I'm somewhat new to this, so please forgive me if I'm asking obvious questions. I've been trying to research online, but I'm having no luck finding anything like what I have. My mother has had some mid-century modern furniture in storage many years, and I only recently became interested in it. When I look at the molded plastic swivel chairs online, they all seem to have that cast 4-leg aluminum base. It is all aluminum, isn't it? or am I misunderstanding that? I thought I had read that all the Herman Miller swivel bases for these desk-type chairs were aluminum. The ones we have are iron, and one has these big aluminum "eyebrows" on the ends of the legs above the feet. I don't see any others like this anywhere. At first I thought they were maybe knock-off copies, but they do have the rubber puck connectors beneath the seat. The gray one is actually bolted through the seat, through the rubber bumpers, to the swivel base. Is this supposed to be this way? The yellow one has the same completely iron base with no aluminum eyebrows on the legs, but it's yellow and no bolts in the seat area. What do I have here? some kind of Frankenchairs? something someone tinkered with and mix-matched parts? I did find a label on the base of the gray one with the 'eyebrows' that says Herman Miller, but it's fairly flaky and not sure what else it said. and lastly, what on earth do I do about all this rust? It seems like a good cleaning and maybe some past wax would bring the fiberglass back to a nice look, but I don't know what to do with the metal parts. is this too far gone? I actually like the yellow one better, and it has the bigger rubber pucks underneath, which I read was probably earlier. But they appear to have been reglued (which is ok with me). Is that one missing the eyebrows on the legs though? Thanks for your help! https://www.adoberevel.com/shares/461ca26679db4ed0af6ecf0708d70cb1/albums/5d87f70fa37b407eb2df8311f3202ab9
It's legit. From the Eames Office: 1954 DAT-1 Desk Armshell Tilt Upholstered Introduced in 1954 this is the first Eames chair with casters. The base is iron and it is coated in a "wrinkle black baked enamel," an industrial finish provided for its added durability. The base is a simple "x form" with molded aluminum caps, with rounded tops, to provide a more friendly resting place for the sitter's feet than was afforded by the right angles of the steel structure. These molded caps were the first Eames Office design rendered in aluminum. Described in Herman Miller literature: "The upholstered version of the new tilt swivel chair. An office desk chair with rubber torque tilting unit. The base has cast aluminum foot pieces and full swiveling casters." Nice find! Click link below for the reference:
Edited by DA: broken link removed
Be gentle!
Very nice. Start soaking that base in vinegar to get the rust off safely. I've had to do it, it takes time and is a pain in the ass but WORTH IT.
Soak, scrub with chore boy, soak, repeat till done (which can take weeks).
I've got a tilt base eames arm shell but not with those awesome early casters. I've always wanted one with that type of casters/base.
Take good care of it, really awesome find.
(and if you don't want to spend weeks with your elbows in vinegar and scrubbing I'd be happy to buy it and take on the heavy burden for you!)
-Maria
(Edit when I say soak in vinegar I mean soak. Leave immersed for 12 hours. Then scrub, scrub, scrub. Then soak another 6 to 12 hours, scrub again. It should come off. You can also read all about rust removal online for more tips. The vinegar soak is what's worked for me when playing safe. There is something called naval jelly that will remove rust well, but can remove everything else too - it's very caustic. Also once you have removed all the rust you must clear coat it with something immediately, within 12 hours or the rust will start reappearing fast. )
expecting first kid in 8 weeks and currently renting a small 2 bedroom terrace in belfast (2 up 2 down). Been renting the same place for about 4 years and the landlord supplied us with 2 2-seater fake leather sofa which now have more lines and cracks than a 90 year olds face. As we're short of space, and will need to make a little room im thinking about dumping one of the sofas, if the landlord permits it of course, and getting one of those reclining swivel chairs with a foot stool, would be handy as the computer desk is also in the living room and currently have to sit at the end of the sofa to use it .
dont want to spend too much, maybe £200. So was wondering if anyone has ever bought one in that price range and are they any good, i.e comfortable etc. Plan to take it with me when i buy a house, still holding out here as nothing seems to be selling so dont think the market has reached bottom yet
@oneoneupday, congratulations on your impending parenthood!
Please take some fatherly advice and save your money. You're gonna need it. An Eames lounge set is the last thing you want for your situation even if you could find a good one in that price range (winning lottery or being struck by lightning more likely). I have a spouse, children, and one of these sets, so you'd do well to trust me on this.
Also, don't knock sitting on a 90-year-old's face until you've actually tried it.
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