Deep within the furniture pile was a set of bedroom furniture in stunningly good condition but slightly out of fashion in that it was brown. Its quality though is outstanding so we have decided to keep it for the new extension (planning decision day today incidentally). Two wardrobes (his and hers*) and a dressing table.
Turns out they were made by the London firm of Harris Lebus (1840-1969). They bear a 1960 British Standard kitemark - remember those?
Here is the smaller wardrobe:
Those shelves bear neat little labels, pyjamas, underwear, shirts etc.
Turns out that Harris Lebus have a fascinating history. During WW2 their London factory, said to be the biggest furniture factory in the world, was used to make the wooden Horsa D Day gliders and the Mosquito fighter bomber aircraft. I believe the Mosquito was the fastest thing in the sky for a time because of its light-weigh but incredibly strong wooden construction. More useful at the time than luxury furniture for sure.
Not just that, they invented and produced Utility furniture, nowadays appreciated and sought after.
* Why are his wardrobes bigger than hers? That flies in the face of 3/4 of a century's experience of volume of clothes accumulated by the sexes.
