Removing the arms from Eames management chair  

?
Ask Charles Eames.

Saarinen
is the cat's name, I take it?

Eames
Yes, I mistakenly wrote Saarinen instead of Eames. Correcting now. As to my question...?

Oh,
I knew what you meant..and I am so sorry if I were rude. I have no idea on how to amputate the chair, but I like your cat.
Drinks are on me!

Mark
No, you were just having fun. Just like I had fun when someone asked about his 9" (meant to write 9') sofa.
When we all have the great DA meetup, I'll take you up on your offer for drinks.

It's a deal.
but what if I order a mahogany martini?

Never taken one of these apart...
But I'll ask the inevitable question...
Why do you want to?
P.S. Mark, you're accumulating quite a tab.

Bona fides
So long as it has the label.

Lunchbox
It's an issue of ergonomics. I use the chair at my desk, resting my keyboard on my lap so that my wrists will be lower than my elbows. The armrests get in the way of my elbows. Not much, but I think I would be more comfortable if my elbows could drop down just a little more.
Frankly, I find mid-century chairs and desks to be ergonomically problematic. I love how they look, but they're made for a pen and paper era. Desks sat high and armrests served to support a person's resting arm. Now desks should be lower, users' wrists should be lower when they type, and chairs shouldn't restrict users' arms.

Strange gray accumulation.
Yeah, it's probably a corrosion product and, yeah, it could mean problems. You can try some sort of penetrating oil or WD-40 and let it sit on there for a while before attempting removal. Make sure the bolt head is dry and free of lubricant, use a wrench that fits snug, and, if it doesn't come with some firm persuasion, try giving the wrench handle a good tap with a hammer. Use inappropriate language freely and remember: righty-tighty, lefty-loosey!

Aye, good advice...
And certainly a legitimate reason to go through the trouble. But I can't help but think maybe you should just sell it off and go for a used Generation chair. Very good task chairs those. And much more attractive than the Aeron if you ask me.

Good advice
Tktoo, thanks for the good suggestions. Should I proceed, I'll use them.
Lunchbox, I think you're right. I'll be looking for a used Generation chair. I've been researching the chair, and I didn't appreciate how functional it is until now. It seems to be just what I'm looking for.

Never taken one apart
but I've helped a friend put a base on one he purchased off of eBay that was shipped with the base removed. Let me tell you it was not easy. We used a mallet along with multiple friends pulling the two sides apart and we were only successful after about an hour and many failed attempts due to the base constantly wanting to slip out from between the ridges on the underside of the chair that help keep the seat fabric taught. Proceed with caution.

More attractive than Aeron?
Their all kinda hideous, IMO, including the Generation. But I'd trade the Equa II I'm perched upon for one in a heartbeat.
Brent, am I mistaken, or is it not a matter of three little screws each to take off the arms? There's a tool called an "off-set" screwdriver for difficult-to-access screws.