Belmont Barber Chairs

The Takara Belmont Company is currently the leading manufacturer of barber equipment in the world. It surpassed its competitors in the United States when it entered the market in 1956. When it acquired Koken Manufacturing Co. in 1969, its market share basically increased to 70%. The company is known for its Belmont barber chairs which are well designed and are top quality while being priced competitively. These days, it continues to develop more sophisticated models that are functional and exquisite.

Origins
Hidenobu Yoshikawa began Takara Chuzo Ltd. in Japan back in 1921. A decade later (in 1931), barber chair production began. Barber chairs was the company's main selling point. Fast forward to 1950, when it released the hydraulic adjustable barber chair. In 1956, it established the Takara Company N.Y. Inc. as an offshore subsidiary. This would eventually come to be Takara Belmont USA, Inc. In 1959, the overseas venture continued by the setting up of Belmont Chairs London Ltd. Takara's growth did not stop there. In the 60's, it expanded to cosmetic products by partnering with Wella, a company based in Germany.

Competition
In as early as the late 1800's, the barber supply industry in the United States was already booming, with the Archer Company and the Eugene Berninghaus Company leading the charge. They developed the first barber chairs that would later on become the benchmark of barber chair designs. Soon after, Theo A. Kochs Company and Kline Chair Company followed with their own designs that supposedly improved on the previous models made by competing firms. In the early 1900's, Koken Barber's Supply Co. and Emil J. Paidar Company emerged as the fiercest rivals. Both of these manufacturers made the finest and most innovative chairs at that time. There were ups and downs along the way, but it wasn't until the arrival of the Takara Company that the industry became more interesting. There was even a filed complaint that suggests raising import taxes foreign barber shop manufacturers in an attempt to level the playing field. But that hasn't stopped the newcomer from gaining more market share. By 1969, Koken sold out to Takara Belmont. As a result, a new market leader was born.

The barber chair that you see in modern barber shops today is probably from Takara Belmont. But one of the best chairs to have your haircut on is certainly from an antique Belmont barber chair.

History Of Koken Barber Chairs

Antique collectors love Koken barber chairs due to their remarkable style and superior quality. They were state-of-the-art in their hay days, being the first to feature a hydraulic lift for easy handling. The technology wasn't only convenient for barbers, it got the customers engaged too. Overall, it was good for business.

Origins
In the 1890's, Ernest Koken had already began working on his hydraulic lift barber chair design. Ernest, a German citizen, was already a reputable individual since 1874 (at age 19). But back then, he worked for a factory selling custom china shaving mugs. When he was just a young boy, Ernest would look at prototype designs as a pastime activity. He was an engineer by heart. It's no wonder that in 1881, he patented his reclining chair design. A decade later (in 1892), he patented his hydraulic chair. If you notice the modern barber chairs these days, most of them are hydraulically powered. This is all thanks to Ernest Koken.

At The Top
When Ernest died in 1907 due to heart failure, his son, Walter went on to run Koken Barber's Supply Company based in St. Louis. Not long after, the company had become the leading barber supply business in the United States. They didn't just sell barber chairs. They provided just about any barber supply as well, including lather brushes, razors, scissors, mirror cases, tool cases and many more. The building still exists today, bounded by Ohio, Sidney and Victor Streets, and alley of Texas Avenue. The National Register of Historic Places in St. Louis, Missouri lists the location as a historic district.

Downfall
The company went bankrupt in the 1950's due to stiff competition. There were a lot of competing brands that claimed to have similar or better features at discounted prices. Add to that, the times were changing. In the early 60's long hair was all the rage, thanks to John, Paul, George and Ringo. Barbers didn't exactly know how to cut long hair. It turned out that the guys wanted a hairstyle instead of a haircut. In 1969, the Takara Belmont Company acquired Koken along with its numerous patents.

Legacy
Up to this day, the Koken brand is still being endorsed by Takara Belmont. In 2011, they released the Koken Legacy Barber Chair with prices starting at 4,700 dollars. The brand has come a long way. It definitely wasn't priced that high in the early 1900's, but it goes to show how reputable these chairs are. The antique units are even more pricey, selling for nearly 7,000 bucks for a fully restored chair.

Koken is unquestionably THAT antique barber chair.

Collecting Antique Barber Chairs

Collecting antiques is both a fun and fulfilling experience. You don't just learn about the rich history of the piece, you get the chance to preserve its essence too.

Antique barber chairs are huge, heavy and delicate collectibles. Special care must be taken in order to maintain their condition. However, a fully restored piece can sell for thousands of dollars. It's definitely worth keeping and maintaining one.

As with any antique piece, condition is everything with antique barber chairs. It doesn't necessarily have to be very pristine. However, it needs to be working. It's kinda pointless to own without having to even sit on it.

There is not so much information available on antique barber chairs online. Owner's manuals are also hard to come by. In most cases, you're on your own if you want to restore a piece that's not in good condition. There are also a handful of antique restorers that will do it for you for a fee.

One step that's always a must when restoring any antique item is taking photos before and during disassembly. Since there is no owner's manual for this kind of work, the photos will serve as a reference guide as to where the parts go. Without the photos, it will be like assembling a puzzle without even knowing how it will look like in the end. It doesn't just wastes your time, it's stressful as well. So once again, have a point and shoot camera ready prior to dismantling the piece.

Valuing these antique heavyweights depends on several factors. Aside from the condition, the brand or manufacturer is also significant. Koken, Kochs, Emil J. Paidar, Belmont and Louis Hanson each have their own distinctive qualities. Kokens in particular, are the first to incorporate hydraulic lifts. Because of this, they are very popular among collectors and are pricey as well. Early models of Kochs barber chairs were made of wood, so very few survived the test of time. The one's that are in good condition are mostly displayed in museums. The remaining models being sold in auction houses can command a higher price.

There are several online discussion forums and blogs dedicated to antique barber chairs. All these can give you information about the collection you already possess or are trying to acquire. Sometimes, you'll find individuals who share the same interests. Exchanging ideas with them can prove to be a worthwhile activity.