Vintage Koken Barber Chair Serial Number List [better] -

Write down every single word and date stamped into the footrest. Words like "Koken Companies, St. Louis" or "Koken Barbers' Supply Co." help narrow down company restructuring dates.

Heavy use of white or colored porcelain; streamlined Art Deco styling; leather armrests. c. 1936 – 1945

Once you’ve identified your chair using the serial number list logic, keep these restoration tips in mind:

For antique collectors, restoration enthusiasts, and barbershop owners, a vintage Koken barber chair is the ultimate prize. Founded in St. Louis by Ernest Koken in the late 19th century, the Koken Barbers' Supply Company revolutionized the industry with the invention of the hydraulic lift chair.

: Look directly under the removable seat pad. The serial number is frequently stamped into the wood frame or the metal support brackets underneath. vintage koken barber chair serial number list

Before you can look up your chair in any database, you need to locate its serial number. Over the years, Koken stamped numbers in several key locations. Here is a step-by-step guide to the most common spots:

To identify the age of a vintage Koken barber chair, you can cross-reference the stamped serial number against known production runs. While exact annual records are rare, the following sequence provides a reliable ballpark for manufacturing years. Serial Number Range Estimated Production Era Key Era Developments 10,000 – 25,000 c. 1895 – 1905 Introduction of first hydraulic models (1892 patent) 25,001 – 50,000 c. 1906 – 1915 Expansion into high-volume production 50,001 – 85,000 c. 1916 – 1925 Transition to ornate oak and cast iron designs 85,001 – 125,000 c. 1926 – 1935 Opening of the Koken Foundry (1926) for mass production 125,001 – 175,000 c. 1936 – 1945 Art Deco influence and wartime production shifts 175,001 – 225,000 c. 1946 – 1955 Post-war manufacturing before company closure 225,001 and higher c. 1956 – 1960s Final production before the Koken name was sold How to Find Your Serial Number

If you'd like more specific info on your chair, please let me know: What or casting codes did you find?

While there is no single, publicly accessible master "serial number list" for vintage Koken barber chairs today—as many factory records from the original St. Louis-based Koken Barbers Supply Company were lost when it went out of business in the 1950s—serial numbers remain the most reliable way to estimate a chair's production era when used alongside stylistic cues. Collectors typically cross-reference these numbers with known patent years and historical sales records to date their pieces. Write down every single word and date stamped

This comprehensive guide features the approximate serial number list, explains how to locate hidden identification marks, and outlines chronological design traits to accurately date your antique chair. Koken Barber Chair Serial Number Reference List

What is the of the frame (e.g., carved wood, porcelain, or chrome)?

As sanitation laws tightened, Koken shifted away from exposed wood to heavy, easy-to-clean porcelain-enameled cast iron.

Intricate, hand-carved wood frames (primarily quartersawn oak or walnut), tufted plush or leather upholstery, and elaborate cast-iron hardware. Heavy use of white or colored porcelain; streamlined

Dating a vintage Koken barber chair may not be a straightforward task, but the journey into the history, design, and community surrounding these magnificent chairs is deeply rewarding. While a definitive serial number list may remain the "holy grail" for collectors, the methods described here will empower you to unlock the story of your own piece of barbering history.

: Occasionally, identification numbers are located on the metal supports for the footrest.

Koken chairs are rarely marked on the outside. To find the serial number, you often need to look in less accessible areas. The most common locations include:

If you are looking to buy, sell, or restore a chair, use this checklist to document its identity: