Original Eames RAR rocker base?  

Wait!
One more piece of info. The tabs are all squared off on one end, but rounded on the other end (the far end from the screws). Does that help authenticate?

This one/That one
I can find some subtle differences here. I don't know how old my chair is (EDIT- it's from the early 60s), it's certainly later than the one in question. Your runners look slightly longer in the rear and tapered more, more slim. It seems like the wires may also be slimmer, though I can't tell if this is just perspective/lack of dirt.
Who's got pictures of older legitimate bases?
What does the seller say about where it came from?
the bolts, the weld, etc. Hmm.

and
does it appear to have been vigorously cleaned?

If eameshead, object, and...
If eameshead, object, and woody can't agree on the immaculate conception of an eames chair, does that not suggest that the chair will always carry a certain stigma of uncertainty, regardless of the truth?

Has this been talked about here?
I don't own any Eames fiberglass chairs so it isn't something that has concerned me. But I ran across a blog about reproduction chairs that should be talked about here if it hasn't been already. If what she says in the blog is true, it makes me suspicious of any too-new looking chairs I see.
http://www.rocknrolllondon.se/i/t8753519/fake

gropius
That could be a problem specific to Europe. Herman Miller didn't use that type of label. Don't know about Vitra.
I wouldn't be surprised if there are fake copies being made and sold in Europe.

Patina
There is some patina on the base/metal. The shell is in very good condition, and the base seems to be in about the same condition.

I bought it
The store owner said it was consigned from the daughter of the original owner. The consignor is about 50, and she used to play under the chair as a kid. Who knows if such stories are true. Trust, but verify, right? So I found a few examples at liveauctioneers and ebay that seem to have the exact same base welds. The different color screws is a little odd, but based on other threads here on the forum, it seems like parts from different chairs were often used in the early years. I feel confident it's real.
Here are the links of the same base:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eames-2nd-generation-RAR-Rocker-Chair-Vintage-Ea...
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/5736252

josh
My feeling is that it is authentic original as well, though I am certainly not an expert on vintage rockers.

Re black screws
I have often seen silver or zinc screws on black painted rocker bases that appear to be original, but never black screws on zinc base.
That said, it is easy to imagine that somewhere along the line someone may have removed the base and lost the screws, and simply replaced them with what they could get.
I am still on the fence, but leaning toward vintage.
My questions are mostly about the too-clean metal, and that weld, which I am still feeling iffy about.
Like Woody, I am no expert on the rocker bases either. But Lunchbox has seen a ton of these and is very experienced with them, so his assessment carries the most weight with me.
LEANING toward "repaired original vintage", but still not 100% about anything.

You see...
This is why I ignore most of the inquiries on this forum these days...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Herman-Miller-Eames-Rope-Edge-RAR-Rocking-Chair-...

I hear you, Lunchbox
I hear you, Lunchbox

lunchbox
Are you upset because you feel we were "used"?
Or are you upset because none of the doubts expressed about authenticity or possible repairs made it to the listing?
Or are you upset because the price is high?
(I knew this was going to be listed, because the pair of low 56 base shell chairs went through the same progression before appearing on ebay. But the piece had interesting questions so what the hell.)

It's just tedious and all too typical, EH...
Yet another supposed "seeker of knowledge" interested in learning just enough to be dangerous while earning a buck. I mean, for all the posts here this guy should know a hell of a lot more than he does. His "educational synopsis" of the history of the rocker base in the listing is dumbfounding. And of course none of the skepticism offered in this thread registered. I wouldn't pay half his asking price considering all the uncertainty surrounding the piece.

yeah
OK then I demand 20% of final sales price. Lunchbox gets 20% too, and woodywood gets 20%, and objectworship gets his 20% also.
That leaves 20% of final sales price for joshlamiel, which is what he probably would have asked for the chair, had he not had access to our knowledge, generosity and guidance.
joshlameil : I will forgo my 20% in exchange for the pair of 1956 lounge H bases.
You can send them USPS.