Regarding the chairs.

[Nightfall to-Ennien]

I was in a design class, and much to my surprise, I have learned a bit of Trek history trivia from it. In giving an example of a functional ergonomic chair design, she clicked to a slide which, lo and behold, depicted chairs which were clearly the bases for the bridge, conference room, and command chairs. I thought it would be a good idea to make a note of it. The chairs themselves are called tulip chairs, and were designed by famed architect and industrial designer Eero Saarinen. Interestingly, they are still in production by various firms.

 

[Michael]

Re: Regarding the chairs

Yeah, the Reeves-Stevens talk about the chairs in their "The Art of Star Trek" book, too. They are actually standard Burke chairs converted into 23rd century chairs for the series.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Re: Regarding the chairs

You can find them on eBay.


eBay chairs

NCC-1701 is right, the actual chairs used were manufactured by Burke in Texas - they were based on the Saarinen tulip design, with a modified base.

The ones used in the pilot were supposedly borrowed from one of the producers or studio execs, but I don't know that this has been documented.

 

[Redfern]

It's not an "authentic" Burke, but since my days as a toddler, I've had a chair with a curvature very similar to those used on the original series. However, instead of a central plinthe that branches into four slender lobes, the underside of the single molded unit has four sockets where brass legs are inserted. The chair is not designed to nestle a cushion, rather, its concave "seating" region is fairly deep, pocketing one's posterior. It has a faint, pebbled surface to reduce "slippage" and mine was cast in a pale, flesh-tone biege.

Hey, despite the differences, I found it great "stand-in" for my "science station" when my friends and I "roleplayed" Trek as young kids.

Based upon the supplied description, anyone have information upon this "varient"? Were they sold by Burke? Are they still manufactured?

I'll try to snap a photo when I return home this evening. Yes, I still have it.

Sincerely,

Bill

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I had a chair in my bedroom as a kid that matches your description, socket legs and all. I think that there were a lot of inexpensive knockoffs of the Saarinen, especially occasional furniture made of vinyl for kids.

 

[Redfern]

Yeah, I suspected it was a cheap "knock-off". But it's cool to learn others had this chair as well. If I'm lucky, there may be some print molded upon the smooth underside of mine I've never bothered to examine. I'll let you guys know, that is, provided I can reach the bloody thing. (It's in my spare bedroom tucked behind a roll-away folding bed and other junk.)

Sincerely,

Bill

 

[Redfern]

I dug out the chair last night, wiped it down and tried photographing it. Ugh! While the "concept of convenience" in digital cameras is a great, the horrid practicility is that I have a rather jittery hand. I like the stability one achieves from bracing the camera against one's face when snapping a shot. my camera only has the digital screen, so I must hold it away from my face to see what I'm "framing". Invariably, my hand tremors as I take the picture, resulting in a blurred image. (No, my camera does not have "image stabilization" to compensate.)

In short, I took a crap a$$ picture not worthy of posting. I'll need to set up my tripod and use the "timer" so my hand is not actually touching the camera when the "shutter" releases.

Oh, I looked upon the underside and there was no print identifying a brand or manufacturer. So I seem to have a mystery "knock-off".

Sincerely,

Bill

 

[The Squire of Gothos]

When were they nailed to the set floor? I'm sure I remember one episode where a chair fell over and then others where I'm sure a chair should have fallen but didn't.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

They were never nailed to the floor.

 

[The Squire of Gothos]

Perhaps then the cast became more proficient in falling without dragging the chair with them

 

[M'Sharak]

Perhaps then the cast became more proficient in falling without dragging the chair with them

Beatings by the Continuity Director have been known to have that effect.

 

[Sulu's Lover]

Yeah, I suspected it was a cheap "knock-off". But it's cool to learn others had this chair as well. If I'm lucky, there may be some print molded upon the smooth underside of mine I've never bothered to examine. I'll let you guys know, that is, provided I can reach the bloody thing. (It's in my spare bedroom tucked behind a roll-away folding bed and other junk.)

Sincerely,

Bill

My father had a bunch of those chairs in his office.They were so ugly my father took then home and put them down our basement.Of course they were the only prop at the time that my friends and I could use when playing Star Trek.

Rob