December 11, 1769 - Edward Bevan received patent for Venetian blinds in London, England.

1824  - Isaac Babbitt created new metal alloy, "Britannia metal"; hired craftsmen Henry G. Reed and Charles E. Barton to produce innovative, higher quality pewter ware; 1826 - sold out to them.

1830 - Michael Thonet experimented with bending steamed wood to create furniture.

June 30, 1838 - Philos Blake, Eli Whitney Blake, John A. Blake, of New Haven, CT, received a patent for a "Caster" ("Mode of Constructing Casters and Applying Them to Bedstands").

May 22, 1841 - Henry P. Kennedy, cabinet maker and upholsterer from Philadelphia, PA, received a patent for a "Reclining Chair" ("new and improved action of the seat and back of a recumbent or library chair, by means of the introduction of a spiral wire spring into the seat").

August 21, 1841 - John Hampson, of New Orleans, LA, received a patent for a "Blind Stop" ("a new and useful Improvement in the Ordinary Movable-Slat Venetian Shutter or Blind...so as to make the slats fit tight endwise...to stay in any position in which they may be place"); first U.S. installation of Venetian blinds supposedly was in 1761 in St. Peter's Church, Third and Pine streets, Philadelphia, PA.

1846 - George S. Stearns, Seth C. Foster established mattress company outside Cincinnati, OH; December 1983 - acquired by Sealy Inc.

February 20, 1846 - John Drummond, of New York, NY, received a patent for a "Candle Mold"; molds for the manufacture of candles.

January 27, 1857 - James Harrison, Jr., of New York, NY, received a patent for a "Machine for Making Coiled Springs" ("...double conical coiled springs-such as commonly used for upholstery"); June 28, 1859 - received second patent for a "Machine for Making Conical Coiled Springs" (for upholstery and other purposes); December 15, 1857 - John Sawin, Daniel J. Goodspeed and John H. Minott, of Gardner, MA, received a patentfor a "Chair" ("an improved child's exercising chair...with its seat supported by a spring or springs so as to be capable of being freely rotated..."); 1871 - Heinrich Westphal credited with inventing innerspring mattress.

May 31, 1864 - Frederick Walton of London, England, received  British a patent for "Improvements in the Manufacture of Floor Cloths and Coverings and Similar Fabrics and in Pavements"; linoleum (Latin words for linen and oil); made with a burlap base coated with a cement made from linseed oil, gum, resin and color pigments; previously, oil cloth had been used to cover floors;  1873 - linoleum was first manufactured in the U.S.

September 8, 1868 - William H. H. Hinds, of Groton, MA, received a patent for an "Candlestick" ("new and Improved Adjustable Candlestick").

November 23, 1869 - William and John W. Murkland, of Lowell, MA, received a patent for a "Power Loom" (an "Improvement in Power-Loom for Weaving Ingrain Carpet"); design reduced number of cams and levers involved in operating the loom; less power was required to maintain the motion of the machine; reduced maintenance and repair costs.

February 22, 1870 - Black American inventor Thomas Elkins, of Albany, NY, received patent for an "An Improved Dining and Ironing-Table and Quilting-Frame";  January 9, 1872 - received patent for a "Chamber Commode" ("a bureau, mirror, book-rack, washstand, table, easy-chair, and earth-closet or chamber-stool").

January 16, 1877 - Alexander Smith and Halcyon Skinner, of Yonkers, NY, received a patent for an "Improvement in Looms"; carpet power loom to weave Axminster carpets.

1881 - Daniel Haynes, cotton gin builder and operator of Sealy, TX, responded to request from neighbor. built cotton-filled mattress; received more and more requests from neighbors, relatives; March 5, 1889 - Haynes received a patent for a "Method of Making Mattresses" ("new and useful improvements in the art of manufacturing mattresses or the bats therefor...to so construct the bat that it will not lump or wad into knots or bellows from use"); 1906 - patents and know-how acquired by Texas Company that took the name of Sealy; Earl Edwards, advertising executive, advertised Sealy in The Saturday Evening Post and Ladies Home Journal; 1920 - 28 licensed plants;1930s - eight strongest licensees, including The Ohio Mattress Company, pooled resources, retired debt of licensing Company, created what was to become known as Sealy, Inc.; December 17, 1946 - Sealy, Incorporated registered "Sealy" trademark first used January 1, 1889 (mattresses and sofa beds, [studio couches, and upholstered chairs]); 1950 - introduced Sealy Posturepedic brand mattress; 1956 - first company to display, advertise king sized bedding; December 1983 - acquired Stearns & Foster Company (founded 1846 by George S. Stearns, Seth C. Foster); 1990 - Ohio Mattress Company, taken private in leveraged buyout in April 1989, changed name to Sealy Corporation; November 1991 - 94% of stock owned by First Boston Corporation; February 1993 - acquired by investment group led by Zell Chilmark Fund L.P.; December 1997 - 90% of equity acquired by Sealy management, Bain Capital; April 2004 - 92% of company acquired by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), Sealy management; April 7, 2006 - went public.

