Share your favorites on Show & Tell

my pair of old DOWD (FOWLER) oak folding chairs

In Furniture > Chairs > Show & Tell.
elanski's loves2151 of 2466A Vintage Elf On a Shelf Unusual Eyes Closed VersionBlow Mold Santa Sleigh and Reindeer Empire Plastics 1970
6
Love it
0
Like it

CisumCisum loves this.
Mamamia123Mamamia123 loves this.
TreyTrey loves this.
elanskielanski loves this.
gargoylecollectorgargoylecollector loves this.
fortapachefortapache loves this.
See 4 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 6 years ago

    AnythingOb…
    (1778 items)

    I picked up this sturdy old pair of oak FINGER-PINCHERS (no, wait...FALLING CHAIRS...no, that's not right either, I mean FOLDING CHAIRS?!) several years ago at a church rummage sale near Detroit. Always assumed that the "Dowd" name branded into their backs was that of a funeral home, as similar chairs were once commonly provided by funeral homes (etc) and utilized kinda all over the place (sometimes by the truckload) to provide 'temporary seating' at funerals, church picnics, school functions, lodge gatherings, and/or other assorted events where large numbers of people would gather in normally open spaces, often outdoors.

    Turns out that, apparently, they are "DOWD" brand chairs instead, as made by the FOWLER CHAIR CO. of Fowlersville, MI, which seems to have existed there in the 1940's before eventually moving operations to PA then suffering a devastating fire which ended their operations. These particular two seem to have slightly different versions of the DOWD logo, though neither also has the FOWLER CHAIR CO. insignia under its seat that I find pictured on other examples of similar chairs seen online.

    Back to the beginning reference -- that's a couple things I definitely remember (and have in fact remembered again once or twice since owning this pair of my own) about the unique design of these chairs from long ago experience. Unlike most modern day folding chairs, one raises the *rear* edge of the seat to fold it flat. The otherwise inarguably simple and sturdy method/mechanism by which it does this also, unfortunately, tends to like to grab itself a little chunk of one's hand if you're not being careful while opening/closing the da*ned things... <OWWWCHH!!>

    And that 'rear-raising' seat design can also be (more than?) slightly prone to creating unexpected "gravity events" if one gets too close to the front edge while sitting on them. There's a sorta 'center of gravity' physics thing that goes on with 'em...cross that invisible line w/your body weight and <BANG> it just threw 'ya on the floor. <LOLOL> For that same reason, don't even *THINK ABOUT* trying to *stand* on one, unless you just really enjoy things like bleeding and broken bones and ambulance rides... ;-)

    logo
    Chairs
    See all
    Authentic Signed James Pearce Walnut Adjustable Industrial Screw Piano Stool
    Authentic Signed James Pearce Walnu...
    $821
    Set Of 4 Vintage Burke MCM Fiberglass Swivel Metal Tulip Base Dining Chairs
    Set Of 4 Vintage Burke MCM Fibergla...
    $350
    Full Set (4) Bearings Lowentraut Hall Glider Rocker East lake Antique Chair
    Full Set (4) Bearings Lowentraut Ha...
    $24
    A RARE SIGNED 18TH C RHODE ISLAND WINDSOR FAN BACK CHAIR IN GRUNGY ATTIC SURFACE
    A RARE SIGNED 18TH C RHODE ISLAND W...
    $179
    logo
    Authentic Signed James Pearce Walnut Adjustable Industrial Screw Piano Stool
    Authentic Signed James Pearce Walnu...
    $821
    See all

    Comments

    1. racer4four racer4four, 6 years ago
      Laughing!! Yes I have done that too!
      Good investigation there on the name.
    2. AnythingObscure AnythingObscure, 6 years ago
      Thanks for your laugh and your comment racer4four -- and for the <love> from fortapache, gargoylecollector, elanski, and Trey! :-)

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.