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I got an old solid wood chair from the 20s or 30s that was US Airforce surplus for free (I got lucky and had connections, but they can also be picked up dirt ch
by SamWhited 6y ago
I got an old solid wood chair from the 20s or 30s that was US Airforce surplus for free (I got lucky and had connections, but they can also be picked up dirt cheap at surplus places, don't look at antique shops, they'll overcharge you) and it's nicer to sit in than any fancy expensive $1000 chair I've had at fancy office buildings before. My lower back starts killing me in most chairs, but something about these old chairs really helps it despite having none of the fancy features of modern chairs. It looks awesome too, although it weighs about a ton.
- floren 6y agoCan you link a photo? I love good old simple furniture and will try to keep my eyes out for one.
- scottlocklin 6y agoCan you post a photo? I despise all the fancy aeron chairs (they appear to be classic cargo cult science) and favor a couple of old Eames and Corbusier chairs. Just curious what works for others in the "chair that grandparents would recognize as chair" category.
- mrslave 6y agoI feel the need to move around a lot, typically alternating between standing and sitting. At home I also have several normal chairs I borrow from around the house and a yoga ball. About every 2 hours I'll take a break and change chair or stand. My new job has Aeron chairs and it is the first time I have felt comfortable in a chair at work. This doesn't mean I can sit in one all day. I've been at many places with "expensive renovations" (i.e. conversions to trendy open plan) and the seemingly valuable chairs are always terrible.
- SamWhited 6y agoIt's this one: https://imgur.com/poAth33 https://imgur.com/poAth33 I think it's actually later than I was saying, I looked at a USAF one from the 30s but I can't remember if I picked it or not. I'll have to see when I get back to my desk, it had the Airforce logo on the bottom if it was that one. If it was the other one, can't remember when it was from.
- SamWhited 6y agoLooked it up; this is not the USAF one I was looking at, it's by Milwaukee Chair Co. and was manufactured in 1924 according to the stamp under the seat
- m463 6y agoI have an aeron and it has worked well for > 10 years. I have tried a number of other chairs. The only thing it doesn't do well is let you get way out of position, like being able tuck one of your legs under you and sort of slouch sideways. I have noticed the prices going up recently though. You used to be able to buy a decent one at a used office equipment store for $200-300, but now the supply is low.
- scottlocklin 6y agoYeah I know people really like their aeron chairs; I'm just gobsmaked by it and don't understand why. I've sat in all kinds of chairs and while some of them kind of suck, there was nothing special about aeron chairs other than their price. To me they were a standard office "bucket seat" with too many adjustments. Would rather OP's regular wood chair!
- johncalvinyoung 6y agoMy favorite chair (admittedly not at all most people's idea of a good chair, and non-adjustable) is a comfortable contoured 'Bank of England' style chair from the 50s in hardwood. Around here they were bought in vast numbers by the state and used for 25 years in courtrooms and police stations and the like, and are now frequently found surplus cheap and serviceable. And I love it. Looking for 2-3 more to outfit my house for the long term.
- SamWhited 6y agooh yah, this is definitely in that mold (except it swivels, but otherwise basically identical to what I think you're talking about).
- m463 6y agoThe problem is that these only work in one position, and it generally only works for one body size/type. (I had one when I was younger) The ability to sit for extremely long periods of time without discomfort or damage is much higher in a modern office chair. Though being able to try one out to get the right size is sort of important.
- SamWhited 6y agoIf it doesn't work for your body type that definitely makes sense, but this one does at least have a big cast iron mechanism that lets you lean it forward or back and can be screwed in and out to raise or lower the height, which is nice.
- analog31 6y agoSame here. I just googled "1930s office chair," and the first few hits were all of a certain style. I was given one, and refinished it. The wheels are gone, and in their place, the bottom of the base is covered with self adhesive felt. But I'm fortunate that I don't sit for very long. I actually work in hardware, and have set up the basement rec room as a lab, so I'm a little more mobile than someone doing pure programming. Second best thing, seriously, is to cobble a standing desk by whatever means possible.