The Gunlocke Company

1902

Taken from Gunlocke website:-

In 1902 William H. Gunlocke and four other wood furniture experts acquire a vacant factory in Wayland, New York. They establish the W. H. Gunlocke Chair Company, initially specializes in seating for homes, libraries and lounges. By 1911 the company expands its range of products to include office seating, introducing steambending in the company's manufacturing process in 1912. The 1920's saw Gunlocke awarded its first National Contract with Western Electric. Due to this contract, demand for Gunlocke's office seating was so strong that the company discontinues its household furniture to concentrate on manufacturing for the corporate market.
Despite the 1930's Depression, Gunlocke continues to grow. President Franklin D. Roosevelt enhances the company's prestige by choosing Gunlocke furniture for the White House.

In 1937, following the death of his father, Howard Gunlocke became president and established the use of direct sales people and showrooms. Howard also used the first traveling showroom, which he had set up in the back of a trailer truck. During the war years, most of Gunlocke's output is for government and military facilities. Assembly-line manufacturing techniques are implemented to produce high quality seating in unprecedented quantities.

In the booming postwar period of the 1950's Gunlocke's establishes its first factory showroom for the southwest states in Dallas, Texas.  

1960's Gunlocke invested in a Whittier, California operation to serve nine western states. 1962 saw President John F. Kennedy make a crucial Cuban Missile Crisis decisions - from his Gunlocke chair in the Oval Office.
The Gunlocke family sold the company in 1969 to

Taken from Gunlocke website:-

In 1902 William H. Gunlocke and four other wood furniture experts acquire a vacant factory in Wayland, New York. They establish the W. H. Gunlocke Chair Company, initially specializes in seating for homes, libraries and lounges. By 1911 the company expands its range of products to include office seating, introducing steambending in the company's manufacturing process in 1912. The 1920's saw Gunlocke awarded its first National Contract with Western Electric. Due to this contract, demand for Gunlocke's office seating was so strong that the company discontinues its household furniture to concentrate on manufacturing for the corporate market.
Despite the 1930's Depression, Gunlocke continues to grow. President Franklin D. Roosevelt enhances the company's prestige by choosing Gunlocke furniture for the White House.

In 1937, following the death of his father, Howard Gunlocke became president and established the use of direct sales people and showrooms. Howard also used the first traveling showroom, which he had set up in the back of a trailer truck. During the war years, most of Gunlocke's output is for government and military facilities. Assembly-line manufacturing techniques are implemented to produce high quality seating in unprecedented quantities.

In the booming postwar period of the 1950's Gunlocke's establishes its first factory showroom for the southwest states in Dallas, Texas.  

1960's Gunlocke invested in a Whittier, California operation to serve nine western states. 1962 saw President John F. Kennedy make a crucial Cuban Missile Crisis decisions - from his Gunlocke chair in the Oval Office.
The Gunlocke family sold the company in 1969 to

Sperry and Hutchinson (S&H) Company. Under S&H, the W.H. Gunlocke Chair Company was renamed The Gunlocke Company, which are still operating today.

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