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Cool fold-up chairs

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Bill

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Jul 5, 2012, 6:16:48 AM7/5/12
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While I was visiting the Ozark Old Time Music Festival last month in
West Plaines, MO I met a man who built some rather amazing folding chairs.

In a nutshell, here is how they opened:

The back was lifted upward/upright, and then the two pieces which were
the arms were pulled apart, that brought the seat, and the rest of the
parts, into their final position.

Reversng the steps folded up the chairs.

He made taking the seats down and setting them up look effortless. It
was a truely remarkable design, with not very many pieces.

He had a regular version, a wide version (like a small bench), and even
a rocking-chair version.

Has anyone else here seen these chairs? My effort to locate one on
Google failed.

Bill

Sonny

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Jul 10, 2012, 12:28:21 PM7/10/12
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Bill, this chair sounds neat and I'm interested. Can you give any
more info about where, at the festival, you saw the man and chairs?
Do you recall his name .... any other info? Did he have a dedicated
booth or was the setup less formal (not necessarily registered, if
applicable)? Was his festival location in a section other than
woodworking? Did he have other kinds of displays/medium, other than
those chairs?

I contacted the personnel, at Ozark Old Time Music Festival, hoping to
get some info, but have struck out. Here is the reply I got from
them:

Sonny - I've reviewed our list of vendors, and can't find anything in
the description of products given to us that would help me locate
this vendor for you, based on folding wooden chairs. If you can give
me a little more information about other products they may have had,
where they were located on the grounds, or anything else you can
think of, I'll be glad to look over the listing once more to see if
we can help you find them.


Swingman

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Jul 10, 2012, 1:05:00 PM7/10/12
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Was it all wood, or did it have a canvas seat and back rest?

--
www.eWoodShop.com
Last update: 4/15/2010
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)
http://gplus.to/eWoodShop

Larry Jaques

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Jul 10, 2012, 2:21:46 PM7/10/12
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On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:05:00 -0500, Swingman <k...@nospam.com> wrote:

>On 7/5/2012 5:16 AM, Bill wrote:
>>
>> While I was visiting the Ozark Old Time Music Festival last month in
>> West Plaines, MO I met a man who built some rather amazing folding chairs.
>>
>> In a nutshell, here is how they opened:
>>
>> The back was lifted upward/upright, and then the two pieces which were
>> the arms were pulled apart, that brought the seat, and the rest of the
>> parts, into their final position.
>>
>> Reversng the steps folded up the chairs.
>>
>> He made taking the seats down and setting them up look effortless. It
>> was a truely remarkable design, with not very many pieces.
>>
>> He had a regular version, a wide version (like a small bench), and even
>> a rocking-chair version.
>>
>> Has anyone else here seen these chairs? My effort to locate one on
>> Google failed.
>
>Was it all wood, or did it have a canvas seat and back rest?

Are you thinking "director's chairs" like I am here? They're very
comfortable. I had some in my living room for about a decade and my
friends flocked to them first. http://tinyurl.com/cpw97zq


I've seen another canvas and wood style in the old books by Popular
Science for ShopSmith. Page 30 of the 1986 Yearbook. It's called the
Rocking Lawn Chair, but it looks like the old style canvas beach
chair.

--
It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails,
admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.
-- Franklin D. Roosevelt

MJ

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Jul 10, 2012, 2:37:20 PM7/10/12
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willshak

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Jul 10, 2012, 3:45:47 PM7/10/12
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How does anything named Adirondack, a mountain range in New York State
named after the Adirondack Indians, fit in Missouri?

