Heywood-Wakefield Company
Encyclopedia
The Heywood-Wakefield Company is a US furniture manufacturer established in 1897. It went on to become a major presence in the US and its older products are considered valuable collectibles.
and rattan
furniture, and as these products became increasing popular towards the end of the century, they became serious rivals. In 1897 the companies merged as Heywood Brothers & Wakefield Company (this name was changed to Heywood-Wakefield Company in 1921), purchasing Washburn-Heywood Chair Company in 1916, Oregon Chair Company in 1920, and Lloyd Manufacturing Company in 1921.
While its wooden furniture plant in Gardner, Massachusetts
closed in 1979, a branch in Menominee,Michigan continued to manufacture metal outdoor seats, auditorium seats, and school furniture. The Heywood-Wakefield Company Complex
in Gardner was added to the National Historic Register in 1983. The South Beach Furniture Company acquired the rights to the name in 1994 and reproduces its wooden furniture.
. The merged entity stayed abreast of wicker furniture trends by hiring designers such as Paul Frankl
and Donald Deskey
during the 1920s. Its furniture was exhibited at the 1933 Century of Progress
exhibition and at the 1964 New York World's Fair
.
During the 1930s and 1940s Heywood-Wakefield began producing furniture using sleek designs based on French Art Deco.
Long-haul bus companies began focusing on passenger comfort in the 1920s. Their bucket seat
s proved successful and rail companies began to follow suit. The Association of American Railroads
' Mechanical Division and Heywood-Wakefield became involved in the quest for more luxurious seat design. Through a grant from Heywood-Wakefield, the Association employed a Harvard professor of anthropology
, E. A. Hooton, to research rail passenger seat preferences in 1945. Heywood-Wakefield's resulting Sleepy Hollow seat came into wide use.
History
Heywood Brothers was established in 1826, Wakefield Company in 1855. Both firms produced wickerWicker
Wicker is hard woven fiber formed into a rigid material, usually used for baskets or furniture. Wicker is often made of material of plant origin, but plastic fibers are also used....
and rattan
Rattan
Rattan is the name for the roughly 600 species of palms in the tribe Calameae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australasia.- Structure :...
furniture, and as these products became increasing popular towards the end of the century, they became serious rivals. In 1897 the companies merged as Heywood Brothers & Wakefield Company (this name was changed to Heywood-Wakefield Company in 1921), purchasing Washburn-Heywood Chair Company in 1916, Oregon Chair Company in 1920, and Lloyd Manufacturing Company in 1921.
While its wooden furniture plant in Gardner, Massachusetts
Gardner, Massachusetts
Gardner, Massachusetts is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,228 as of the 2010 census. Gardner is home to Dunn State Park, Gardner Heritage State Park, Lake Wampanoag Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mount Wachusett Community College.-History:Named in honor of...
closed in 1979, a branch in Menominee,Michigan continued to manufacture metal outdoor seats, auditorium seats, and school furniture. The Heywood-Wakefield Company Complex
Heywood-Wakefield Company Complex
Heywood-Wakefield Company Complex is an historic complex at 206 Central Street in Gardner, Massachusetts.The complex was founded in 1863 and added to the National Historic Register in 1983....
in Gardner was added to the National Historic Register in 1983. The South Beach Furniture Company acquired the rights to the name in 1994 and reproduces its wooden furniture.
Products
Both founding companies produced wicker and rattan furniture in the late 19th century. Wakefield initiated its mechanized production. The wicker styles drew on the Aesthetic Movement and Japanese influences; simpler designs arose in the wake of the Arts and Crafts MovementArts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
. The merged entity stayed abreast of wicker furniture trends by hiring designers such as Paul Frankl
Paul Frankl
Paul Frankl was a German art historian.After starting with architecture, Frankl studied art history in Munich. He earned his Ph.D. in 1910 and became professor for art history in Halle in 1921. As a result of his Jewish origin he was put on leave in 1933 after the rise to power of Nazism...
and Donald Deskey
Donald Deskey
Donald Deskey was a native of Blue Earth, Minnesota. He studied architecture at the University of California, but did not follow that profession, becoming instead an artist and a pioneer in the field of Industrial design...
during the 1920s. Its furniture was exhibited at the 1933 Century of Progress
Century of Progress
A Century of Progress International Exposition was the name of a World's Fair held in Chicago from 1933 to 1934 to celebrate the city's centennial. The theme of the fair was technological innovation...
exhibition and at the 1964 New York World's Fair
1964 New York World's Fair
The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major world's fair to be held in New York City. Hailing itself as a "universal and international" exposition, the fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe";...
.
During the 1930s and 1940s Heywood-Wakefield began producing furniture using sleek designs based on French Art Deco.
Long-haul bus companies began focusing on passenger comfort in the 1920s. Their bucket seat
Bucket seat
A bucket seat is a seat contoured to hold one person, distinct from bench seats which are flat platforms designed to seat multiple people. Bucket seats are standard in fast cars to keep riders in place when making sharp or quick turns...
s proved successful and rail companies began to follow suit. The Association of American Railroads
Association of American Railroads
The Association of American Railroads is an industry trade group representing primarily the major freight railroads of North America . Amtrak and some regional commuter railroads are also members...
' Mechanical Division and Heywood-Wakefield became involved in the quest for more luxurious seat design. Through a grant from Heywood-Wakefield, the Association employed a Harvard professor of anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, E. A. Hooton, to research rail passenger seat preferences in 1945. Heywood-Wakefield's resulting Sleepy Hollow seat came into wide use.