Chair Serial Number List | Vintage Koken Barber
Look for stamped digits on the very bottom base plate or the pedestal. Identification Plate:
Look near the bottom edge of the vertical column, where it meets the floor plate.
Flip or look underneath the footrest assembly. Manufacturers frequently cast numbers directly into the iron here.
| Serial Number Range | Estimated Era | Key Features | |--------------------|---------------|----------------| | 1000 – 5000 | 1895–1905 | Hand-crank only, oak/iron frame, no hydraulics | | 5001 – 15000 | 1906–1915 | Early hydraulic pump base, smooth upholstery | | 15001 – 40000 | 1916–1929 | Art Deco cast feet, tufted backrest | | 40001 – 80000 | 1930–1941 | Streamlined design, chrome accents | | 80001 – 120000 | 1945–1954 | Full enamel/chrome, hydraulic foot pump | | 120001 – 170000 | 1955–1965 | Reclining mechanism, larger headrest | | 170001+ | 1966–1972 | Late models, often exported | vintage koken barber chair serial number list
: The most common location is stamped on the wood or iron frame beneath the seat cushion.
What is the chair mostly made of? (e.g., carved wood, white porcelain, chrome) What exact words or dates are stamped on the footrest? What numbers have you found stamped into the metal so far? Share public link
Simplified, functional designs with less ornate filigree and more polished chrome. Look for stamped digits on the very bottom
Vintage Koken barber chairs are the crown jewels of antique salon Americana. Manufactured in St. Louis, Missouri, by Ernest Koken in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these chairs revolutionized the grooming industry with early hydraulic lift patents. Today, they are highly prized by collectors, historians, and shop owners.
Vintage Koken Barber Chair Serial Number & Dating Guide For antique collectors, historical preservationists, and barbershop enthusiasts, owning a vintage Koken barber chair
Write down raised numbers (casting) and indented numbers (serial). Manufacturers frequently cast numbers directly into the iron
Late Art Deco to World War II production; streamlined metal frames and simpler geometries. c. 1946 – 1955
Simpler mid-century designs, often with less ornate metalwork and more vinyl upholstery. Historical Context Determine Koken Chair Age by Serial Number - Expert Guide
Whether your Koken is a 1910s porcelain beauty or a 1950s chrome classic, you own a piece of American industrial history. Use the numbers stamped into the cast iron as your map, and the design details as your guide. Happy hunting!
Inspect the iron bracket that connects the seat back to the seat base. Check the metal framework beneath the footrest. 3. The Footrest Plate
: Look for a stamped number on the flat part of the base plate. Hydraulic reservoir