January 25, 1881 - Michael Brassill, of Hartford, CT, received  a patent for a "Candlestick".

January 15, 1889 - Black American inventor, Daniel Johnson, of Kansas City, KS, received patent for a "Rotary Dining Table"; entire table with attached chairs was supported on one central rotating shaft - made seated persons part of a human "Lazy Susan" type of turntable.

June 11, 1889 - Black American inventors John E. Purdy and James R. Sadgwar, of Washington, DC, received a patent for a Folding Chair" ("cheap, strong and durable chair which is capable of being folded into small compass, so as to be easily portable. The invention consists in the peculiar manner of jointing or hinging the frame and in details of construction").

1890 - Jeremiah T. Murphy founded Murphy Phoenix Company; 1905 - acquired recipe for vegetable oil soap (popular in Germany), made the first Murphy® Oil, paste scooped out of large barrels; 1910 - packed into one- and five-pound cans of paste, sold in hardware, department stores; 1986 - national distribution achieved; July 7, 1987 - registered "Murphy Oil Soap" trademark first used January 1, 1985 (household cleaner pure vegetable oil soap); 1991 - leading wood cleaner in United States; acquired by Colgate-Palmolive.

1896 - Fernand Roche manufactured furniture at Établissements Roche, in heart of Faubourg Saint-Antoine, Paris’s furniture district; 1930s - Chouchan family (Russian immigrants) opened shop on the Boulevard Sébastopol at "Au Beau Bois," (later known as Bobois); 1950 - Jacques Roche (son) purchased Alexandre Dumas theatre on rue de Lyon in Paris, turned it into two stores; Philippe and François Roche (sons) developed strategy of company; used to distribute furniture from very best French contemporary workshops (Minvielle, Steiner and Airbourne), promote famous designers (Pierre Paulin, Marc Berthier); 1960 - Roches, Patrick and Jean-Claude Chouchan formed partnership, published first catalogue, developed national distribution network; 1961 - launched first nationwide advertising campaign on in Elle magazine; March 8, 1977 - Diffusion Ameublement Nordique Societe Anonyme registered ROCHE-BOBOIS trademark (furniture); 2007 - network of over 240 stores in nearly 30 countries in Europe, North America, Middle East, Asia; fourth generation has joined family business.

1899 - Edward and Leonard McRoskey ,of St. Louis and Chicago, brought mattress making equipment to California to sell to manufacturers; became manufacturers; April 12, 1927 - Edward McRoskey Mattress Co. registered "Airflex Quality Mattresses at Factory Prices Edward McRoskey" trademark first used October 27, 1925 (mattresses, bed springs, pillows, and couches); 1930s - Leonard and Robert McCroskey (Leonard's sons) joined company; October 23, 1934 - Edward L. McRoskey received two patents for a "Mattress Tufting Machine"; 2007 - Robin McRoskey Azevedo (granddaughter, Robert's daughter) President.

February 21, 1899 - Ernest P. Ray, of Washington, DC, received patent for a "Chair-Supporting Device" ("detached and portable supporting devices for tilted chairs"); for use on lawns, verandas, beaches, etc.

1910 - Richard Levitz opened Levitz Home Furnishings furniture showroom in Lebanon, PA; 1936 - Ralph and Leon Levitz (sons) opened second showroom in Pottstown, PA; 1963 - introduced "warehouse/showroom" concept in Allentown, PA store (large selection, low cost, immediate availability); renamed Levitz Furniture Company; 1968 - went public; September 5, 1997 - filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection (squeezed by 'gallery concept' competitors, heavy debt load, sales of $967 million); February 2001 - emerged from bankruptcy; October 2005 - filed for bankruptcy protection for second time; December 2005 - assets acquired by affiliate of Prentice Capital Management, LP (hedge-fund manager Michael Zimmerman) for $70 million; 2007 - over 70 showrooms in U.S.

February 11, 1928 - Ed Shoemaker, Edward Knabusch (cousin) invented La-Z-Boy reclining chair with piece of plywood, yardstick (comfortable wood slat porch chair); Spring 1929 - introduced upholstered chairs for year-round market; December 21, 1954 - registered "La-Z-Boy" trademark first used January 1929 (chairs and ottomans).

