Shaker, Mission & Custom Furniture handmade by Bissell Woodworking

<SCRIPT></SCRIPT> <SCRIPT language="javascript1.2"></SCRIPT> <SCRIPT></SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT><A HREF="http://www.TheCounter.com" TARGET="_top"><IMG SRC="http://c1.thecounter.com/id=102662" BORDER=0></A> </NOSCRIPT>  <TITLE>Shaker, Mission & Custom Furniture handmade by Bissell Woodworking</TITLE> <META NAME="ROBOTS" CONTENT="NOYDIR"> <META name="description" content="Shaker furniture, Mission furniture, Custom furniture, Shaker ladderback chairs and Windsor chairs handmade to order in our Vermont workshop from solid cherry and other hardwoods."> <META name="keywords" content="shaker furniture, custom furniture, mission furniture, handmade furniture, pencil post bed, four poster bed, windsor chairs, platform bed, canopy bed, Shaker, mission, Vermont"> <BASEFONT SIZE=4></HEAD>  <BODY background="images/cherrybk.gif" text="#000000" link="#00FFFF" VLINK="#0000FF" BGCOLOR="#C0C0C0" ALINK="#0F0000"> <CENTER> <FONT COLOR=#000000></FONT> <table width="590" border="0"> <tr> <td><CENTER> <FONT COLOR=#000000> </FONT> <CENTER> <H1><font color="#000000">Shaker Furniture, Mission Furniture, Custom Furniture & Windsor Chairs</font></H1> <font color="#000000">handmade by <H2>Richard Bissell Fine Woodworking</H2> </font> <ADDRESS> <b><font color="#000000"> 126 Signal Pine Road<BR> Putney, Vermont 05346<BR> 802-387-4416<BR> <A href="mailto:rwbissell@verizon.net"> rwbissell@verizon.net </A> </font></b> </ADDRESS> </CENTER> <P> <CENTER> <FONT SIZE="3" >Member:</FONT><BR> <IMG SRC="images/guildlogo.jpg" WIDTH="165" HEIGHT="70" BORDER="0" ALT="guildlogo.jpg - 7489 Bytes"> </CENTER> <P align="justify"><IMG src="images/rwb.jpg" align="left" height=175 width=175 hspace=10 vspace=5 alt="Richard Bissell - Shaker furniture maker"> I operate a small woodworking shop in Putney, Vermont and have been designing and making furniture one piece at a time since 1982. Over the years I have developed a line of Shaker furniture, Mission furniture and Windsor chairs. In addition to my line of Shaker and Mission furniture I also do a considerable amount of <a href="custom/INDEX.HTM">custom furniture and built-ins</a> ranging from minor changes to standard pieces to designing and building completely new designs. I hope you will take the time to explore my web site and feel free to contact me at <A href="mailto:rwbissell@verizon.net"> rwbissell@verizon.net</A> if you have any questions or comments. Also, if you're ever in my corner of Vermont please stop in and visit my workshop and showroom. <P align="justify"><a href="chairs/tractor.htm"><img src="chairs/images/tractors.jpg" alt="Tractor seat stool" width="105" height="159" hspace="10" vspace="5" border="0" align="right"></a><STRONG><A HREF="beds/Ppbed.htm"><img src="beds/images/ppbeds.jpg" alt="Pencil post bed" width="124" height="131" hspace="10" vspace="5" border="0" align="left"></A></STRONG>I have tried to provide the answers to most of the questions you might have about my furniture on this web site. To learn more about my Shaker, Mission & Custom furniture use the table of contents to the left or choose from the following topics: <P align="justify"><font size="-1">If you don't see the table of contents on the left <a href="INDEX.HTM">click here</a>.</font> <BR clear=all> <P align="justify"><a href="new_pieces.htm">Click here for OUR NEWEST PIECES!</a> 2 drawer lateral file cabinet, arched raised panel bed, dictionary stand, Mission TV armoire, Mission lingerie chest, china hutch, barrister bookcase, bowfront desk. We are also now making some of our pieces with hidden compartments. If you're interested, ask for details and we'll email you some photos. <br> Coming soon: New 7 drawer Shaker bureau, Shaker 7 drawer bureau with cabinet, Mission side table, Mission dining chair, Mission writing desk. <P align="justify"><strong>IN STOCK and Ready to Ship</strong>: Queen size <a href="beds/ppbed.htm">Pencil post bed</a> in Cherry. Call or email now. This is a popular item and won't last long! <P align="justify"> <table width="590" border="2" cellpadding="1"> <tr> <td width="193"><p align="left">Shaker, Mission & Custom Furniture Catalog</p></td> <td width="209"><p align="center">Construction & Ordering Information </p></td> <td width="164"><p align="center">Other Information </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><ul> <li> <div align="left"><a href="beds/index.htm">Beds</a></div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><a href="chairs/INDEX.HTM">Chairs</a></div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><a href="tables/INDEX.HTM">Tables</a></div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><a href="Cases/bureaus.HTM">Bureaus & Armoires</a></div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><a href="Cases/Desks.htm">Desks </a></div> </li> <li> <div align="left"> <a href="Cases/bookcases.htm">Bookcases & shelves</a></div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><a href="Cases/cabinetsandcases.htm">Cabinets & other case pieces </a></div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><a href="custom/INDEX.HTM">Custom Furniture & Built-ins </a></div> </li> <li><font color="#000000"><strong>NEW!