Hello all,

I am researching a rocking chair handed down to me by a dear friend. It is oak in the mission style. The chair has a very faded label on the bottom. The label reads:

Webster Mfg. Co
Station B. Superior,Wis

it also has at the very bottom
Light fumed.

I would appreciate any info on Webster Mfg Co. or the chair in general, if available.

I am writing a research paper on this item for an interior design class.

Thanks for your time

In the book "Official Price Guide to American Arts and Crafts" there are over 100 furniture manufacturers listed, but unfortunately not Webster. There are however a few others from Wisconsin (mainly Sheboygan area) which does confirm Wisconsin as active in producing furniture at the time.

A Google search found only one specific reference - unfortunately not much help either, except for corroborating the company name as a manufacturer of the day.

- dead link -

"Light fumed" would be refering to the process of ammonia fuming to chemically darken the oak, before other finishes would have been applied. It is also possible however that this was stamped on simply as an advertising ploy to make the customer think they were getting a superior finish job - most of the common manufacturers of the time did not use fuming but rather just various shades of stain.

Good luck with your research.

Another thought - can you post a picture or two?

I too am looking for more information about this rocking chair and its manufacturer, etc.

My chair came from my grandmothers house, who was married in 1920's, so I can only assume it was from that vintage.

My oak mission style rocking chair has Wester Mfg. Co., Station B, Superior, WIS Made in U.S.A. with a model or serial number of 2988-6U under the seat frame.

Does anyone know the value or any info about the manufacturer of this rocking chair. Thanks.

I have posted 2 pictures of the chair and label in a photo album. I can't figure out how to attach this message to the photos, so look for my name Jarns and you will see them

It appears to be a simple design and straight grained wood. The posts of the back frame appear that they might not be oak, but maybe maple, because of the lack of grain. The arms are fairly narrow and don't show 'through tenons'. I don't think the value will be very high, but nonetheless it will hold value over time.

Have you been able to find out any more information on Webster Manufacturing Co? I have a drop-leaf oak dining table that was my grandmother's and I can't seem to find out any information on it. It has a brass plate on the bottom that says Webster Manufacturing Company, Superior. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Good Morning,
I found your note about a rocking chair. We have a dining room table with 4 chairs with the Webster label and are looking for information about Webster. Did you find any information about yourrocking chair? Please let us know. Thanks,Stanley

Interesting posts as I just came from the basement where I am refinishing a 6 chair dining roon set with buffet, all made by Webster Mfg co. Station B Superior Wis. I too am looking for info on the company and trying to date the furniture. Mine was owned by my great grandmother or great aunt, I am not sure which as it came to my family when I was a young boy and since my father passed away it is now mine with my new family. I guess it to be at least 100 years old but that is just a guess. Sounds like they did a lot of work with Oak furniture as that is what mine is also.
Good luck to all.

Hi I am also loooking for more info about Werbster Mfg co. I recently purchased 5 oak dining chairs that have the same label: Webster Manufaturing Co, Station B, Superior Wis.

I'd like to match the original seats. They have been replaced with an insert covered with batting and fabric but I think they probably were leather.

Hi all,

I too have a Oak dining room table , 4 chairs & buffet made by the Webster Mgf Co in Superior Wisconsin. My sister got it from an old house in Sumas Washington USA. She gave it to me over 20 years ago. I would love to get it re-finished someday.

I can't find anything on the internet about this Company either?? But it seem to have made quite a few pieces of furniture according to this website .

Thanks for posting your info..If anyone knows more about this company I would love to hear about it.

Jan
Abbotsford, BC
Canada

The same problem came up for another maker, as discussed in another thread for furniture maker: John Dunn. Many people noted they had a pieces from him but there was no history or background available on the net or in any of the standard reference books. It took the efforts of one member, "skulls", to dig into the archives at the local museum (Gardner, Mass. where Dunn worked) to find the story. I suspect the same might be needed here.