1932 - Theodore Baumritter and Nathan S. Ancell (brother-in-law) founded Baumritter & Company, seller of housewares; 1936 - acquired early-American furniture factory in Beecher Falls, VT; 1939 - 28-piece "early American" furniture" line debuted at Chicago Housewares Show; changed name to Ethan Allen Interiors; 1962, - pioneered gallery concept of showing furniture in coordinated room-like settings, as people actually live; 1969 - went public as Ethan Allen Inc.; 1980 - acquired by Invesco for $150 million;  1989 - taken private in management buyout by group formed by Farooq Kathwari, Chairman and CEO; started dramatic revitalization of company, brand; 1993 - went public again; 2007 - nine plants in U.S., more than 3,000 design consultants work in international network of 307 Ethan Allen design centers.

1932 - Maurice Villency established furniture business in New York; third generation of family management; largest home contemporary furniture retailer in United States.

May 23, 1933 - Max Wasserberg, of Brooklyn, NY, received a patent for a "Beach and Lawn Chair" ("of the collapsible type...to reduce the length of the chair when folded together so as to permit the placement of one or more of said chairs within a motor vehicle rearwardly of the front seat to permit the transportation of such chairs in motor vehicles to the seashore or bathing beaches or to other places for use").

1946 - Clarence Shaw bought Star Dye Company, small business that dyed tufted scatter rugs; started Shaw Industries.

1948 - Edith Heath founded Heath Ceramics, American potter, in Sausalito, CA, to produce ceramic products that resist trends, be loved and functional over lifetime and to make process, people, values of products tangible to buyers; used proprietary clay body development (one firing at lower temperature than customarily used to reach same levels of durability); Gump’s of San Francisco bought her tile and dinnerware for sale at its store, following one-woman show at San Francisco's Palace of the Legion of Honor; 2003 - acquired by Robin Petravic, Catherine Bailey.

(American Furniture Warehouse), Jake Jabs (2000). An American Tiger: An Autobiography. (Denver, CO: J. Jabs, 181 p.). Jabs, Jake; Businessmen--United States--Biography; Businessmen--North Carolina--Biography; House furnishings industry and trade--North Carolina.

(American Olean Tile Company), Frederic Bell (1973). Notes on a 50-Year Revolution: A Profile on the Company Whose Innovations Brought Ceramic Tile into the 20th Century. (Lansdale, PA: American Olean Tile Co., 109 p.). American Olean Tile Company--History.

(Bigelow-Sanford), John S. Ewing and Nancy P. Norton (1955). Broadlooms and Businessmen; a History of the Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Company. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 439 p.). Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Company.

(W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company), Brad Lockwood (2005). The Case Cutlery Dynasty: Tested XX. (Paducah, KY: Collector Books, 320 p.). Case family--History; W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company--History; Cutlery trade--United States--History; Knifesmiths--United States--History.

(W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company), Shirley Boser and John Sullivan; foreword by John R. Osborne, Jr. (2006). W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company. (Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 128 p.). Case Archivist, Historian; Director of Marketing; Great-Great-Grandson of Company’s Namesake. W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company--History; W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company--Pictorial works; Cutlery trade--United States--History; Cutlery trade--United States--Pictorial works. 1905 - John Russell "Russ" Case brought fledgling W. R. Case & Sons Company to Bradford, dominated knife industry for next century; most collected knives in world.

(Charles Early & Marriott (Witney) Ltd.), Alfred Plummer. Richard E. Early (1969). The Blanket Makers, 1669-1969; A History of Charles Early & Marriott (Witney) Ltd. (London, UK: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 205 p.). Charles Early & Marriott (Witney) Ltd.

(Gold Seal Company), Larry Woiwode (2000). Aristocrat of the West: The Story of Harold Schafer. (Fargo, ND: Institute for Regional Studies, North Dakota State University, 390 p.). Schafer, Harold Lyle, 1912- ; Gold Seal Company--History; Businessmen--North Dakota--Biography; Philanthropists--North Dakota--Biography. 

(Heath Ceramics), Amos Klausner; introduction, Catherine Bailey & Robin Petravic; contributions, Yves Behar ... [et al.] (2006). Heath Ceramics: The Complexity of Simplicity. (San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 189 p.). Director of the San Francisco Chapter of the AIGA. Heath, Edith, 1911-2005; Heath Ceramics; Ceramic tableware --California --Sausalito --History --20th century. Signature tableware, tiles still made according to artisanal tradition conceived by Edith Heath in mid-1940s in Sausalito, CA; one of few remaining mid-century American potteries; history, legacy, craft, woman who created them.

