Before the Kokens and Belmonts, Paidar barber chairs ruled the barber chair market in the United States. The Emil J. Paidar Company was based in Chicago and has been the leading manufacturer of barber chairs until the late fifties. The company has been making these chairs since the early 1900’s. As the market leader, Paidar’s designs were generally the baseline and were often imitated by competing manufacturers.
Things began to change in the late 50’s, when Belmont joined Japan-based Takara Chair Sales Co., Ltd. Takara Chair Sales was originally a division of Takara Chuzo Ltd. but eventually became independent in 1951. The original company, Takara Chuzo Ltd. was founded by Hidenobu Yoshikawa in 1921. By the 1930’s, Takara barber chairs have become an established brand in Japan. Twenty years later, the company established an overseas subsidiary in the United States aptly named as Takara Company N.Y. Inc. By 1959, they have expanded in Europe by establishing is affiliate, Belmont Chairs London Ltd. Belmont would eventually become the international brand name of Takara. Fast forward to 1969 and the Takara Belmont Co., Ltd. was born. This was the product of a merger between Takara Chukosho (formerly Takara Chuzo) and Takara Chair Sales, a manufacturing arm and a sales specialist put together.
It was also in 1969 that the struggling St. Louis-based Koken, Incorporated was acquired by Takara Belmont. The purchase included Koken’s patents, trademarks and the brand name itself. Because of this, Takara Belmont became the dominant manufacturer of barber chairs in the US. By 1970, it had already grabbed 70% of the market share, ultimately making Paidar a small competitor.
Emil J. Paidar vintage barber chairs are priced substantially in auction sites and antique shops. If you are looking for one, take a look around to have an idea of the going price. Make an effort to negotiate something that is about a quarter of a percent less than the rates you can find online. Don’t hesitate to ask the antique shop owner to give you a better price. Then again, Paidars are made with the finest materials, and each one is built with care. So you should expect a slightly higher initial price tag if the condition is pristine.
If you managed to buy one, you should know how to take care of the chair. Dusting should be carried out using a soft, lint-free cloth. The wooden parts should only be waxed with beeswax that has a good quality. Refrain from positioning the chair in bright light or in rooms with abrupt temperature or humidity changes. When moving an antique chair, always lift it. Dragging will result to unnecessary troubles that can affect the value.
Pingback: Preservation of Historic Winchester » Blog Archive » Noakes House Silent Auction: Barber Chair
I have an Emil J. Paidar model no. 822. The chair is all there and in pretty darn good shape. I can’t find any info on the models manufacturing dates. Can anyone steer me in the right direction? Thank you.
hi it’s 1959 and its missing parts on that chair i have one just like it
I need some parts were Cani find them
like your web site we are trying to find a brake for emilj paidar barber chair built in 1954 any ideas
You will probably have to remove the brake drum from the base and have a welding shop/machine shop weld it ,to build it up, and resurface the drum.
How do you take the barber chair apart. Where do you add fluid ?
Thanks
Rich
I found one of your chairs in an old shop. I’m a barber. I own Handsome Devils Barber shop in Monmouth Il. The chair is stamped 2040 under the seat. How do I find out the year it was made and how to rebuild it. Everything works but still needs some work.
Thanks Will Brown
the chair is made in 1959 i have one just like that same color and every thing but you are missing some parts of your chair im selling mine
I need a pump handle if you still have on for parts.
need help I have a 1939 paidar b chair. it will not pump up or down and rotate
but recline also how much fluid. Is a manual available? Thanks J.
I have an Emil Paidar chaise lounge chair, but can’t find any information about it. Where should I look?
My Mom has a child horse seat and she would like to sale it but isn’t sure what it’s worth. It’s a Takara company Belmont. Can anyone help me?
I can still remember looking (staring?) at the step on the EJP chair as I got my hair cut in Willoughby, Ohio as a 9 year old kid. “Don’t move” was the command from the barber-and I didn’t!!!
Where do you find markings on the chair for model number or year of manufacture?
I have a Paidar stamped 62472 by reservoir cap. What is the manufacturing date? Also, where can I find a replacement ring for the base?
How much is a 1936 Emil J. Paidar barber chair worth?
I have ejp with dual pumps, leather. Does anyone know the year of this chair and value?
What is the value of a 1953 Paidar barber chair? It is 85% restored. Thank you.
I Have a EJP barber chair that was given to me from my dad that he used to give me and all my brothers and people in the neiborhood hair cuts . It has the porcelain arm rests and has the original head rest with the paper still in it and also the round seated child seat with handles that rests on the top of the armrests greenish color leather everything works, on the Hydraulic oil can under seat there is a number 24335 stamped into the can lid ,what does that mean? the chair was given to my dad in the late 50,s or early 1960 or so from another barber that didn’t want to do hair anymore so he gave my dad the chair.My dad went to barber school at Molar barber college in Chicago in the 1940,s on the G.I bill after WW2 . What kind is it model year made and what would this chair and all the assoriessys be worth. Everything works.
How can I find the model number, year and value on a PAIDAR barber chair. My dad was cutting hair a little over 2 1/2 years ago and every thing works great. He used it for over fifty years.
My Grandpa won a Paidar chair in a card game back in the 60’s which was recently given to me by my Dad. I like history n I’m glad I own a piece of it.
Pingback: 9 J Antiques | MassVideo
Have old barber chair for sale.would like to know what the value of chair. And who to tslk too.
I just purchased two identical mid-1950’s Emil J Paider Barber Chairs for my barber shop. I have a slightly later model barber chairs that are perfectly working and being used at my shop. We are expanding and want to add the chairs just purchased but they need work, I’ve done some research and there are four Barber Chair refurbishes near me in the central New Jersey area. Yet the cost of restoring theses chairs are cost prohibitive one restorer is very expensive specializing in custom work, the others have slightly better pricing but one reupholsters sends out the metal parts for refinishing (chroming), the other does the metal refinishing and sends out for reupholsters, finally the last guy has done some barber chairs but specializes is antique restoration.
The average cost of restoration is around $1700 for chrome refinishing and repair, and $300 for reupholstering for a total of $2000 per chair, not including what I paid for the chair. I’m a small barber Shop with $12 haircuts for me to get a return on these chairs will take 10 years. Can anyone suggest a cheaper Barber Chair refinisher/upholster/repairer that may have better pricing, because after I restore the older chairs I want to send out my current chairs for restoration. Any takers or referrals?
I’d leave them just as they are. Retro furniture is extremely popular now.
When I was a little boy back in the 1960s my grandfather used to take me along when he got a haircut. I remembered the name of the barber chairs, Emil j Paidar, since it was such an unusual name. Today I decided to google it. I ezpected to find info on the chairs and info on the people who collect them. Bingo!
I personally an an antique radio collector- so I have respect for anyone who collects any kind of vintage item. This website made my day!Thanks
Do you know anything about Paidar rolling chairs? We have a little brown one and know nothing about it other than it’s really cool.
I just bought a EJP barber chair and it’s in great condition for being from 1961. Anyone interested>
Is it still available, if so where is it located
I just got a beautiful Paidar barber chair. Fully functional and looks like a cadillac. It’s from 1961. Anyone interested in it? I live in Wisconsin.
I’m barber in Wisconsin, have 1959 and 1960 barber chairs in shop. What kind of condition is your chair in?