Business Notebook

WARWICK-LID Interiors & Antiques recently opened at The New Milford Antiques Center on Route 94 between Warwick and Vernon. According to owner Lauretta I. Duthie, the focus of the new shop is on fine yet affordable antiques of the 18th and 19th centuries and some fine furniture of the 20th century that will be collector's items in the future. One such "collector" piece, for example, is a line-for-line copy of a Goddard & Townsend 18th century Newport block front desk. The Edison Institute commissioned the replica of the desk in 1930. Colonial Manufacturing was selected to copy the original, which is now in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. The copy is crafted from the finest Honduras mahogany. "Original Goddard & Townsend pieces like this," said Duthie, "can command several million dollars. This desk is being offered for sale at $4,300." She said that most of the furniture on display at LID Interiors & Antiques is in excellent condition. "These items have been ‘French polished' and ready to go into to someone's home," said Duthie. She explained that French polish, the original finish of quality furniture built prior to the Industrial Revolution, is a process of coating wood with hundreds of layers of shellac mixed with alcohol. A pure cotton cloth and linseed oil is used to help deliver the mixture. How can you tell if a piece of furniture is an antique? Duthie advises people to familiarize themselves with the different periods of furniture making. An authentic antique will be made of all wood and absolutely no plywood. "The first thing you should do when examining a piece," she said, "is pull out a drawer and examine the dovetails, the place where the front of the drawer and sides meet. Period pieces, those made in the 17th, 18th and early 19th century will have fine points that are not exactly the same size. Touch the underside of a drawer and you will feel a slightly uneven chamfer. And if the piece was crafted around 1880 or earlier it will be made with square nails." Duthie has worked in the home furnishings and antiques industry for more than 25 years. She began her career as an associate editor of 1001 HOME IDEAS and has owned her own design business. Duthie also worked as an interior designer at Ethan Allen. She and her husband, Dan, an attorney whose office is in Goshen, are currently restoring their Warwick Victorian home. LID Interiors & Antiques is open daily, except Tuesday and Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The firm also offers restoration and interior design services. Call 988-0283. Anniversary It's been 10 years since Cedric Glasper purchased Mechanical Rubber, a company established in 1941 as the first sizable manufacturing industry to come to Warwick. Few local residents may be aware that the 54,000-square-foot building on six acres along Forester Avenue is home to a manufacturer whose clients include industry giants such as Boeing, Ford Motor Corp., Rubber Maid and Gulfstream Aircraft. Good employee relations and loyalty are due in no small part to Glasper's custom of rewarding and honoring his employees. On Monday, June 13, for example, he invited all his employees to a surprise cake-cutting where he presented awards and watches to Cathy Durham and Myriam Valseca. Their achievement was 10 years of service to Mechanical Rubber, which is as long as Glasper has served as President/CEO of the company. Sidewalk Sale Final preparations are under weigh for Warwick's annual "Sidewalk Sale." The downtown business district event is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, July 9-10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. As in the past, many of the merchants will take this opportunity to reduce inventories in preparation for the Fall season. Others will offer special promotions inside as well as outside their shops. And to keep things interesting, visitors can stroll through the Village while enjoying zeppoles and hot dogs and children can have their faces painted. The Sidewalk Sale will feature merchandise offered by local businesses but non-profit organizations have also been invited to participate. Grand opening Everyone is invited to celebrate the opening on Saturday, July 9, of Tinkers Path at 1392A Kings Highway, Sugar Loaf. The shop carries CD's produced by local musicians who will be performing live from 1-8 p.m. Tinkers Path features a variety of earthy items such as essential oils, incense, candles, tie-dyed clothing, lamps, hand blown glass items, photography by local artists and custom made jewelry by Ariel. For more information, please call 987-2820.