Emeco
Emeco: the aluminum chairs built to outlast us
From a 1944 US Navy commission to Starck, Foster and Morrison
Emeco, short for Electric Machine and Equipment Company, is an American chair maker founded in 1944 by Wilton C. Dinges and based in Hanover, Pennsylvania, since 1946. Its breakthrough was the 1006 Navy Chair, an aluminum chair made for US Navy ships during the Second World War. It had to survive salt air, rough seas and sailors, so it was built to last for decades. After Gregg Buchbinder bought the company in 1998, Emeco started working with designers such as Philippe Starck, Norman Foster and Jasper Morrison. On Whoppah you'll find a few pre-owned Emeco chairs, and our curation team reviews every listing before it goes live. Here's my view: few chairs make more sense secondhand than one designed to outlive its first owner. A scratched Navy Chair isn't damaged. It's just getting started.
Iconic Emeco pieces
- 1006 Navy Chair (Wilton C. Dinges, 1944): The aluminum chair made for US Navy ships, still in production.
- Hudson chair (Philippe Starck, 2000): A polished aluminum take on the Navy Chair language.
- 20-06 stacking chair (Norman Foster, 2006): A lean, stackable aluminum chair.
- 111 Navy Chair (Emeco and Coca-Cola, 2010): The Navy Chair shape made from 111 recycled plastic bottles.
- Alfi chair (Jasper Morrison, 2015): A quieter, wood-seated Emeco design.
An Emeco Navy Chair was built for a warship, so your kitchen won't scare it, and that's exactly why I'd buy one secondhand.
Evelien Bunnik-Remmelts, Co-Founder and CEO of Whoppah
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the history of Emeco?
Wilton C. Dinges started Emeco in 1944 with very little capital, making products for the military. In 1946 he moved to Hanover, Pennsylvania, where the company still is.
The Navy Chair became its calling card. When Gregg Buchbinder bought Emeco in 1998, he noticed how many designers loved that chair and turned the company toward design collaborations.
Which Emeco chairs are the classics?
The 1006 Navy Chair from 1944 is the original. Philippe Starck designed the Hudson chair in 2000 and the Broom chair in 2012, Norman Foster the 20-06 stacking chair in 2006, and Jasper Morrison the Alfi chair in 2015.
Then there's the 111 Navy Chair from 2010, a collaboration with Coca-Cola, made from 111 recycled plastic bottles. Same silhouette, very different material story.
How do I recognize a genuine secondhand Emeco chair?
The Navy Chair shape has been copied many times, so look for the Emeco mark, usually on the underside of the seat. Ask the seller for a clear photo of it.
Then look at how it's made. The aluminum chairs are known for their brushed or polished finish and solid welds. Our curation team reviews every listing before it goes live, and if a listing has no photo of the underside, ask for one.
How does an Emeco chair fit into a home?
The Navy Chair works almost everywhere: at a wooden farmhouse table, in a white modern kitchen, at a desk. Its industrial roots soften when you pair it with warm wood and textiles.
Mixing is fine. Two Navy Chairs at the ends of a table with different chairs along the sides looks relaxed and deliberate. I'd rather have two real ones than six lookalikes.
When was the Emeco Navy Chair designed?
The 1006 Navy Chair dates from 1944, the year Wilton C. Dinges founded Emeco. It was made for US Navy ships.
Where is Emeco based?
Emeco is based in Hanover, Pennsylvania, where the company moved in 1946.
Which designers have worked with Emeco?
Philippe Starck, Norman Foster and Jasper Morrison are among them. Their chairs include the Hudson, the 20-06 and the Alfi.
How can I tell a real Emeco chair from a copy?
Look for the Emeco mark, usually under the seat, and ask the seller for a photo. Our curation team reviews every listing before it goes live.
Can I sell my Emeco chairs on Whoppah?
Yes. List them with clear photos, including the mark under the seat. Our curation team reviews each listing before it goes live.
A chair built to last decades deserves more than one owner. Browse Emeco on Whoppah, or list yours and let it keep going.