Every year the Seashore Trolley Museum recovers or manufactures dozens of seats using rattan covering for most. Following is a statement of problems and the current situation from Donald G. Curry, Senior Restoration Technician:

Many trolleys and some commuter cars have their seats upholstered in cane or rattan 'webbing'. The traditional pattern on nearly all was 'transit weave'. It was woven in New England from Indonesian cane. Later the business went to Hong Kong; now to the Canton area of China. About 30 years ago or so, it was no longer available. Ed Blossom of the Magee Museum in Bloomsburg, PA and members of the Association of Railway Museums (ARM) persuaded the Rainbow Trading Company of NYC, already an importer of other styles of cane webbing, to have the transit weave made. Over the years many museums purchased and used it successfully. It was available in widths from 18 in. to about 30 in. and in 50 ft. long rolls. It was of good quality and looked correct. The Seashore Trolley Museum has reupholstered many seats with it.

Recently we purchased 5 more rolls of what was supposed to be the correct "50CMC Transit Weave" rattan and were chagrinned to find the weave was only somewhat similar but quite incorrect. Not only that, when it was soaked, it puckered and woul not perform correctly.

We contactedx the P. L. Butte Co., who are the current importers and Mr. Butte commented in this way:
1. Yes indeed, the cane he had sent us was incorrect. (This was the first time he had been made aware of that.)
2. The use of cane in general in the furniture industry is declining.
3. There is one loom in China still capable of weaving the transit weave, but currently it's gathering dust.
4. It can weave up to 28 in. width cane.
We sent him a sample of a piece of original cane with the correct weave which he has, in turn, sent to China for evaluation. We expect to hear soon whether it can still be made and under what terms. Traditionally it has been a 10-roll minimum with the last cost in 1997 of $185/roll. We would not be surprised to learn that the cost will be higher this time.

We are asking other preservation entities to help keep this alive by making a joint purchase. If you are interest or have any questions, please contact me: Donald Curry dgcurry@cybertours.com or 207-967-2540 (Tue.-Sat.) Seashore Trolley Museum


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