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I speak English, Wolof,conversational French, and basic German. In my free time I am completing my MBA at Cleveland State University with a specialization in sustainable business practices. I enjoy discussing everything and anything and consider myself a modern day Renaissance Man. I look forward to contributing to Wikipedia.

The Taylor Companies Subpage

For nearly 200 years, The Taylor Companies have been based in Bedford, Ohio. Its second manufacturing plant, which is located in Lynwood, California, has roots that stretch back to the mid-1920’s in Los Angeles. Taylor manufacturers upholstered wood seating and wood casegoods from scratch using domestically sourced raw materials whenever possible. This unique manufacturing approach allows Taylor to address custom requests beyond standard product offerings without the need to outsource productin(1).

History

Taylor Chair Factory 1898

1st Generation

Established in 1816 and privately held for seven generations, Taylor is the oldest furniture manufacturer in the United States (2). This history, marking the 195th anniversary year that only a handful of enterprises have attained, is a story of family and of furniture manufacturing.

Taylor was established in Bedford, Ohio, which has always been Company’s home (13 miles southeast of downtown Cleveland). In 1813, a restless settler from Connecticut, Benjamin Fitch, settled Bedford Township in the eastern reaches of the Western Reserve. Mr. Fitch was a skilled woodsman who produced slat-backed and splint- bottomed chairs for neighbors. Soon he grew his craft into a local enterprise.

2nd Generation

One of the young men learning the secrets of “Fitch Splint Bottom Chairs” was an apprentice named William Orville Taylor. Mr. Taylor also married the daughter of his boss and gave his name to the Company in the mid-1840’s (W.O.Taylor). A business card of 1870 carried the names of W.O.Taylor, Joseph Fitch Taylor, and Vincent A. Taylor. The price list on the reverse side included office rockers at 22.00 a dozen and companion office chairs at 15.00 a dozen (3). In 19??, Mr. Taylor was inducted into the Ohio Business Hall of Fame (5).

3rd Generation

The man who tried to enlist in the Civil War at age 15 brought the same zest to the chair business. Vincent Taylor’s vitality and resourcefulness showed early in his career. In 1871, when news of the great Chicago fire reached Bedford, he travelled to Chicago. He returned with enough orders to sell all of the on hand seating inventory, plus as much as the factory could produce in the next 60 days. In 1891, Mr. Taylor was elected to the 52nd Congress of the United States(3).

The modern version of the Company emerged in March 1885, when Ohio adapted legislation that was critical for a new entity: a corporation. The Taylor Chair Company was incorporated as an Ohio corporation and capitalized at $100,000 with an issue of 1,000 shares of stock (1).

4th Generation

Fourth in the family line to take over was Joseph Fitch Taylor II. Mr. Taylor guided the Company through the Great Depression and World War II through creative chair construction. The company received three patents (162695, 1738023, 2077067) for chair designs (4). The Taylor Chair Company entered the 1950’s with great expectations after sales rebounded nicely in the late 1940’s. In 1951 and 1952,however, management suffered double blow. The father (Joseph Fitch Taylor II) and son-in-law (Gordon Meals) relationship which had come to an abrupt end: Gordon died in 1951 and Mr. Taylor in 1952.

5th Generation

After the loss of the two men closest to her, Moselle Meals became the company’s first female president in 1953. Her regime was best characterized by her keen awareness of design. In 1964, Ms. Meals was elected as the first woman officer of the N.O.F.A. (National Office Furnishings Association) and she was also elected as an honorary member of the Institute of Business Designers.

6th Generation

In 1967, the sixth generation, Joseph Taylor Meals, assumes the company’s presidency. To meet growing demand, the Bedford factory was expanded. In 1972 Fred J. Baldassari joined the company. He quickly became involved in the company’s financial and manufacturing operations as Vice President and Treasurer. In 1973 the company constructed a new manufacturing plant in Clarksdale, MS. In June 1986, Mr. Meals died unexpectedly. Later that month, Mr. Baldassari completed the acquisition of Eastern Cabinet and Furniture Company of Lynwood, CA. This company was renamed The Taylor Desk Company. Mr. Baldssari was elected Chairman & CEO (the first non-family member) and lead the company through the most prosperous period of its long-storied history.