--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeros after @

Bill

unread,
Jul 10, 2012, 4:10:20 PM7/10/12
to
Swingman wrote:
> On 7/5/2012 5:16 AM, Bill wrote:
>>
>> While I was visiting the Ozark Old Time Music Festival last month in
>> West Plaines, MO I met a man who built some rather amazing folding
>> chairs.
>>
>> In a nutshell, here is how they opened:
>>
>> The back was lifted upward/upright, and then the two pieces which were
>> the arms were pulled apart, that brought the seat, and the rest of the
>> parts, into their final position.
>>
>> Reversng the steps folded up the chairs.
>>
>> He made taking the seats down and setting them up look effortless. It
>> was a truely remarkable design, with not very many pieces.
>>
>> He had a regular version, a wide version (like a small bench), and even
>> a rocking-chair version.
>>
>> Has anyone else here seen these chairs? My effort to locate one on
>> Google failed.
>
> Was it all wood, or did it have a canvas seat and back rest?
>

All wood. I don't think the arms of the chair at Highland push apart to
unfold in the manner I've described above. One thing that was obvious
in watching the operation of the chair was that it had to have been
designed with of A LOT of time and trial and error--that none of it's
parts collided when folded or unfolded. I pointed out what I thought
might be a "weak area" supporting the back of the seat I think, but
that's another matter.

His 16 year old young friend shared his abundant knowledge about
blacksmithing with me. All I had to say is "I think it would be really
cool to make my own hinges.." and we were off! This interspersed with
old time fiddle through the afternoon and evening--it was a great day!
: ) Cost of admission was free and parking was easy--highly recommended
(annual) event!

I'm still interested in the chair design too!

Bill

Bill

unread,
Jul 10, 2012, 4:15:11 PM7/10/12
to
Larry Jaques wrote:
> On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:05:00 -0500, Swingman <k...@nospam.com> wrote:
>
>> On 7/5/2012 5:16 AM, Bill wrote:
>>>
>>> While I was visiting the Ozark Old Time Music Festival last month in
>>> West Plaines, MO I met a man who built some rather amazing folding chairs.
>>>
>>> In a nutshell, here is how they opened:
>>>
>>> The back was lifted upward/upright, and then the two pieces which were
>>> the arms were pulled apart, that brought the seat, and the rest of the
>>> parts, into their final position.
>>>
>>> Reversng the steps folded up the chairs.
>>>
>>> He made taking the seats down and setting them up look effortless. It
>>> was a truely remarkable design, with not very many pieces.
>>>
>>> He had a regular version, a wide version (like a small bench), and even
>>> a rocking-chair version.
>>>
>>> Has anyone else here seen these chairs? My effort to locate one on
>>> Google failed.
>>
>> Was it all wood, or did it have a canvas seat and back rest?
>
> Are you thinking "director's chairs" like I am here? They're very
> comfortable. I had some in my living room for about a decade and my
> friends flocked to them first. http://tinyurl.com/cpw97zq

No resemblance to that one. This one had a coolness factor to it that
you might expect to see the likes of Wham-O copy, in plastic.

MJ

unread,
Jul 10, 2012, 4:46:06 PM7/10/12
to


> How does anything named Adirondack, a mountain range in New York State
> named after the Adirondack Indians, fit in Missouri?
>

Thinking rural, rugged, country folk craft, etc. Adirondack aside, I
recall
there's hills/mtns in Missouri (isn't that's where the Ozarks are?).

MJ

Larry Jaques

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Jul 10, 2012, 5:20:58 PM7/10/12
to
On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 15:45:47 -0400, willshak <will...@00hvc.rr.com>
wrote:

>MJ wrote the following on 7/10/2012 2:37 PM (ET):
>> These:?
>>
>> http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/adirondackfoldingchairplan.aspx
>>
>> Sort of fits the area.
>>
>> MJ
>
>How does anything named Adirondack, a mountain range in New York State
>named after the Adirondack Indians, fit in Missouri?

PLEASE, Bill. The interjection of logic into a Wreck discussion is
never advised.

