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Collins, William & Son (1870-1890)

Collins, William & Son

High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire; chair & couch manufacturers (fl.c.1870-1890)

The Furniture Gazette, 25 June 1881, recorded that the firm supplied two handsome Gothic communion chairs for the Wesleyan chapel in Bow, London. Advertisements in The Furniture Gazette, 12 May & 7 July 1883, gave their address as The Royal Chair Works, Queen’s Road, High Wycombe and recorded that they made every description of chairs for churches, public and lecture halls, reading and club rooms, hotels, railway companies. A month later, The Furniture Gazette, 4 August 1883, reported the trustees of the firm in liquidation paid a first & final dividend of 3s 6d. Collins continued to advertise in The Furniture Gazette at this time and it was listed in The Furniture Gazette: Classified List of the Furniture, Upholstery, and Allied Trades (1886).  

Probably the same Collins & Son of Queen’s Road, High Wycombe, who supplied a quantity of chairs for His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales for use in the club room at Sandringham [The Furniture Gazette, 27 December 1884]. A small cane seated folding chair appeared as No. 280 in a catalogue of c.1870-90 (illus. Agius (1978), p. 136).

 Source: Agius, British Furniture 1880-1915 (1978).