During the 1920's and 1930's, both Mr. Stephenson and Mr. Lawyer were hardworking manufacturer representatives for companies dealing in natural products such as upholstery grade curled animal hair, cotton, moss, vegetable fiber filling, and steel springs. These materials were commonly used in the manufacture of cushions for seats and backs on home and office furniture.

The war interrupted their careers, and when they returned they found that the peacetime production by furniture raw-material suppliers was slow, resulting in product shortages, shipping delays and much frustration among furniture manufacturers.

Enter the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Goodyear had developed a versatile latex foam product which they called "Airfoam," that could be molded into the shape of cushions in various sizes. Goodyear officials were confident that this remarkable new material could replace the springs currently used in furniture seats and backs.

Stephenson & Lawyer could see the potential, and became one of Goodyear's seven distributors of Airfoam in the United States.

While S&L was introducing Airfoam to furniture makers, the two men observed that the demand for new and unique furniture was increasing, and furniture designers - many of whom were headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI - were under constant pressure to provide different and better designs.

So Stephenson & Lawyer, Inc. began altering the Airfoam cushions to satisfy their customers' needs, and this marked their first foray into the foam fabrication business using nothing more than hand tools.


They quickly progressed to vertical and horizontal saws, modified woodworking equipment, and continued to innovate and expand throughout the years to utilize the sophisticated, computerized equipment they have today.

Since 1946 S&L has grown to become one of the top foam fabricators in the U.S.