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- 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.
- 1964-1965
- Collections - Artifact
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.
- La-Z-Boy Chair Company Reclining Chair and Ottoman, 1941 - This reclining chair was one of the first upholstered chairs produced by La-Z-Boy co-founders Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch. The earliest La-Z-Boys featured a patented reclining system and included a separate ottoman. Later technical refinements would produce a built-in footrest, eliminating the need for an ottoman and leading to the modern La-Z-Boy recliner.
- 1941
- Collections - Artifact
La-Z-Boy Chair Company Reclining Chair and Ottoman, 1941
This reclining chair was one of the first upholstered chairs produced by La-Z-Boy co-founders Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch. The earliest La-Z-Boys featured a patented reclining system and included a separate ottoman. Later technical refinements would produce a built-in footrest, eliminating the need for an ottoman and leading to the modern La-Z-Boy recliner.
- La-Z-Boy Chair Company Reclining Sofette, 1970 - The modern conception of the La-Z-Boy recliner came about through the introduction of the "Reclina-Rocker" in 1961. It was an immediate hit. With its success, La-Z-Boy began production of other forms of reclining seating, like this sofette.
- 1970
- Collections - Artifact
La-Z-Boy Chair Company Reclining Sofette, 1970
The modern conception of the La-Z-Boy recliner came about through the introduction of the "Reclina-Rocker" in 1961. It was an immediate hit. With its success, La-Z-Boy began production of other forms of reclining seating, like this sofette.
- Upholstered La-Z-Boy Reclining Chair Model, 1941-1953 -
- 1941-1953
- Collections - Artifact
Upholstered La-Z-Boy Reclining Chair Model, 1941-1953
- La-Z-Boy Chair Company Reclining Chair with Ottomatic Footrest, 1955 - Cousins and La-Z-Boy co-founders Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch combined technical knowledge with marketing savvy to create a unique furniture company. Clever marketing language made La-Z-Boy's technological improvements memorable to consumers. The adjustable ottoman Edwin Shoemaker attached to La-Z-Boy's recliners became the "Ottomatic" under Edward Knabusch's marketing influence.
- 1955
- Collections - Artifact
La-Z-Boy Chair Company Reclining Chair with Ottomatic Footrest, 1955
Cousins and La-Z-Boy co-founders Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch combined technical knowledge with marketing savvy to create a unique furniture company. Clever marketing language made La-Z-Boy's technological improvements memorable to consumers. The adjustable ottoman Edwin Shoemaker attached to La-Z-Boy's recliners became the "Ottomatic" under Edward Knabusch's marketing influence.
- Patent for the First La-Z-Boy Reclining Chair, January 24, 1929 - In 1927, cousins Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch established a successful furniture company through a combination of invention and marketing savvy. The "La-Z-Boy" reclining chair technology they developed--and the creative ways they advertised it to customers--came to define the cousins' business. This copy of their patent shows the mechanism that made their upholstered chair recline -- a step toward the iconic La-Z-Boy recliner.
- January 20, 1931
- Collections - Artifact
Patent for the First La-Z-Boy Reclining Chair, January 24, 1929
In 1927, cousins Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch established a successful furniture company through a combination of invention and marketing savvy. The "La-Z-Boy" reclining chair technology they developed--and the creative ways they advertised it to customers--came to define the cousins' business. This copy of their patent shows the mechanism that made their upholstered chair recline -- a step toward the iconic La-Z-Boy recliner.
- Making La-Z-Boy Reclining Chairs at a Fair or Exhibition, circa 1955 -
- circa 1955
- Collections - Artifact
Making La-Z-Boy Reclining Chairs at a Fair or Exhibition, circa 1955
- Floral City Furniture Company La-Z-Boy Reclining Chair with Ottoman, 1929 - This reclining chair was one of the first upholstered chairs produced by La-Z-Boy co-founders Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch. The earliest La-Z-Boys featured a patented reclining system and included a separate ottoman. Later technical refinements would produce a built-in footrest, eliminating the need for an ottoman and leading to the modern La-Z-Boy recliner.
- 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Floral City Furniture Company La-Z-Boy Reclining Chair with Ottoman, 1929
This reclining chair was one of the first upholstered chairs produced by La-Z-Boy co-founders Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch. The earliest La-Z-Boys featured a patented reclining system and included a separate ottoman. Later technical refinements would produce a built-in footrest, eliminating the need for an ottoman and leading to the modern La-Z-Boy recliner.
- La-Z-Boy Chair Company Hi-Lo Matic Reclining Chair with Ottomatic Footrest, 1956-1962 - The early reclining chairs made by La-Z-Boy were often viewed as "men's chairs." In the 1950s, the company created the Hi-Lo Matic with an adjustable back and seat that fit the physical requirements of both the man and woman of the house. The chair proved commercially unsuccessful, but La-Z-Boy continued to innovate and went on to achieve unprecedented comfort success for everyone.
- 1956-1962
- Collections - Artifact
La-Z-Boy Chair Company Hi-Lo Matic Reclining Chair with Ottomatic Footrest, 1956-1962
The early reclining chairs made by La-Z-Boy were often viewed as "men's chairs." In the 1950s, the company created the Hi-Lo Matic with an adjustable back and seat that fit the physical requirements of both the man and woman of the house. The chair proved commercially unsuccessful, but La-Z-Boy continued to innovate and went on to achieve unprecedented comfort success for everyone.
- Early La-Z-Boy Chairs Showroom Display, 1940 - La-Z-Boy furniture showrooms featured artful displays that presented a variety of styles and fabrics available for reclining chairs--the core of the business. Signage and displays emphasized comfort, inviting customers to sit down and test "the world's most comfortable chair" for themselves.
- 1940
- Collections - Artifact
Early La-Z-Boy Chairs Showroom Display, 1940
La-Z-Boy furniture showrooms featured artful displays that presented a variety of styles and fabrics available for reclining chairs--the core of the business. Signage and displays emphasized comfort, inviting customers to sit down and test "the world's most comfortable chair" for themselves.