Furniture maker/joiner Norris Moore is busy in his Laventille workshop.
Photo: Abraham Diaz
He said: “They are independent. They rent from me. But sometimes if the guy needs a little help, he would check me. I am always willing to help.” Business might be thriving for Moore, but he feels the woodwork industry needs governmental assistance. Likening the woodwork industry to a “dying art”, Moore said Government should establish a grant for veterans like himself to train people. They would learn the art of woodworking using equipment including hand saw, rip and radial saw, planer and drill press. Moore said: “I would say about $10,000 would be a comfortable figure for people like us to train joiners and workers. I could train young people to be joiners. I was once approached to train some people. But they were only going to pay me $50 per student. I am like a tutor.” He has had apprentices but “some left to drive taxi”. Bluntly, Moore said: “It is at one level. It is not going up.”
Among the woods he deals in are teak, cedar, mahogany, appleheart and cypre. Moore added: “I deal with most of the local sawmills. I go to them and I make my order for lumber.” Pointing to slabs of wood, Moore said: “I am doing some work for Robert Elias (Mighty Trini). I did some work for Carlos John. A lot of established people come to my place. The furniture doesn’t stay long. I built an entertainment centre for a pastor ($30,000).” Moore boasted he had a strong contingent of buyers from here and Tobago. Should a potential customer be seduced by Moore’s exquisite craftsmanship, he would make a short trek to Tobago to get a rough idea of the job.
MWM Ltd have many years of experience with woodworking machines having been established in 1979 by Tony Cooper. Beginning by refurbishing used woodworking machinery, they since moved into selling both new and used woodworking machines. They then went on to build a showroom to allow them to display the machines as well as offer demonstrations to its customers.
Next, he would fax a rough estimate of the costs. Then, he would get to work on the item. The finished product is then placed on a truck on the boat and driven to the person’s home. Once the furniture is laid out, it enhances the décor and provides a utilitarian function. Quizzed on how Tobagonians know about his woodwork business, Moore said: “Most of the time they would see furniture I made in somebody else’s home and enquire who made it. They would answer: ‘Mr Moore.’ The person would telephone. A lot of word-of-mouth.” Citing some rough estimates, Moore said a single cabinet could range from $5,000 to $15,000, a dining room set costs about $18,500, stools $750, while king size beds fetch $16,000. Reminiscing on a time when coffins were hand-crafted, Moore remembers the “ultimate tribute” was making the coffins for his parents Simeon and Veronica. “People don’t order coffins anymore. But out in Tobago, they are still made.”
Before any decision was made, Gavin Cooper of MWM LTD arranged to take Mike Bowen of Makepeace Cabinetmakers and his workshop manager over to Germany to see the Martin factory and see how the machines are manufactured. As Makepeace Cabinets were looking to choose various optional extras, these also needed to be discussed with the staff at Otto Martin.
