Our History : Thos. Moser

Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers was founded forty years ago to restore the lost art of fine woodworking. Formerly a Bates college professor, Tom Moser left teaching in 1972 to start making one-of-a-kind furniture in an old Grange Hall in New Gloucester, Maine. His wife Mary managed the selling and finances, while their four sons trained as young apprentices.

There was no business plan, no product, no sense of marketing, and, to their banker's horror, no cash or cash flow.

The first advertisement, which ran in Down East magazine, read, "Antiques are prized for their qualities of age, design and purity of craftsmanship. Our furniture is inspired by traditional design, constructed with pride and executed by hand, restoring a relationship between man and his practical art." Since then little has changed in the company's intent or product.

Tom's early designs bore a strong resemblance to Shaker, Queen Anne, Pennsylvania Dutch and other antique forms. From spiral stairs to a waterwheel, from wooden canteens to a harpsichord, the company's position was, "if it's made of wood, we can do it." In time this search for a proprietary form was synthesized into a coherent and unified body of work spanning many design genres for the home, office and academic environment.

During the last forty years, the company has grown from a one-man operation to nearly 70 cabinetmakers (about half men and half women). Tom Moser continues to conceive and design new products in collaboration with his youngest son, David. Andy Moser is an accomplished craftsman and works in the shop, while Aaron Moser directs the company's new business development initiatives.

In 1987 the company built a new workshop facility in Auburn, Maine, not far from its original location. In addition to mailing catalogs, Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers operates seven showrooms located in Auburn and Freeport, Maine, as well as in Boston, New York, Greenwich, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.