Paul McCobb
Encyclopedia
Paul McCobb was a modern furniture
and industrial
designer. McCobb was born in Medford, Massachusetts
to Raymond and Winifred McCobb. Both his father and mother were born in Massachusetts
although neither family originated there. His father's family being from Maine
and his mother's family from Ireland
. His father was employed in 1920 as a Salesman in "Men's Furnishings".
Knowing from a very early age that he wanted to be an artist, McCobb studied art, drawing and painting at the Vesper George School of Art in Boston
, although he did not complete his course there.
McCobb enlisted in the Army as a Private on December 5, 1942 in Boston, MA. While enlisted in the Army he was attached to the Camouflage Corps of the Army Corps of Engineers. He only served in the military for a short time and was released on a medical discharge in 1943.
McCobb first came to prominence in 1948 as a design and decorating consultant for Martin Feinman’s Modernage Furniture in New York City
. While employed at Modernage, McCobb met B. G. Mesberg, his later business partner in the Planner and Directional furniture lines.
Best known for his furniture designs he also designed radios and televisions for CBS-Columbia, Hi-Fi Consoles for Bell & Howell, along with other household items.
His Planner Group, manufactured by Winchedon Furniture, was among the best selling contemporary furniture lines of the 1950s and was in continuous production from 1949 until 1964.
Other well-known furniture lines designed by McCobb include Directional by Custom Craft, Predictor by O’Hearn Furniture, The Irwin Group by Calvin Furniture, The Connoisseur Collection by H. Sacks and Sons, The Calvin Group by Calvin Furniture, and The Linear Group by Calvin Furniture.
Modern furniture
Modern furniture refers to furniture produced from the late 19th century through the present that is influenced by modernism. It was a tremendous departure from all furniture design that had gone before it. Dark or gilded carved wood and richly patterned fabrics gave way to the glittering...
and industrial
Industrial design
Industrial design is the use of a combination of applied art and applied science to improve the aesthetics, ergonomics, and usability of a product, but it may also be used to improve the product's marketability and production...
designer. McCobb was born in Medford, Massachusetts
Medford, Massachusetts
Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States, on the Mystic River, five miles northwest of downtown Boston. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173...
to Raymond and Winifred McCobb. Both his father and mother were born in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
although neither family originated there. His father's family being from Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
and his mother's family from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. His father was employed in 1920 as a Salesman in "Men's Furnishings".
Knowing from a very early age that he wanted to be an artist, McCobb studied art, drawing and painting at the Vesper George School of Art in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, although he did not complete his course there.
McCobb enlisted in the Army as a Private on December 5, 1942 in Boston, MA. While enlisted in the Army he was attached to the Camouflage Corps of the Army Corps of Engineers. He only served in the military for a short time and was released on a medical discharge in 1943.
McCobb first came to prominence in 1948 as a design and decorating consultant for Martin Feinman’s Modernage Furniture in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. While employed at Modernage, McCobb met B. G. Mesberg, his later business partner in the Planner and Directional furniture lines.
Best known for his furniture designs he also designed radios and televisions for CBS-Columbia, Hi-Fi Consoles for Bell & Howell, along with other household items.
His Planner Group, manufactured by Winchedon Furniture, was among the best selling contemporary furniture lines of the 1950s and was in continuous production from 1949 until 1964.
Other well-known furniture lines designed by McCobb include Directional by Custom Craft, Predictor by O’Hearn Furniture, The Irwin Group by Calvin Furniture, The Connoisseur Collection by H. Sacks and Sons, The Calvin Group by Calvin Furniture, and The Linear Group by Calvin Furniture.