In our travels, the wife and I have often been in contact with folks within the Amish communities in Pennsylvania (not the only place they live, by the way), and have paid regular visits to their homes, and broken bread with them. Our exposure to their lifestyle, and our conversations with them, have yielded some rather candid thoughts on the matter of these type of things.
There are a wide variety of Amish folks, .........some who are strict non-conformists, and some who are moderate. Just like there are various lifestyle choices made, within other communities. There are some Amish who drive vehicles with motors, and some who don't. There are some who USE electricity, and some who don't (to site just two examples).
The wood working industry (the creation of wood items, such as beds, tables, chairs, etc.) is common among many of the Amish, as a way to provide for their families and communities, in spite of their other means of self-sufficiency. To contract to build cabinetry for a space heater manufacturer, is not unlikely.
The BIGGER issue, is the use of the Amish lifestyle, as somehow legitimizing the product in some way. The inference that because there is some Amish involvement in the product, there is "integrity" in the product that might not otherwise be found.
The silence of the Amish who are very likely building cabinetry for the space heater manufacturers, is primarily a choice similar to the way they chose to respond to the killings of those kids in the school house, not long ago. As one Amish friend told me directly, concerning the way in which the Amish community responds to wrong, "We are told in Scripture, to forgive."
The use of the Amish in the advertising of the end product, is actionable, if they wanted to pursue it, but they simply don't.
-Soupy1957
My best information is that the folks who are building the framework for the space heater industry, are choosing to be silent once again, with regard to the promotion of these items, in connection with Amish craftsmanship.
My two cents,
-Soupy1957