Larry Jaques

unread,
Jul 10, 2012, 5:30:07 PM7/10/12
to
On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:15:11 -0400, Bill <Bi...@nospam.net> wrote:

>Larry Jaques wrote:
>> On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:05:00 -0500, Swingman <k...@nospam.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On 7/5/2012 5:16 AM, Bill wrote:
>>>>
>>>> While I was visiting the Ozark Old Time Music Festival last month in
>>>> West Plaines, MO I met a man who built some rather amazing folding chairs.
>>>>
>>>> In a nutshell, here is how they opened:
>>>>
>>>> The back was lifted upward/upright, and then the two pieces which were
>>>> the arms were pulled apart, that brought the seat, and the rest of the
>>>> parts, into their final position.
>>>>
>>>> Reversng the steps folded up the chairs.
>>>>
>>>> He made taking the seats down and setting them up look effortless. It
>>>> was a truely remarkable design, with not very many pieces.
>>>>
>>>> He had a regular version, a wide version (like a small bench), and even
>>>> a rocking-chair version.
>>>>
>>>> Has anyone else here seen these chairs? My effort to locate one on
>>>> Google failed.
>>>
>>> Was it all wood, or did it have a canvas seat and back rest?
>>
>> Are you thinking "director's chairs" like I am here? They're very
>> comfortable. I had some in my living room for about a decade and my
>> friends flocked to them first. http://tinyurl.com/cpw97zq
>
>No resemblance to that one. This one had a coolness factor to it that
>you might expect to see the likes of Wham-O copy, in plastic.

OK. I didn't grok that at all, but maybe I will when you show us a
pic.

willshak

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Jul 10, 2012, 5:59:41 PM7/10/12
to
So you meant an Ozark chair?

RicodJour

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Jul 10, 2012, 6:37:00 PM7/10/12
to
On Jul 10, 3:45 pm, willshak <wills...@00hvc.rr.com> wrote:
> MJ wrote the following on 7/10/2012 2:37 PM (ET):
>
> > These:?
>
> >http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/adirondackfoldingchairplan.aspx
>
> > Sort of fits the area.
>
>
> How does anything named Adirondack, a mountain range in New York State
> named after the Adirondack Indians, fit in Missouri?

Like the Indians knew state names! ;)

R

Bill

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Jul 10, 2012, 7:55:08 PM7/10/12
to
Larry Jaques wrote:
> On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:15:11 -0400, Bill <Bi...@nospam.net> wrote:
>
>> Larry Jaques wrote:
>>> On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:05:00 -0500, Swingman <k...@nospam.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 7/5/2012 5:16 AM, Bill wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> While I was visiting the Ozark Old Time Music Festival last month in
>>>>> West Plaines, MO I met a man who built some rather amazing folding chairs.
>>>>>
>>>>> In a nutshell, here is how they opened:
>>>>>
>>>>> The back was lifted upward/upright, and then the two pieces which were
>>>>> the arms were pulled apart, that brought the seat, and the rest of the
>>>>> parts, into their final position.
>>>>>
>>>>> Reversng the steps folded up the chairs.
>>>>>
>>>>> He made taking the seats down and setting them up look effortless. It
>>>>> was a truely remarkable design, with not very many pieces.
>>>>>
>>>>> He had a regular version, a wide version (like a small bench), and even
>>>>> a rocking-chair version.
>>>>>
>>>>> Has anyone else here seen these chairs? My effort to locate one on
>>>>> Google failed.
>>>>
>>>> Was it all wood, or did it have a canvas seat and back rest?
>>>
>>> Are you thinking "director's chairs" like I am here? They're very
>>> comfortable. I had some in my living room for about a decade and my
>>> friends flocked to them first. http://tinyurl.com/cpw97zq
>>
>> No resemblance to that one. This one had a coolness factor to it that
>> you might expect to see from the likes of Wham-O copy, in plastic.
>
> OK. I didn't grok that at all, but maybe I will when you show us a
> pic.

I looked when I came home, but haven't seen one. Now that Cedar-Sonny
is interested too, maybe one will show up.