7th Generation / Present Day

Brett Meals represents the seventh generation of direct family ownership. In July 2006 Taylor opened its new Bedford, OH factory, consolidating operations from Clarksdale, MS and the former Bedford, OH factory. Taylor now manufactures its Paull Group casegoods on a quick ship basis from both Lynwood, CA and Bedford, OH. The Aurora desk/conference chair has become one of Taylor's best selling chairs in the Company's modern history (1).

Sustainability

In 2004, Taylor began its journey in sustainable practices that generate triple bottom line value. Taylor is a rare living testament that the Seventh Generation Philosophy is not an academic exercise or ideological belief (6). Taylor’s commitment began with the remediation of a 50 acre Brownfield that had been abandoned since 1987.Today this revitalized land proudly stands as Tinkers Creek Commerce Park and it is where Taylor operates its Bedford, Ohio factory and headquarters.

After revitalizing the 50 acre Brownfield, Taylor turned its attention to natural resource conservation and waste division. By investing in energy efficient equipment, having an energy audit conducted and implementing better practices in the factory, Taylor’s aggregate consumption of natural gas, electricity and water was reduced by 59% at the new Bedford, Ohio manufacturing plant. Today 90% of the manufacturing waste that is generated at the Bedford, Ohio factory is responsibly diverted away from local landfills through recycling, upcycling and composting. At the Lynwood, California factory, 60% of the manufacturing waste is responsibly diverted from local landfills. In 2011, additional measures are expected to increase waste diversion at the Lynwood, California factory to 75%.

In April 2010, Taylor became the first furniture manufacturer member of The Climate Registry, North America’s only voluntary Greenhouse Gas emissions registry. Taylor reports all scope 1 and scope 2 emissions on a per unit basis. Taylor’s membership in The Climate Registry allows for transparent and precise reporting of its corporate carbon footprint and to better manage Greenhouse Gas emissions.

Taylor has received both national and regional recognition of its sustainable practices. Such awards include, but are not limited to, Crain’s Cleveland Business Emerald Award (2010) and the North American Sustainable Enterprise of the Year (2011).

Sources: (1) www.thetaylorcompanies.com (2) Bedford Historical Society (3) Taylor History Book (4) US Patent Office (5) Unknown Source (will have soon) (6) 7th Generation Source

Introduction

For nearly 200 years, The Taylor Companies have been based in Bedford, Ohio. Its second manufacturing plant, which is located in Lynwood, California, has roots that stretch back to the mid-1920’s in Los Angeles. Taylor Manufacturers upholstered wood seating and wood [casegoods] using domestically sourced raw materials whenever possible.

