This chair has been in our local courthouse (built 1916) for years. We are now auctioning it to raise funds for local historical organizations. The seat and back seem to be covered with leather. I would like any info on its history and its value on today's market.
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Murphy Chair Company made this style chair - called by different names; office, secretary, stenographer, lawyers, library - from 1900-1950 so I'm not sure you can date it except from history provided by workers at the courthouse.
It appears the chair originally was all wood with woven/canning seat bottom that was redone with leather on the back and complete seat.
It now appears the seat bottom 'wore' out and another piece of material was attached so someone could continue using it.
If this chair was going to be listed for sale on the open market, I would say the value would be very low - maybe $25-$35 as a 'pick up only' (yard sale maybe) as most likely someone buying it would be planning a complete redo.
Since this chair may have a lot of history behind it, you may be able to raise the value if you can pinpoint whose office this chair was normally used or even who used it - maybe family would be interested.
You may find some useful information from past inquires:
www.thriftyfun.com/
Thank you so much for the information! This will help us set the starting bid for the chair at a reasonable level!
This is Murphy Rolling Swivel Office Chair. The metal plate/tag says "Murphy, Detroit, Michigan", which means your chair was made in Detroit.
In 1872, Canadian, Michael Murphy acquired the firm of C.H. Dunks, an early Detroit manufacturer of bed springs. Two years later he switched to manufacturing chairs. His younger brother James F. Murphy joined the firm in 1883 which by that time was engaged in the manufacture of chairs and other upholstered furniture. The Murphy Chair Co. plant was located in Detroit on Harper Ave. at the Lake Shore & Michigan South Railroad crossing.
By 1915, the Murphy Chair Company was the largest chair manufacturer in the world with a four story factory. But due to the development of the Detroit auto industry, and, as a result, due to a lack of labor, in 1919 Murphy moved to Owensboro Kentucky where they continued to manufacture chairs until 1954.
Thus, the Murphy chairs were manufactured in Detroit from 1874 to 1919. After 1919, chairs by this company were already manufactured in Owensboro Kentucky and they used metal plates with the inscription: "Murphy, OWENSBORO KENTUCKY, INCORPORATED", as here: www.worthpoint.com/
The chair Judy found dates circa 1930, and it couldn't have been made in Detroit like your chair.
Metal plates like yours were used in the late 1800s www.worthpoint.com/
So, you have Murphy Rolling Swivel Office Chair, late 1800s.
Your chair is rare, because as far as I can see, Murphy made office chairs mainly in Owensboro www.ebay.com/
This wood one from 1930 sold for $70www.ebth.com/
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