After my first jobs done for our temporary accommodation, and despite the lack of tools, I took paper, cardboard and pencil to sketch the design of my first furniture pieces. The closest lumber yard was at 1352 Alsina street and lacked a building. Dry American walnut sold for 0.70 pesos per foot. Since I didn’t know anybody who could cut the wood for me, I did it myself and what I was missing was a good carver. The French café located on 320 Esmeralda street was the meeting place for French immigrants, and there I met Mr. Laffont originally from Toulouse, who was profoundly worried due to the lack of work. He claimed to understand something about fine furniture but he seemed to me mediocre and a charlatan due to which I started to do the carvings myself.
By January 15th I had completed the furniture skeletons. Even though I knew the cost, I had no idea of the selling price. My wife and an acquaintance of hers, Eveline Grand, (who had arrived a year earlier and was a relative of Mr. Dufour, importer, with offices at 652 Alsina street) went out to several furniture stores to price furniture similar to mine. The price varied between 220 and 235 pesos and this prompted me to sell mine for 160 pesos but without upholstering. I finally went to the closest furniture store located on the corner of Tacuari street and Alsina street and asked the owner if he spoke French, to which he replied affirmatively. I proposed the sale of my furniture and he indicated he wished to see one first.
After seeing one of my chairs, he agreed to buy the entire set of furniture and asked the price. I hesitated before making my offer and told him about my troubles finding good walnut and my primitive working conditions. I was amazed when he offered me 160 pesos cash, which is what I had asked, on condition that I build him an identical set in the shortest possible time.
Very happy, my wife and I, started to see a way out of our precarious situation and believe in a promising future. I started to work with renewed energy and in 15 days had completed my second set. In the evenings I would often visit stores to offer my furniture and leave my business card which read:
This way I obtained several orders which I would increase 5 pesos every order until I reached a price of 220 pesos. It was then that I urgently needed a sofa carpenter and went once again to the French café where I was introduced to Mr. Auguste Chantre, good carpenter and a good worker as I would find out later. The next day he was working for me. Every Sunday I would go to the same café in search of labour. The first outings were a real party for me. The tables drew together, everybody knew me but when the bill arrived, I was always the one paying it. After many Sundays spent there, I diplomatically withdrew, alleging having to go out with my wife and son.
