Furniture Maker John B. Luchsinger & Son, c.1875
The firm of John B. Luchsinger and Son was one of the most prolific and well documented furniture manufacturers in San Francisco during the third quarter of the nineteenth century. The firm first appeared in the 1864 San Francisco Directory as “John B. Luchsinger Furniture Manufactory.” In 1873 & 1875 John B Luchsinger’s sons joined the firm, which had expanded to one of the largest in San Francisco. A circa 1875 photograph depicts the firm members gathered at the shop location.
Trade card for John B. Luchsinger & Son furniture company
A trade card of circa 1876 notes them as “Manufacturers of all kinds of artistic furniture.
Detail photograph of signature of W.J. Heney firm, upholstery
It was known that Luchsinger’s furniture shop employed over 100 men at the time of the San Francisco Mint contract. The question arises as to the shop’s capabilities in other areas of furniture production outside of the cabinet trade such as upholstery. The conservation of a lounge chair from the S.F. Mint reveals that the firm sub-contracted their upholstery work to outside contractors. The sofa frame contains several inscriptions, notably, “F. Grender by W.J. Heney, August 29, 1874,” and “F.Grender, W.O. Heney, Oct.15, 1874.”
Trade card for Wm. J. Heney & Co. furniture and upholstery
A trade card in the California Historical Society documents “Wm. J. Heney & Co.,” As “Importers, Manufacturers and Dealers in bedding and Furniture, Wholesale and Retail. We manufacture a French style spiral spring mattress.” The original springs for an Old San Francisco Mint sofa survive and were encased in a cloth cover which also reads, “W.J.H. & Co,” the initials obviously standing for the firm of W.J. Heney.
Office of the Mint Supervisor, 1897
John B. Luchsinger & Son completed the initial contract for the San Francisco Mint furniture in 1874. The earliest visual documentation that shows the completed furniture in situ is a photograph, taken in c. 1879 of the Mint Supervisor’s office. The photograph shows the supervisor working at his new desk, surrounded by other examples of Luchsinger’s handiwork. These include a lounge, upholstered armchair, side chairs, a desk chair and a table with an upper case. These objects, along with the portraits on the wall, the clock and bracket shelf are now in the Treasury collection in Washington.
Interior of the San Francisco Mint Superintendant's Office
A number of photographs were taken of the other Mint offices in the 1880s. They also provide invaluable documentation of Luchsinger’s furniture in its original setting, the Mint building of 1874. The photographs are invaluable in that they show the objects depicted in the Supervising Architect’s design book as they were ultimately intended to be used in an office setting. The views include a view of the Superintendent’s office, clerical offices, the Assayers’ Weight Room and a Counting Room.
Clerical office furniture, San Francisco Mint, c.1880
A number of photographs were taken of the other Mint offices in the 1880s. This photograph provides an invaluable documentation of Luchsinger’s furniture in its original setting, the Mint building of 1874. The photographs are invaluable in that they show the objects depicted in the Supervising Architect’s design book as they were ultimately intended to be used in an office setting. The views include a view of the Superintendent’s office, clerical offices, the Assayers’ Weight Room and a Counting Room.
Period Photograph of Furniture in Assay Office, San Francisco Mint
One of a number of photographs were taken of the other Mint offices in the 1880s. These photographs provide invaluable documentation of Luchsinger’s furniture in its original setting, the Mint building of 1874. The photographs show the objects depicted in the Supervising Architect’s design book as they were ultimately intended to be used in an office setting. The views include a view of the Superintendent’s office, clerical offices, the Assayers’ Weight Room and a Counting Room.