Koken Barber Chair

[Sear Sommerfeldt]

Howeverthe barber chair truly came to prominence around the turn of the century, when a number of patented inventions by an enterprising young man named Ernest Koken led to the basic chair design that is still in use today. Koken barber chairs dominated the first half of the century, and they remain popular today both as collectible antiques and as modern, contemporary chairs." /> The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.

Born in Germany and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Ernest Koken was a creative and industrious young man. Following his father's untimely death, young Ernest left school and set about earning a living for his family. He found success first as an artist and manufacturer, creating hand-decorated fine china shaving mugs, mirrors, razors, strops, clippers and other supplies and selling them to local barber shops. Soon, his thoughts turned to his greatest passion: engineering.

Ernest began creating prototype designs in his spare time, eventually devising a clever reclining chair that was more comfortable and convenient for barber and customer alike. His biggest breakthroughs, however, still lay ahead.

Armed with a patent for his innovative reclining chair and funded by increasing demand for his design, Koken was motivated to continue refining and improving the barber chair.A Vintage Koken Barber ChairIn 1900, he struck upon what would prove to be his greatest idea: a hydraulically-operated chair fitted with a joystick-style lever that allowed barbers to quickly and easily control all of the chair's movements. Koken also patented these innovations and combined them to create the Koken Hydraulic Barber Chair, which quickly became a runaway success with barber shops across the United States and beyond.

Though Ernest Koken was stricken with heart failure and passed away in 1909, Koken Barber's Supply Company went on to become the largest barber supply company in the United States under the guidance of his son, Walter. The company continued to refine and expand its product line, eventually earning patents for designs related to beauty parlor chairs, chiropodists' chairs and more. Walter Koken even uncovered plans for an internal combustion engine that his father had designed in an attempt to compete with Henry Ford and his engine, though the plans ultimately never came to fruition.

Koken Barber's Supply Company remained a premier name in the United States until the 1950s, when the emergence of a number of lower-priced competitors and a slowly declining barber industry forced the company into bankruptcy. The early 1960s and the popular trend toward longer hair and more creative hairstyles further impacted the once vibrant company. By 1970, the Koken Barber's Supply Company - along with many of its patents - had been purchased by Japan's Takara Belmont Company and incorporated into its own designs.

Well over a century after Ernest Koken's first breakthrough designs, Koken remains an influential and respected name in the barbering world. Takara Belmont continues to produce legacy chairs bearing the Koken name, and antique chairs have become highly sought after on the collectible market. Ernest Koken was inducted into the Barber Hall of Fame in 1975, and his initial designs and patents still form the basis of many barber chairs produced to this day.

Koken barber chairs are valued anywhere from $500-$6,000. At the lower end of the value spectrum, a complete Koken chair with major condition issues might sell for less than $500. The chair might have some major upholstery issues, rust or poorly replaced upholstery at this price range.

From barbershops and salons to antique furniture and barber chair collections, different types of antique barber chairs have an appeal everywhere. Named after its inventor, the Koken barber chair is one of the most renowned and dominating chairs of the nineteenth century.

Koken barber chairs were the first barber chairs with hydraulics. These antique barber chairs have a rich history and distinguishable features. This article will discuss the history, different features, and price of Koken barber chairs.

Only the finest materials went into manufacturing different models of Koken barber chairs. Notable features of these chairs included tufted leather seats, padded arm and footrests, and frames constructed of quarter-sawn oak or walnut. The frames often featured defined wood carvings. On these chairs, even the metalwork was extravagant. The seat brackets, the base, and parts of the footrest all have beautiful scroll designs and high-quality craftsmanship.

Ernest Koken was a reputable German citizen for his engineering and designing skills. He began working on the hydraulic lift for Koken barber chairs in the 1890s. Being an engineer by heart, he patented his reclining chair design in 1881. He patented his hydraulic chair a decade later (in 1892). If you have ever sat on a hydraulically powered chair in a barbershop (hard to find someone who hasn't), give credit to this man. After the death of Ernest, his son inherited the company, Koken's Barber's Supply company, and it expanded more than ever. Ernest's company became the leading barber supply business in the United States under his wing, and they expanded their business to other barber supplies.

These antique chairs' price varies depending on condition, age, and model. Koken barber chairs are valued anywhere from $500-$6,000. At the lower end of the value spectrum, a complete Koken chair with major condition issues might sell for less than $500. The chair might have some major upholstery issues, rust or poorly replaced upholstery at this price range. The chair would probably date from the 1940s or 1950s and was not stored properly. It would likely not feature a working hydraulic lift or elaborate carvings. A Koken chair in better condition could sell for $5000-$6000. At this price range, the chair would be in perfect condition and would have beautiful wood carvings, a working hydraulic lift, and original leather upholstery, and would be stored in an ideal manner. It would probably date from the early 1900s. A fully restored chair can cost you up to $5600, which would retain a perfect condition.

If you're shopping for antique Koken barber chairs, there are few things you should consider. Get it appraised by a second source for the authentic product. Moreover, be informed about the chair's current condition and history. These chairs usually received hard daily use, were exposed to hair care products regularly. The value of these chairs varies by a great deal with their condition. If you're buying online, you should remember that photos do not always show water spots and other damage. Therefore, you might want to add a contingency clause.

Whether you're a collector or a barbershop owner, an antique Koken barber chair will add value to your collection with its unique design and story. You can also use a restored Koken barber chair in your salon to attract your customers and enrich your business.

I've got to kokin barber chairs for sale I don't have the year they were made but I am sixty years old and they have been in my father's barber shop in Cheraw SC called Perry's since I can remember hydro.works fine send me a Gmail to me and I'll send pictures Charles

I've got to kokin barber chairs for sale I don't have the year they were made but I am sixty years old and they have been in my father's barber shop in Cheraw SC called Perry's since I can remember hydro.works fine send me a Gmail to me and I'll send pictures

I have a Koken Barber chair with child seat for sale. Not sure of age, but guessing the 1950's. In pretty good condition considering the age. Only defect I see is in the footrest. Not sure, but could be easy fix. Would love to talk to someone about it.

I have a red and white St. Louis Koken barber chair, in working condition. I am in Philadelphia and would like to sell this chair. I am open to sell the chair in full, or would consider selling off parts.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss details.

Customize your barber chair by adding your logo or name on each chair. Dont have a logo? No problem, we can help with a text illustration for your brand. Simply click the link below and add Logo Embroidery to your cart (one per chair).

Not quite what you had envisioned? We are able to fully customize the barber chair, from the upholstery color and design, to powder coating the metal frame. Send us a message and we will work together on creating a unique chair designed for you.

Our video call service allows customers to view our chairs from the comfort of their own home. By scheduling a video call with us, you can get a personalized, up-close look at the chairs and ask any questions you may have.

Our chairs are the pinnacle of function and design. We hand picked the details, as we have been int he industry with over 30 years of experience. These chairs are crafted with the finest materials, and provide unparalleled comfort & design.

I found out about J&J through social media and I was interested in purchasing some chairs for my new barbershop. I contacted them and got a response quickly which definitely impressed me. The Shipping was very quick and my custom chairs were delivered in perfect condition. I would definitely recommend to anyone

They have a great selection of quality chairs for a fair price. Koken, Paidar, Belmont just to name a few. Very cool family owned business, I will definitely be back to reupholster some of my older chairs.

The professionalism here and how well informed they are on their chairs is what stood out to me here. Highly recommend for anything barber chair related. Beautiful antique chairs as well. I will only be coming here from now on!

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