A platform rocker is a chair that is mounted on a frame or platform. The chair has short legs or castors and is typically fitted with coiled springs. These chairs were popular from the late nineteenth century until the 1930s and often feature a carpet seat and back. To identify a platform rocker, it is important to know what it looks like. Read on to learn more about this style of chair. Let us help you identify yours today.
Classic ladderback rocking chair design
Whether you want to savor your evenings on a porch or lounge in your backyard, a Classic Ladderback Rocking Chair is the perfect choice. The wide vertical slats of a traditional ladderback design give it timeless charm. The chair’s gently sloping runners also add to its classic appeal. Crafted from polywood, this chair ages beautifully and requires minimal maintenance. Available in several vintage-inspired colors, it is sure to bring you hours of enjoyment.
Originally designed by a Danish furniture designer, the Classic Ladderback Rocking Chair has a history dating back to the 1940s. It has been adapted for indoor and outdoor use. The chair’s design is a staple of farmhouse decor and complements many styles. When choosing one for your home, however, it’s important to select the right size and shape to accommodate your back. In addition, it should be wide enough to accommodate most people, but not so wide that it’s difficult to sit in.
The Shaker movement took inspiration from traditional ladderback side chairs and modified them to fit their style. Early versions were made with cut-back legs to improve stability. Later versions had tilting mechanisms. The Shaker community in New Lebanon improved on this design, but the original style remained plain and simple. Despite the many changes in styles and materials, the Classic Ladderback Rocking Chair remains an icon of country-rocker furniture.
This American Rocker was the marriage of convenience and art. Designed by Michael Thonet, this chair became a work of art. Thonet’s steam-bent wooden chairs integrated curved parts into sinuous wholes. He also added to the quaint rocking chair’s aesthetic appeal. In 1879, James Tissot posed a lonely young woman seated in the Thonet No. 1 Rocking Chair, a chair with a beechwood frame, a rattan seat and a convenient footrest.
Modern fasteners on a rocking chair
A rocking chair suspended on a platform is held up by a pair of flat, substantially straight, reinforced-plastic springs. The springs are fixed to the platform by metal brackets 20 and 22, respectively. The springs may also include mechanisms to provide a rocking action. The springs should be at least 350,000 kPa in compressive strength and flexural strength, lengthwise. The springs’ effective free lengths should be 6 to 20 cm and eight to 12 cm, respectively.
If the platform rocking chair was constructed 70-80 years ago, the fasteners should be in line with the period. If the fasteners were not in line with the original period, it is likely to be a reproduction or poorly restored. You should also look for nail heads that are unique or uneven. Likewise, if the fasteners are in a different shape than the original, they may indicate that the rocking chair was made with manual cuts.
When a rocking chair is built with springs, a first pair of bumpers is fixed to one side of the seat box and the other set to the platform. This arrangement allows the chair to move forward without excessive shock on the springs. By using two sets of bumpers, the springs increase their effective stiffness and inhibit excessive rocking. A second set of bumpers may be placed in between the springs and the platform.
The seat box spring is connected to a horizontal metal brace, which acts as a bumper. The distance between the bracket 22 and the point where the spring contacts the bumper is 70% of its effective free length. Once this point is reached, the spring has increased stiffness, inhibiting excessive rearward rocking motion. This is an example of a platform rocking chair with a metal brace.
Wood types used to make a rocking chair
Several different wood types are used to make a platform rocking chair. Different types have their own strengths and weaknesses. A craftsman must learn about the strengths and weaknesses of each type before deciding which to use in a chair. Even the slightest defect in a board needs to be evaluated carefully, or the craftsman may have to discard the wood because of a small flaw. To make a high-quality platform rocking chair, a craftsman must study the wood species and work with each one for years.
Before the introduction of circular saws, woodworkers used hand saws to make platform rocking chairs. These saws left jagged marks and other imperfections in the wood, and straight lines were difficult to achieve. This resulted in furniture with minor imperfections. By contrast, modern rocking chairs don’t have these flaws. Wood types used to make a platform rocking chair vary by region and time period.
The legs of a platform rocking chair are generally made of two kinds of wood: beech, maple, or cherry. A platform rocking chair may have a solid wood seat or a slatted seat. The seat can be flat or slightly depressed, allowing for the natural curves of the body. A rocking chair can also be made with a saddle seat. Regardless of the wood type used for its frame, a platform rocking chair is typically made of wood.
When it comes to wood types used to make a platform rocking-chair, the most important consideration is the era of origin. During the 1700s, rocking chairs were made from wood types that were found in the area where the chair was originally produced. The wood used in each period was unique, and the protective finish applied to the exterior surface changed. Eventually, different wood types became popular, and various styles emerged. In addition to wood types, different kinds of paint were used in rocking chairs.
Maker’s mark on a rocking chair
If you’re buying a vintage platform rocking chair, one of the best ways to identify its maker is to find the manufacturer’s mark. This mark is often stamped on the underside of the seat, backrest, and spindles. In addition, the mark may be hand-written with the company’s name and the year of manufacture. However, if there’s no mark, don’t despair. The style, finish, and material of the chair can provide some clues as to its provenance.
The style of the chair can help you identify the maker’s mark and provenance. For example, Bentwood rockers are often handcrafted in Austria by Thonet Brothers Manufacturers, who used bent beech wood frames and swirling designs to create their renowned rocking chairs. By looking at the Maker’s Mark, you can determine the exact date and location the chair was manufactured. You can also find out more about the chair’s provenance by looking at the age and style of the wood.
A hand-made chair will also have a unique look. It is more likely to be made from hardwood than synthetic materials. Moreover, a handmade chair will have a rougher look than a modern one. Also, it is likely to have nails and pegs that are made from metal, rather than hammered iron. You can identify this by looking at the design of the wood and joints.
You can also find a rocking chair with swirls or a wooden base. For instance, a classic rocking chair has slats going from top to bottom, while the modern version has a wood seat. The springs attach to the seat and move the person sitting in it. Traditional rocking chairs may be a little easier to create, but they have a more bucolic look than their modern counterparts.
Authenticity of a rocking chair
To determine if a platform rocking chair is authentic, look for the following marks: Manufacturer’s name, year of manufacture, and company logo. The maker’s mark can be stamped, carved, or written on the chair’s underside, backrest, or spindles. Some makers also place their marks on the spindles if they’re missing from the original chair. If you can’t find a maker’s mark, you can look for other clues, such as the material, finish, and style.
Wood and joints: The wood and joints are two obvious signs of handmade furniture. Earlier chairs would use hand-hammered nails, while newer ones will use pegs and glue. Likewise, handmade joints will have rough edges, while modern ones would have smooth, rounded edges. A platform rocking chair’s wooden legs are typically made from spruce or pine. This makes it easy to spot the handmade version of a platform rocking chair.
Age and repair: The age of a rocking chair is another key factor. The repairs on an antique rocking chair will be in tune with its age. For older models, you can ask your local cabinetmaker to check the chair to determine its authenticity. If the repair is too minor, you should be able to return it if it doesn’t meet your expectations. Otherwise, you may end up buying an imitation.
Make sure you check the wood and materials: If it looks like particle board or composite wood, then it’s not an antique rocking chair. Also, check the nails to see if they’re authentic. Check the age and appearance of the wood: Over time, wood darkens and shrinks. A wood that looks brand new is probably a replica. If it looks worn and cracked, it’s not a genuine antique rocking chair.
