The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-18
FURNITURE SOLD IN ENGLAND.
Views Of n manufacturer Contained
in "A Consular Report.

s O. Mcfarland. the United States Con
sui nj Nottingham. England. in a com
munication To the State Department.
gives the views of s. G. Hardy. a repre-
sentative of one OF the leading furniture
manufacturing concerns fn England. re-
garding the sale OF American furniture I'm
that country. Mr. Mcfarland saws IL
should be borne IN mind that this firm
is typical OF thousands Of others iu Eng
land. and that It's scope Of operations is
not confined strictly 10 furniture as uu-
derstoId I'm the United States. hut that it
handles general household FURNISHINGS in
Guiding washing machines, wriusa ~. Of
fee supplies, and appropriate hardware.
such as casters. etc Much of I'll S stock
is already OF American manufacture, and
in response To my suggestion that he give
his experience with American goods and
criticise the methods in vogue from the
standpoint of a practical importer. Mr..
Hardy dictated the following
The import of American furniture. We
are pleased ,p say, as Stil on the increase
here. although We have great difficulty ina
getting the manufacturers 90 conform 70
English styles. We think that d. these
people would pay little more attention
Co English regHIremeDt=. there would De
very much more trade done iu this couu-
try and the demand would assume large
proportions. The different regUIreue nrs
of the English trade are of a very JrItiIus
nature. but If not carried ouC. seriously
MI ct sales here The English people are
stiu prejudiCed against American goods.
because the fault had been made OF ship
ping over e. very common grade. What is
wanted here i@ % good medium quality.
finished In best style. h-t sent over abb
salut,Iy iu the whitehall IS. unpoIish-
"a. The An. r.clD polish Is far too thick
and rough for the English requirements
10 is liable to get Clipped In transit. and.
b H ID. .I
without entirely rCUuli-hiUc The Eng
fish designs are very little different from
tho American but We 90 not seq SD many
applique carvings
-.Th, American exp, rters seem to be re-
served. and viii not alter the smaller de
tails. OF course, on account or freight
charges. an goods must Dee built e. enable
them u be SHIPPED knocked down and Il
ylDlId De well to remember that the wood
iu most cases is seasoned faT too dry for
this climate which Is much more humid
than that Of tha United States few
months after the wood arrives here IT be
gins 10 swell and becomes badly distorted
What is wanted IS firm that Is prepared
tc make mp bedroom suites. dining tables,
and All ordinary furniture to English dc
signs. OF properly seasoned wood. con-
sfructad knocked down. and shipped i'm
tna white If such a firm Will place it's
name before the English buyers we feel
convinced there rs a large future for its
we are also importers Of brass cabi-
net handles. which trade Is fast en- the
5r-rga-,. rrra- W.. mad the goods com
r,.,r.. VEN. favorablv with English manu-
fHrturpS- AS regards prices but here
again the Americans have too fancy and
rorII "a style. What is wanted IN This
class of goods is % very much palmer pat
tern and the bail OF handle Of an pulls TO
Dec made solid instead Of followed out at
tho back. The finishes of these goods
have lately varied ID England ana a
large number of Coppcrgd and oNidized
brass handles are being used This can