Lifetime Furniture

Maker: Furniture

Year: 1911

Notes: Grand Rapids Bookcase Co. would call their Mission line by the Lifetime name . Addison A. Barber worked for many years in the sales departments of several Grand Rapids companies. In 1901 he organized the Grand Rapids Bookcase Co. in Hastings, Michigan. In 1902 he formed Barber & Shank Co. with John W. Shank. This firm represented the Welch Folding Bed Co. and Grand Rapids Brass & Iron Bed Co. as sales agents. A.A. Barber & Shank were joined by J.C. Barber in the formation of Barber Brothers Chair Co., which was represented by Barber & Shank. E.E. Dryden is known to have designed in the Mission style for the Barber Brothers.The "Lifetime furniture company" was formed 1911 as a merger of the Grand Rapids Bookcase Co. and Barker Brothers Chair Co. and named the Grand Rapids Bookcase & Chair Co.1902: Addison A. Barber and John W. Shank form Barber & Shank Co., sale agents for several local manufacturers.1903: Barber brothers Chair Co. is organized, with main office and salesrooms in Grand Rapids, and factory in Hastings.1910: Barber brothers products are cooperatively marketed under the names "Hastings Lines" and "Lifetime Furniture" with products of neighboring Grand Rapids Bookcase Co.1911: Barber brothers and Grand Rapids Bookcase Co. merge to form the Grand Rapids Bookcase & Chair Co. It operated continuously until 1956 when it was merged into the John Widdicomb Company. It was subsequently purchased by Medallion Ltd. and operated as Hastings Corporation and closed for good in 1975. The company is best known for its mission style furniture trademarked in 1911 as "Lifetime Cloister."