tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post1654694785899611424..comments2024-03-27T05:02:49.868-05:00Comments on Mid2Mod: Herman Miller weighs inDana@Mid2Modhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03055460107477850683noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-68426416941306223442021-03-19T23:26:50.817-05:002021-03-19T23:26:50.817-05:00Hi, my name is Linda Curry Bernal. My Father was B...Hi, my name is Linda Curry Bernal. My Father was Bill Curry and the entire line of “Jacks” were inspired by my childhood toy, the Ball and Jacks. Dad attended Art Center in the 1940s. His field was Design. He was intrigued by the simplicity, esthetics, and beautiful balance of the jack. That was his inspiration for the entire line. As a child, my brothers and I worked at the company. They wired lamps and I cleaned the bathroom until I was old enough to do some paperwork upstairs in the office. Dad’s designs graced the pages of the prestigious and popular Home Magazine that was in the L.A. Times Sunday edition weekly. I have several of the original magazines, as well as black and white photos of Dad as head of the art dept. of R W, which became TRW in later year. He was most in charge of Cold War posters relaying the importance of “stowing” sensitive documents correctly so as to thwart any potential spies. (My photo at a few months old was used in one of those posters).So to put the question of who designed the Jack line first, it was Dad, William Edwin Curry, Bill to the world. Dad only stood 5’2”, but his legacy upon his death in 1971 at age 43 yrs. is large. A note: Laurel was a Sears knock off of Dad’s stemlite design, cheaper for mass production. It I believe was one of the reasons for Dad’s high Blood pressure + Nephritis, and me a head strong 16 year old daughter. Rest In Peace Dad♥️Linda Curry Bernalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13311350993100535289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-16887217010009951152015-02-11T16:40:51.153-06:002015-02-11T16:40:51.153-06:00Yes, Bill Curry's youngest son is Eric Curry w...Yes, Bill Curry's youngest son is Eric Curry who is also the photographer of the American Pride and Passion series using the painting with light technique. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-60043718131833549392014-09-27T17:14:44.108-05:002014-09-27T17:14:44.108-05:00That must have been a really hard lesson for your ...That must have been a really hard lesson for your dad to learn. We've definitely learned some hard ones ourselves in the four years we've had a store. It's a shame that your father still isn't getting all the credit he deserves for his designs.<br /><br />By the way...are you the "American Pride and Passion" and "Painting with Light" Eric Curry? Dana@Mid2Modhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03055460107477850683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-43354696462841579522014-09-27T16:48:03.733-05:002014-09-27T16:48:03.733-05:00Somehow I overlooked this comment when you posted ...Somehow I overlooked this comment when you posted it. I'd love to see the catalogs, if you're still willing to send them to someone who's so tardy in responding to your generous offer. I just emailed you and hope to hear from you soon.Dana@Mid2Modhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03055460107477850683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-49493320692547728602014-09-27T13:55:09.265-05:002014-09-27T13:55:09.265-05:00As Bill Curry's youngest son, Eric Curry, I va...As Bill Curry's youngest son, Eric Curry, I vaguely remember those days so long ago when I was just a little child. Dad would tell me the the greatest form of flattery was somebody else copying your designs and ideas. In reality it was a real hardship for his company- Design LIne. The company was too young and poor to go after all the other companies that were ripping him off left and right, but they did try to stop it, it proved impossible to fight several large well funded entities. That memory has lingered and came in handy in my own efforts of patenting and licensing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-12594046371557086402013-02-24T00:17:07.503-06:002013-02-24T00:17:07.503-06:00Sorry to be so late in responding, but I can send ...Sorry to be so late in responding, but I can send you copies of the Design Line catalogs that show production of the jacks, dates, colors, prices, etc.. The jacks (cast metal) were knocked-off during Bill's lifetime and continue to be knocked-off. The large table jacks are plastic and most that I've seen appear to be Design Line. I've start billcurry-designline.blogspot.com but plan to relaunch as a web page later in the year when I can properly dig into the archives. Bill designed so many things in is short lifetime. In addition to the lighting and some furniture pieces, he directed the in-house art studio for RW (which became the more well-known TRW). At RW he designed early computers, showrooms, signage and logos. I also have sketches for unrealized pieces. <br />wavecrestjuliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04123963996580174319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-31426041667945201862012-08-01T16:54:33.276-05:002012-08-01T16:54:33.276-05:00Very interesting...and thanks for sharing your res...Very interesting...and thanks for sharing your research with us. You've dug up a lot more than I managed to, so we're closer to solving the mystery than we were before. Hope you'll become a regular reader and comment often.Dana@Mid2Modhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03055460107477850683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-51254461760242228772012-08-01T16:26:16.816-05:002012-08-01T16:26:16.816-05:00I've done a bit of research into the "mus...I've done a bit of research into the "mushroom" lamp origin. The first patent I could find for such a lamp was Bill Curry's, patent D199141, filed in March 1963. Also, the abstract for this patent mentions an abandoned patent for a similar lamp, filed in November 1961.<br /><br />As for Laurel's versions, the earliest mention of a mushroom-type lamp I have been able to find is in a magazine ad from 1973. The earliest use of this ad that I've found is in the New Yorker, Feb 24, 1973. I'm still digging but so far, no luck on anything earlier. Even if earlier references exist, I *really* doubt a Laurel version would have existed before 1961.Charliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18023925545470261309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-58778880751147835562012-04-09T17:47:53.735-05:002012-04-09T17:47:53.735-05:00You're welcome!
