The Amish

Those of us who toil, prospect, write, spell-check, network, type, file, cajole or negotiate from a home office and find ourselves dependant on modern, up to date electronic technology to help sell the product, conduct the research or seal the deal; sometimes forget how well we have it.  New gadgets and whiz bang machines like the Internet have allowed new forms of enterprise and commerce and have set the table for the work from home phenomena.

Just a few decades ago when telecommuting was unknown and work from home was a concept embraced by only a few; a home office had a telephone, an office tickler system and dozens of files organized into folders and metal drawers.  For the most part, this office supported another, larger, more central operation of the small business; usually something like a printing press located in the garage.  Or a small machine shop, or a tool shed or a rack of fashion dresses in the basement complementing the newest edition of cosmetics or fragrances. There was Townsend’s Printing, Roy’s Specialty Metal Fittings, Avon and Fuller Brush. Today, with a few exceptions, these businesses are gone; unable to compete.  But a survivor through all the changes and modernization is perhaps the oldest and most venerable work from home business in the country; and that is the making of Amish Furniture.   

The Amish settled in the Pennsylvania area in the early 18th century seeking to practice their conservative religion free of persecution.  They believed in hard work, thrift and piousness while eschewing worldly comforts.  Totally self-reliant, they developed remarkable skills as furniture makers and passed the tradition down through generations. In keeping with their ethics and because they did not have time to replace things, their furniture was built to last a lifetime. From home shops, the Amish craftsmen would design and build utilitarian pieces from the finest hardwoods such as Oak and Cherry. Using only hand tools like planes, miter boxes and bucking saws while incorporating techniques such as mortise and tenon and dovetail joinery; they constructed their furniture as works of art and a testament to their religious devotion.  Today, they are building furniture the exact same way, using the same techniques, under the same principals and from the same, home based shops.  

As part of their tenants, the Amish do not seek self promotion, like to work from home and have no desire to make excessive amounts of money. They do not have electric tools or use modern planers, routers, or drill presses.  The more adventurous among them may allow the use of pneumatic tools, but that is usually restricted to larger shops where two or more craftsmen work. Because their furniture has become world renowned and is in such high demand, and facing the realities of today’s economic survival, they will sell through a middle man as their beliefs prohibit most forms of marketing for profit. The middle seller or broker uses devices such as auctions and furniture shops or the Internet to reach interested buyers. Because the furniture is custom made, certain pieces can be ordered.  They are expensive, and because they are made by hand with meticulous care and workmanship, still using old-world techniques; it can take a long time to fill an order.  On the other hand, the furniture is made of solid kiln dried hardwood, cannot be found anywhere else and will last forever. The Amish will not use the Internet but information can be obtained on-line from the outside dealers over several websites. One such e-address is amish.net. 

Posted:Monday, December 01, 2008