La-Z-Boy Chair Company Monticello Reclining Chair, 1964-1965

Cousins and La-Z-Boy co-founders Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch combined technical knowledge with marketing savvy to create a unique furniture company. Yet, not all of La-Z-Boy's strategies succeeded. The "Americana Collection," which included the "Monticello" recliner, was an attempt to combine early American styles with modern aesthetics. The line fell flat with customers, who preferred either modern or historical styles.