A Neat Find In An Old Schoolyard Field

[Natman]

I found this in a field near a one room schoolhouse that was built in 1900.

It's not too often a company will come out for a free repair (for the life of the chair) these days!

Nat

 

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[The Beep Goes On]

Cool find!

HH!
TBGO

 

[diggummup]

Very cool.Is that a token or a piece from the chair itself? Nice piece regardless.Here a photo of one of the chairs they produced,which were many.They are sometimes referred to a "Morris Chairs" also.Your date around the early part of the 20th century is probably right on too,although I have seen examples that predate the 1900's.The company was known as "Royal Chair Co." in 1899, later in 1928 it was known as "Royal Easy Chair Co."Yours has both on it although it clearly states "Royal Chair Co.," making it the older of the two I would presume.PBK can probably do a patent search on it.

 

[diggummup]

I've answered my own question.The button you found was an actual part of the chair. 8) Also I believe the "21st century" comment mentioned previously is an error,since this company was sold way before that time! The price of this chair is $1695.00

 

[Natman]

THANKS SO MUCH for the research! Now I know what these chairs looked like..seeing that same piece of metal attached to the chair actually gave me goosebumps.

Nat

 

[diggummup]

THANKS SO MUCH for the research! Now I know what these chairs looked like..seeing that same piece of metal attached to the chair actually gave me goosebumps.

Nat

Ha,don't you love it! History is great! I've edited my first response with a little added info.

 

[gold fish]

Geez, they don't even give ya an E-mail address??

 

[GYirga]

Natman,
This is a very interesting find to me. I had never heard of the Royal Chair Company before but I have worked for La-Z-Boy Chair Co. for the past 24 years. Most of these 24 years have been actually making the metal parts and assemblies or overseeing these operations. Needless to say I know the metal in La-Z-Boy chairs well. It is also intersting to see that the Royal Co. was in Sturgis, MI and La-Z-Boy is headquartered in Monroe Mi. I believe that you have listed that you live in Missouri and there is a La-Z-Boy plant in Neosho. The chair you have certainly looks like a predecessor, or a copy, of some of the very earliest La-Z-Boys.

I also need to point out that the metal mechanism in La-Z-Boy has always had a lifetime warranty and they still hold true to this today. Over the years I have had to have my guys set up an old die and run parts for someone that had a 35 year old chair that something broke on and they just could not part with it. It is unusual that in this day and age anyone guarantee anything for life but we do. I think it is safe to say that the foreign competition would never do this...

OK I am off my soapbox and advertising kick but you have found a very nice piece of history there. I will ask some of the old timers still around the company if they know anything about the Royal Chair Co.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[lonewolfe]

Excellent find!

HH

 

[mlw67]

Based on the patent numbers on your thingy there, I would say it was from 1916--the date of the most recent patent.

 

[Natman]

GYirga, thanks for the added information, very interesting stuff.

1916? Wow, that's been out in the mud for a long time!

Nat

 

[ringfinder]

Nice find, You just have gotta love those one room school houses. They really give up a lot of goodies.

HH, Ringfinder

 

[PHANTOM35]

wow thats very cool, wtg .

 

[EDDE]

great character to that piece

 

[Huntr1]

I have a Morris chair made by Royal sitting in my basement waiting for me to finish the basement so I can sit in it again. No metal tag for it though.

 

[Spiney Norma]

Fascinating. I live about 20 miles from Sturgis Michingan, and have never even heard of a chair company there!

 

[PBK]

Just punch the patent number in and then hit "Search" at:

http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm

Once the page opens, click on "Images" to view the patent drawings and specifications

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Here is the link to the first patent no.

http://patimg1.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=00648715&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO1%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526d%3DPALL%2526p%3D1%2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsrchnum.htm%2526r%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526s1%3D0648715.PN.%2526OS%3DPN%2F0648715%2526RS%3DPN%2F0648715&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=NONE&Input=View+first+page

The Patent actually belongs to J.F. Walton Chair. You can view the original drawings by clicking the link above.

 

[Natman]

Thanks everyone! Interesting stuff!

Nat