Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: What Brand Of Seat Is This?

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Topic: What Brand Of Seat Is This?

Adam Fraser
Master Film Handler

Posts: 499
From: Houghton Lake, MI, USA
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 07-24-2002 01:14 AM

We want to order some replacement parts for these seats to have as a backup, but I'm not sure where to get them. They were installed about 60 years ago.

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Adam Fraser www.pinestheatre.com

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Ken Layton
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1452
From: Olympia, Wash. USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 07-24-2002 02:10 AM

I think those are American "Bodiform" seats.

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Daryl C. W. O'Shea
Film God

Posts: 3977
From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from)
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 07-24-2002 03:35 AM

As far as the seat cusions go, if you find a source for them make sure you measure the wooden board attached to the bottom of the seat cusion (the one that snaps into the metal pan). I've seen them in sizes from 16" to 22". Usually you can get one an inch to big to snap in with a good kick.

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Adam Fraser
Master Film Handler

Posts: 499
From: Houghton Lake, MI, USA
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 07-24-2002 12:14 PM

Thanks guys, we need the rubber grommets that limit the movement of the arm that attaches the seat to the frame. When we repair a broken one all of our spares are as hard as a rock and break with the slightest touch.

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Adam Fraser www.pinestheatre.com

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Bob Maar
(Maar stands for Maartini)

Posts: 28608
From: New York City & Newport, RI
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 07-24-2002 12:31 PM

Adam, Ken is absolutly correct that is an American Bodyform Chair.These chairs were very popular on the sixties. Most of the companies that advertise in Box Office magazine in the classified section they have theatre seating. There are people there pushing American Seating parts and service.

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Ken Layton
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1452
From: Olympia, Wash. USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 07-24-2002 11:42 PM

The American "Bodiform" seats were in production for a very long time. The State Theater here in Olympia had them installed from it's opening day in 1949 all the way till closing in 1996.

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Kenneth Wuepper
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1026
From: Saginaw, MI, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 08-01-2002 10:27 PM

Chairs:

Yes, those are American Seating Body Form Chairs. (Our maintenance man used to address them as "Maiden Form" but then that was a while ago.

The American Seating Company was a favorite of the W. S. Butterfield Chain. There are 800 original 1927 American Seating chairs in the balcony of the Temple theatre in Saginaw. Of the 800, there are only about 10 that are beyond use. The backs are curved wood with inset leatherette coverings. The bottoms are filled with horsehair and straw. The coverings if the bottoms are a leather imitation.

The real success of the American Seating plot is the use of up to 4 widths of chairs. This is called "sight line adjusted seating". The widths of seats are staggered throughout the floor so each patron sees the stage/screen instead of the back of the head in front. When placed on a ramped floor, these seats are very efficient. Soounds like 1927 stadium seating.

Note: none of the chairs have cup holders but the ones in the balcony have a 1927 comfort feature. There is a bent wre attached beneath the seat. It was placed there for the gentlemen to store their hats.

If you are looking for some more of those yellow chairs, the Broadway in Mt. Pleasant have about 150 they took out when they installed the booth on the main floor behind the concession stand.

KEN

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 08-01-2002 10:33 PM

We had those beasts in the old College Tri-Cinema in Mount Vernon. The standards were made of cast iron. We tried to get replacement parts for them, (but we didn't try THAT hard) and as far as I know to this day, those vintage seats are no longer supported. All of those seats went to the scrap yard when the theatre closed.

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Adam Fraser
Master Film Handler

Posts: 499
From: Houghton Lake, MI, USA
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 08-01-2002 10:55 PM

Ken, we have some of those "sight line" seats. They are also great for people that have a problem sitting in regular size chairs. They thank us quite often for having them.

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Adam Fraser
www.pinestheatre.com

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Kenneth Wuepper
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1026
From: Saginaw, MI, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 08-02-2002 09:17 AM

Paul,

The American Seating Company is still making these syled chairs. The most recent installation of a large number is Madison Square Garden in NYC.

Many parts are available for older chairs from Country Roads seating. They also re-cast metal stands and ends. A recent restoration is the FOX in Detroit.
KEN

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Kenneth Wuepper
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1026
From: Saginaw, MI, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 08-02-2002 06:15 PM

Adam wrote
"we need the rubber grommets that limit the movement of the arm that attaches the seat to the frame."

If you require any parts of flexible materials, the Exotic Rubber Supply (Now Don't get off the subject here) of Freeland, Michigan can supply washers and custom gaskets. I had them make a complete set of rubber mountings for the motors of our old POTTS platter. Total cost was $25.00.

If you bring one of those bumpers to the shop in Freeland, they can usually make up what you need right then. This company supplies the washers and gaskets to the Dow Chemical Company in Midland, MI.

Hope this is helpful.
KEN

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Adam Fraser
Master Film Handler

Posts: 499
From: Houghton Lake, MI, USA
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 08-02-2002 11:00 PM

Ken,
Thanks. Next time I get down there to visit family in Caro and Saginaw hopefully I will remeber that and bring one down there.

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Adam Fraser
www.pinestheatre.com

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 08-03-2002 12:19 PM

Ken, I used a bunch of automotive shock absorber grommets to refurbish the Potts and CFS platter motor mountings. The were a little sloppy, but they worked. Just had to squish them a little harder, that's all...

Since the old Potts and CFS platters were so sloppy in the first place, a little more added slop didn't seem to hurt any.

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