Good Morning Friends,
After Hubbard returned to America, he tried to find a publisher for a series of biographical sketches he had written called "Little Journey's." When he was unsuccessful in his attempts to have someone else publish the works , he decided to print them himself. Thus the Roycroft Press was born.
Hubbard proved to be such a prolific and popular writer that fame and fortune soon followed. The print shop expanded and then visitors began coming to East Aurora to see this extraordinary man. Initially visitors were housed in the printworker's living quarters but, this soon proved inadequate. A hotel was built to house the ever increasing number of visitors. The inn had to be furnished so Hubbard had local craftsmen make a simple straight lined style of furniture. The furniture became popular with visitors who wished to buy pieces for their homes. A furiture manufacturing industry was then born. In addition, Roycroft craftspeople were skilled metal smiths, leathersmiths, and book binders.

I am going to attach the Roycraft mark for all to see.

I will continue tomorrow with more on Roycroft.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

...a little extra regarding marks...

The original Roycroft trademark was adapted from a symbol used by a school of 14th Century monks to identify their hand illuminated manuscripts. This single “R” brand appeared on Roycroft merchandise fabricated in East Aurora, New York, from 1895 to 1938. The name "Roycroft" was also oten directly carved in a piece of furniture as an identification mark.

In 1976, a renewed interest in the Arts&Crafts Movement brought about the formation of the Roycrofters-at-Large Association. The Back-to-back “R”s logo was created as RALA’s Roycroft Renaissance Mark.

Hello Stonecat,
Thank you for replying and the insight on the Roycroft mark as it was very informative.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

The Roycroft mark on metal had at least three separate versions often refered to as the Early, Middle, & Late mark. There are a few variations that show added marks attributed to specific craftsmen in the shop. Quality varied greatly during the later years and declined greatly in it's final years. A great deal of Hubbards success was due to his marketing skills devoped while he worked for the Larkin Soap Company as a salesman.

Of great interest is the work made by two of the shops most gifted designers and craftsmen. Karl Kipp and Walter Jennings.

Fred

Hello Fred,
Now this is starting to be an active forum, and thank you for your input. Also you saved me a little time as now I won't have to retype what you have already mentioned.
I do believe that we can work together and get people interested enough that they will join in with comments or additions to the subject matter as you two fellows have done today.

Thanks again.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

As I understand it, the Roycrofters philosophy and aesthetic vision began to decline after Hubbard was lost on the sinking of the Lusitania - without a leader the collective floundered. Changing times, changing tastes, and the Depression then hit the Roycrofters just like the rest of the A&C movement. I don't know much about the modern Roycrofters movement but some of the work seems quite good, certainly in the original style.

I live about 2 hours from East Aurora and when the summer season hits I think I'll try to make my first visit there and see the museum, the inn, and the shops - should be fun.

Gents,

I recently posted in the Pottery and Lighting threads but don't see any numbers in the "views" columns after a couple days - maybe a glitch in the system, otherwise please have a look.

Good Morning Stonecat,
Thank you for your information about Hubbard as I will cover that portion as I continue with the history. I will make it a point to view you post on the other section.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones