#Way to the woods 2019 steam pdf#

The photograph opposite, shows that the back legs were manufactured as one piece, using the industrial processes invented by Thonet A trend that is even more popular today, with modern knockdown furniture (also called flat pack furniture). This is possibly the first example of ‘assembly’ furniture. The distributor / retailer would assemble the chairs on arrival at the place of sale. T he No 14 chair (1859), also known as the Vienna Coffee House Chair, was made in separate parts, which could be assembled later, allowing for ease of transport around the world. The resin between the fibres becomes pliable and when removed from the steam unit the lengths can be forced into various bent shapes. The lengths of beech were soften ed by the application of steam in a sealed unit.

This was also an innovation in the nineteen hundreds. This construction technique was a precursor to the way furniture is constructed in our modern world. The No 14 chair was manufactured as separate parts and simply screwed together (six ‘steam bent’ wood parts, ten screws and two nuts). There was no longer a need to have skilled craftsmen at every stage of production. Due to Thonet’s industrial manufacturing processes, the production line was staffed by semi to unskilled workers. His No 14 Chair was the first chair to be mass produced on a production line. His chair designs contrasted the highly hand crafted chairs of the day. Unlike the craft based handmade approach of the Arts and Craft Movement, Thonet saw that there was a opportunity to use his innovative industrial production technology, to mass manufacture new designs. In 1859 the No 14 Chair, was manufactured for the first time, using this technology. This was the break through in technology by Thonet had been looking for. In 1855, Thonet invented a way bending solid pieces of wood, by using a long metal strip to aid the bending process. Over many years, he developed manufacturing processes, whereby veneers (layers) of beech, were softened by steam. Beech was selected by Thonet, as he found that it was much less likely to split than other natural woods. This is furniture manufactured from veneers of natural woods, normally beech. Michael Thonet (1796-1871), born in Germany, was a designer specialising in ‘bentwood’.

#Way to the woods 2019 steam pdf#

PDF FILE - Michael Thonet _ Boxed Learning Exercise MICHAEL THONET AND THE No 14 CHAIR CLICK HERE FOR INDEX PAGE