1949-05-02 — Page 10

British Utility Furniture

As in the past two years, the furniture trade section of the British Indus

tries Fair 1949 will occupy a space only one-tenth of that which it had before the war, when it was the largest exhibit at Earls Court, Once again the furniture and designers who, for the past six | house, known for its furnishing of display will be designed ex- yours, have had to follow not the famous liners, has demonstrated clusively for the export buy-gulding light of their own ideas its faith in the possibilities of the er, who will make his selec- but that of the Government's American market by opening its tion of furniture and bedding utility specifications. It in too own New York office and show-

early to see what will be the effects room. of this long-awaited release, but effects there are bound to be on construction and design, quality and price, and it is inconceivable that such effects should not react upon the industry's export poten- thal.

from ranges of workmanship and price most of which- though not all—are still be- yond the legal reach of the home consumer.

At the time of going to press few indications are available of what is likely to be shown in the section. Before considering those, note should be taken of two im- portant developments which to gether provide an encouraging background to the 1949 furniture exhibit.

First, in spite of the diffleulties encountered in 1948 by the furni- tura Industry both at home and abroad, the first target sat for furniture exports

Tato £60,000 each month by the end af 1948 has been handsomely exceeded in the first, 10 months of the year. The actual export

U.S. Market

Fair

Many other firms have been exploring the American

market, the chief obstacle to which is the combined effect of freight and packing costs on selling prices. At least two exporters at the have been working to reduce this When the Government are able obstacle by Ingenuity of design. to go further and to restore some One well-known bedding manufac- of the freedom of the home market turer introducing at the DIF to makers of fine furniture as well what the Americans call a "bed as to those of the new. utility, the spring" of a type specially made to export potentialities of the indus-compete with the American! ugn= try will be much further Increased. upholstered bass spring mattress.

salo In the meantime it

This to

design finds favour mall assume that, encouraged by past export markets, partly because the export success and keyed up to construction of its mesh prevents fresh efforts by the transformation stretching or angging, partly be of of the utility scheme, furniture Cause it is comparatively inexpen- export markets of 1949 with added be easily knocked down to secure manufacturers will approach the Alve, and further because it can zest.

the economies of flat packing.

Packing Method Similarly, ploneer firm in the total of £886,000 to October 31 So far as one traditional element making of woven fibre furniture may not appear impressive when of British furniture exporte is has devised a seen against the figures of the concerned that of fine reproduc method which enables four uphols

special packing country's total trade.

The true tion furniture the organisation of tered chairs to be crated in prac significance of the figure, however, the export drive, not the products tically the same space as that re- llen in the evidence it provides of themselves, will be affected. To the industry's activity in finding the reproduction specialists, as to quired for a single chair.

The consequent economies in freight, meater of overcoming the formid those who prodice first-grade able post-war obstacles to export upholstered furniture, the United and elegance of design, is already allled to high quality production development. These include the States market offers the biggest contributing to the success of this absolute closure of some formerly opportunities, widened by the re-furniture in many world markets. important markets, high tarif duction of the import duty to 1234

These few Indications show the duties in others, the high and In- par cont ad valorem.

Ilvely interest which is carrying creasing cost of freight and, in the

A London manufacturer of Eng- English furniture, both. traditional ease of fine furniture, the difficultylish period furniture plans to make and modern, to all the open mar of bringing down conta in the

a special show of fine reproduckets of the world. Other produc tlon pieces on the lifes associated ing countries are also becoming in- absence of any homo market for furniture of this class,

with the names of Sheraton, Adam, and Chippendale, produced special- and their competition will call for erenaingy active in those markets Freedom Of Design ly to meet the needs of the "maho fresh endeavour on

the part of The second main feature of the gany era" which holds firm in the the British Industry.

What the background is the restoration of United States. A Lancashire firm, BIF 1949 will undoubtedly de- freedom of design to the manufac famous for its reproductions, will monstrate is that this challenge is turer of utility furniture, which show two- and three-pedestal Hop-being met and that in crafaman- represents the great bulk of the pelwhite dining tables which find a ship and design British furniture industry's production. It is true regular salo in those parts of maintains its old reputation for that utility furniture does not America where the highest quality "quality first" and thug makes ita enter into export, but the return craftsmanship, combined with the own contribution to the restora of freedom is bound to release the English tradition, rotalo their tion of the country's balance of inventiveness of manufacturers | appeal. One Scottish export trade,

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