one of two virtually identical 19th century salvaged chicago antique american varnished oak wood residential staircase newel posts likely fabricated by palmer, fuller, & company, chicago, lls. the solid oak wood newel posts retains the original varnished finish with surface wear evident. the freestanding newel posts contains chamfered edges, fanciful turned top and sunburst insets. one of two. priced individually. the company, a major producer of wooden building materials during the late nineteenth century, was founded in chicago in 1866 by a. r. palmer and w. a. fuller. in 1869 the partners built a large lumber mill at 22nd and union streets. by 1873 that facility employed about 400 men and produced about $800,000 a year worth of sash, doors, and other goods. in 1880, the plant employed more than 500 workers. priced individually.