Antique W. F. Meyer Laundry Kar And Williams Manufacturing Laundry Basket
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:52089010 | Country/Region of Manufacture: United States |
| Finish: Antique | Material: Wood |
| Brand: Meyer | Type: Laundry Basket |
Below is a lot of the history behind these two pieces. The only flaw on the W.F.Meyer Laundry Kar is the top of one of the legs is split, as can be seen in the photos. All else, on both pieces are in great condition. The building pictured in the final frame is the Williams Mfg. Co. in Northampton, MA.
...olor: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: "Bitstream Vera Serif", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">W.F. Meyer & Sons Laundry Kar This rolling cart is all wood, including the wheels. It's marked on both sides of the base where the basket would sit "W.F. Meyer & Sons Chicago, Ill. Merchandise Mart Laundry-Kar". This is one of the trademark pieces this company was known for and is hard to find. When standing up, it is approximately 29" tall x 29" x 16.5". When folded flat, it is about 39" long x 18" wide. It is made with mostly peg construction.
The laundry basket:
The Williams Manufacturing Company was incorporated in Massachusetts and based its operations in Northampton. Company made splint, bamboo, and rattan baskets and rose to become the world's leading basket manufacturer. L. B. Williams and Roland S. Bartlett began the business in Huntington, Massachusetts in 1850. In 1862 the business moved to Northampton and the name of the firm was changed to L. B. Williams & Co. In 1867 the concern was incorporated under the name of the William Manufacturing Company, with a capital of $100, 000.
At the time the company had the largest basket factory in the world, operated by a seventy-five horse power steam engine and with the capacity to produce ten thousands baskets per day.The company used lumber from its own property behind the plant and purchased additional inventory locally, using oak, birch, beech, ash, maple, hickory and elm. The wood was cut into pieces and soaked a few hours in a steam vat, to make it pliable, after which it was split into pieces of varying thickness, as desired, by machinery. It was then woven in a flat state, like a mat, and was delivered to the finisher. The finisher then bent it over the wooden mould or pattern, forcing it into the required shape. The edges were trimmed off evenly and the rims nailed on quickly. The company produced verbena and grape baskets; fruit baskets; peach, picking and feed baskets; corn and grain and oyster and clam baskets; covered satchel and market baskets; factory, butchers' and grocers' baskets; office and counter baskets; laundry, clothes, cotton and coal baskets; and hampers of all styles and sizes.
...olor: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: "Bitstream Vera Serif", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">W.F. Meyer & Sons Laundry Kar This rolling cart is all wood, including the wheels. It's marked on both sides of the base where the basket would sit "W.F. Meyer & Sons Chicago, Ill. Merchandise Mart Laundry-Kar". This is one of the trademark pieces this company was known for and is hard to find. When standing up, it is approximately 29" tall x 29" x 16.5". When folded flat, it is about 39" long x 18" wide. It is made with mostly peg construction.
The laundry basket:
The Williams Manufacturing Company was incorporated in Massachusetts and based its operations in Northampton. Company made splint, bamboo, and rattan baskets and rose to become the world's leading basket manufacturer. L. B. Williams and Roland S. Bartlett began the business in Huntington, Massachusetts in 1850. In 1862 the business moved to Northampton and the name of the firm was changed to L. B. Williams & Co. In 1867 the concern was incorporated under the name of the William Manufacturing Company, with a capital of $100, 000.
At the time the company had the largest basket factory in the world, operated by a seventy-five horse power steam engine and with the capacity to produce ten thousands baskets per day.The company used lumber from its own property behind the plant and purchased additional inventory locally, using oak, birch, beech, ash, maple, hickory and elm. The wood was cut into pieces and soaked a few hours in a steam vat, to make it pliable, after which it was split into pieces of varying thickness, as desired, by machinery. It was then woven in a flat state, like a mat, and was delivered to the finisher. The finisher then bent it over the wooden mould or pattern, forcing it into the required shape. The edges were trimmed off evenly and the rims nailed on quickly. The company produced verbena and grape baskets; fruit baskets; peach, picking and feed baskets; corn and grain and oyster and clam baskets; covered satchel and market baskets; factory, butchers' and grocers' baskets; office and counter baskets; laundry, clothes, cotton and coal baskets; and hampers of all styles and sizes.
