original early 20th century antique american industrial varnished oak wood adjustable height chair back draftsman stool designed and fabricated by the b. l. marble chair co., bedford, o.h. the drafting room stool purportedly was originally used in burnham & company's architectural firm. the slat back stool contains a a shapely and spacious saddle seat with little if any wear. the lightweight oak wood four-legged base with flared or outswept feet retains the original bent wood heel or footrest supported by bent wood brackets. the cast iron cradle supports the threaded steel rod or post allowing the chair to revolve up or down. the original varnished finish remains in great overall condition. the quartered oak wood exhibits a fine "tiger stripe" grain pattern. original stamped brass plaque affixed on the backside of the seat. barzilla l. marble started working at the age of twelve in the bedford chair shop of m. a. purdy & son. born in bedford in 1851, b. l. marble came from a family who knew chair-making. his grandfather operated a chair factory in marbletown, new york, and it is evident that b. l. took an early interest in chairs. at the age of fourteen b. l. was working at the b. j. wheelock company in bedford, and in 1872 he became superintendent of the taylor chair company. he left taylor chair in 1885 to form a new company with a. l. shattuck -- the marble and shattuck chair company. in 1894 mr. marble formed his own company. this was the beginning of the b. l. marble chair company. and this was the beginning of many years of turning out fine wooden chairs made for comfort and elegance, and made to last. the company continued to make household chairs until 1910 when it began to produce office furniture. during world war i the product line was expanded to include wooden aircraft propellers for military use. three of the propellers, each over ten feet long, are on display in the bedford museum. by 1921 the marble chair company had outgrown its wooden buildings on willis street, and construction began on new brick buildings which eventually stretched a tenth of a mile along willis street and comprised more than four acres of floor space. this was the largest building in town. from this facility high-quality products were shipped throughout the country to banks, court houses, city halls, libraries, colleges, hospitals, and numerous business and professional offices. b. l. marb1e died in 1932. prior to mr. marble's death a. d. pettibone had become president of the company, and was a part owner. in 1953 mr. pettibone sold out his interest in the company to other local investors, and was succeeded as president by charles l. ("brud") pettibone, no relation to a. d. under both of the pettibones the company experienced steady and substantial growth. in 1965 the company merged with the dictaphone corporation, and the name was changed to the marble imperial furniture company. for the first time in its long history the company was controlled by outside interests. the base measures approximately 16 x 16 inches with a height ranging from 30 to 34 inches.