A complete refinish which is a little darker than the original finish. The original frame was a tawny birch (tan and pinkish) color. Now it is a medium gray.

The finish has more gloss to it than it originally did. Overall, very smooth to the touch.

This chair makes a nice step stool; however, there is a danger associated with stepping on the outer front edge as a fair amount of force is placed on the rear screws and as a result could come loose while standing on the edge.

The bottom didn't have the Heywood-Wakefield burned on stamp that would be expected from the 1950's, nor was there any sign that a glued label was ever present from a chair made in the 1960's.

The screws are unusual for a piece of this type as they are philips oval head. This is a tell tale sign that the chair was made by Heywood-Wakefield. The top half of the screws have been polished and coated with a specialized clear lacquer to protect them from corrosion.

The threaded portions of the screws have a little red synthetic grease on them to protect them from corrosion.

Sanded surface has lots of minor scatches from years of school use. Often people think of this wood as maple, but according to the Heywood-Wakefield site they used yellow birch for their pieces after 1940. Birch and maple look very similar with maple being a little harder.

The screw holes have widened over time and needed to be repaired. This was done by gluing pieces of dowel rod into the holes, then cutting and sanding them off. Then, holes are drilled that are a little smaller than the shafts of the screws (not including the threads themselves).

The only real markings on the wood is a burnt stamped number 3 and a red marker 13. The red marker is below the finish and assume it came from the factory this way.

The bottom side of the back rest had 2 holes in it that have been repaired. Have seen other chairs of this type with these holes and do not know what attaches to it. Have to assume it came from the factory that way.

The dowels have been cut and sanded and the holes will be drilled after a couple of coats of finish, but before the last coat. The dark spots around the screw holes and along the edges where the frame attaches are caused by metal on wood corrosion contact over the years. Could be an indicator that the original finish was possibly only waxed.

Almost finished underside of the seat with the holes drilled before the final coat of varnish. Can't really tell dowel rods were ever present.

The top side of the seat is very shiney and has a contoured seating area. This is a quality chair.

Another photo of the top side of the seat.

Back side of the back rest.

Front side of the back rest.

The stamped "3" is still visible. Other chairs of the like from the 1950's do not seem to have this mark. It is probable that this chair was made before Heywood-Wakefield placed a stamped logo on their furniture in 1949.

Bottom side of the back rest. Will leave the filled in holes undrilled until it can be determined what attaches to them, if anything.

Newly painted with 2 coats of medium gray and 3 coats of clear coat sanded down to 2. Polished and ready to be waxed.

Very solid with no weaknesses on the welds. Doesn't wobble and sits flat.

Original feet that were clear coated to protect the worn nickel plate finish.

Side view. Notice how the back rest arms are rotated in order to accommodate the contoured back rest piece.

The original paint had worn or scraped off through years of use. but no rust was found.