in 1947, Paul Hathaway built a home in the Colorado mountains, at the foot of pikes peak for himself, his wife and four children. For the next 17 years, working alone, he conceived, created, and implemented a successful business manufacturing and selling artisanal furniture.
Western frontier furniture, with -WF cowboy cattle-brand (pronounced 'bar WF') was of Paul's own design, made of ponderosa pine purchased from local sawmills. it was true handmade, rugged, heritage American mid-century furniture of the highest quality and originality. Though Paul's power planer, jointer and saw made the rough sawmill-cut lumber smooth, flat, and true, the pleasing curves he added with his band saw and sanders made for an elegant, yet sturdy look. The construction itself was marked by precision, as you might expect from a trained machinist. Doors and drawers were fitted to very exacting dimensions for flawless operation. The visible fasteners were lag bolts (large, square headed wood screws) that he individually cross-hatched. his 'antique' multi-coat lacquer finish highlighted the intentional sanding marks to give a rustic feel. The design was very western, and graceful, too.
he finished his furniture with leather-mounted saddle conchos, and with his own line-drawing carvings of typical old-west themes: bucking horses, longhorn steers, Indian paintbrush and Columbine flowers, pine boughs with cones, and yucca-studded prairie or desert landscapes, all of which he colorfully oil-painted. Paul made household and business furniture in standard dimensions, but also very often in custom sizes and styles according to buyer's needs and wishes. He had clients in many states, and shipped some -WF furniture overseas. Homes, offices, banks, dude ranches, boys and girls summer camps, the governor of Illinois and the star motel in Colorado Springs all bought and used Western frontier furniture.
An early advertising photograph of Paul's personal desk.
Paul's desk, still used and enjoyed daily by his grandson.
Paul photographed his early furniture in the late '40s with a crude Brownie camera. later, he would enlist the services of local professional photographers to document his artwork.
Paul commissioned a Colorado Springs advertising artist to create drawings like this one that were used in local newspaper ads.
-WF Gun Rack
Original artwork used by Paul on the doors of his '49 Dodge delivery truck.
Local Woodland Park newspaper coverage in the Ute Pass Courier.
c. 1950 view of Paul under his Dodge truck at the front of his shop, preparing it for a family trip with Anne and the four kids.
-WF letterhead
A rough draft of Paul's letter to the Patent office concerning his original furniture design in 1948.
Paul in his shop, late 1940s.
Promotional drawing used in newspaper ads.
Original artwork that Paul would use to trace the image before carving into the furniture.
Paul at the drill press in his furniture shop, 1950s. belt sander of his own design and table saw are seen in the background.
photos of -WF furniture in use, sent to Paul from satisfied customers, with 'thank you' note attached.
Original artwork that Paul would use to trace the image before carving into the furniture.
a wonderful example of an early 1950's carving, seen here in the top of a book shelf.
The painted carvings evolved and became more refined and colorful over time, from the late '40s to the early 60's, indicative of Paul's perpetual, steady evolution as an artist throughout his life.
pen and ink sketch that demonstrates a step in the refinement of the carving process.
A snapshot of -WF furniture in the Hathaway guest room.
The dark, wall hanging cabinet is a very early piece, made by Paul as a teen in the early 1930s, pre-Western Frontier. The lighter colored -WF 'buffet' is typical of his work in the late 1950's. Both seen here in the hathaway home in the early 1980s.
A dining table with a wonderful example of a carved and painted desert scene.
The cover of one of Paul's notebooks containing shop drawings in pencil that he worked from while building furniture.
Paul's personal record cabinet, still in use today.
arm chair shop drawing
Sales receipts book #1
Furniture price list, 1950 page 1
Furniture price list, 1950 page 2
numbered pencil sketches for tracing onto furniture before hand carving.
