This project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian Made accessible through a grant from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation and Photo Friends
In 1948, newspaper columnist Steve Ellingson had an idea. Watching his wife sew one day, he wondered if the concept of sewing patterns could be adapted to woodworking. Why not make full-size, traceable patterns for complex or curved project parts which could take some of the difficulty out of project building? So he drafted the first project and launched U-Bild Woodworking Plans. Ellingson enlisted television stars and other celebrities to help sell his product. Today, more than 60 years later, U-Bild is still selling essentially the same product Ellingson first developed. Photograph caption dated April 25, 1963 reads "Coffee bench is item of furniture that improves with age; the more nicks and scratches it has, the better it looks. Television actress Jan Norris shows how bench sits low, so it's particularly suited to place near fireplace. to build it, you trace the full-size pattern on wood, then saw out parts and put them together. Bench may be built as long or high as desired. To obtain coffee bench pattern No. 79, send 50 cents in coin to Steve Ellingson, Valley Times TODAY Pattern Dept., P.O. Box 2383, Van Nuys, Calif."
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Image
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1 photographic print :b&w ;21 x 26 cm. Photographic prints
Norris, Jan U-Bild Inc Women--California--San Fernando Valley Television actors and actresses--United States Actresses--United States Mail-order business--California--San Fernando Valley Business enterprises--California--San Fernando Valley Woodwork--California--San Fernando Valley Vases--California--San Fernando Valley Flowers--California--San Fernando Valley Benches--California--San Fernando Valley Books--California--San Fernando Valley Periodicals San Fernando Valley (Calif.) Portrait photographs Valley Times Collection photographs
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