History
For over 100 years Kindel remains one of the oldest furniture companies in America. Please use the arrows on the bar below to scroll through our historic timeline.
-
Charles J. Kindel founds the Company in St. Louis
1901
-
Ground breaking for the current factory located in Grand Rapids, Michigan
1912
-
Kindel patents an improved convertible bed, known as the very popular Kindel Parlor Bed
1915
-
The Kindel Bed Co. becomes the Kindel Furniture Company
1926
-
Charles M. Kindel and his son Thomas Kindel assume company leadership duties
1936
-
House & Garden advertisement launched national ad campaign targeting woman in magazines
1941
-
Chuck Kindel helps found the Grand Rapids War Industries, a group of 12 furniture companies who produced wood glider plane parts for World War II.
1943
-
Kindel introduces the French Provincial Collection
1956
-
Kindel introduces the Italian Provincial Collection
1957
-
John W. Fisher of Muncie, Indiana purchases Kindel
1964
-
Kindel purchases the Michigan Chair Co.
1968
-
Kindel introduces its first upholstery line
1969
-
The China Trade Collection introduced Kindel's talent of Chinoiserie decoration on furniture
1978
-
Kindel is awarded the Winterthur License
1980
-
The Winterthur Museum Collection is launched at the High Point Furniture Market
1982
-
Kindel is awarded the Irish Georgian Society license
1984
-
The Winterthur Desk & Bookcase sells at Christie's for $12.1 million. Kindels reproduction sells for $21,393
1989
-
Kindel is awarded a "Woman in the Workplace" award for the high percentage of woman in manufacturing leadership roles
1996
-
Kindel establishes a relationship with the Greenbrier Hotel and participates in renovations of public areas and rooms
1999
-
Kindel introduces the Varney & Sons Collection
2000
-
Kindel is awarded the Mount Vernon License
2006
-
Kindel presents a 23 foot custom conference table to Mount Vernon for historic meeting between President Bush & French President Sarkozy
2007
-
Varney & Sons Collection becomes the Dorothy Draper Collection
2008
-
2010 Kindel merges with The Taylor Company and moves to 4047 Eastern Ave SE in Grand Rapids.
2010
-
Kindel attends the Architectural Digest Home Show in a new sales and marketing strategy for 2011.
2011