Description: Rare! Incredible! Unique! Bound journal with board covers and leather edges, labeled on front, "John Widdicomb, Personal" containing letter carbons of over 1,000 individual entries on over 688 numbered pages originating from the John Widdicomb Furniture Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan covering the period November 10, 1905 to December 21, 1906. A alphabetical index of addressee's in the back of the journal, hand written and organized by name, is crossed referenced to the pages on which a copy of their correspondence is filed. Addressees include suppliers, vendors, acquaintances, etc. Most correspondence are recorded two to each page but many have three to each page, depending on length. Senders of the correspondence within the John Widdicomb Furniture Company include John Widdicomb (1845-1910), Harry Widdicomb (1876-1957), Gertrude Widdicomb (1882-1975) with some signed simply, "Widdicomb Co." Photos provided in this listing are only a small sample contained in the complete journal. Condition noted above and in photos. John Widdicomb Furniture Company historyFrom 1857 until 2002 the Widdicomb name was synonymous with Grand Rapids furniture making. The first Widdicomb firm was a cabinet shop, George Widdicomb & Sons, and was started in 1857 by the British trained cabinet maker, along with his sons, William, Harry, John & George, Jr. At the outbreak of the Civil War all four sons enlisted, leaving the father to carry on the business, which struggled along precariously until it expired in 1864. In 1865 the oldest two boys (William and George Jr.) came home and started a small shop near the foot of the East Side Canal. At the close of the war Harry and John returned and became associated with them. All four were skilled craftsmen and possessed a thorough practical knowledge on the making of furniture. On January 1, 1869, Theodore F. Richards bought into the business and the company became known as Widdicomb Brothers & Richards, composed of William, Harry, and John Widdicomb (George Jr. having died in March, 1866), and T. F. Richards. The firm quickly gained a reputation as one of the finest manufacturers of bedroom furniture. On December 1, 1873, the company was incorporated with $150,000 and became known as the Widdicomb Furniture Company. The officers of that company were: William Widdicomb, President; T. F. Richards, Vice President; John Widdicomb, Secretary; and Harry Widdicomb, Treasurer. In addition, the brothers were each in charge of separate departments, William having the office management, Harry the power plant problems and John being factory superintendent. The company was located on the corner of Fourth Street and the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad tracks, which afforded adequate transportation facilities. Overall, they had about 150 men on their payroll, turning out approximately $80,000 worth of goods annually. In 1883 William Widdicomb retired from the company to accept the position of Cashier in the Grand Rapids National Bank, but in 1894 he returned to the furniture industry. In 1897 he was made president of the company with Roger W. Butterfield as vice president, Roger W. Griswold, secretary and George R. Widdicomb, treasurer (son of ?). In 1893, the Widdicomb Mantel Company had been established, and with the restructuring of the parent company in 1897, John Widdicomb took this company as the basis of his own new company, the John Widdicomb Co. He started his own plant across the street from the original Widdicomb Furniture Company. It continued under his direction until his death in 1910. On January 1, 1916, the original family owned Widdicomb Furniture Co. was sold to Joseph G. Griswold, Maynard A. Guest, Godfrey Von Platen, Heber W. Curtis, and Chalmer Curtis. The Widdicombs severed their connection with the company with which they had been identified since 1865, but the name was preserved.SOURCE: Grand Rapids History Center Checkout other listings from this seller related to the Widdicomb family and/or Grand Rapids, MI
Price: 200 USD
Location: Chester, Vermont
End Time: 2024-12-28T16:30:49.000Z
Shipping Cost: 20 USD
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Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Modified Item: No
