For more than a hundred years, Swales Styleline Upholstery in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, has been the go-to shop for anyone wanting to restore a classic car interior, refresh a favorite chair, or give new life to a family heirloom. Now, after 108 years of hands-on craftsmanship, the family behind the business is ready to pass the torch.
Bob and Ralph Swales, the current owners in their 80s, grew up around sewing machines, leather and fabric scraps. The shop was founded by their grandfather Raymond in 1917, was taken over by their parents, Francis and Jane, and eventually passed down to the brothers.
Bob worked after school and went full-time after graduation, while Ralph joined the team in the mid-1960s. Together, they helped grow the business and expand from car interiors into furniture, draperies, awnings, and collaborations with interior designers across the region, employing a dozen or more skilled craftsmen at a time.
The shop has even extended into a fourth generation. Bob and Ralph’s children spent countless hours helping out — deconstructing car seats, tying springs on sofas, handcrafting buttons and more. Every generation added their own touch, creating a workshop where skills, pride and creativity were passed down alongside the tools. “All of our kids had a hand in this along the way,” Ralph recently told Gant News.
Despite the decades of growth, the focus has always been on quality work and personal care. There’s no better evidence of that than their long list of clients. “We still have a lot of customers that depend on our services,” they said.
Now, the brothers are ready to retire but hope to find someone who will continue the business rather than let it close. Bob and Ralph are even willing to stay on temporarily to help a new owner get started. “If anything can possibly be done to keep the business going our hearts will be full,” the brothers said.
Swales Styleline Upholstery isn’t just a shop; it’s a piece of Clearfield history, stitched together over four generations. With a new owner, the next chapter could be just beginning.
It’s a perfect opportunity for another upholsterer to swoop in and continue the legacy.
Recent Comments