If your chair relies on a mechanism where you must manually spin the chair around to change its height, it dates before . If it features a side pump handle lever that lifts the seat straight up, it is part of Koken's landmark hydraulic patent era. Market Value Estimates based on Condition
This report is based on available data and may not be exhaustive. Further research is necessary to verify and expand the serial number list. Additionally, some serial numbers may be missing or incorrect due to incomplete records or human error.
c. 1946 – 1955 (Post-war production). 225,001+: c. 1956 – 1960s (Late-stage production). Key Identifying Features by Era vintage koken barber chair serial number list
Art Deco boom; classic pristine white or tinted porcelain-enameled heavy bases. c. 1936 – 1945
This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later. If your chair relies on a mechanism where
For collectors and restoration enthusiasts, a vintage Koken barber chair is more than just furniture—it is a masterpiece of industrial design. Founded in St. Louis in 1874 by Ernest E. Koken, the Koken Barber's Supply Company became the gold standard for barbershop equipment across the United States.
Early models often featured mahogany or walnut wood armrests, while later ones might have white porcelain or metal armrests. Further research is necessary to verify and expand
: Many models have numbers molded directly into the cast iron of the base or near the hydraulic pump.
On earlier models (late 1800s to 1910s), identification numbers were often stamped directly into the structural frame components.
If you see raised, embossed lettering such as , "527N" , or "PAT2" , you are looking at a casting code or patent stamp, not the serial number. Stamped serial numbers will look indented into the metal, while part codes are molded to stick outward. Alternative Ways to Date a Koken Chair
: High-relief filigree metal often featuring the words "Koken Barber's Supply Co." or "St. Louis" cast directly into the metal. The Koken Barber Chair Is as Handsome as It Is Useful