Introduction
This introductory section focuses on Eldred Wheeler’s founding and growth up until the early 1990s. During this period, the popularity of 18th century American furniture was at a high point. Excitement in American heritage had been steadily growing leading up to and after the US Bicentennial in 1976.
When Eldred Wheeler was launched in 1977, people were still learning about American antique furniture. The niche that Eldred Wheeler pursued, 18th century New England country high style, was especially exciting. Not only were these maple and cherry pieces less formal than the more elaborate mahogany and walnut city ones, but they were also less costly. Our favorite wood, tiger maple, was also a favorite of 18th century New England country cabinetmakers. We like to believe that Eldred Wheeler helped promote the interest and appreciation of New England colonial furniture.
For a trip down memory lane, watch this short seven-minute video on Eldred Wheeler that was aired on WCVB’s Chronicle back in October 1991.
The PDFs in this section provided some background on Eldred Wheeler furniture and furniture in general.
Furniture Today: Furniture styles, like many other things, have continuously changed over time, and a question someone might ask is, “What’s behind certain styles going in and out of favor?” A reasonable answer might be, “Furniture styles change to accommodate changes in consumer tastes and preferences”. For example, a particular design five years ago might have been a preference then. But after some time, people want to change their décor because they become tired of seeing the same thing. Furniture manufacturers are continuously changing designs to accommodate consumers whose preferences have shifted. The PDF does not explore the numerous reasons or rationales behind a person’s decision to purchase a piece of furniture. Rather, it offers suggestions on how someone might approach furnishing their surroundings, especially their primary residence. More
Collecting Eldred Wheeler Furniture Today: Since the company is no longer in business, purchasing original Eldred Wheeler pieces today will have to be on the secondary market - likely at auctions, antique shops, second-hand retail stores, or online. With that in mind, it would be helpful to outline several criteria that might be used when purchasing Eldred Wheeler pieces. They will include the following topics: basic philosophy; collectability; evaluation; and originality. More
Bob Zexter - Antique Picker Extraordinaire: Nancy and Bob Zexter were not only close friends, but Bob was a mentor leading up to and during Emmett Eldred’s years at Eldred Wheeler. Emmett thought it fitting to pay tribute to Nancy and Bob by describing their interesting backgrounds and also relating the key role Bob played during Eldred Wheeler’s formative years. Nancy and Bob lived in a historic home on one of the main streets in Bristol, Rhode Island. Their home was called “Willowmere”, and it was in the National Register of Historic Places. The Zexters also loved antiques. Years before Emmett met Bob, Bob Zexter had left the corporate world to become a full-time antique dealer, or more appropriately, an “antique picker”. Anyone who has watched the TV show “American Pickers” understands what the term picker means. More