(Interface), Ray C. Anderson (1998). Mid-Course Correction: Toward a Sustainable Enterprise :The Interface Model. (Atlanta, GA: Peregrinzill Press, 204 p.). Chairman, CEO (Interface, Inc.). Interface, Inc.; Sustainable development--United States--Case studies; Social responsibility of business--United States--Case studies; Industrial management--Environmental aspects--United States--case studies. 

(International Silver Company), Earl Chapin May (1947). Century of Silver, 1847-1947; Connecticut Yankees and a Noble Metal. (New York, NY: R. M. McBride, 388 p.). International Silver Company; Silverwork--New England.

(Jacques & Hay), Ruth Cathcart (1986). Jacques & Hay: 19th Century Toronto Furniture Makers. (Erin, ON: Boston Mills Press, 96 p.). Jacques & Hay; Furniture industry and trade -- Ontario -- Toronto -- History; Furniture, Victorian -- Ontario -- Toronto -- History; Furniture -- Ontario -- Toronto; Furniture design -- Ontario -- Toronto.

(Krug Bros. & Co.), Howard Krug (2001). A Century of Excellence: Krug Bros. & Co. Furniture Manufacturers. (Toronto, ON: Natural Heritage/Natural History, 184 p.). Krug Bros. & Co. -- History; Furniture industry and trade -- Ontario -- Chesley -- History.

(La-Z-Boy), Jeffrey L. Rodengen, Richard F. Hubbard (2003). The Legend of La-Z-Boy, Inc. (Fort Lauderdale, FL: Write Stuff Enterprises, 168 p.). La-Z-Boy, Inc.; Furniture industry and trade--United States. 

(Levitz Furniture), Wight Martindale (1972). We Do It Every Day; the Story Behind the Success of Levitz Furniture (New York, NY: Fairchild Publications, 150 p.). Levitz Furniture (Firm).

(Mercers’ Company of Coventry), Ronald M. Berger (1993). The Most Necessary Luxuries: The Mercer’s Company of Coventry, 1550-1680. (University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 317 p.). Mercers’ Company of Coventry--History; Textile industry--England--Coventry--History; House furnishings industry and trade--England--Coventry--History; Coventry (England)--Commerce--History; Coventry (England)--Economic conditions; Coventry (England)--Social conditions.

(Mirror), Sabine Melchior-Bonnet; translated by Katharine H. Jewett ; with a preface by Jean Delumeau (2000). The Mirror: A History. (New York, NY: Routledge, 308 p.). Researcher at College de France (Paris). Mirrors--History. 

(Mirror), Mark Pendergrast (2003). Mirror Mirror: A History of the Human Love Affair with Reflection. (New York, NY: Basic Books, 352 p.). Mirrors--History; Reflection (Optics); Reflecting telescopes.  

(Michael Nairn and Company, ltd.), Augustus Muir (1956). Nairns of Kirkcaldy; A Short History of the Company (1874-1956). (Cambridge, UK: Heffer, 158 p.). Nairn (Michael) and Company, ltd. Manufacturers of floorcloth.

(Reed & Barton), George S. Gibb (1976). The Whitesmiths of Taunton: A History of Reed & Barton, 1824-1943. (New York, NY: Arno Press, 419 p. [Reprint of 1943 ed.]). Reed & Barton; Silverwork--Massachusetts--Taunton.

(Reed & Barton), Renee Garrelick (1998). Sterling Seasons: The Reed & Barton Story. (Taunton, MA: Reed & Barton Corp., 168 p.). Reed & Barton--History; Silverwork--Massachusetts--Taunton--History; Silver industry--Massachusetts--Taunton--History. 

(Revere Copper and Brass), Issac F. Marsosson (1955). Copper Heritage; The Story of Revere Copper and Brass Incorporated. (New York, NY: Dodd, Mead, 254 p.). Revere Copper and Brass Incorporated.

(Richardson Industries - dates to 1848 and Joseph Richardson's saw milling operation in Sheboygan Falls, WI), Jay Pridmore (1998). The Richardson Story: A Family Enterprise at 150 Years (Lyme, CT: Greenwich Publishing Group, Inc., 112 p.). Richardson Industries--History; Furniture industry and trade--Wisconsin--History; House furnishings industry and trade--Wisconsin--History.

