Vintage Koken Barber Chair Serial Number List Jun 2026

The following sequential production ranges provide the most accurate timeline for authenticating a vintage Koken barber chair. Serial Number Range Estimated Production Era Key Engineering & Material Milestones c. 1895 – 1905

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

Intricate wood carvings, manual mechanical levers, and velvet upholstery.

The hydraulic mechanism was now standard, and designs began shifting from Victorian opulence to more streamlined shapes.

Since no official master ledger is public, the antique barber community has created a working document of approximate dates based on observed serial numbers. Below is the closest thing to a you will find on the internet today. vintage koken barber chair serial number list

Intricate, hand-carved wood frames (primarily quartersawn oak or walnut), tufted plush or leather upholstery, and elaborate cast-iron hardware.

While no two numbers are the same, Koken serial numbers follow certain patterns that can offer clues. The database above is the most direct comparison tool, but understanding the formatting can help you make an educated guess.

Introduction of standardized "Congress" models; more ornate ironwork. c. 1916 – 1925

: The most frequent location, stamped on the underside of the wood or the metal seat frame. The iron base casting The following sequential production ranges provide the most

: Check the iron base or the frame near the hydraulic mechanism for stamped digits.

: Explicitly mechanical. They feature manually turned crank wheels or primitive tracking gears to recline the back.

Instead, the chairs themselves are the primary key. Most vintage Koken barber chairs have a serial number stamped somewhere on the chair. The most common locations are:

Over the last century, many barbers repaired broken chairs using parts from different models or brands (like Theo A. Kochs or Paidar). Ensure the numbers or style on your footrest match the design era of your base. The hydraulic mechanism was now standard, and designs

: On many early-to-mid-20th-century models, a serial or casting number is stamped directly on top of the inner metal reservoir cap.

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: If your chair has a Takara Belmont label, it was produced after the late 1960s, following the acquisition of the Koken brand. Patent Dates