The Emeco 1006: Made in America with Quality and Style

Manufacturing an iconic “best” of its kind that is both art and function right here in America. How do you go wrong with a story like that? The Emeco 1006 (ten-oh-six) was originally designed for the Navy, where it saw service on ships and submarines. Lately, its timeless style (the seat was said to be molded to Betty Grable’s bottom) has captured the imagination of the fashion and design world, and revived this once sleepy but proud manufacturer. You will have seen the 1006 many times either in person, in movies, or on the television. But, you’ve probably never really looked at one very closely. They’re of fabricated construction, but ground so nicely they look molded. They’re made of aluminum with some proprietary processes, so they’re light, but strong. So strong, that the original company founder once threw one out a 7th floor window to prove it. The chair landed on the ground, thankfully without hurting anyone, and other than a few scratches, was good to go another round.

To learn more, start with their funky 77 steps to manufacture YouTube video:

It takes 77 steps to manufacture a 1006…

Kind of artsy, but you gotta love the cool jazz soundtrack and the energy of the vid. Manufacturing is cool!

These guys do everything wrong. They take too many steps to build them, their chair has many fussy details that the average bean counter would’ve axed years ago (it doesn’t make it sit any better and it’s hard on our profits!), and most of all, they haven’t outsourced or penny pinched the whole thing into being just another chair. You gotta respect that sense of product integrity.

If you liked the video, check out the company’s introduction from their web site. There you’ll hear more of their story, get to hear some of the craftsmen who make the 77 steps happen, as well as hear the perspectives of French designer Philip Starck on the chair as art. Starck liked the design so much he signed on to design a new line of Emeco chairs that keep that iconic yet sculptural look.

I’d love to hear from more companies doing manufacturing well instead of cheaply.

 

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