DCM Repair  

The History of This Chair
The guy who sold this to me ($40) told me it was the very last of 70 more he sold just like it that came from the Playboy Club in Chicago. Wikipedia says that club opened in 1960 so that helps date the chair.
Now, I know there's no chain-of-custody ownership certification or deeds that comes with these chairs we love, but I think that qualifies as a badass story!
What new chair would ever come with that?

Jeez....she's a tired old girl, isn't she?
I guess you can take it to a woodworking and he can cut a filler piece and carefully do a vaneer job on the surface, but remember, the new shock mounts will be attached in exactly the same place and I doubt that the repair will hold up with the attached stress.
Perhaps you might contact Herman Miller and maybe they might sell you a replacement back piece....yours looks a bit too far gone.

Large Puck Shockmounts
Or maybe I could opt for the large hockey puck shockmounts (used on the old X-base fiberglass arm chairs) to be used on the backrest instead? That may add more support where the replacement original sized shockmounts would tend to compromise the wood patches.
I wouldn't like the contrast of a new backrest put on a well-worn chair.
Good input though.

I'm afraid
Barry has it right. The old back can be retained (wall-mounted ?) as an historic artifact.
But if you must: nobody (I hope) suggests "dowels" for the repair, as the grain runs the wrong way and will never stain to match -- nor will the glue joint hold. Rather, a plug must be cut (after the hole is made round and clean) out of wood with the grain running up and down, and fitted with glue. Then the finish restoration can begin.
This will not be a strong enough joint to bear the forces put upon the shock mounts; instead, an oblong block of wood, or a piece of plywood, should be shaped to fit the back of the backrest (and cover that nasty damage) and well-glued to it; the new shockmounts can be attached to this.
Sorry, but them's the truths.

hate to say i think enou...
hate to say i think enough has been said about that poor old chair,
I think to many playboy bunnies had to much fun on them, My friend in any language that chair is shot!!! you will be throwing good money after bad
most every one on this forum is a vintage buyer and we all like to preserve what we can. but If the others won't say it. I will , Time to pull the plug on that old worn out chair, as it will only cost you more and more than it will ever be worth,

I feel vindicated
I was nervous making the statement that it couldn't (and shouldn't) be fixed, but it looks like there's agreement.
As I alwayz sez, "It be a mess, it be".
Don't throw money on it....there's a number of people selling DCM's on eBay....check 'em out.

DSW mouse pad
Talking about this DCM chair made me want to share the crazy mousepad I won on eBay.....

barry love that ...
barry love that mousepad any other cool styles
those are neat looking.

Reason at Last
Okay, well, I guess it's a parts chair. Thanks for the input. Now I'm off to look for an old backrest. (Anyone got one laying around?)

Why no
make one ? You've got the perfect pattern/mold. . .
Get/make a small vacuum bag, some veneer and a big bottle of white glue. We can talk you through this. . .
http://www.joewoodworker.com/veneering/welcome.htm