The Detroit times., 1911-01-02

NHNiiNo, but Ndit- 1[I[[l = !.
Gus other parts Of 80
the world, VIII be In attendance to
make their selection for the next six
months trade.
Formerly Grand Rapids was known
as the home OF the sectional book
case. Now IL is developing into not
only the largest furniture manufacture.
ms city OF the world. but the larges;
center OF any one line oil manufactur.
ING trade With the possible excep
'loh % the Kimberly Diamond Mining
plant, there is no other trade center
on earth representing such an enor-
nous financial expenditure. |; is ex.
pected that the sales OF the prospec.
ave exposition will outrank those OF
any trade exposition ever held in the
world There are nearly three thou.
sand furniture manufacturers IN Grand
Rapids. They produce everything in
furniture from the cheapest kitchen
chair to the costliest carved and up.
holstered salon furnishings But not
one OF these local manufacturers Will
nave goods on exhibition. The asso.
citation desires 10 bring the products
CT other manufacturers to Grand Rap
ids III order to make ii the furniture
trade center OF the ear;h. Buyers OF
the Grand Rapids prodact must visit
the factories TO select their goods.
The New York Furniture exchange
VIII also hold al exposition next
month which will be second 10 Grand
Rapids in importance. In this con
nection must be mentioned the enor-
nous building now being constructed
for exposition purposes under the di-
rection OF the New York Manufacture
ers' exchange. This building will be
devoted TO permanent exhibit of the
manufacturers of the world, with spc-
clal attention 10 furniture. There al
ready has been $l6,000.0 600 worth OF
furniture pledged for exhibition after
the building Is completed, which VIII
probably be about April L. This will
be the largest exhibition of furniture
ever gathered under one roof. The
January exposition in New York will
be held in the Furniture Exchange
room. 1t will be attended BY buyers
from every part oil the country. most
OF whom deem IT absolutely essential
to attend both the New York and
f, Grand Rapids gathering
The development Of furniture is an
interesting adjunct TO the study OF
humanity. The improvement OF the
home marks the progress from saw
agery to civilization. In America the
products OF European civilization
served as models for the earlier man
ufacturers OF furniture. They seemed
to make nothing typical or distinctive
until the mission product sprang INFO
popular favor While in sense the
mission products are an adaptation OF
the early Spanish monastical designs,
their adoption for general home use
was purely an American conception
which has been, and will continue 70
be, copied throughout the world. The
mission furniture seems 10 have come
to stay despite some adverse critic
ism, for while several new designs
sion furniture have almost doubled
during the past two years.
There are new ideas in regard TO
the finishing OF the different woods.
Natural effects are nov in favor.
Fumed oak instead of the black OF
the early mission furniture is bein :
generally adopted. This gives rich
brown tinge less sombre than the
other Circassian walnut is the most
expensive wood now on the market.
II is not unusual to see bedroom sets
offered for sale as high as $4,000
Much of this Circassian walnut Is We
neer. because this process brings out
the grain of the wood. For the manu-
facturer. however. the Circassian wal
nut is little more expensive than
buried oak or solid mahogany and its
durability Is not vet fully established.
TO the furniture trade, more than
TO any other, must be ascribed the
great impetus given 10 the credit sys-
TEN which has become sc dominant a
feature of the commercial life OF to-
day. Ii was furniture that was first
sold on monthly installment plans and
each year develops new schemes for
increasing business by furnishing
homes on the credit basis.
The advertising manager always is
ready with an attractive proposition
that will appeal to the home-seeker.
The get married and let us furnish
your home" advertisement which the
loye-lCrn young man encounters on
the street. in the car, at his Office and
IN his daily paper, has become po-
tent factor in making benedicts. Fur
nishing homes for young married
couples has become so prominent a
feature in the furniture business that
a New York association claims to re-
mort upon the matrimonial prospects
Of young men in various parts OF the
city. IL receives fair percentage
from the sales Of furniture sold 10 per
sons whose names have been .ur-
nished as candidates for home making.
To attract attention To their goods,
furniture stores, sometimes offer Il
substantial present, generally bed
room suite. to a young couple who Will
be married in front store window
ON n certain day. For this event, the
store is in exhibition order, a grea.
recertion follows the ceremony and
hundreds OF dollars worth OF sales re.
suit from the advertisement of the
furniture presented TO the young MAR
ried couple.
As furniture generally embraces all
kinds of house furnishings. including
upholstery. a popular way of adveriis-
ing is TO have model rooms furnished
for permanent exhibition. \ House
Beautiful" Is generally found in every
large up-to-date furniture store. Goods
are displayed in this wav to much bet
Ter advantage than i'm the salesroom
A..