</strong></font> <a href="chairs/ladder_back_arm%20_chair.HTM">Shaker Ladder Back Chairs</a> </li> </ul></td> <td><ul> <li> <div align="left"><a href="available.htm">Shaker & Mission Furniture available for immediate delivery</a> </div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><a href="DES&CON.HTM">Design & construction of my furniture </a></div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><a href="shipping.HTM">Ordering & Shipping</a></div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><a href="beds/constructiondetails.html">Bed Construction</a> </div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><a href="D&CCONST.HTM"> Drawer & Case Construction</a></div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><a href="woodsamp.htm">View Wood Samples</a></div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><a href="FEEDBACK.HTM">Customer Testimonials</a> </div> </li> </ul></td> <td><ul> <li> <div align="left"><a href="MAP&DIR.HTM">Map & Directions</a></div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><a href="#Why">Why buy from me?</a> </div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><a href="BOOKS.HTM">Books about The Shakers, Shaker Furniture and Woodworking </a><a href="BOOKS.HTM"></a></div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><a href="AMWOOD.HTM">Amateur woodworking page </a></div> </li> <li> <div align="left"><a href="http://www.crvbl.org" target="_blank">Amateur Baseball in Southern Vermont</a> </div> </li> <li><a href="LINKS.HTM">Links</a></li> <li><a href="sitemap.htm">Sitemap</a></li> </ul> <p> </p></td> </tr> </table> <CENTER> <H2> Why<a name="Why"></a> should you buy your furniture<BR> from Richard Bissell?</H2> </CENTER> <P align="left">There are plenty of places you could buy your furniture from. Here are some reasons why you should buy it from me: <BLOCKQUOTE> <P align="left"><STRONG>1. Guarantee: </STRONG>Every piece of furniture I make is guaranteed against all defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the original purchaser. This, of course, does not apply in cases of abuse, misuse or neglect nor to normal wear and tear. Try getting a guarantee like this at your local furniture retailer. <P align="left"><strong>2. We make every piece of furniture ourselves:</strong> I am not just a middleman selling furniture made by anonymous shops from who knows where. All the furniture shown on this site is made in my shop by me or under my direct supervision. (Exception: We now sell <a href="chairs/ladder_back_arm%20_chair.HTM">Shaker Ladder Back Chairs</a> made for us by a small 3rd generation chair shop in Massachusetts.) <P align="left"><STRONG><img src="Cases/images/drawer_detail_150.jpg" alt="Dovetailed drawer" width="150" height="180" hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left">3. Joinery: </STRONG> I use traditional, tried and true construction techniques such as mortise and tenon and dovetail joinery. These joints have been used for thousands of years and they work. I guarantee my furniture for a lifetime because I know it will last a lifetime and more. I've been in business since 1982 and I haven't had more than 3 or 4 customers who needed to use this guarantee and those were for very minor problems. <P align="left"><STRONG>4. Solid Wood Construction: </STRONG> I build all my furniture with solid wood only. I do not use veneered plywood for some parts, such as case sides, to cut costs. Veneered plywood is prone to chipping and peeling. We've all seen pieces of furniture with chipped or peeling veneer and know that it's not a pretty sight. <P align="left"><STRONG><img src="images/lumber_selection.jpg" alt="cherry table top" width="250" height="142" align="right">5. Wood Selection: </STRONG> The wood for each and every piece of furniture that I build is carefully chosen to insure that the grain and color match as closely as possible. Large table tops and case sides are glued up using lumber as wide as possible. Many manufacturers will glue up narrow, unmatched strips of wood only 2-4 inches wide to make up these parts. <P align="left"><STRONG><a href="tables/CURVTBL.HTM"><img