The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-16
Twentieth Century Fac
tory Turning Out Ear
lier Century Goods.
BIGGS ANTIQUE co.
UNIQUE BUSINESS
Only Establishment in World of
It's Kind-String of Antique
Furniture Stores From Gulf
to James River-Indus-
try Richmond Is
Proud Of.
BY FRANK s. wooDsoN.

BY FttANh .. "OODSON.
The making of antique furniture is
not altogether a new industry. but
the manufacture OF furniture of the
models and styles of tho ancient ar
ticle that was in use hundreds of years
ago and selling II as newly made
"antiQue" furniture is something that
Is new. and Richmond is the only city
in tho world that has factory de-
voted exclusively to that business.
There are furniture factories in the
country in which mahogany furniture
labeled antique and sold as such, that
Ia palmed off on the transporting sem
timental buyer as articles that are
really centuries old. but that kind of
business Is fraud and a deception
and right we'll the sly manufacturer
knows IT.
1t remained for a Richmond man TO
establish the antique furniture making
business along honest and straight
forward lines representing every ar
ticle made in the factory to be just
what IL is. fifteenth and sixteenth and
seventeenth century styles of furni-
ture made In Richmond In the TWEEN
tieth century. and 1t is better than
any that ever was created In the ear
lier centuries, for while II is made
exactly in the shape and appearance
of that of the past centuries. being
exact reproductions. twentieth century
workmanship is put INTO IL. ana IL Is
better and more serviceable, that is
to say, IT rs built to meet modern re-
quiremcnts. For instance. a mahog-
any wardrobe or dresser or table made
two or three hundred years ago would
go to pieces in short while II placed
in twentieth century steam heated
residence. II "A man happens to come
in possession OF piece of furniture
of the very ancient vintage named. he
would have TO take II to q factory. to
u -
together according to modern methods
before IT would stand UP for any
length OF time In Il modern heated
house The made In ri"hmond' an
tique furniture Is built frst to meet
modern conditions and to render tho
service required. and at the Same time
in appearance and for actual service.
st Is sufficiently antique to satisfy any
sentimental taste
RIchmond'n Hustle to the Front.
The history of this antique furni-
ture factory In Richmond. the only
one OF it's kind In existence. and an
Industrial enterprise of large proper
tions. is sufficiently interesting 10 form
e chapter in tho Industrial Section.
Twenty or more years ago j.
Franklin BiEgs. then quite young
man. was the buyer for an antique
furniture house in this city. His bust
ness was TO find old furniture of the
Colonial days wherever for sale. and
cleaned and patched up. There sprung
up a great demand for such goods.
and Biggs was kept very busy.
Thus he acquired large experience
and became an expert as Judge Of the
antique. This required great deal OF
study and reading for it was neces
sary to become familiar with the dif-
ferent periods and the styles and
customs OF each period in the history
OF this country and ;he old country.
In the course of time Mr.. Biggs es-
tablshed I'll antique store of his own.
him we'll In hand He built up r
splendid and profitable business and
HAD TO establish a small factory for
the repair and rebuilding of old pieces
of furniture to make them fit into and
stand UP TO modern conditions. the
heated house for instance.
Business without Misrepresentation.
BY and by the demand for the an
tioue became much greater than the
supply. In fact. Biggs found that he
had a business that was likely to play
out because of lack of stock and ma
ter!al to operate on. He was well
aware that there were factories in the
country that made furniture In imi-
tation of that of several hundred
years ago, and pallned it off on the
public as OF that age, but this he was
not willing to do. Having ample
knowledge of the designs of the an
cient periods from tho Elizabethan
down 10 the Colonial. he. conceived the
idea OF reproducing from the raw and
new material the furnitures, draper
les decorations and SO on OF those
periods and selling them TO those who
wish to furnish their homes after the
antique models. and selling them free
open and aboveboard as Just what
they are twentieth century reproduce
Of n
teenth century house furnishings. He
was we'll aware that big bunch of
capital would he necessary to carry
on such a business, and he found some
trouble In getting partners sufficiently
Interested in the enterprise. But he
found the partners. and the Blggs An
tique Company was incorporated with
ample capital behind 1t for the proper
conduct of the novel business.
Model Antique store.
An antique store must needs he in
the fashionable part of the community
and so the company bought ais
East Franklin Street, remodeled the
building and made 1t one of the best
arranged and most attractive stores
in Richmond They also bought the
fve-story brick factory at Twenty
fourth and Franklin Streets, and re-
arranged that building for the manu-
facture of antique furniture. The off,
GERS of the company are j. Franklin
Biggs, president; Hatton c. Valentine
vice president and secretary, and Ed
ward P. Murphy. treasurer.
The store at s1s East Franklin Is a
beauty, and Is kind OF headquarters
for the fashionable set, place where
they go to study the antique, to Sc
lect wedding presents for their matri-
monially inclined friends and to study
the draperies, damasks, brocatelles,
cratons. etc.. OF We ancient time. The
first floor OF the building is an exhi-