Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Ford and Johnson Chair Company


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was keep. Extraordinary Writ (talk) 21:01, 23 January 2023 (UTC)

Ford and Johnson Chair Company

 * – ( View AfD View log | edits since nomination)

Non-notable company, fails WP:GNG and has no sources.  MasterMatt12  💬 ● Contributions 03:16, 16 January 2023 (UTC)


 * Comment a version from 2020 had a source and much more content before it was vandalized by an IP vandal. TheManInTheBlackHat   (Talk)  05:29, 16 January 2023 (UTC)


 * Note: This discussion has been included in the deletion sorting lists for the following topics: Companies, Illinois, Indiana,  and Ohio.  Spiderone (Talk to Spider) 12:33, 16 January 2023 (UTC)

Keep per the significant coverage in multiple independent reliable sources.  The book notes: "One of the most important agents in the city as well as one of the largest chair manufacturers in the country was John S. Ford, Johnson & Co., whose headquarters and warehouses were in Chicago but whose products were manufactured in Indiana and Massachusetts. Organized in 1872, the firm was jointly operated by Ford & Johnson manufacturers of chairs in Michigan City, Indiana, and Philander Derby who operated one of the nation's largest chair factories in Gardner, Massachusetts. An early conglomerate composed of several partners and representing several factories, J. S. Ford, Johnson & Co. was the outgrowth of a furniture-making business founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1861 ... During the mid-1880s, J. S. Ford Johnson & Co. offered more than 3,000 varieties of chairs, rockers, and cradles ranging from old-fashioned "Grecian chairs and rockers" to fashionable "folding rustic settees.""  The book was published in 1886, so the book is in the public domain. The book notes: "J. S. Ford, Johnson & Co., manufacturers of chairs, have been in existence as a firm under that title since 1873. The enterprise they represent has numerous branches. The Chicago firm, known by the above name, comprises John S. Ford, Henry W. Johnson, R. A. Hitchcock, and Philander Derby—John S. Ford and R. A. Hitchcock being residents of Chicago, and Mr. Derby of Gardner, Mass. The house was first established in 1861, by Mr. Ford, who began manufacturing chairs alone at Columbus, Ohio. In 1865, the firm of Ford & Johnson was organized, removing to Michigan City, where Reuben A. Hitchcock joined the enterprise, the firm becoming Ford, Johnson & Co. in 1868. In 1873, they removed to Chicago, their location being on Monroe, near Franklin Street, until 1876, when they removed to the corner of Van Buren and Jackson streets, and in 1885 to Nos. 300–306 Wabash Avenue. When the firm came to Chicago, they bought out Stoll & Barnes, and Mr. Derby became a partner, being one of the chief projectors of this great enterprise. Mr. Derby is an extensive manufacturer at Gardner, Massachusetts, and Mr. Johnson operates the factories at Michigan City, Ind., but all the goods of the latter establishments are sold by the Chicago house, while the Eastern and Western houses exchange and sell mutually. The firm sells its goods all over the country, and employs seven regular travelling salesmen and numerous local agents. They manufacture everything in the line of chairs, embracing some three thousand varieties. They do a large business in seating railroad depots, churches, billiard halls and summer resorts. The Chicago establishment employs some eighty men, considerable finishing work on their goods being done in this city. Their factories are located at Michigan City, Ind., where some six hundred workmen are employed."  The book was published in 1905, so the book is in the public domain. The book notes: "Ford, John Sherlock, chair manufacturer; b. Burton, Geauga Co., O., Sept. 16, 183; s. Stephen and Eunice Ford; grad. Burton Acad. at 16; m. September 16, 1856, Sarah M. Starrett, of Columbus, O.; children: Alice M., Reuben A. Began business career on leaving school, as clerk for D. T. Woodbury & Co., wholesale dealers in general merchandise at Columbus, O., with whom remained until 1856; became mem. of firm of Brotherlin, Halm & Co., furniture manufacturers, 1856-63, and, after dissolution of that firm, established, with partner, firm of Ford, Stage & Co., until death of Mr. Stage in 1865, when purchased his partners' interest and continued alone; then organized the business as a stock company and afterward sold it out, retaining the chair dept. In 1867 formed partnership with H. W. Johnson as Ford & Johnson at Columbus, O., and in 1868 firm moved to Michigan City, establishing extensive factory there, as Ford, Johnson & Co. In 1872 established the Chicago house of J. S. Ford, Johnson & Co., manufacturers of chairs and settees; in June 1900, the Michigan City factories and Chicago business were placed in a corporation under style of J.S. Ford, Johnson & Co., of which is now pres. Pres. Western Cane Seating Co., of Michigan City, Ind. Pres. Nat. Chair Manufacturers' Assn.; pres. Chicago Furniture Manufacturers' Assn. Promoted Western Chair Assn., of which was pres. for many years. Presbyterian. Dir. Chicago Relief and Aid Soc. over 15 years. Republican. Mem. I. O. O. F. Office: 16th St. and Indiana Av. Residence: 3906 Lake Av."  The book notes: "Ford, Johnson alone offered "3,000 varieties of chairs, rockers, and cradles" in the mid-1880s in various combinations of carving, veneers, or seat forms. ... When Ford, Johnson, scored a Columbian Exposition contract for 54,000 chairs, tight delivery dates and the array of work in progress at its own shops forced the firm to subcontract much of the order to local and Wisconsin makers." There is sufficient coverage in reliable sources to allow Ford and Johnson Chair Company to pass Notability, which requires "significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject". Cunard (talk) 02:09, 23 January 2023 (UTC)  Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, Liz <sup style="font-family: Times New Roman; color: #006400;">Read! Talk! 02:17, 23 January 2023 (UTC)
 * <p class="xfd_relist" style="margin:0 0 0 -1em;border-top: 1px solid #AAA; border-bottom: 1px solid #AAA; padding: 0px 2em;"> Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion and clearer consensus.


 * Keep Notable historical furniture manufacturer. jengod (talk) 02:21, 23 January 2023 (UTC)
 * Keep as Cunard has improved the page since the deletion nomination, and added in multiple reliable sources. Meszzy2  (talk) 03:34, 23 January 2023 (UTC)


 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. <b style="color:red">Please do not modify it.</b> Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.