US WW2 Wooden Folding Chairs


A short overview of wooden WW2 US folding chairs
 
Made from plywood in different natural wood colours with metal parts painted in olive drab, gray or brown.
Most common and often seen still today are the chairs made by the American Seating Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan,
but during wartime several other companies also produced this type of chair, for example Dearborn, ACME, Northern Furniture, Storkline and Corbin.
 
The first photos show a typical example of the US WW2 folding chair in unrestored original condition from American Seating Company with the "lamp of knowledge" Aladdin Lamp logo
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Different wood types used.

 

Another chair from American Seating Company with "lamp of knowledge" Aladdin Lamp Logo

 
 
 
 
 
 

Another one from American Seating Company, this one with the more common US branding instead of the "lamp of knowledge" logo.

 
 
 
 

On some the branding was filled with black colour on others not which may make the writing difficult to see.

 

Historic photo showing these chairs in use.

 

Both kind of struts are visible: wood and metall struts between the legs.

 
 

Function of the folding mechanism shown with a chair build by the ACME Chair Company, Reading Michigan
Very unusual wood used on this example.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Drawing from the trademark dated 26 January 1943, filed on 9 October 1941: Des. 134,863, by Walter Nordmark

 

Early example of the folding chair from American Seating Company with metall struts between the legs as on the drawing.


 
 
 

Some more details

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Different kind of rivets on the metal hinges, found on a chair made by Storkline.

 
 

Various markings from different manufacturers. Pictures without white frame are from the web and shown here for reference only.

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Nice group of chairs, most likely made by Northern Furniture.

 

Another example made by the ACME Chair Co.

 
 
 

"The furniture buyers order book" from the Grand Rapids Furniture Association 1944 exposition, 30 June to 8 July 1944.

 

 
 
 

Tear and wear from years of folding, but don't worry these chairs are still sturdy and made to last.

 
 

This one has seen better days, unfortunately a larger piece of the plywood was lost. However it is still usable and shows how thick the wood is.

 

As these chairs are popular with collectors today, reproductions can be found on the market.
The next two pictures show well made, nice reproduction chairs.

 
 

 
I'm still searching for some US WW2 chairs from different manufacturers, please feel free to make an offer if you have any for sale.
I.d be very interested in the two versions of the USMC non folding chair, preferably with the original paint still on.
 
The chairs shown on this website are NOT for sale.