[net.misc] The Back Chair

ken@turtlevax.UUCP (Ken Turkowski) (09/06/85)

A while ago, there was quite a bit of discussion about the so-called
"back chairs".  Since then, I have bought 2 for myself and one for my
girlfriend (2 adjustable).  They are made by a British company and are
marketed as "The Back Chair".  If you know of the manufacturer or a
distributor in England, please let me know so that I might be able to
pass it on to a friend in the U.K.  so that he might be able to
purchase one for himself in his own country.

Here was my response to his inquiry, for those who might be interested
in a "hard user".

> Can you dig out the data on that chair you got from mail order as we
> are keen to identify the source in the U.K.?

Just to let you know that I have received your letter, and am trying to
find the manufacturer.  I don't seem to have any documentation, but my
girlfriend thinks she does.  She'll be looking for it in the next few
days.

I got it through Shell Oil.  I am a credit card holder, and they pack
all sorts of flyers in with the monthly bill.  I had been looking at
that style of chair for some time, so I knew that I wanted it when I
saw the price.  It is made by a British company, and is marketed under
the name "The Back Chair" here in the States.

I have been using it every day at work for over a month now, and am
happy to say that I feel much better when I use it.  Sporadically, I
will sit in a standard chair, and will feel somewhat strained by
comparison after a half hour or so.

The only faults I can find with this particular manufacturer of the
chair are the following:

    1) The casters on the adjustable one are fully functional only in
the center position.  In the other positions, they allow you to move
only backward and forward.  My solution?  Only use it in the center
position, unless I don't intend to spin around.
    2) The padding in the knee is beginning to compress after serious
constant use.  I am seriously beginning to think about replacing the
padding with a closed cell foam.
    3) The given bolts for the kneepads are a little too long (thereby
sticking up into the kneepad), so I have had to place one or two
washers (a 10 cent solution) under the heads of the bolts.

The Danish company that made the original chairs may have a better
manufactured product at 6 times the price.

I would recommend the one with casters for use at work, where you
generally have multiple work surfaces.  You use your hands to push
yourself around from one work surface to the next.  I don't make use of
the adjustable height at all.  However, when assembling the chair, one
can set the distance between the butt and the knee, which I have set to
the maximum because I have long legs.
-- 
Ken Turkowski @ CADLINC, Menlo Park, CA
UUCP: {amd,decwrl,hplabs,seismo,spar}!turtlevax!ken
ARPA: turtlevax!ken@DECWRL.ARPA