-UPDATE- as cut and paste from another message, and in the interest of keeping things organized to one thread = one topic, here's info dug up by Ralph:

Ralph Jones
Member
Posted 08-15-05 12:51 PM
Hello Friends,
I have found some information from Ms Meronek, Area Research Librarian with the Superior Public Library. The information she sent me is as follows;
The Webster Manufacturing Company operated in Superior from about 1891 until 1932. It reorganized and reopened in 1935 and finally ceased operation for good in 1937.
Mr A. J. Webster was founder of the company and it was located in what is referred to as South Superior (still a part of the city of superior). We have two of their catalogs (dated 1915 and 1922) in our collection.

I have sent her a thank you email and also asked her for as much more information as she can find to build more information on his life history. Then he won't be an unknown person in the Arts and Crafts Movement.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

I would be interested in knowing whether anyone has found out more about Webster Mfg. Company, Superior, WI. I have a mission style oak chair with the label under the seat indicating "Webster Mfg. Co., Station B, Superior, Wis. 3457-1" which is in good shape. Am interested in knowing the value if any.
Julie
Kink100@aol.com

Hi Folks:

I too have a drop leaf table & two chairs that have a metal label which reads - Webster Mfg Co. on the bottom and I too would be very much interested in its worth. It belonged to my Grandma. If I hear anything I'll pass it on to you folks too!

double post, so I've added second one here
Stonecat, Moderator

<cathy>
Posted 08-30-05 02:29 PM
I have only to add that Webster Mfg Co on the label on my table reads as follows:
Mwbster Mfg Co. Superior Wisc., Jolliet Illinois, Portland Ore, Ohio, Los Angeles. These were other location's from this Manufacturer. I have an old table and two chairs that belonged to my grandmother. My mom said it's valuable, but only if we can find out what it's worth. Strange that nothing is listed except a few notes. Perhaps we can find out something on "The Antique Road Show" on TV.

Good Luck! If you hear anything, keep me in the loop.
Cathy

I Too have such a rocking chair that was my great grandmother's. She died in 1961 at the age of 95 and I was given this small rocking chair by my grand mother in 1963. My great grandmother was a small person, nothing close to 5'0". This chair could be for a child. On the bottom of the chair it reads. Webster Mfg.CO. Station B, Superior, Wis 102-4 Any information on this little rocking chair would be neet. garyclifton@yahoo.com

Lorna McCormick
Junior Member
Posted 01-28-06 04:19 PM
I have a rocker made by the Webster Mfg Co. the label on the bottom of the chair reads "The Webster Mfg. Co. Station R.Superior, Wis #2714-6
Mahogany.
Can anyone tell me more about this chair, possibly when it was made and perhaps the value.
Thank you
Posts: 1 | Registered: 01-28-06

Lorna - I cut and paste your message to this thread to keep things organized - lots of information here as you may have noticed - please post pictures if you can

Stonecat, Moderator

We, too, have a small child's rocker, but in addition to Station B, the large number underneath is 48 1/4. Not sure it's a serial number, never seen anything like it.

Would love to know more about the company. Would love even more to know how it got to Arma, KS, into my mother-in-law's Italian immigrant family.

Ours appears to have been long ago modified by some gold paint. Curiouser and curiouser. Wish it could talk.

I too am in search for some information on The Webster Mfg. Co. in Superior, WI.
I am in possession of a rocking chair from Webster Mfg.Co Superior Wi. Station B 3000-6
Wa-----
My daughter and I have done some research and this is what we came up with so far. It is a factory made Windsor English style decoratively cut out splat back, which is not typical of american Windsors.
I will try to enclose a picture. If any one can help to the year (which I am thinking, but not sure about 1920) and the worth of it. It has the original finish which is a dark finish with worn spots. Thanks.

I, too, have an OLD rocking chair that might be close to 100 years old. Beautiful dark oak with a round leather, or cow-hide, seating area that is etched. On the bottom is imprinted Webster M'F" Co., South Superior, Wis. 2009-6. If anyone can give me an estimate of it's value and/or age that would be great. frgldy9@frontiernet.net

I printed out my wrong email address. Should be frgldy8@frontiernet.net