Could you change your link htt...You're welcome!<br />Could you change your link http://billcurry-designline.com/ (it's dead) to http://billcurry-designline.blogspot.com/<br />Cheers!!!<br />MikMikJanvierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12436085986149980518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-7740155022903298872012-04-09T17:29:22.567-05:002012-04-09T17:29:22.567-05:00Great information, Mik. Many thanks!Great information, Mik. Many thanks!Dana@Mid2Modhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03055460107477850683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-2107089239839371222012-04-09T17:05:27.258-05:002012-04-09T17:05:27.258-05:00Here you go Dana,
Look for this catalog:
Californ...Here you go Dana,<br />Look for this catalog:<br /><br />California Design, Pasadena Art Museum, Vol. 9, 1965, Page 66.<br /><br />I quote:<br /><br />"Jack bookends of cast iron in a variety of colors designed by Bill Curry for Design Line." <br /><br />Many greetings,<br />Mik<br />(PS: i happen to have 3 of them at home - all unmarked if at all genuine)MikJanvierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12436085986149980518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-11738197426086384292012-02-07T10:40:31.774-06:002012-02-07T10:40:31.774-06:00I'd love to see your boards.I'd love to see your boards.Dana@Mid2Modhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03055460107477850683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-74696928289509875452012-02-07T09:30:42.110-06:002012-02-07T09:30:42.110-06:00I'm still looking for a set of these bookends/...I'm still looking for a set of these bookends/doorstops too. They'd go perfect on the danish wall unit once I actually get it up. I've been doing a bit of manic pinning and have gotten the whole place planned out now.nickarmadillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800334075532515276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-4145401355220615632012-02-07T09:04:27.932-06:002012-02-07T09:04:27.932-06:00And to think that some people use them as doorstop...And to think that some people use them as doorstops! I can't imagine! :)Dana@Mid2Modhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03055460107477850683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-89212210373624738692012-02-07T08:59:38.605-06:002012-02-07T08:59:38.605-06:00You're so welcome. I love your blog, and it de...You're so welcome. I love your blog, and it deserves lots of attention. <br /><br />As we've discussed, when you're not looking for something, you find it, so I'm sure one of us will run across a magazine ad or a catalog somewhere someday that will give us a definitive answer.Dana@Mid2Modhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03055460107477850683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-54971204931470599012012-02-07T08:15:52.594-06:002012-02-07T08:15:52.594-06:00Thanks for the link Dana! Hopefully we can solve ...Thanks for the link Dana! Hopefully we can solve this mystery once and for all.nickarmadillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800334075532515276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-72846353781634947442012-02-07T08:09:24.246-06:002012-02-07T08:09:24.246-06:00I'd be happy to have one of those jack bookend...I'd be happy to have one of those jack bookends.Ton S. https://www.blogger.com/profile/10691201724230891974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-36331447356487153172012-02-07T04:58:40.492-06:002012-02-07T04:58:40.492-06:00Aren't they fun? They provide the perfect amou...Aren't they fun? They provide the perfect amount of whimsy without looking like they should be in a kid's room.Dana@Mid2Modhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03055460107477850683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9087940973013594269.post-64770414818702068662012-02-07T04:10:57.916-06:002012-02-07T04:10:57.916-06:00I think the jacks table is beautiful in the last p...I think the jacks table is beautiful in the last pic :o) Scarlett xScarletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06127736256417833208noreply@blogger.com