(Shaw Industries), Randall L. Patton (2002). Shaw Industries : A History. (Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 217 p.). Associate Professor of History (Kennesaw State University). Shaw Industries History; Rug and carpet industry Georgia History.

(Thonet), Christopher Wilk (1980). Thonet: 150 Years of Furniture (Woodbury, NY: Barron's, 143 p.). Thonet, Michael, 1796-1871; Gebrüder Thonet; Furniture industry and trade--Austria--Vienna--Biography; Vienna (Austria)--History.

(Wedgwood), Anthony Burton (1976). Josiah Wedgwood: a Biography. (London, UK: A. Deutsch, 239 p.). Wedgwood, Josiah, 1730-1795; Potters--England--Biography.

(Wedgwood), Sharon Gater and David Vincent (1988). The Factory in a Garden: Wedgwood from Etruria to Barlaston: The Transitional Years. (Keele, UK: Keele Life Histories Centre, University of Keele, 80 p.). Wedgwood & Company; Pottery Production History Staffordshire (England).

(Wedgwood), Robin Reilly (1992). Josiah Wedgwood 1730-1795. (London, UK: Macmillan, 412 p.). Wedgwood, Josiah, 1730-1795; Potters--England--Biography; Pottery, English--18th century; Wedgwood ware.

(Wedgwood), Brian Dolan (2004). Wedgwood: The First Tycoon. (New York, NY: Viking, 396 p.). Wedgwood, Josiah, 1730-1795; Potters--Great Britain--Biography; Industrialists--Great Britain--Biography. 

(White Furniture Company), Bill Bamberger, Cathy N. Davidson (1998). Closing: The Life and Death of an American Factory (New York, NY: Norton, 223 p.). White Furniture Company; Furniture industry and trade--United States; Downsizing of organizations--United States--Case studies; Plant shutdowns--North Carolina--Mebane. 

(James Williamson & Son Ltd. ), Philip J. Gooderson (1996). Lord Linoleum: Lord Ashton, Lancaster and the Rise of the British Oilcloth and Linoleum Industry. (Staffordshire, UK: Keele University Press, 288 p.). Ashton, James Williamson, Baron of, 1842-1930; Linoleum industry--Great Britain--History; Oilcloth industry--Great Britain--History; Businesspeople--Great Britain--Biography; Lancashire (England)--History.

Regina Lee Blaszczyk (2000). Imagining Consumers: Design and Innovation from Wedgwood to Corning (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 380 p.). Assistant Professor of History and American Studies (Boston University). Ceramic tableware industry--United States--History; Ceramic tableware industry--Great Britain--History; Glassware industry--United States--History; Glassware industry--Great Britain--History; Consumers' preferences--United States--History; Consumers' preferences--Great Britain--History.

Arthur H. Cole and Harold F. Williamson (1941). The American Carpet Manufacture; a History and an Analysis. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 281 p.). Carpets; Rugs.

John E. Crowley (2001). The Invention of Comfort: Sensibilities & Design in Early Modern Britain & Early America. (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 361 p.). George Munro Professor of History (Dalhousie University). Households--United States--History; Households--Great Britain--History; House furnishings--United States--History; House furnishings--Great Britain--History; United States--Social life and customs; Great Britain--Social life and customs. 

Sharon Darling (1984). Chicago Furniture: Art, Craft & Industry, 1833-1983. (New York, NY: Chicago Historical Society in association with W.W. Norton, 416 p.). Furniture--Illinois--Chicago--History--19th century; Furniture--Illinois--Chicago--History--20th century.

Clive Edwards (2005). Turning Houses into Homes: A History of the Retailing and Consumption of Domestic Furnishings. (Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 294 p.). Research Director and Senior Lecturer in History of Art & Design (Loughborough University School of Art & Design). House furnishings industry and trade--History. 

Pat Kirkham, Rodney Mace, Julia Porter (1987). Furnishing the World: The East London Furniture Trade, 1830-1980 (London, UK: Journeyman, 136 p.). Furniture industry and trade--England--London--History; London (England)--History.

Randall L. Patton and David B. Parker (1999). Carpet Capital: The Rise of a New South Industry. (Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 341 p.). Rug and Carpet Industry.

William Stevens (1968). Anvil of Adversity: Biography of a Furniture Pioneer. (New York, NY: Popular Library, 211 p.). Broyhill, James Edgar, 1892- ; Businessmen--United States--Biography; Furniture industry and trade--United States--Biography.

Martha Van Hoesen Taber (1955). A History of the Cutlery Industry in the Connecticut Valley. (Northampton, MA: Dept. of History, Smith College, 138 p.). Cutlery--Connecticut River Valley.

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