Bill

k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz

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Jul 10, 2012, 9:37:19 PM7/10/12
to
On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 15:45:47 -0400, willshak <will...@00hvc.rr.com> wrote:

>MJ wrote the following on 7/10/2012 2:37 PM (ET):
>> These:?
>>
>> http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/adirondackfoldingchairplan.aspx
>>
>> Sort of fits the area.
>>
>> MJ
>
>How does anything named Adirondack, a mountain range in New York State
>named after the Adirondack Indians, fit in Missouri?

Dunno, I've seen a lot of Amish-made Adirondack chairs. Don't think they live
in upstate-NY and they sure don't dress like injuns.

Mike Marlow

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Jul 10, 2012, 10:45:44 PM7/10/12
to
k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz wrote:

>
> Dunno, I've seen a lot of Amish-made Adirondack chairs. Don't think
> they live in upstate-NY and they sure don't dress like injuns.

Lots of Amish poplulation in upstate NY. Lots. And... you're right - they
don't at all dress like injuns.

--

-Mike-
mmarlo...@windstream.net


Nova

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Jul 11, 2012, 8:48:32 AM7/11/12
to
There's a rather large Amish community in East Otto, NY, about 25
miles south of Buffalo.

http://amishtrail.com/business/east-otto/east-otto-country
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA

k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz

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Jul 11, 2012, 10:02:09 AM7/11/12
to
On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 22:45:44 -0400, "Mike Marlow"
<mmarlo...@windstream.net> wrote:

>k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz wrote:
>
>>
>> Dunno, I've seen a lot of Amish-made Adirondack chairs. Don't think
>> they live in upstate-NY and they sure don't dress like injuns.
>
>Lots of Amish poplulation in upstate NY. Lots. And... you're right - they
>don't at all dress like injuns.

Never saw any in the Adirondaks, anyway (lived across the drink for 35 years).
The New York chairs I was referring to were made in Ohio. ;-)

k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz

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Jul 11, 2012, 10:27:13 AM7/11/12
to
Closer to the Pennsylvania Amish than the Adirondack Injuns, no? ;-)

BTW, isn't that considered "Western New York" rather than "Upstate New York".
I understand that everything North of Yonkers is "upstate" to a NYC boy,
but...

Sonny

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Jul 11, 2012, 10:49:36 AM7/11/12
to
Update:

I have contacted the Ozark Old Time Music Festival personnel and they
have direct me to a Mr. Murrell, with the Ozark Mountain Long Rifle
organization. The Ozark Mountain Long Rifle organization participated
at the festival, with many representatives in many medias. The chair
maker may have been among this group. I have sent an email to Mr
Murrell, for possible further assistance in finding the chair maker
and/or more info about his chairs, etc.

http://www.facebook.com/notes/old-time-music-ozark-heritage-festival/ozark-mountain-long-rifles-living-history-rendezvous/443161652375676

Sonny

Mike Marlow

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Jul 11, 2012, 1:24:19 PM7/11/12
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They're all over the Central NY upstate area now. Tons of them have moved
in from Ohio. Must be the Ohioans aren't treating very nicely these days.

--

-Mike-
mmarlo...@windstream.net


k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz

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Jul 11, 2012, 1:31:38 PM7/11/12
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On Wed, 11 Jul 2012 13:24:19 -0400, "Mike Marlow"
<mmarlo...@windstream.net> wrote:

>k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz wrote:
>> On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 22:45:44 -0400, "Mike Marlow"
>> <mmarlo...@windstream.net> wrote:
>>
>>> k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Dunno, I've seen a lot of Amish-made Adirondack chairs. Don't think
>>>> they live in upstate-NY and they sure don't dress like injuns.
>>>
>>> Lots of Amish poplulation in upstate NY. Lots. And... you're right
>>> - they don't at all dress like injuns.
>>
>> Never saw any in the Adirondaks, anyway (lived across the drink for
>> 35 years). The New York chairs I was referring to were made in Ohio.
>> ;-)
>
>They're all over the Central NY upstate area now. Tons of them have moved
>in from Ohio. Must be the Ohioans aren't treating very nicely these days.

I certainly subsidized them when I lived there. ;-) They still send me
adverts.
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