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Utility Kitchen Furniture |
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Apart from clothing other things were affected by rationing too - such as furniture and soft furnishings - cushions -curtains - blankets - sheets etc.
As the war progressed and bombing raids on Britain increased, so too did the need for timber, in order to repair and rebuild homes and businesses that had been devastated by the blitz.
Like many things however, Britain was not self sufficient in it's need for timber and most supplies |
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came from abroad.
As the
Battle of the Atlantic
raged on, and the U-boat menace devastated the shipping channels, supplies of much needed timber - not only needed for rebuilding but also for the war effort were not able to get through.
Even from the beginning of the war
materials that were essential to the making of furniture were controlled by the government
to economise both on materials and on factory capacity.
In July 1940, timber supplies to the furniture industry were completely withdrawn, although later limited supplies were made available.
From February 1941,
the British Government introduced a range of basic domestic furniture called 'Standard Emergency Furniture'. Aimed initially at people whose furniture had been destroyed in an air raid, or by newly-weds setting up home for the first time.
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In July 1940, timber supplies to the furniture industry were completely withdrawn, although later limited supplies were made available.
From February 1941, the British Government introduced a range of basic domestic furniture called 'Standard Emergency Furniture'. Aimed initially at people whose furniture had been destroyed in an air raid, or by newly-weds setting up home for the first time. |
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Utility Bedroom Furniture |
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| In fact marriages increased dramatically during world war 2 with almost half a million marriages taking place every year of the war. Due to the many millions of young men who were sent overseas. |
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Much of the 'Emergency Furniture' was made from plywood, which was later withdrawn as the need for aircraft production increased.
However the demand for furniture also increased as the bombing raids continued and people lost everything the owned. This along with more and more young couples marrying and setting up home became an ever increasing problem for the Government.
And so
under the direction of Hugh Dalton, the President of the Board of Trade, and Gordon Russell, a noted furniture designer, the Utility Furniture Advisory Committee was set up by the government, to oversee the control of the design and supply of furniture in Britain.
The aim of the scheme was to produce
a supply of furniture of the highest quality from the limited resources available at controlled prices to meet the need of people like newly weds or those who had lost everything in a bombing raid.
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At first, only general specifications for the manufacture of furnisher were made by the government design committee.
However there was concern that the quality of the end products might be poor, and so the degree of control by the Government was increased.
Furniture makers had to produce exact designs to meet the requirements of the plans dawn up by the government committee. Furniture makers also had to be licensed to produce the items.
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Any deviation from the designs laid down by the government, or to produce furniture without a permit, could lead to imprisonment.
Indeed there were only some 700 furnisher makers throughout the country who were registered to make Utility Furnisher, which were made locally to save on transport.
Hence the reason that any utility furniture that was bought could only be purchased within 15 miles of where it was to be delivered. |
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