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MERSMAN TABLES
by Fred Taylor
THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!
Part 2
Part 1
The construction techniques and materials used by
Mersman during the 20's, 30's and 40's were typical of
the period, especially in its "popular" (low end) and
medium grade tables.
The solid stock used for legs was primarily gum, the
most frequently used wood in furniture production in
America in 1928. Gum was readily available, reasonably
priced and easily disguised as almost any other wood.
Ordinarily subject to extreme warping and twisting
during curing, gum had gained prominence only after new
kiln drying techniques were developed early in the
century.
The elaborately inlaid or veneered tops were all made of
lumber core plywood, the furniture construction standard
of the day. It consisted of five layers of wood,
cross-banded to prevent warping. The most common woods
for veneers and trim used by Mersman in the 20's and
30's were, in the company's words, "brown mahogany,
plain burl, rotary cut and butt jointed walnut,
rosewood, blistered maple, birds-eye maple, zebra
veneers, ebony, redwood burls, satinwood and Russian
oak."
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To its everlasting credit Mersman not only produced
the furniture, it worked with the retail merchants to
develop a marketing and advertising plan for specific
markets. It provided, free of charge, camera-ready art
for newspaper advertisements. It also developed what it
called "The Mersman Idea Book", a loose leaf compendium
of marketing ideas and strategies as well as helpful
hints on accounting practices and inventory control. The
book was updated with regular additions and was free of
charge to any retail furniture establishment who sold
Mersman products. It included not only ideas from the
Company but also examples of what techniques had worked
for other merchants in different areas of the country.
During World War II, Mersman, like most of the rest of
the country, was involved in wartime production making
benches, tables and desks for the military and plywood
for the Lend/Lease program. After the War it
concentrated even more directly on living room tables,
letting the rest of the line fade.
Mersman Brothers was acquired in 1963 by Congoleum. Then
it was sold it to a private investment group in 1977
which operated the company under the name initially used
by J. B. Mersman - Mersman Tables. At its height the
company had 700,000 square feet of manufacturing space
and employed over 750 people in Celina and in Eupora,
MS. The company ceased production in 1995.
Examples of Mersman products can be found almost
anywhere. In spite of their excellent construction and
sometimes innovative styling, Mersman tables today have
little collector's value due to their overwhelming
availability.
Visit Fred's new website www.furnituredetective.com.
Fred Taylor's new book "HOW TO BE A FURNITURE DETECTIVE"
is now available for $18.95 plus $2.00 S & H. Send check
or money order for $20.95 to Fred Taylor, PO Box 215,
Crystal River, FL 34423.
Fred and Gail Taylor's video, "IDENTIFICATION OF OLDER &
ANTIQUE FURNITURE", ($29.95 includes S & H) is also
available at the same address. For more information call
(800) 387-6377, fax (352) 563-2916, or e-mail
fmtaylor@aol.com.
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