Widdicomb Furniture Company's 105-Year Story of Success

Widdicomb Furniture Company has a rich history that spans over a century. The company was founded in 1915 by Paul Widdicomb in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The company's early success can be attributed to Paul's innovative approach to furniture design and manufacturing.

Widdicomb Furniture Company's commitment to quality and craftsmanship has been a hallmark of the company's success.

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The Widdicomb Furniture Company has a rich history that spans over a century. Founded in 1858 by George Widdicomb, the company started as a cabinet shop in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His four sons joined him in the business, and after serving in the American Civil War, they reopened a small furniture shop in 1864.

The company grew rapidly, and by 1868, they had moved to a larger location in Grand Rapids, employing 25 people. T.F. Richards joined the business in 1869, and the company was renamed Widdicomb Bros. & Richards. They built a larger building and had a capital of $12,000.

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By 1871, the company had a new building and approximately 150 employees, and they were known for their spindlebed frames. The Widdicomb Furniture Company was officially formed on December 1, 1873. William Widdicomb, who served as President, retired from the company in 1883.

Here's a brief timeline of the company's major milestones:

Widdicomb Furniture Company was known for shipping products throughout the United States as of 1891. Their products included a wide range of bedroom furniture made from various types of wood such as oak, ash, birch, and maple.

Bedroom sets were inspired by various styles including the Italian Renaissance and Georgian Revival during the first two decades of the 20th century. Traditional pieces like these were no longer made as of 1938 to make way for modern designs.

In the 1940s and 50s, modern styles were designed by T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbing, inspired by Scandinavian design.

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Widdicomb Furniture Company shipped products throughout the United States as of 1891. Their focus products included bed frames, chiffoniers, and bedroom furniture made of oak, ash, birch, and maple.

In 1906, the company designed pieces in the styles of American Empire style, French design, and the Colonial Revival Movement. This marked a significant shift in their design approach.

Bedroom sets inspired by the Italian Renaissance and Georgian Revival were created during the first two decades of the 20th century. These traditional pieces were no longer made as of 1938, to make way for modern designs.

Modern styles, designed by T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbing in the 1940s and 50s, were inspired by Scandinavian design. This led to a significant change in the company's product line.

The Origins collection, inspired by Japanese and Shaker furniture, was created by George Nakashima. This collection consisted of bedroom and dining room pieces.

Widdicomb French Provincial style furniture pieces are particularly notable, with some bedroom furniture pieces standing out for their exceptional quality.

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The Widdicomb-Mueller Showroom in Grand Rapids, MI, is a great example of how showrooms can transform to showcase different products. The fireplace in this showroom featured a unique abstract butterfly motif in various colors.

In fact, the same space was repurposed to display Paul McCobb's collection for Widdicomb-Mueller, showcasing the flexibility of showroom design.

John Widdicomb closes after 105 years, a victim of the volatile stock market and price competition from companies that imported pieces and components.

The company's president, Bob Dillon, acquired Widdicomb in 1999 and attempted to revive the business by trimming slow-selling products and cutting expenses.

Widdicomb had sales of around $10 million last year and was a style leader, with notable collections from designers like Mario Buatta and Frank Lloyd Wright.

Despite Dillon's efforts, the company couldn't recover, and it's now closing its doors after 105 years.

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John Widdicomb Co. closed its doors after 105 years.

The company's president, Bob Dillon, acquired it in 1999 from then-Chairman Jim DeVries, who had led an investor group that purchased it in 1996.

John Widdicomb's sales last year were about $10 million.

The company was a style leader, with notable collections from designers like Mario Buatta and Jacques Grange.

Widdicomb also had designs by Frank Lloyd Wright and The V&A Museum.

John Black, who led the development of Milling Road at Baker Furniture, joined Widdicomb as a designer in 2022.

Dillon tried to revive the company by trimming slow-selling products and cutting back on options for many pieces.

He also reduced expenses by moving out of its North Hamilton Street showroom and renting temporary space at a photography studio.

This arrangement saved the company about $400,000 a year, according to Dillon.

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The John Widdicomb Furniture Company was a beloved fixture in the furniture industry for over a century.

The company was known for its wide range of historical and contemporary American styles in bedroom furniture.

Its products included not only bedroom furniture, but also dining room furniture and various interior accent pieces.

Vintage pieces from the company are still highly sought after today, with some of its most well-known pieces dating back to the 1930s and 40s.

The John Widdicomb French Provincial style furniture pieces are particularly notable, with some of its bedroom furniture in this style standing out from the competition.

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For example, a John Widdicomb dresser in the French Provincial style would far surpass a Dixie French Provincial chest in terms of quality and craftsmanship.

Vintage John Widdicomb dressers, chests, and tables can be valuable collectibles, with some pieces selling for between $600-700 in 2018.

These sales figures demonstrate the enduring appeal of John Widdicomb Furniture and the value that collectors and homeowners place on its unique pieces.

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John Widdicomb Furniture Appraisals can be a complex process, but a good starting point is to research past sales of similar pieces.

Vintage John Widdicomb dressers, such as the one pictured, have sold for between $600-700 in 2018.

To give you a better idea of the value of your Widdicomb furniture, it's essential to know the era in which it was made.

Lovely bachelor chests, like the pair sold in 2018, can fetch between $750-900.

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John Appraisal is a valuable tool for determining the worth of vintage furniture.

John Widdicomb Furniture Appraisals will start by looking at any past sold Widdicomb dressers, chests or tables.

A vintage John Widdicomb dresser sold for between $600-700 in 2018.

These lovely bachelor chests sold for between $750-900 for the pair in the same year.

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The 20th century was a transformative time for John Widdicomb Furniture Company. The company produced a wide range of historical Revival Styles, including Colonial revival pieces and 18th century inspired French pieces.

These styles were made possible by the company's dedication to incredible quality, with solid cherry wood forming the basis of most of their furniture. Cold weather cherry wood, in particular, was prized for its tight ring and heaviness, making it ideal for furniture.

In the 1930s and 40s, the company attempted to produce modern styles, but it wasn't until the 1960s that they started to create more experimental pieces. The company's French Provincial style furniture pieces, however, remained a staple of their production.

Widdicomb's quality and craftsmanship were so renowned that even inferior brands, like Dixie, couldn't compete with their bedroom furniture. For example, a John Widdicomb dresser would blow away a Dixie French Provincial chest any day.

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The company's expansion into photography cabinets and other contemporary pieces in the 20th century was a significant move, but it wasn't enough to save them from the changing tastes of homeowners. By the late 1930s, historical revival pieces had ceased to be produced, and modern styles like the "Origin Collection" designed by George Nakashima had taken center stage.