70 Con
all r,yle Of Liverpool who has been !nvest!sa ting
the matter there is an excellent opening IN Eng
land FOR American furniture 10 supply the demand
Of the hcf'er-pad mechanics and clerks shop
keepers and small tradesm"n and wel-i"-do farm
ers There r. already n considerable trade In 'ur-
ni,ure brought from this side q tho Atlantic. but
most - me imports are from Canada and largely
through the port ~ Ncw-Yqrk. The Canadian manu-
fecfuro-s have n large and Increasing market IN
England while that = United States manufacturers
is cornparativ.ly small Tho explanation Is simple.
The one class consul;s English tastes and caters 70
them and the other does no. English ana Amerl-
can styles - furniture dircr and the Englisa
buyer prefers the former. There Is prejudice IN
England against the latter. Mr Roylc says.
r-yen IN the ordinary English furniture" the cary
ing though f. pc machine work. l. cay out ~ ne
soid wood md ls not scroilwork stuck on - the
fnrn,,t,re 40 Is often the case WITH American fIrni
iuro sent 20 England. Much American furniiur" on
@Yts,nr principally from the fact that fhe carving
was stuck on" An exception must al"ays Doe
desk Tha, Is much admired In England ani i
practically without a rival IN tho market ] md
az, sc-eens thew taking the place 20 large extent
OF the japanese and English articles
l. appears that CANADIAN manufacturer" invite
English orders for furniture made BOZ English style
according 70 Rof klns IfhNiHsH lhiHlTii'' ~ +'N
ush dealers There II where they show Themselves
sbrewder than the Yankee manufacturers. Most
% the furniture a. shipped knocked down In the
white" and IS put together and polished In Eng
land IT Is packed soiidly as possible. IN large
boxes and freight paid by the cubic foot. when Is
less than by weight.
NJ Bowie was informed by tho heavics' furniture
importer in Liverpool that he had never been able
to &c, n single firm In the Tinted states 20 make
furniture Of tho English style after WORKING Draw
inps furnished ny himself
The Canadians have attempted with some sue
cess 10 secure market In England ior set up
furniture Like attempts 10y United States mnnu-
,actr-ers have not been encouraging. partly be
ca, SO the latter would no, make goods In the
English style md partly because Of the sort of
polish or varnish used and the manner In when
II - applied Another reason why American fur-
niture does find larger sale IN England - the
careless packing Mr.. Boyle says;
The other day saw half dozen packages oi
American set up" furniture opened. 1hry had
been ordered hy Inc dealer samples. IN response
Of these pieces Of furniture was seriously Injured
in transportation. o~ng I? earele.sn"ss u pass
a dead loss these samples, ana thel he would
give any more orders to TINS particular manu-
factur,r.
This &c the FaTne old story Two OF the serious
obstncos N extension OF American foreign trad" in
manufactured articles have always been the refusal
70 consult and cater to foreign styles and tastes and
careless packing OF goods for transportation In
those respects. far iess than In tho qualities or
prices OF their wdrcc. have American mnnufactur-
ers md exporters been handicapped in their com
petition with the manufacturers OF the United
Kingdom ana Germany. France and other Com
tirental countries ~ Europ" And now u seems,
the Yankee furniture manufacturer Is behind even
hi- Canadian competitor In the English market
II may he ~ benefit TO him 70 road and ponder
the last paragraph Of Consul Boyle's report which
Is as follows.
II IL a curious fact that the Canadians have built
up tEclr trade In furniture In England almost on
tirely by CORE pOnGencc, in rivalry win manu-.
facturers 81 the United States who frequently send
over commercial travellers. but who have made
the mistake OF trying to create demand for the
American style OF furniture ! would suggest mat
tho furniture manufacturers Of IN" United states
eerd reur,scnfa fi Is here. not to get orders
for the American styles Of furniture. but IN study
the J.nc.ish STILES aud the p"cullafities OF me
English market; and am sure that they could.
by adopting Canadian system OF using Eng
lish working drawings. secure A large trade IN
both knock down and SGT up furniture.