The Oldest American Furniture Company
Throughout the Years There have been many American furniture manufacturers who have roots back into the Eighteenth Century, but it would be a rare company indeed to have survived and grown as it heads into the Twenty-First Century. Nichols & Stone is one such manufacturer. As early as 1762, there was a Nichols Brothers Chair Manufactory in Westminster, Massachusetts busily making chairs by hand for a struggling English colony. The bewhiskered Nicholses, too numerous to mention, produced high quality chairs and son followed father as the skills were passed from generation to generation.
to direct their marketing approach in the designing, manufacturing and selling of chairs.
One area pioneered by Nichols & Stone in the 1930’s and 1940’s was consumer advertising. The company created advertisements for popular magazines and communicated directly to the consumer. The ads featured Windsor chairs in realistic artwork room settings and offered instructional booklets to any reader interested enough to clip the coupon in the corner of the advertisement. The company also attached a tag to each chair telling the historical importance of the authentic design. The combination of advertisements, As the new America emerged and grew, so did the Nichols’ chair business booklets, and chair tags was so and by 1857, it was manufacturing out successful that many shoppers today consider the name of Nichols & Stone of a rather sizable wooden factory as synonymous with Windsor chairs. employing craftsmen from the By the late 1930’s, the chair factory surrounding villages. At the turn of was one of the largest furniture the Twentieth Century, the business manufacturing facilities in was moved to neighboring Gardner, New England. Massachusetts to gain access to the railway. In the early 1900’s the The company began specializing second of two fires devastated the in the making of Windsor Chairs and Nichols Brothers Chair Factory in Rockers, and at one time offered as Gardner. Charles Nichols was at many as 125 different Windsor Chair the helm during this period and he styles. The early shield symbol shown turned adversity into opportunity by below in the 1931 circa logo was rebuilding the facility with the help inspired by the House of Windsor’s of local investors...one by the name coat of arms hanging at the Windsor of Reuben Stone. An agreement was Castle in England. It became a struck between the two men and in trademark for Nichols & Stone’s the Fall of 1907, a new sign was hung Windsor chairs and today is found announcing the formation of the new stamped on every piece of furniture Nichols & Stone Furniture Factory. as a symbol of authenticity of design, By the 1930’s, Edmund L. Nichols and Albert Stone headed the company and turned toward consumer preferences
The Dawn of A New Era
sturdiness in structure and fitness in finish.
L. & J.G. Stickley of Manlius, New York, the high-end casegoods and upholstery manufacturer owned by the Audi family, has recently purchased the intellectual property, designs and other assets of Nichols & Stone of Gardner, Massachusetts. The two companies combine for over 250 years of fine furniture manufacturing history and share many similarities. The parallels between them are remarkable and each has an accomplished family tree that has spanned several generations. Edward Audi and his mother, Aminy Audi have a great deal of respect for Nichols & Stone and believe it is a perfect addition to the Stickley family of companies. With Tuck Nichols’ help, they are committed to preserving the legacy of this highly esteemed company and growing its product line far beyond this initial offering.
Carlton E. “Tuck” Nichols, Jr. is the 8th generation Nichols. He followed his father, Carlton E. Nichols, Sr., who was responsible for bringing new technology, new machinery, and new processes to the Nichols & Stone operations throughout the 50’s and 60’s. Tuck entered the business in 1968 and is credited for continuing the sophisicated machinery and expanding the company’s product assortment into a wide range of products. He is dedicated to continuing the tradition of Nichols & Stone craftsmanship as a new chapter unfolds in its enduring legacy. Carlton “Tuck” Nichols, Jr. presents Edward and Aminy Audi with Nichols & Stone chairs inscribed with their names, dated July 3, 2008.
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