New-York tribune., 1919-04-07
New York Is Large
Producer of High
Grade Furniture
Is Used ENten.
sively in Output Of
Local Factories; Work
Done by Skilled Artisans

ture manufacturing city in this country,
Chicago ranking first and Grand Rapids
second. In calling attention to the i'm
portance of the industry here, bulle-
tin issued by the Merchants Associa-
tion states that it is not due so much
to the quantity of furniture produced
as the high quality of the output of
New York factories.
The value of the extra high grade and
special made to- order furniture manu-
factured in the metropolitan district
alone reaches about $4,000 yearly.
The yearly value Of the medium and high
grade furniture manufactured amounts
to Il little more than $5,00000O. The
making of the cheapest grades is unm-
portant and does not amount to more
than $l,000,0o0 in the course of a year.
1t is claimed that the best artisans
in the country are available in the
local industry. Italians are employed
extensively, in some cases exclus vely,
IN the best factories; and they, with a
small number of Germans and Hun
garians, and occasionally French and
Swedes, make practically the highest
grade furniture. The skill of the work
men, many of whom have served long
apprenticeships in the best furniture
centres of Europe, is not eXcelled any,
where.
Mahogany Much Used
Mahogany constitutes probably more
than SO per cent of all the wood used
Some factories use mahogany almost
exclusively. Walnut. both Circassian
and domestic, is next IN Importance.
Oak is also important and is used par.
tlcularly in pieces of English design,
in ecclesiastical and in other special
furniture. Such woods as satinwood
sycamore and cherry are used to some
extent, but are Of minor Importance as
compared to mahogany, walnut and
oak.
The manufacture of regular lines of
medium and high grade furniture in
New York City is as important from
the standpoint Of value of production
as the manufacture of the highest
grade and special art furniture; but
this type of manufacturing is not
SO typical of New York Mahogany and
oak are the woods used most extensive
~. Veneer is used largely, but inferior
woods are put only in places where
service and not appearance is the re-
Qulrement.
Most of the smaller factories sell all
their product within trucking distance
OF New York City, and probably more
than 70 per cent of this grade of fur
nlture is sold within this district
Where Factories Are Located
\ Most of the furniture manufacturing
takes place in either Manhattan or
Brooklyn. More than half of MI the
furniture manufactured in New York
City, according to value, is produced
IN Manhattan, which is the great centre
tor the manufacture of regular lines
of high grade furniture. 1t manu-
factures practically all of the special
made-to- order furniture. There are
many small shops on the East Side
manufacturing and assembling fur
niture of the cheaper grades
Although Brooklyn is important in
the manufacture of high grade fur
niture, producing about a fifth tf the
New York City product, it is more
important IN the manufacture of fur
nlturc of medium quality. especially
chairs. New furniture factories are
locating in Queens, but the ocaliza-
tion of factories in this borough manu-
furniture is not yet evident
The concentration of the manu-
tacture of the highest grade of product
IN a comparatively small area is es-
peclally marked. Most of this tvpe of
furniture is manufactured east of Fifth |
Avenue and between Twentieth and |
SiXtleth Streets, Manhattan.
Plants Mostly Small
With few exceptions, the furniture
factories of New York City are COM
small plants, rarely produc-
ing product valued at more than
$25O,000 each year The concerns
larger than this make for the most
part the highest grade furniture. AS
4 rule, the manufacturers of medium
and cheap furniture are small, having
an annual output of 100000 or less;
and many are extremely small, having
an annual output of between $4,000
and $25,0O0
In view of the enormous size Of the
New York market, the value of furni-
ure manufactured in the same dis
rlct is of interest. In this city and
where it is estimated that
'4O,00O,OO0 worth of furniture is sold
yearly, about $13,000,O0O worth is man
fractured. Likewise, the larger mar
.et adjacent to. tbe New York district
loes not Manufacture sufficient furni-
ure to meet its demands
Not only is this city one of the
eaders in the furniture industry. but
t is the greatest mahogany market in
ne country, Until recently mahogany
las come chiefly from Mexico. Cuba
nd Central America Africa is the
,reat source of supply of this wood.
nd mahogany is more and more being
'rought here from that continent,
ther directly or via Liverpool.
In 1914 approximately $1,000 900 feet
+ mahogany came through the port of
New York. New Orleans is the second
bort of Importance in this respect, but
uring the same year it received far
ess than one half the amount imported
through New York. A considerable por
ion of the lumber is brought in at
'ensacola, but this is largely shipped
n log form to one producing mill in
'oulsville. In fact, there is no mill
andllng this lumber on large scale
n the Atlantic seaboard between New
orleans and New York. One of the
argest mills in the country is located
t New Orleans, but large part of the
lahogany brought to that port is man
factured into lumber and is reshipncd
0 European markets.
Wages Here Highest
The average wage paid the furniture .
'orkers here is considerably higher
han in other furniture districts in the
ountry, excepting Boston In 1917 n !
aw workers in the highest grade fac
ories in this city earned about 60 i
nnts an hour; but nearly as many re-
elvcd less than 20 cents an hour In
nat wear there were mara r,rr;4,, II