by Paula Bosse
The Comfort Furniture Co. in Detroit manufactured a line of “refreshingly novel” furniture which was, as their ads said “comfortable, restful, sanitary, artistic” and “indestructible.” The company incorporated in Detroit at the end of 1904 and the only ads I’ve found have been from the very end of that year and from 1905 (the year in which they exhibited at the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland, Oregon).
I recently came across a small business card for the company (seen below) which shows a man reclining on the trimmed-in-fringe “vibrating” couch. He doesn’t look particularly comfortable, but the photographer might have caught him in mid-vibration. This small card was, presumably, given away at the Comfort Furniture booth at the Lewis and Clark Centennial. The caption reads, “Showing position of Comfort Vibrating Couch with person of average weight.”
The back of the card: “Manufactured by The Comfort Furniture Company, 225-229 Beecher Ave., Detroit, Mich. Send for catalogue and prices.”
It continued: “148 E. St. Cor. 7th. Varied Industries Building is where you saw the COMFORT VIBRATING FURNITURE that was so ARTISTIC, INDESTRUCTIBLE and COMFORTABLE.”
Below is an ad that appeared in the Lewis and Clark Centennial guide (1905). I hadn’t noticed the fringe in the above photo until I saw this ad. So … like a hospital bed. With fringe.
Another ad from 1905. Everything from children’s beds to furniture for Turkish baths.
Also from 1905:
A notice of incorporation appeared in the Dec. 28, 1904 edition of the Detroit Free-Press.
A mini article/lengthy blurb about the company appeared in the Dec. 1904 issue of The Furniture Journal:
The fate of Detroit’s pulsating furniture is unknown.
UPDATE: If you are a fan of the U.S. version of Antiques Roadshow, you might have seen one of these pieces of furniture featured on Season 23, Episode 2 (watch the clip here). This humble little post has gotten over a thousand hits since the show aired last night (Jan. 14, 2019). I wrote this post in September, 2018, so I’ve gone back to see if I could find anything else on the furniture, and I did find one helpful little article which describes how the chaise longue seen above was constructed. When I saw constant use of the word “vibrating” I assumed that electricity was used (sanitariums were using a lot of electro therapy in those days) — but it appears the vibrating was more bouncing than vibrating and was the result of a large spring and that “the vibrations can be produced at the will of the person occupying the couch and the motion is excellent exercise and is also said to be very beneficial to invalids or those suffering with insomnia or nervous troubles” (the spring is visible in the top ad, on the underside of the model with the fringe).
Owensboro (KY) Messenger, Dec. 30, 1904
I’d like to think there was some small amount of voltage coursing through this furniture (and perhaps its occupants), but the technology utilized might have been a lot more low-tech than I had initially thought.
Racine (WI) Journal Times, Dec. 17, 1904
Antiques Roadshow, PBS — Jan., 2019 (above and below)
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Sources & Notes
Top image is from a Comfort Furniture Company business card (collection of the author).
Electricity as a therapeutic miracle-cure was all the rage when this vibrating couch appeared (even though it does not appear that the furniture above involved electricity). I’ve written about a couple of other unusual electricity-powered therapies in my Dallas-history blog:
- “‘Electricity in Every Form’ — 1909”
- “Zap Those Extra Pounds Away in Mrs. Rodgers’ Electric Chair — 1921”
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Copyright © 2018 Paula Bosse. All Rights Reserved.
They just showed the solid comfort chair on antiques road show. They said they could not find anything out about the company
Very cool
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Thanks, John! I hadn’t seen the show yet and wondered why this post was getting HUGE numbers of hits! I’ve updated the post a bit, adding some new info and a new ad. –Paula
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Saw one of the recliners on the Antique Roadshow @ Meadowbrook Hall 14 Jan 2019
The man explaining about the furniture he was unable to find any info on the company
I goggled the company and it popped up
Very informative Ad
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Thank you, Jeff! I had no idea why I was getting so many hits on this fairly obscure post. –Paula
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Thanks, Jeff & Paula. To be able to get more insight after the AR show is so much appreciated 👍
John B
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Wonder why antique roadshow missed this
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My guess is they might have taped the episode before I wrote this.
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Well you were able to find the information why couldn’t they?
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Too bad the ‘expert’ on ARS didn’t do a little more ‘research’. He said he couldn’t find much. It took me less than a minute to find your article Ms. Bosse.
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I think they tape those shows pretty far in advance — they might have taped the show before I wrote this back in September. If they *didn’t* they might need a better researcher! And I’m available!!
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Have you been able to find out anymore info on the “vibrating couch.”?
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I
Thanks so much for the info on this furniture. I recently acquired one of these “vibrating couches” . My mother acquired it about 40 years ago and had it tucked away. I have installed a wire bottom for support and plan to have a padded vinyl cover fabricated to cover the laying surface. (Currently have a lounge cushion and it is very comfortable). Amazing that this chair found its way from Detroit in the early 1900s to Clanton Alabama.
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It’s Value will continue to grow of you keep it/redo it keeping it as as as possible
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I have one of the couches and it has been passed from many generations. Ours was made for a state fair but we are unsure of which one. How do I find out what it is worth? (To insure it) Ours does not vibrate though?
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Hi Lynda, I would love to see a picture your couch. If there is a way to post a pic of your couch on this website please do. I’m sure others would appreciate seeing it too.
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Just found one
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I’ve had a frame for this lounger for many years. I saw the AR show but didn’t follow up until I saw this article today.
It’s been used to hang clothes, as a base for a fort and other things the kids thought of.
Love to know if there’s a market for someone who wants to restore it to it’s original use.
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