The current firm of Kings Fourth Generation Woodworking Company has a history dating back to 1887 when Daniel Thomas King arrived in Carterton in the heart of the Wairarapa, with his wife and family, after travelling over the rugged Rimutaka Ranges from Tawa Flat, near Wellington, by horse and buggy.
In Carterton, he started a general joinery and contracting shop which became a well-established part of the town. He served on the town council and was very involved in the Methodist Church.
The same building is occupied today. D T King, and his staff of up to 7, handled all sorts of work, including joinery, building, furnishings and provided an undertaking service, which was normally carried out by the builders / joiners of the time. Later, Daniel went into partnership with his third son Walter and Mr Bill Gregor so the company became King, Son & Gregor.
Walter King, with his sons Jack and Keith King, continued to manage the renamed business of The Wairarapa Joinery & Cabinet Co. which became Kings Carterton Ltd in the 60's. The company at that stage had a furniture showroom with interior decoration, hardware, and floor coverings, a building gang of up to 15 staff, and a team of painters. The joinery factory managed by Keith with a staff of up to 12 ,was renovated and improved. Houses, general joinery, furniture & kitchens were manufactured to service the rapidly growing towns.
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The town funeral service was still an important part of the firm. It was often said by locals that Kings provided a "cradle to grave service", especially so, because Dan King died in his 97th year and had the honour of presiding at some folks weddings (he was also a lay preacher) building and furnishing their various houses and finally conducting their funerals.
It was in 1976 that Keith's eldest son, Peter joined the company, and renamed it "Kings Fourth Generation Woodworking Company". Around this time there was a real boom in the renovation of the older Victorian homes in Wellington. Peter found that the company still had all the old profile cutters and blades for the machines essential for running the 19th century period mouldings needed at that time. Peter had a background of solid timber lamination, so this period was also the beginning of the company's lengthy solid timber benchtop apprenticeship.In the following years the company became well known in the Wellington region for the design and installation of solid timber kitchens and joinery. A lot of kitchens had solid timber benchtops of Rimu or Kauri for which suitable finishes had to be found.
After much experimenting and 20 years of experience the Generation IV ™ finish was developed. It is this finish that has made the timber benches popular with architects, designers and home and bar owners throughout NZ.
Peter became so convinced there was a market in the country for solid timber benchtops with an excellent finish, that in 1992 the company concentrated solely on timber tops and launched their own Generation IV ™ brand of timber tops for supply to kitchen companies, joiners, builders, and homeowners in NZ and overseas.
The company now produces solid timber benchtops from their standard range of 36 timbers which retain their natural beauty while providing a practical and beautiful working surface.
