COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 2522

Office Furniture, Except Wood

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

18companies1889–1959founding years18still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedRheinmetall Berlin AGFoundedRheinmetall Berlin AG
1889
FoundedThe Gunlocke CompanyFoundedThe Gunlocke Company
1902
FoundedDrexel Heritage Furnishings Inc.FoundedDrexel Heritage Furnishings Inc.FoundedHarley-Davidson, Inc.FoundedHarley-Davidson, Inc.
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedSteelcase, Inc.FoundedSteelcase, Inc.
1912
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedHON INDUSTRIES Inc.FoundedHON INDUSTRIES Inc.
1944
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedVirco Manufacturing CorporationFoundedVirco Manufacturing Corporation
1950
FoundedShelby Williams Industries, Inc.FoundedShelby Williams Industries, Inc.
1954
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedHerman Miller, Inc.FoundedHerman Miller, Inc.
1959
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Rheinmetall Berlin AG →
Active · founded 1889 · Germany
Rheinmetall Berlin AG, the parent company of a group of more than 60 industrial manufacturing firms, is a leading…
Rheinmetall Berlin AG →
Active · founded 1889 · Germany
Rheinmetall Berlin AG, the parent company of a group of more than 60 industrial manufacturing firms, is a leading…
The Gunlocke Company →
Active · founded 1902
The Gunlocke Company was manufacturing, in the late 1990s, executive desks, case goods such as bureaus and bookcases,…
The Gunlocke Company →
Active · founded 1902
The Gunlocke Company was manufacturing, in the late 1990s, executive desks, case goods such as bureaus and bookcases,…
Drexel Heritage Furnishings Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
Based in the foothills of North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, Drexel Heritage Furnishings Inc.
Drexel Heritage Furnishings Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
Based in the foothills of North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, Drexel Heritage Furnishings Inc.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
The only motorcycle manufacturer in the United States, Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
The only motorcycle manufacturer in the United States, Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Steelcase, Inc. →
Active · founded 1912
Known since 1984 as "The Office Environment Company," Steelcase, Inc.
Steelcase, Inc. →
Active · founded 1912
Known since 1984 as "The Office Environment Company," Steelcase, Inc.
HON INDUSTRIES Inc. →
Active · founded 1944
HON INDUSTRIES Inc.
HON INDUSTRIES Inc. →
Active · founded 1944
HON INDUSTRIES Inc.
Virco Manufacturing Corporation →
Active · founded 1950
Virco Manufacturing Corporation is the country's largest producer of furniture for the classroom, with a market share…
Virco Manufacturing Corporation →
Active · founded 1950
Virco Manufacturing Corporation is the country's largest producer of furniture for the classroom, with a market share…
Shelby Williams Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1954
Shelby Williams Industries, Inc., is a leading supplier of furnishings for the contract furniture market.
Shelby Williams Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1954
Shelby Williams Industries, Inc., is a leading supplier of furnishings for the contract furniture market.
Herman Miller, Inc. →
Active · founded 1959
Herman Miller, Inc., is one of the leading manufacturers of office furniture and furniture systems, second only to…
Herman Miller, Inc. →
Active · founded 1959
Herman Miller, Inc., is one of the leading manufacturers of office furniture and furniture systems, second only to…
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