Biography

Bradford Woodworking is the culmination of a life's worth of passion for furniture making by craftsman Brad Smith. I was born in 1954 and raised on a farm in Worcester, Pennsylvania, in the southeastern part of the state. As a farm boy I was always working to fix and build things around the farm. This led to my interest in woodworking that I developed in high school. For four years after graduation, I worked in several different woodworking shops in the area. Although I learned the basics of woodworking and developed a strong work ethic, I wanted a more formal education would be helpful. In 1976 I attended the Rochester Institute of Technology’s School for American Craftsmen and graduated with a BFA in woodworking and furniture design in 1980. Later that year, I started Bradford Woodworking with my wife Sandy, who also graduated from R.I.T. The business began with a line of kitchen tools and accessories, which we designed, crafted and marketed together. In 1986, I expanded the business by developing a line of distinctive furniture. The first piece in the line was the Ax Handle Stool™, which continues to be the workhorse of the line. I strive for steady growth and improvement of that original line. I’ve been represented in many of the finest stores and galleries around the country. I also build ten to fifteen one-of-a-kind pieces a year on speculation or commission.