Our Story
A Century of Craftsmanship
From 1907 to the Modern Renaissance
Based in the heart of upstate New York, Hale Manufacturing Company has been a cornerstone of American woodworking for over a century. Our journey began in 1907, when visionary designer F.E. Hale founded the company in Herkimer, New York, to share his passion for sectional bookcases with our country.Â
More than 115 years later, the Hale family heritage continues. We remain specialists in the design and manufacture of solid wood and fine-wood veneer Barrister-style bookcases – heirloom-quality pieces built to endure for generations and available directly from our factory.Â
The Art of Customization
We are currently witnessing a renaissance in U.S. manufacturing – a shift from rigid mass-production . At Hale, we have embraced this evolution. The soul of our work remains in the hands of our people, we are proud to employ second, third, and even fourth-generation artisans who oversee wood selection, joinery, and finishing with unparalleled care.Â
Our goal is simple: to design storage solutions tailored to your individual taste and needs.Â
Rooted in Nature
At Hale, we love wood. It is a material of unique beauty and strength, abundant in our homeland and possessing the smallest carbon footprint of any building material. We consider ourselves stewards of our environment, working and living in the heartland of the North American hardwood forests.Â
When you choose a Hale bookcase, you aren;’t just buying furniture; you are bringing home a piece of American heritage. We invite you to experience the distinction of a product grown, designed, and made entirely in the USA.Â
We at HALE realize that the customer experience starts with the first inquiry and does not end until delivery has been made and the product received is to the customer's expectations. Service is paramount to our success. If you need help at any step along the way, please don't hesitate to contact us. Our friendly and experienced customer service team members are here to help.
Environmentally Responsible
Hale Manufacturing Company strives to conduct all aspects of business in an environmentally responsible way.
Hale strives to conduct all aspects of business in an environmentally responsible way. We use locally-sourced fine hardwoods and hardwood veneers. Wood is a natural resource that is renewable and sustainable with proper forest management. We purchase our hardwood lumber from reputable forests within a 75-mile radius of our plant in Upstate NY.
Hale strives to reduce wood waste in the manufacturing process. Conserving raw materials is good for the environment, good for our bottom line, and good for our customers. We use wood waste to heat our manufacturing facility in the colder months and recycle it into wood heating pellets during the warmer months. No wood waste is disposed in landfills.
Hale uses durable coatings with minimum airborne pollutants. All wood finish coatings used in our finishing process meet or exceed low-hap standards as defined by law.