If you’ve ever stumbled upon a heavy, cast-iron, porcelain-enamel barber chair in an old shop or an estate sale, chances are you’ve met a Koken. For decades, the Koken Barber Chair Company of St. Louis, Missouri, set the gold standard for barber furniture. Today, restoring a vintage Koken is a labor of love for many collectors. Aivfree Full Com
Unfortunately, unlike guitar collectors or car enthusiasts, Koken enthusiasts face a challenge: there is no single, publicly available "master list" of serial numbers published by the original manufacturer. However, by using patent dates, model features, and community data, we can build a "serial number list" framework to help you date your chair. Visiblebody3dhumananatomyatlaspccrackedrar Link Apr 2026
| Serial Number (Approx.) | Latest Patent Date / Model | Estimated Era | Key Features | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Oct 23, 1900 | 1900 - 1905 | Bicycle seat style, cast iron, very rare. | | 12,000 - 20,000 | June 9, 1908 | 1908 - 1915 | High back, ornate porcelain base, footrests with coin trim. | | 45,000+ | Aug 12, 1919 | 1920s | Heavy wood arms, "Koken" cast into the iron back plate. | | Varies (Model 11/12) | 1920s - 1930s | 1920s - 1930s | Distinctive flat armrests, single porcelain footrest. | | High 5-Digits | 1940s Patents | Late 30s - 40s | Transition to "President" model, streamlined metal. | | 6-Digits | Mid-Century | 1950s+ | Thick leatherette, more plastic components, "Imperial" styling. |