Manchester Wood’s American Classic Adirondack Folding Chair

A limited time only Manchester Wood Adirondack Chair for sale currently on ManchesterWood.com.

A variation of this blog was featured on L.L. Bean’s Trail Mix during Labor Day weekend last year. It was written by Luke Eriksen, grandson of Manchester Wood’s founder Clifford Pierce, and Nathaniel Gibson, a freelance writer based in Southern Vermont.

Over the past century, the Adirondack chair has become a classic piece of American outdoor furniture. Originally conceived as a fairly basic design in the early 1900s in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, where our mill is presently located, has been redesigned in numerous styles with various features since its inception. The Adirondack chairs that Manchester Wood offers today incorporate the best of these refinements to make it convenient and comfortable, while still holding true to its distinct American heritage.

The design for our classic Adirondack Folding Chair originated when our founder Clifford Pierce, during the early 1980s, spent summers with the family at his lakefront camp on Lake George in the Adirondacks of New York. While taking boat rides on the lake, “the boys” and Cliff would pass by various old family estates that had Adirondack chairs on their property, set by campfire pits or on sprawling front yards and, most iconically, on docks. There were many styles and most appeared aged and worn, falling apart over just a couple seasons. Cliff reckoned it was because they were made out of pine and scrap crates, which were the common materials, used for Adirondack chairs at the time.

After learning of Cliff’s interest in the chairs, a friend and neighbor at the lake happily gave Cliff one of his Adirondack chairs to study and reference dimensions. Thus began Manchester Wood’s development of the Adirondack chair. The timing was excellent. Previously, Manchester Wood had focused on making smaller solid wood products, such as towel holders and spice racks, but during the early 1980s we transitioned to producing larger solid wood furniture pieces. The Adirondack chair fit in perfectly with this transition.

Early on it was decided that the chairs should be foldable. Easy storage was a key feature in Cliff’s mind as he had seen too many prematurely weathered and dilapidated chairs on the docks and shores of Lake George. Unlike bulkier designs that were a hassle to move and took up too much space to store inside easily, the folding design did not take up as much space and encouraged customers to keep the chairs inside over the winter.

Adirondack chair from the 1984 Chicago Housewares Trade Show

The Adirondack Chair designed by Cliff was introduced at the Chicago Housewares Trade Show in 1984 where it became a hit, and an eventual iconic brand image for one of our leading wholesale accounts we continue with today. The Adirondack Chair they knew was going to be a hit, although with a few changes. They asked for the design to be made a bit more traditional, with wider arms and seat legs, and a tapered back. “But,” they told us, “keep that folding idea!”

From this collaboration, our initial Adirondack Chair for sale was born, debuting in their catalog during the spring of 1985. Over the years it has become famous for its quality solid wood construction, durability and ease of storage, and remains the perfect finishing touch for beach and lake houses, porches, decks, patios and many other outdoor spaces.

We think that if Cliff were out on a lake today, he would be pleased to see that in the place of many of the weathered hulks that initially inspired him are the Adirondack chairs that he helped create, still in good condition thanks to their durable, folding design.

Manchester Wood is proud to announce the next generation of our folding Adirondack chair and extended collection of the same inspiration in the coming early summer months of this year… stay tuned.

To visit our current online catalog, visit ManchesterWood.com

Manchester Wood has designed and produced quality, affordable, eco-friendly solid wood American made furniture in the Green Mountains of Vermont and Adirondack foothills of New York for over 35 years.

Early Groundhog Day Special: 10% Off Outdoor Furniture

Adirondack Chair and Side Table

Today, Wednesday January 18^th thru Thursday, February 2^nd Manchester Wood is offering an early Groundhog Day special featuring 10% off ALL Outdoor Furniture. From our famous Adirondack Chairs to the accompany side tables and foot rests, the Kid’s Adirondack Chair, and our newly established Equinox Collection featuring benches, chairs, and rockers for that patio, deck, or dock.

Manchester Wood is a staple provider for Outdoor Furniture in the Northeast with growing popularity all across the Nation with shipments out to nearly all-50 states.

