Furniture Factories. Interiors. 1. John Widdicomb Co. Interior with production line staff working on tables. Men & Women staff. Rooks Photo. 58I3 ca. Mar. 18, 1960; 2. Jewell Furniture Co., 1952. Four men working at drill or other work stations. Wood pieces in stacks on carts. Grand Rapids made equipment in use. Dale Rooks Studio, 52E1; 3. “Precision. Triple drum sander smooths the wood down to the exact desired dimension. “SOLEM” planer. Large piece of equipment with a man working at either end. No date or location; 4. Man working with wood pieces on large piece of equipment. No location or date.

The collection provides insight into trademark protection litigation of the 1920s, 30s and 40s; as well as federal anti-trust actions of the 1920s. In addition, the collection documents various economic conditions in the industry such as wage costs, production costs, market trends and shipping costs. Also included are records detailing efforts to recruit, train and keep furniture workers. The photographs show views of factory exteriors and interiors, as well as products of various firms though the views of products generally date to the 1960s and later. The Grand Rapids Airplane Company of World War I, which was composed of most of the area furniture manufacturers, is also depicted. That Company made the Handley-Page bombers, none of which ever flew in battle due to the late entry of the United States into the War.