Chances are if you know your patio furniture, you know what an Adriondeck chair is. Even if you’ve never heard the word “Adriondeck” before in your life, you know what one looks like: The low, squatty yet comfortable patio chairs with the high and wide fan type back. What seemed like a regional favorite has soon become a summertime staple throughout the United States, with people loving and enjoying its comfort from New York to New Orleans. But what many people don’t know is how the Adriondeck chair got its name, or the way it became popular.
In these times of economic turmoil, it may be a good time to remind people of the history of the Adriondeck chair. This deck favorite was built during economic times much like these, except in a much simpler time. The year was 1903: radio was the preferred way for Americans to get their entertainment, the internet sounded like something out of a Buck Rodgers program, and you could get a cola at the drug store for no more than a nickel. It was also during this time than American pioneer was using his hard work and know how to build the future of patio furniture.
The legend of the Adriondeck chair begins with a man named Thomas Lee. Historians say that Lee had a summer home in the Adriondack Mountain region of New York, and was looking for a comfortable place for him and his family to enjoy the summer air. Through a series of several trial and error experiments, Lee came up with a design not too dissimilar from what we now know today as the Adriondeck chair, defined by its fan shaped back and wide arm rests.
Mr. Lee’s brand new Adriondeck chair had become quite popular – popular enough to be offered to another local carpenter by the name of Harry Bunnell. Bunnell needed to find a way to make money during the long winter months, and Lee was looking for someone to build his famously popular chair. Seemingly, it was a match made in heaven: Bunnell built the chairs made famous by Lee, and money was to be made by all. The chairs became so popular, however, that they started to get produced by everyone who had two hands and a little knowledge on construction. As legend goes, Bunnell took it upon himself to file a sole patent on the chair and the design – leaving founder Lee completely out of it. The United States Patent Office sided in favor of Bunnell’s application, and soon he found himself in possession of Patent number 794,444. This gave him the sole right to produce the chairs, and the sole right to make money off it. And Bunnell made money hand over fist with the new chair, continuing to be the sole manufacturer of the chair for over 20 years.
Eventually, the patent expired, and the chair was once again available for everyone to manufacture and build at their leisure. With the widespread regional popularity, builders around the United States continued to build Adriondeck chairs, giving them a nationwide appeal. Today, these beautiful chairs with such a low profile can be found nearly everywhere across the United States – from coffee houses to porches. And with their comfort and aesthetic pleasure, who can blame them – they bring charm and class wherever they go across the United States, built with the heart and spirit of the American worker.
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