Bring home a piece of American made furniture at a discount, and with this mild winter we’re having, you might get it outside before you know it!

Simply type “Early” in the Coupon Code box at Checkout to receive the discount.

Also, be sure to sign-up for our mailing list to receive the latest on our monthly giveaways, sales, and updates from our “mill.” You’ll find the sign-up at the bottom right of our homepage, ManchesterWood.com.

Peace and blessings, and to an early season of enjoying God’s warming creation!

To view Manchester Wood’s Outdoor Furniture, click here.

4th of July $10 Off Adirondack Sale: June 24th – July 5th

Kid's Adirondack Chairs are only $69.95!

Manchester Wood celebrates America’s Independence with offering the highest quality American made summer staple for over the last 35 years: the Adirondack Chair; with $10 off every chair purchased and FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the continental U.S. from June 24^th until July 5^th. It requires typing “4thSale” in the Coupon Code box at checkout on ManchesterWood.com.

Our Adirondack Chairs have become a lake and beachside benchmark, an emblem of comfort, craftsmanship, and relaxation. We’re proud to say our chairs have graced many docks, porches, and ocean sides over the years, and a small token of our appreciation comes in this $10 off sale.

Lemon Yellow Adirondack Chair on Glen Island, Lake George, NY

Choose any of our 7 finish colors for both Adirondack and Kid’s Adirondack Chairs. The sale brings our Kid’s Adirondack Chair down to a mere $69.95! That’s a true savings, and a great way for the young ones to join Mom and Dad this summer at a very reasonable price.

Sit back… relax… and take a piece of the Adirondacks home with you this Independence year.

To view our Adirondack Chairs, click here.

To view our Kid’s Adirondack Chairs, click here.

Manchester Wood designs and produces quality, affordable, eco-friendly solid wood American furniture in the Green Mountains of Vermont and Adirondack foothills of New York.

DIY Branding: Lake George Photo Shoots

Manchester Wood's Adirondack Chair on Lake George, NY (click photo for full-size)

Over the past couple weeks we’ve been doing several photo shoots at Lake George, New York showcasing our Outdoor Furniture. Nestled in the valley between the Hudson River and St. Lawrence, Lake George rests in the Great Appalachian Valley; the roots of Adirondack furniture.

So it’s an easy choice of landscape when documenting our product on this historic land, a lake with an aura of the past, a place far away from existence, even though the boats roar by at a near constant these days there is still something about the beaches, islands, and majestic waters that bring a peaceful and reflective pace. We think some of these photos help show such an experience.

Manchester Wood's Adirondack Chair Glen Island, L.G., NY (click photo for full-size)

Lake George is a hard place to leave once you’ve arrived, and we’d like to think so are the Adirondack Chairs we produce at Manchester Wood.

We started this blog title with “D.I.Y.” – Doing It Yourself is a key element to our brand, whether as a company, or as it’s people. Our founder started this business in the basement of his home in the mid-50’s after arriving home from the Korean War to a bustling factory where we work today. When he sat down with J.C. Penney, the man, he explained how his company and himself were just “honest farmers trying to a make a living.” We aren’t farmers anymore, well some of us are in fact, but the honest pitch is a living testament, as shown in the picture below.

Manchester Wood's President rafting out an Adirondack Chair during shoot, top picture in article is result.

In order to get that first shot of our Lemon Yellow Adirondack Chair on that stand alone rock in the middle of the lake, the company President elected to hop in a $20 blow-up raft and paddle out to get the shot, with chair in tow. With seagulls and waves interjecting at times, he made it, and the picture through that effort was well worth it, as seen at top of this piece.

Hardwork and honesty are major staples of our efforts here at Manchester Wood, whether this can bring you inspiration to do what it takes for your brand, or if it helps buy into ours, we hope this sneak look gives you the understanding of how fully faceted we are, with a beautifully crafted Adirondack Chair to boot!

View our Adirondack Chairs here, or the rest of our Outdoor Collection here.