This is my first post on Design Addict. The site was recommended to me as a potential source of information and or validation of a chair I'm about to restore.
Any help identifying the production year would be much appreciated. The chair is in fairly poor condition and needs restoration which I am currently planning.
Some info about the chair;
Vitra have only identified it as a Vitra chair, nothing else.
There is a cast number, 670 in the chair base underside on one of the legs.
All the fasteners are metric thread on the chair except the arm rests which are imperial thread (three holes per armrest). Is it possible that the chair could be one of the first Vitra chairs, is it possible that the armrests are Herman Miller which the Eameses brought with them when they worked initially with Vitra on the chair design.
Feather down padding.
Interesting feature is the number three on each veneer panel inside written by hand with pencil. Also carved as roman numeral style three.
It is rosewood veneer on the outside and plain plywood veneer on the inside.
All pencil markings for fastener location are inside on wood.
I Look forward to a reply.
Best Regards John 
<img class="wpforo-default-image-attachment wpforoimg" src=" http://old.designaddict.com/sites/default/files/for 
I won't say it's a hopeless...
I won't say it's a hopeless case. It looks original. But to make it work you need to get a new plywood for that seat, you can get them cheaper at ebay. Question is how much did you get it? Contrary to what others say, I love to see a well used furniture. This wasn't totally trashed, it's still fixable. That's what's makes eames furniture well designed, parts are replaceable thus the whole unit can be fixed in a manageable way. Good find.
Of course you're right, maniqz.
If there were really such things as hopeless causes, I'd be long gone.
I, too, like vintage pieces to show appropriate wear along with signs of loving care. ES670/671 sets especially just look better after long service. I meant only that this particular set is simply too far gone to warrant the cost and trouble of an accurate, quality restoration even if it is an early example in my humble opinion. But it's only my opinion.
...
maniqz, it was a swap for two Paul Kafka armchairs in need of upholstery. No cash exchanged.
The photos show it in a very bad light.
It definitely needs a new ply seat base and three leather cushion covers. Two for the chair and one for the ottoman. The backs of the covers are rotten. Everything else is serviceable. The chair should come up very well
once restored.
I'm unsure of where to buy the parts needed. I prefer secondhand with some patina, any ideas?
I'd also like to find out if there is any significance of the three imperial thread screw armrest, if this is in fact a very early (1959) Vitra chair or some other explanation?
Vintage Vitra - i think!
Hi John
i picked this up from a council collection 8 doors up in my street this week,
cant beleive it - ive searched half my life for one!
Looks similar age to yours. Im up for any info anyone can offer me about
its age and weather it is original and what its worth. All i can say is it has no labels, Vitra base, Brazillian Rosewood shells (so pre 1992), round cushion clips (so pre 1971), 3 screw holes in the armrests (so pre 1960) and i think feather cushions although the zippers are seized and i havnt opened them yet.
These chairs are very very! rare to find in Australia -
also planning to restore it to original spec myself and welcome any input
Many Thanks
Stewy
Contract Base
Hi
apparently a company in the UK called Hille made the Eames Lounge and Ottoman under liscence in the early 1960s - but i have no way of telling if mine is by Hille or Vitra as there are no labels or makers marks only the numbers 12 stamped on either side of the seat and 5 on the ottoman shells - does anyone know about the Hille chairs ?
It seems the seat in the OPs'...
It seems the seat in the OPs' chair is the worst and only real problem though the cost of new upholstery doesn't make it look worthwhile overall, especially in leather, though I saw a picture of one in houndstooth, kinda liked that.
As for the seat two pieces of slightly curved flat bar or leaf spring between the seat and base might be a quick and dirty save.
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