The History of the Alma Desk Company

Alma Architectural Credenza - Mid Century Modern

Alma Desk Company - Alma Architectural Series - Mid Century Modern

From personal experience I can tell you these credenzas are "stupid" heavy - quality made and really lovely, trying to move one just makes me angry. Not to take away from their sleek appearance, they are amazing mid century items that are high quality, but heavier than a steel tanker desk. They will last several lifetimes if you don't die trying to get it into place :

HISTORY 

One of the first companies to manufacture furniture in High Point was the A. A. Barker Company in 1881. The company was purchased by A. O. Redding in 1895 and named Alma after his deceased daughter. 

In 1904 brothers Charles, Daniel, and John Hayworth founded the Hayworth Roll and Panel Company. It was first veneer and plywood manufacturer in North Carolina.  

Charles Hayworth purchased Alma Furniture Company from the estate of Redding in 1926 and converted the company to the manufacture of desks so as not to compete with the customers of the Hayworth Roll and Panel company. 

Charles Hayworth died in 1929. The company was managed by his widow Myrtle Hayworth Barthmaier until 1957 when his son Charles Hayworth, Jr. assumed the presidency. 

She remained Chairman of the Board until her death. The company employed more than 1500 people at its peak. It ran into trouble after a failed leveraged buyout in 1991 and was liquidated in bankruptcy in 1993.

Hayworth Roll and Panel Company continues to operate a lumber yard. It is all that remains of the Alma Desk Company family of businesses. It was purchased from the Bankruptcy Court by the present owner. 

Alma Architectural Credenza - Mid Century Modern

Through the '50s and '60s, Alma produced the Wise Economy line of office furniture known for simple modern desks that were very heavy  - they were desk for administrator.

Alma desks were made of hardwood or interiors , and usually finished with walnut veneers or laminate tops to protect the furniture. Getting an Alma desk, was a sign of status - you were a boss or valued employee to be assigned a large imposing and almost un-moveable desk. They were so well constructed that there are many of them left today.

"Once cubicles and open workstations arrived, the huge wooden desk became a dinosaur. Today minimal and functional workstations, even standing stations, are in. The tanker desk is an anachronism.

But enough time has passed that a new generation is taking a second look at all the possibilities offered by a typical Alma Wise Economy desk. Most had, in addition to multiple drawers, two pull out writing trays plus a spring loaded typewriter tray. Pull-outs could hold up to 100 lbs. Some drawers were specially designed to hold office supplies and some drawers locked. The top, usually well over 5 feet long, could hold a project and then some.

Some listed were billed as mid-century pieces. That may be true date-wise, but do not be fooled; the style of most Alma desks is more Kremlin Modern than it is Eames."

https://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/sns-201504161500--tms--smartclctnda-a20150424-20150424-story.html

At one point in time Alma was the largest employer in High Point, An interesting tidbit is the company actually manufactured and trademarked the original office cubicle, however contrary to today's cubicles they were anywhere from 3- 10 times the size of the typical office cubicles , and were made of exotic mahogany, oak, and even redwood. These were featured prominently in several tv series including LA Law, and Allie McBeal .

https://www.myantiquefurniturecollection.com/alma-desk-co-alma-trend-collection-51722/Page3.html