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.

Springtime Means Outdoor Furniture

Believe it or not, the official start of spring is less than a month away. Soon, outdoor activities will shift from shoveling snow and bringing in wood to bonfires and lounging by the pool. As the hills around our upstate New York factory slowly come to life, we find ourselves casting our minds forward to long evenings and warm, starry nights.

We see solid wood outdoor furniture as an essential part of enjoying the warmer months. Our Outdoor Furniture Collection offers a great assortment of rockers, tables, footrests and Adirondack Chairs.

Adirondack Chairs have been produced by upstate New York wood furniture makers for over a hundred years. When we started our business three decades ago, they were one of our first offerings and they continue to be some of our best sellers. One feature that we are especially proud of is that all of our solid wood Adirondack Chairs can be folded for easy storage.

Long ago, we realized that many people would leave their outdoor furniture out all winter just because it was a pain in the neck to store. With folding Adirondack chairs, proper winter storage is a cinch, and proper storage leads to longevity. Another great thing about our folding Adirondack Chairs is that we offer multiple sizes for toddlers, children and adults. This way, the whole family can be comfortable outside.

Nearby Mount Equinox

Another great option for solid wood outdoor furniture is our Equinox line. Named after nearby Mount Equinox in Manchester, VT, this line offers a selection of sturdy, simple outdoor furniture. Our Equinox Bench, for example, is great for seating more than one person. For those in search of maximum outdoor relaxation, we recommend our Equinox Rocker, which works great on any deck or patio.

If you do end up buying some of our outdoor furniture (or if you’re already a satisfied customer), you can take pride in knowing that we only sell 100% American made furniture. Furthermore, all of our products are made out of sustainably harvested North American hardwood, which helps to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy their summers outside as much as we do today.

15% off our Equinox Rocker for First Day of “Equinox Spring”

Our Equinox Rocker and Adirondack Side Table

Manchester Wood celebrates the first day of “Equinox Spring,” the technical name for the first day of spring, which is today, March 20th with 15% off our Equinox Rocker till the following week, March 27th.

Why “Equinox Spring”? Well, the name “equinox” is derived from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night) as the night and day have approximately equal length during this time period. The tilt of the Earth’s axis is neither to one side or the other, which means the center of the Sun is the same as the Earth’s equator. Spring for many of us around the World then means longer days, and the equinox is the reason. So in celebration of these longer, sunnier days upon us, Manchester Wood is offering a sale of 15% off our Equinox Rocking Chair!

The Equinox Rocker has quickly become a customer favorite among our many prized solid wood outdoor furniture pieces. The name was originally inspired by Equinox Mountain in Manchester, Vermont, our hometown and the birthplace of Manchester Wood. The rocking chair has many similar lines to our famous Adirondack Chair, but also boasts it’s own, very distinct features. With straighter back support and seating design compared to its Adirondack Chair counterpart, this versatile outdoor furniture item is a beautiful addition to any country home while enjoying the outdoors. You may also wish to complete the set for your deck or patio by purchasing our entire Equinox Collection, which includes chairs and benches of the same aesthetic.

To buy this great solid wood furniture piece at it’s special discounted rate March 20th-27th, type “EQX” in the coupon code box at check-out for 15% off, which includes FREE SHIPPING. Like Manchester Wood’s entire American made furniture products, the Equinox Rocker is made in the USA, handcrafted in our mill with the highest quality natural hardwood resources of the Northeast forests.

What better outdoor furniture to own then that made from the Adirondacks, in the Adirondacks. Be sure to check out our whole Outdoor Collection featuring our famous Adirondack Chair, and its featured add-ons as well as Kid’s furniture, benches, chairs, end tables, footstools, and more. We’re entering the season of outdoor furniture; take us with you this spring and summer.

To view the Equinox Rocker, currently available at 15% off, click here.
For our entire Outdoor Collection, 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.

Table Surfaces

Slate Top Coffee & End Table

At Manchester Wood, we offer a variety of table surfaces that are great for every room and need in the house. Whether for work, entertainment, or storing the necessities, we have several designs and collections available to fit your needs.

Also, while you picnic or work while enjoying the sun we have table surfaces for the outdoors that partner well with our Adirondack Chairs, Equinox Chairs, or our other seating options in our Outdoor Collection.

When looking for a solid wood table, there isn’t a better source than Manchester Wood as we provide not only solid wood tables, but also solid wood furniture in many designs and collections.

Glass Top End Tables, Coffee Tables, our popular Chairside Storage Table, locally mined Slate Top End and Coffee Tables. Our shaker style shaker tables with Shaker End Tables and Coffee Tables, the Solid Cherry collection with solid cherry tables in many shapes and sizes to fit your desired table surface area.

We believe when it comes to table surfaces and furniture made in the USA, you’ll find everything at Manchester Wood. Let us provide you with wood furniture that will last a lifetime.

Spring is approaching! Equinox Collection set to expand

Our Equinox Rocker (Shown in Firehouse Red)

As rain falls and warmer temperatures appear more frequent, a sign of Spring has finally approached. A much needed change in most of the country as snowstorms reached all but one of the 50 states this year (Florida as the exception).

So, in celebratory fashion of brighter days we’ve announced an expansion of color selections for our Outdoor Collections, specifically in the Equinox Collection.

The colors that made our famous Adirondack Chair will now grace the Equinox Collection with additions in Navy Blue, Lemon Yellow, Sky Blue, and Green Apple!

Our website will soon showcase all looks for your viewing pleasure as well as a color swatch for all products that will allow an easier look at all finishes for the best consumer experience on the market today.

We look forward to continue providing you with the finest American Made Furniture, and with Spring right around the corner nothing spells the outdoors more than our Adirondack Chairs, Tables, Foot Rests, and Equinox Rockers, Chairs, and Benches!

Now let’s get this snow off the ground!

Hope everyone is safe and well.

View our Outdoor Collections here.