Abstract: Method for manufacturing rigid articles having a resiliently deformable cushioned surface in a vacuum forming operation wherein a drapable sheet of resiliently deformable cushioning material is vacuum formed into a desired shape on the shaping surface of a vacuum forming mold, and wherein vacuum is maintained on the mold to retain the sheet in dimensionally fixed configuration on the shaping surface while the exposed surface of the sheet is intimately bonded to a rigid support layer to provide a rigid cushioned article. The apparatus used comprises an assembly line including a portable vacuum forming mold which is transported between spaced treating stations on the assembly line while at all times maintaining vacuum on the mold to retain the cushioning material in dimensionally fixed configuration until intimately bonded to and rigidized by a layer of supporting material.