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vintage koken barber chair serial number list
vintage koken barber chair serial number list

Vintage Koken Barber Chair Serial Number List Online

The Ultimate Guide to Vintage Koken Barber Chair Serial Numbers

If you’ve ever stumbled upon a heavy, cast-iron, porcelain-enamel barber chair in an old shop or an estate sale, chances are you’ve met a Koken. For decades, the Koken Barber Chair Company of St. Louis, Missouri, set the gold standard for barber furniture. Today, restoring a vintage Koken is a labor of love for many collectors.

But one question plagues every new owner: "How old is my chair?"

Unfortunately, unlike guitar collectors or car enthusiasts, Koken enthusiasts face a challenge: there is no single, publicly available "master list" of serial numbers published by the original manufacturer. However, by using patent dates, model features, and community data, we can build a "serial number list" framework to help you date your chair. vintage koken barber chair serial number list

Here is how to decode your vintage Koken barber chair.

“My serial number is just ‘Patented’ – is it a fake?”

No. Early Koken chairs (pre-1905) often only had the patent date. They considered inventory tracking less important than protecting their IP. These are often the most valuable. The Ultimate Guide to Vintage Koken Barber Chair

The Best Resources for Verifying Your Koken Serial Number

Since a master list doesn't exist digitally, here is where you actually go to verify your chair:

  • ShopCo (Barber Supply Archives): ShopCo purchased the remaining Koken patterns and parts. They maintain a physical archive of some shipping ledgers. You can email their parts department with your serial number; they will sometimes tell you the original ship date if the ledger exists.
  • The Facebook Group: “Vintage Barber Shop Collectors”: This is the single most active database. Post a photo of your serial number stamp and the full chair. Within hours, a collector who owns a chair with a serial number 50 digits away will tell you the decade.
  • The Barbershop Museum (Ohio): They hold a physical collection of catalogs. While they cannot look up every serial number, they can match your chair’s features to a specific catalog year.

Overview

Koken (J.T. Fisher & Co. later Koken Barber Supply Co.) manufactured barber chairs from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. Collectors and restorers use serial numbers and features to date chairs, identify models, and verify originality. This guide summarizes key serial-number ranges, model traits, dating tips, and restoration/identification advice for vintage Koken barber chairs. Overview Koken (J

Era 3: The Mid-Century "Heavy Metal" (1940s – 1950s)

  • Model: Koken "Standard," "Ambassador," and "Regent."
  • Key Features: Massive, heavy chairs. Chrome is king. The bases are often round and heavy porcelain-coated metal. This is the era of the distinct "square" armrest pads and solid blocky frames.
  • Serial Number Clue:
    • Check the Data Tag. This is a small metal plate usually riveted to the back of the chair or under the footrest.
    • The tag will list a Model Number (e.g., 450, 11B, 9B) alongside the Serial Number.
    • If the tag is missing, check for a patent date stamp of Dec 12, 1944.

Era Identification Guide

Use this timeline to cross-reference your serial number with the chair’s physical attributes.