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1952 Willett maple furniture

pam kueber - June 13, 2009, Updated: December 8, 2012

1952-willett-furnitureI‘M FASCINATED by the midcentury midwest furniture companies. I have this suspicion they were more interested in quality than transient styling. Willett was based in Indiana, and they made some really nice stuff. With real wood. My guy Royal Barry Wills also designed a line of furniture for them…. This Willett ad is from 1952…the 40s period was coming to an end…recall, 1953 started The Fifties. Can’t you just imagine how proud a family was when they bought this furniture? The sofa — it’s such a classic. And it was not cheap: $495. That’s $4,014 today!

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  1. stacey says

    I have a Willett Golden Beryl drop leaf dining table with 3 leafs. It was my mothers and I am about to refinish it as it has been abused. I am curious of the value before I do the strippiing. I do not have the chairs.

  2. Peggy Davis says

    I have a Willett drop leaf Maple table with 6 ladder back paper weave chairs, plus a hutch (that’s what I call it – shelves with 3 drawers and double doors below). They have been in my husbands family for more than 30 years but I don’t know the history prior to that. Any market for Maple?

  3. Gary Ferguson says

    I just bough a Willett cherry drop leaf spiral leg table can anyone tell me what it’s worth ?

    • Jennifer Hill says

      What is the style ? And is it maple or cherry or walnut? All of that affects the value. The most important factor, however, is if it still has the original finish. If it has been re-done , it greatly lessens the value. If you look at the Willet stamped signature , the style name is usually stamped below it…..

  4. Karl Darr says

    I am looking for a Willett Transitional dining foom set with a 48 inch round table and at least 4 chairs.

        • J. Earl Strawder says

          I saw a Willett Transitional set with a table, 4 chairs and 2 leaves. The table measured about 42 inches in diameter. The set is in excellent condition. I took pictures and can email or text them to you. The set is in Mississippi.

          • Karl Darr says

            Yes! I am in Memphis for a few day and would love to look and maybe purchase. If you can send pics and phone number would be very appreciated!
            Karl Darr
            502-228-1951

            • J. Earl Strawder says

              I text some pictures to you on the Willett Transitional set I saw. I don’t know if that is the set you are looking for.

              • J. Earl Strawder says

                Were you able to inquire about the Willett Transitional table in Ridgeland, Mississippi? I believe I stated that the chairs are Trans East and the table is Transitional.

  5. Jennifer Hill says

    you can find Willett pieces , with the the famous handrubbed 7 layer finish, in both cherry and maple. There are about a dozen on ebay right now. Also quite a few on Craig’s Lists around the country, esp the Midwest and Florida. Right now , there are 2 pieces on the Raleigh NC craig’s list. Do not ever refinish the pieces….they have a famous deep finish that cannot be replicated….7 layer, handrubbed with special ingredients. Do not refinish them, not only does it take off the lovely deep finish, but it ruins the value. My parents have their house full of Willett that they bought in the 50’s, and I have been buying the same myself from ebay and craig’s list. it is beautiful.

    It is NOT all in the hands of “collectors”….it is very affordable and available via ebay, craigs list, and antique dealers in mid KY, where the Willett factoy was located.

    There are NO replacement knobs, ie ones made by Willett. The orginal ones are it, so hang on to them. THis is from a Willett collector and restorer, Bob Cairns in Harrodsburg KY. He CAN duplicate the Willett finish but he is the only one I have ever heard of. He is a great restorer. Old KY Restorations, is the name of his place. He has catalogs and is very knowlegeable about Willett.

    I love what I have, and love my parent’s Willett’s pieces. Nice to see this on your site, Pam!!

  6. Ann says

    Recently bought a house with Willett kitchen cabinets, still in wonderful condition. so I’m looking for the original pull hardware also, I’ve tried Vandykes.com but not sure what I’m looking for.

  7. Mike Heys says

    I loved the information and pictures of the Willett furniture. I have a Willett secretary in Maple. It is very well made. If you know where I may find one of the metal pulls for the desk support please let me know. One of mine is worn out and I cannot find a replacement anywhere.

  8. darral voorhees says

    recently bought large dining room table with slide out leaves, 6 chairs. This is willett furniture. curious of value.

  9. Bill Brown says

    My Grandfather, John Curran Brown was a fine furniture craftsman and wood carver living in Evansville, Henderson, and Louisville,KY. He worked most of his life in furniture and lumber companies. His last job in the furniture business was at the Consider H. Willett Furniture Company in Louisville, Kentucky. He was injured there in the early thirties and went back to Henderson, Ky. where he lived until his death in 1947. I have been researching him and his life for the last ten years and visited the site of Consider H. Willett former factory in Louisville with my Father in the 1980’s and the building was still intact and had the name on the side of the building. I would love to come across a piece of furniture that John C. Brown helped to make, but alas that is impossible today for most of the pieces are in collectors hands from that time period. Bill Brown, Southern Son in the North

    • Pat McGrath says

      I inherited a Willett maple dining table with four chairs, small side table with drop leaves, and china hutch. Has been in my possession and use for forty years and still in great condition. I just recently retired and decided to investigate the history of these pieces and came across your post. I live in North Carolina, but this furniture has traveled from Kentucky to Pennsylvania to Florida to North Carolina. Absolutely love my pieces.

    • Annie says

      My ex-husband had a Willett bedroom set from the 1950’s in Chicago. I kept the dresser, mirror and secretary and still have it. Just discovered recently the value of this furniture. Unfortunately, my ex sold the bed frame, headboard and footboard, and the end table. I was going to sell it but upon seeing the value and workmanship, I have decided to keep it. I will check to see if their is any name on the pieces as to who personally work on it.

      Annie

  10. Doris Gardner says

    The Consider H. Willett Company was based in Louisville Kentucky, and made furniture from the 1930’s until 1962.