I have a 1 year old HM Eames Sofa compact, the newer one that won't fold. Looking at the back, it seems I would only need to remove two safety screws/quick nuts and it will fold down no problem. It looks like a quick solution that HM used to stop the folding, but I need to know before drilling out or messing with the screws(will be easy). I called HM and got a customer service rep. who didn't have a clue after looking at it and told be several screws needed to be removed and I could only take the back off( not true). Does a have an older on with a close-up picture of the back where it swivels? Any help would be great.
I never understood
why they removed this feature. The fold-down compactness gave the piece its name, and was a main feature of the Eames' design. And it ships so easily folded down, and required minimal effort to assemble on the client's end.
There must have been some sort of manufacturing regulation or something put in place, that forced the design modification. Ayone out there know? It always bugged me, that HM took the Compact out of Sofa Compact....
i just called my Hm rep...
i just called my Hm rep and asked cause i have one of the original ones that folds down real easy. she told me that they did this cause young children would slam them down and it was a potential liability issue, once it is in your home you can modify it any way you want, like souping up the chevy.
So,
you modify it. If the history as stated doesn't give you permission, I don't know what would.
If every manufacturer followed IKEA's model, there would be appropriate owner-ready hardware packaged with a lot of pieces -- sort of like the extra buttons sewn on the tail of that shirt you bought.
LRF
Would it be possible to call your HM rep to find out if you need more parts for it to fold down or can I just remove the safety screw. I'm trying to find a vintage shop in my area that has a folding version(Bay Area, CA, USA), so I can at least see what it looks like where it pivots.
I have the commercial film...
I have the commercial film produced by C&R Eames to advertise the Sofa Compact in th 50's. It is on one of 'The Films of Charles & Ray Eames' compilations, can't remember which one right now.
In it, it is shown how the Sofa Compact is shipped in a flat box and how the customer opens the box and assembles it in a matter of minutes. First the film show how it's done with the film at high speed and fast cuts, so that you think they used professionals to do it and 'it couldn't be that easy to do it at home...',; but then they go through the process really slowly again and it is in deed done in a matter of minutes. (not like my IKEA bookcase, which made me wanna hurt someone...)
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