History

Establishment in 1816 and privately held for seven generations, Taylor is the oldest furniture manufacturer in the United States. This history, marking the 195th anniversary year that only a handful of enterprises attain, is a story of family and of furniture manufacturing. The beginning is in Bedford, Ohio, which has always been Company’s home (13 miles southeast of downtown Cleveland). In 1813, a restless settler from Connecticut, Benjamin Fitch, settled Bedford Township in the eastern reaches of the Western Reserve. Mr. Fitch was a skilled woodsman who produced slat-backed and splint- bottomed chairs for neighbors. Soon his craft grew into a local enterprise. One of the young men learning the secrets of “Fitch Splint Bottom Chairs” was an apprentice named William Orville Taylor. Mr. Taylor also married the daughter of his boss and gave his name to the Company in the mid-1840’s (W.O.Taylor). A business card of 1870 carried the names of W.O.Taylor, Joseph Fitch Taylor, and Vincent A. Taylor. The price list on the reverse side included office rockers at 22.00 a dozen and companion office chairs at 15.00 a dozen. The man who tried to enlist in the Civil War at 15 brought the same zest to the chair business. Vincent Taylor’s vitality and resourcefulness showed early in his career. In 1871, when news of the great Chicago fire reached Bedford, he travelled to Chicago. He returned with enough orders to sell all the on hand plus as much as the factory could produce in the next 60 days. In 1891, Mr. Taylor was elected to the 52nd Congress of the United States. The modern version of the Company emerged in 1885. The Taylor Chair Company was incorporated as an Ohio corporation and capitalized at 100,000 with an issue of 1,000 shares of stock. Fourth in the family line to take over was Joseph Fitch Taylor II. Mr. Taylor guided the Company through the great Depression and World War II through creative chair construction. The company received three patents for chair designs. The Taylor Chair Company entered the 1950’s with great expectations after sales rebounded nicely in the late 1940’s. In 1951 and 1952, management was to rul under a double blow. The father (Joseph Fitch Taylor II) and son-in-law (Gordon Meals) relationship which had come to an abrupt end. Gordon died in 1951 and Mr. Taylor in 1952. After the loss of the two men closest to her, Moselle Meals became the company’s first female president in 1953. Her regime was best characterized by her keen awareness of design. In 1964, Ms. Meals was elected as the first woman officer of the N.O.F.A. (National Office Furnishings Association) and she was also elected as a honary member of the Institute of the Institute of Business Designers. In 1967, the sixth generation, Joseph Taylor Meals, assumes the company’s presidency. To meet growing demand, the Bedford factory was expanded. In 1972 Fred J. Baldassari joined the company. He quickly became involved in the company’s financial and manufacturing operations as Vice President and Treasurer. In 1973 the company constructed a new manufacturing plant in Clarksdale, MS. In June 1986, Mr. Meals died unexpectedly. Later that month, Mr. Baldassari completed the acquisition of Eastern Cabinet and Furniture Company of Lynwood, CA. This company was renamed The Taylor Desk Company. Mr. Baldssari was elected Chairman & CEO (the first non-family member) and lead the company through the most prosperous period of its long-storied history.

Sustainability

In 2004, Taylor began its journey in sustainable practices that generate triple bottom line value. Taylor is a rare living testament that the Seventh Generation Philosophy is not an academic exercise or ideological belief. Taylor’s commitment began with the remediation of a 50 acre Brownfield that had been abandoned since 1987.Today this revitalized land proudly stands as Tinkers Creek Commerce Park and it is where Taylor operates its Bedford, Ohio factory and headquarters. After revitalizing the 50 acre Brownfield, Taylor turned its attution to natural resource conservation and waste division. By investing in energy efficient equipment, having an energy audit and implementing better practices in the factory, Taylor’s aggregate consumption of natural gas, electricity and water was reduced by 59% at the new Bedford, Ohio manufacturing plant. Today 90% of the manufacturing waste that is guaranteed at the Bedford, Ohio factory is responsibly diverted away from local landfills through recycling, upcycling and composting. At the Lynwood, California factory, 60% of the manufacturing waste is responsibly diverted from local landfills. In 2011, additional measures are expected to increase waste diversion at the Lynwood, California factory to 75%. In April, 2010, Taylor became the first furniture manufacturer member of The Climate Registry North America’s only Greenhouse Gas emissions registry. Taylor reports all scope 1 and scope 2 emissions on a per unit basis. Taylor’s membership in The Climate Registry allows for transparent and precise reporting of our corporate carbon footprint and to better manage Greenhouse Gas emissions. Taylor has received both national and regional recognition of its sustainable practices. Such awards include, but are not limited to, Crain’s Cleveland Business Emerald Award (2010) and the North American Sustainable Enterprise of the Year (2011). www.crainscleveland.com www.gogreenplus.org (The Institute for Sustainable Development)