src="tables/images/curvtbl3s.jpg" alt="Curved arpon extension table" width="125" height="95" hspace="10" vspace="5" border="0" align="left"></a>6. Classic Designs:</STRONG> My furniture designs are based on classic furniture designs which will not go out of style in 3 to 5 years. Not only will my furniture last your lifetime and more, it will also be in style for your lifetime. <P align="left"><STRONG>7. Fair Prices: </STRONG> I make every effort to keep my prices as<a href="chairs/ladder_back_side%20_chair.HTM"><img src="chairs/images/shaker_ladderback_sidechair_105.jpg" alt="Shaker Ladder Back Chair" width="105" height="162" border="0" align="right"></a> low as possible while maintaining my high quality standards. One way I've been able to do this is by selling only directly to the consumer. Manufacturers and individual furniture makers who sell through dealers and galleries as well as directly to consumers must include the dealers' or galleries' mark-up in their own retail prices. If they don't their dealers and galleries will not buy from them. These mark-ups can be anywhere from 25%-50%. Because I don't sell to any retailers or through galleries I am not forced by them to add this mark-up. This allows me to keep the quality up and give you the best price possible. <P align="left"><STRONG>8. Individual Attention: </STRONG> Every order placed with me receives my individual attention. You can talk with me to make sure you're going to get exactly what you want. Because I build every piece to order, even "standard" items can be customized to your needs with little or no extra charge. <P align="left"><STRONG><a href="Cases/4DBUROWC.HTM"><img src="Cases/images/SMARMS.GIF" alt="Shaker 4 drawer bureau with cabinet" width="105" height="168" hspace="10" vspace="5" border="0" align="left"></a>9. Quick Turn Around Time: </STRONG> Despite the fact that every piece of furniture is made to order I have been able to keep my turn around time very reasonable. I have recently hired an excellent furniture maker to assist me. He has been working in the woodworking field for as long as I have and does excellent work in a timely fashion. My current lead time is about 10 to 14 weeks for most orders. <P align="left"><STRONG>10. Experience Shipping Furniture: </STRONG> I have been shipping furniture by UPS, blanket wrapped delivery and common carrier for many years. I know how to pack your furniture so that it arrives in the same condition as it left my shop. All furniture is boxed, wrapped or crated with the same care as we built it. This is not inexpensive but it is less expensive than having to ship it back for repairs. <P align="left"><STRONG><a href="Cases/paneled_desk.htm"><img src="Cases/images/VLS_deskfront125.jpg" alt="Paneled desk with return" width="125" height="94" hspace="10" vspace="5" border="0" align="right"></a>11. Proven Track Record: </STRONG> I've been making furniture in the same location since 1982. I have a proven track record for building excellent furniture and I'll be here if you have a problem or question. Most likely you'll just want to contact me to order another piece. About 50% of my orders every year are from returning customers. I don't keep track of what percent of first time buyers eventually come back for another piece but I'm confident it's over 80% and more likely close to 100%. </BLOCKQUOTE> <hr> <P align="left"><small>Text and images on this and all Richard Bissell Fine Woodworking pages copyright © 1996 - 2004 Richard Bissell. All rights reserved. </small> </P> <FONT COLOR=#000000> <H1> </H1> </FONT> </CENTER> <SMALL></SMALL> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>  <SCRIPT TYPE="text/javascript" LANGUAGE="javascript"> s="na";c="na";j="na";f=""+escape(document.referrer) </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT TYPE="text/javascript" LANGUAGE="javascript1.2"> s=screen.width;v=navigator.appName if (v != "Netscape") {c=screen.colorDepth} else {c=screen.pixelDepth} j=navigator.javaEnabled() </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT TYPE="text/javascript" LANGUAGE="javascript"> function pr(n) {document.write(n,"\n");} NS2Ch=0 if (navigator.appName == "Netscape" && navigator.appVersion.charAt(0) == "2") {NS2Ch=1} if (NS2Ch == 0) { r="&size="+s+"&colors="+c+"&referer="+f+"&java="+j+"" pr("<A HREF=\"http://www.TheCounter.com\" TARGET=\"_top\"><IMG"+ " BORDER=0 SRC=\"http://c2.thecounter.com/id=1535076"+r+"\"><\/A>")} </SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT> <A HREF="http://www.TheCounter.com" TARGET="_top"><IMG SRC="http://c2.thecounter.com/id=1535076" ALT="TC" BORDER=0></A> </NOSCRIPT></td> </tr> </table> <FONT COLOR=#000000> <H1> </H1> </FONT> </CENTER> </BODY></HTML>