Q:I have a set of outdoor furniture that has been in my husband's family since the late 1940s. The chairs have metal frames and rope seats and backs. A few years ago I had the rope redone. The company that did the work told me that the furniture was original Brown Jordan outdoor furniture. Can you tell me the value of these pieces?

A:Brown Jordan was founded by Robert Brown and Hubert Jordan in Pasadena, Calif., in 1945. The company claims to be the first to make furniture specifically for "full-time outdoor use." Walter Lamb designed a line of bronze and cord outdoor furniture from materials salvaged by the U.S. Navy from ships that sank during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Brown Jordan bought the patent for Lamb's design and began making the furniture after 1945. When the salvaged material was no longer available, similar materials were used. Brown Jordan is still in business and makes a line of Walter Lamb furniture in brass. A 1940s or early '50s lounge chair with original rope sells for about $1,500.