interesting!
Thanks for posting about the knockoffs. Just the other day I was talking to a guy who deals in mid-century modern furniture and he said that the Plycraft and Selig lounge chairs were actually more comfortable than the Eames because of the tilt base. I really like how my Selig chair tilts back. I have it set as far as it'll go. Maybe I won't trade it in someday for the real thing...
One thing, though---mine is a Selig and has the wrap arms. Maybe they started doing them later? They didn't have welt at all, just one piece of leather wrapped around to the underside and stapled.
I must respectfully disagree
I have seen a few postings where people claim the knockoffs are more comfortable than the originals. I just recently did a comparison and I have to say that the original chair is far more comfortable.
The knockoffs I have sat in all seem to be a little wider through the arms, making it comfortable for me to only rest on one armrest at a time. Then again I'm fairly short, lol. I've heard many times that the knockoffs are more comfortable for the taller crowds.
In regards to the tilt mechanism- I find this to be rather impeding in using the chair. The 670 has a tilt built into it, which is part of its beautiful modern look, as well as being super comfortable. The knockoffs (for the most part) have a straight sitting-up 'posture'. And when I use my chair for a long time my legs get a little tired because there is a constant pressure on them in order to keep the chair at a tilt.
Which is not to say that I dont love my chair! Its great! But I cannot agree that it is more comfortable than the 670.
we're both right...
...and we're both wrong.
Now that I think about it, I have a feeling the comfort of one over the other has mostly to do with the way a person sits.
All my life, even as a little child, I've been more comfortable with my feet up. I'm also long-waisted and tend to slouch, so sitting upright isn't very comfortable for me.
Reclining a bit with my feet up is very comfortable, however! I sit crosslegged in my Selig lounge chair and lean way back. I never sit in it upright for long.
My husband, on the other hand, is more comfortable sitting upright. We have had a lot of "discussions" on which sofa to buy. We've settled it by having one chair that he likes a lot and I get to pick the sofa.
I do really love the look of the Eames lounge chair with no visible fasteners, though. That might be worth having one right there. But it's a ways off anyway so I have plenty of time to ponder...
670
I have all three chairs and the Selig is the most confortable , The Herman Miller is the best looking cause it is so Iconic ,I hate the way the Miller chair hits me low in the head. I love to put my feet up also and the Miller ottoman is the best .
I use a Cherner plycraft for my office chair... very rare and very cool.. all bent plywood on the back and the arms are bent ply wood, I had it redine in a fine leather and it is like butter!!! I put on special coasters and removed the original base and it the best!! since it is for a office chair. I use a plycraft ottoman with a telescope base. and it is the greatest.
Any one who ever started to collect mid-century modern furniture
starts out first with the 670 .the seemless design after 50 years still is the best and up till 2 years ago was not knocked off until the Asian market started making dead ringers.
Side by side it would be hard to tell by the average person. Herman Miller will be getting there lawyers
on them real quick for trade dress violations .so if you want a look a like with seemless sides check the internet or ebay there are about three stores that sell them for around 1500.00 dollars .
thanks
Thanks for your kind words we try to help out everyone who e-mails us and questions about mid-century furniture .
It seems that once you buy your first piece of vintage mid-century modern you get addicited.
we enjoy redoing the furniture tht what makes this business so much fun.
check the screws
Are the screws all there? The latest Plycraft/Selig knockoff I got was very wobbly and then I finally looked underneath and it was missing a screw or two where the mechanism attaches to the base. Very easy to fix.
It could also be that the T-nut inside the outer shell has come loose. You should see a threaded metal sleeve where the screw goes in. If it's not there, you can take out the screws that hold the inner shell in and pop it out, then replace the T-nuts which are inserted from the inside. You can get them at any good hardware store. I had to replace one on the armrest of my chair.
It could also be some thing broken or missing on the tilt mechanism itself. The link below is to a place that sells replacement tilt mechanisms.
Good luck!
http://swivel-chair-parts.com/402%26502Tilter.html
SUCCESS AND FINALITY!
Hey Spanky and all the others. The chair is almost finally done!
So.. I finally shelled out $60 for a local upholsterer to do the armrests. He did a good job on the welting. His skill with a staple gun might be called into question - but oh well. He also forgot to leave the bolt holes exposed. I spent about 20 minutes with a pin trying to find the holes. But once I did...well.. the chair is a thing of beauty.
And best of all - I stopped back into the local junk shop where I found the whole chair. The owner of the store saw me, dashed into a back room, and returned carrying an ottoman - complete with a 5-star base! The price, you ask? $15! Unfortunately I didnt have enough leather to upholster it - so I bought a close match of black vinyl. I figure its best, since we dont always remove our shoes in the house. The link to the photos is below. Upon the arrival of the ottoman my roommate simply sighed, rolled his eyes, and removed HIS rocking chair from the livingroom to make space. 😀
Cost breakdown:
Chair: $225 - talked him down to $150
Woodworking: free
Finishing: $20 for Polyshades and Minwax
Leather: $150 (including shipping)
Armrests: $60
Ottoman: $15
Vinyl: $8
Total: $378
Currently there is a chair on Craigslist, reupholstered in gross fabric, for $1000
http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/fur/218608882.html
Spanky, as always, thanks so much for your help with this project. I was really overwhelmed at first. Your advice has caused this piece to come out great!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38178174@N00/
Wow!
It looks great! And how wonderful to get the ottoman, too!
I'm sure you know that the total you spent is well under what these go for on Ebay. That one in fabric on craigslist probably won't sell for that price. It looks so wrong with that fabric! Comical, almost.
I just covered the seat and back of my fourth Plycraft chair yesterday and accidently scratched the leather in a few places. I have some Pecard Leather Treatment that I am hoping will minimize the damage. [sigh] Other than that, it's looking pretty good. It has the platform style armrests and I'm going to try dressing them up with boxed covers and welt.
Anyway, congratulations on a job well done!
Spanky....
What is wrong with people?
http://cgi.ebay.com/WHITE-Eames-670-style-RECLINING-LOUNGE-CHAIR-danish_...
Hahaha!
I looked at the first photo and thought "Ok, recliner version, those are lame but we've seen them before..."
Then I scrolled down and saw the parquet. YECH! This must be from the 70's parquet craze. Aside from looking strange, I would think it would be subject to all kinds of chipping when the chair bumps into the wall or other furniture. Every plywood version I've had of these always has marks from bumping on stuff.
Anyway, thanks for the laugh!
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