I have a Wassily chair that I purchased off e-bay. It was sold as 1960's vintage. The upper back strap broke and I purchased a new back strap from a different e-bay vendor. The strap is the correct size, leading my to wonder if my chair is an original, but I cannot figure out how to get the new strap on. I took the chair apart, cut off the old strap, and slid the lower back strap up to the position of the upper strap. But the bend in the steel frame is too tight to slip the leather over. Does anyone have a solution? I'm sure that I can take the strap to a leather place, have them unstitch it, put it in place and restitch it, but it seems to me that if replacement parts are sold, fully stitched, there must be a way of getting them on without that hassle. Any ideas?
Wassily
When you say original I'm assuming you mean Knoll. I have 2 org Wassily chairs produced in Gavina, imported by Knoll, from 1962. They are of a slightly better quality than the ones later produced by knoll in the US.
Org. chairs should have a knoll sticker or logo on them. The ones from Gavina have a sticker on the lower back horizontal chrome bar, but these stickers can come off over time.
Some photos of your chair would help confirm if it's org or not - if not that might explain why your straps don't work if you bought authentic straps made to knoll specs. One big give away to a fake - on the ends of your chrome tubing (the parts that end, and stick out from the seat base and bottom arm - are they "capped"? Do they have a noticeable caps on the end? (that's not a guarantee it's auth., some good knock-offs don't use them but caps do guarantee a fake.)
Also getting straps on to chairs is difficult due to the tension needed on them. He's incredibly strong and it was a tough job for him.
Plz post photos of the chair, it's the only way we will be able to provide more info.
If I can add...
When I took off my straps, the back sections were the hardest to get back on - in fact I almost totally gave up on it.
My recommendation is to first have on hand a large furniture clamp on hand.
Then, take the strap and put it on one bar. slide it up only over the rounded edge.
Next is to take a clamp and with cloth used between the frame and the clamp (so you do not scratch the metal tubing) attach the clamp to just above where the first strap has been attached, and attach the other side of the clamp to to same spot on the other side of the bar.
You can tighten the clamp about 1/3 on an inch - you may need someone to help you with this. Remember it is forced chrome bar and will bounce back.
Next attach the other strap and while twisting a little back and forth use your strength.
It took me half an hour to get one strap on once I got it right - and an hour of frustration before that.
I suspect at the factory they have hydraulic equipment that helps workers get the straps on.
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