Need help to dismantle a Tulip Chair for restoration purposes  

Need help to dismantle a Tulip Chair for restoration purposes
Hello again,
I believe that some photos might help you identify my problem.
Here are some for your consideration:
Looking forward your reply
Best regards
Kevin
http://s1029.photobucket.com/albums/y360/kevin_retrodesign/Tulip%20Chair/

Need help to dismantle a Tulip Chair for restoration purposes
I have read your threads about this forum being driven away from it's initial topics and that members are fed up replying to questions related to identification, valuation and restoration..
That said, and since I got no reply yet I'm assuming my topic is being considered one of those unwanted threads/new members. I'd like to inquire, though, if there is any forum that I can address my problems to, regarding restoration.
Best regards and sorry for taking up your reading time.
Just in case you need to know, the chairs were bought in London and one of them has a Knoll label that is not often seen: a small black circle with a white "K" printed on. This label is located on the seat shell, right in front of the metal circular plate with the bolts. So it's original I believe.
Best regards
Kevin

I Don't
know the answer to your question, but have you tried searching the forum ?
I'm sure issues lke this have been discussed many times

Forum
Hello Robert and thank you for your reply.
Yes, I have searched all the topics on this forum that mentioned tulip chairs. I have found two that could have been the solution to my problem but, as I have already mentioned, what they describe on that post doesn't seem to solve my problem as I can't find any "C-clamp" on my chair to loosen the parts away from one another.
The other topic showed a different model that I believe to be one of the first versions of the chair's assemblage mechanisms for the fixed version as it resembles the drawings on the patent sheets and descriptions of Saarinen for this chair.
That said, yes, I have been searching all over the place but so far I haven't got any luck to find out about my particular chair's model. That's why I decided to find some help here as someone might have simmilar chairs and might know how to disassemble them.
I have even filled two inquiry forms at the Knoll website, but I haven't got any reply from them either..
Thank you anyway for your reply.
Best regards
Kevin

Fixed
Sounds like your chair may be the non-swivel type. I have one of them as well and have not figured out a way to dismantle it.

Kevin, no this is totally...
Kevin, no this is totally fine! I think it's just that no one knows the answer. Be patient. Sometimes it takes a bit before the right reader reads your posting...
The topic i started was not our of irritation, it was out of observation. And it was only observing the ID threads. I think restoration projects are fun to watch and learn about. I think you would be hard pressed to find a DA who thought restorations were aggravating!
Welcome.

Thank you
Hello everybody,
Thank you for your feedback. I'm patient I was just wondering if my post was misplaced on this forum, hence my question. 🙂 I hope someone might come in who knows this particular model.
May I grab the oportunity to clarify what distinguishes a fixed model from a swivel model of tulip chair, from the mechanical components point of view?
From what I have been observing throught the years I've been admiring this chair, I believe that the fixed version has a smoother contour between the seat and the base as there isn't a small gap between these parts to house the swivel mechanism. Is this true, or just a perspective issue?
My chairs don't have any gap between base and seat. Having that in mind I believe that they might be the fixed model.. But still, not certain yet.
I'll just wait to see what comes in before I attempt anything else on my chairs.
Best regards and thank you for the welcome!
Kevin

Check this out
Photo of non-swivel version inside.
http://www.designaddict.com/design_addict/forums/index.cfm/fuseaction/th...

Hmmm, woody ... that link...
Hmmm, woody ... that link leads to nowhere for me.
Come to think of it, I have never known that there was a swivel and non swivel version. The only ones I have come in contact with swiveled.
Has anyone here had both? Pros and cons?

Edited
Try now....

Thread
Hello Woody and thank you for your help.
I had already read that thread. I have read all the posts regarding tulip chair.. That's the chair I mentioned previously that I believe to be one of the first produced versions due to the simmilarity to the drawing on the patent document.
In my opinion I think the fixed version chair has an advantage when compared to the swivel version: since it doesn't swivel, the chances of getting table edge marks on the seat shell are reduced big time since one can have a better control on where the seat bumps into..
On the other hand, the swivel model is more confortable in daily use as it allows more movement, thus resulting in greater versatility on the sitting and standing up movements..
Just my opinion. Would like to know what others think as well.
Best regards
Kevin

I have painted a few of...
I have painted a few of these but apart from our diehard design ethic why would you dismantle them particularly when they can be damaged whilst dismantling?
I'm only saying that because apart from the cast metal on the underside what else would you paint that wasn't visible?
I'm a bit stumped

Tulip Chairs
Hello,
Well, I need to dismantle them in order to ease transportation. The chairs are in London and need to be sent by mail elsewhere in order to be painted by a friend of mine who has the facilities to do so.
Other than that, the dismantlig also ensures that I have access to the inner parts of the mechanics that connects the seat to the base. Whith that I can clean them properly, de-rust and oil them back for longevity.
Do you have some clues as how to dismantle them?
Best regards and thank you for your help.

If I were you, I'd
try contacting Knoll customer service. I know that they're not as helpful as Herman Miller is, but if you have a legal Knoll product, they should be able to explain how to dismantle the chair.
I do know that when you buy a Saarinen tulip chair from any Knoll dealer, the chair arrives in a larger box already assembled.