RAF Lounge (Deck) Chairs...

[Salv]

I tried their contact page, but it generates an error...

Oops...

The other chair popular with RAF pilots was the Lloyd Loom chair - a company called Lusty produced Lloyd Loom furniture in the UK and they designed a chair specifically for the RAF, called the Pilots Chair, which was wide enough to allow the pilot to sit down fully clothed and ready to scramble. Lloyd Loom is still being made today and there are some chair designs that have barely changed in 70 years. This one is from Country Gear in Bridgehampton NY:

I could easily imagine a group of pilots carrying these chairs outside to catch the sun while waiting for Jerry to arrive.

 

[scotrace]

Whatcha goin' do THEN? Huh?

I keep telling the Mrs. I'm going to have 4500 close friends over one day...

 

[Baggers]

It's a bit expensive, but it is located in the U.S. and available in several colors:

(Ah, drat, it won't let me insert the image...)

Anyway, it's called the Portsmouth Oak Lounge Chair.

Cheers!

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

What is the weight capacity of these chairs? Some of them look a little... frail.

 

[Baggers]

Then again, why not go to the source, Southsea Deckchairs Ltd.?

Yes, I know they're located in the UK, but hey, the Brycreem Boys didn't rest their tushes in chairs bought at Wal Mart.

Chin chin, old boy!

 

[Zemke Fan]

Baggers, I think you've nailed it, chap!

Here it is in white...

 

[Baggers]

Yes, it's just the job, isn't it?

Unfortunately, I don't think their site is set up for online commerce. I believe it's just for informational purposes.

I do have a couple of chairs that I bought at Restoration Hardware a year or two back that were very similar though. I tried looking for them on their web site but wasn't successful. It may be the time of year. The tail end of January is a bit early to be looking for stuff like this. Perhaps in another month.

Cheers!

 

[Spitfire]

Oops...

The other chair popular with RAF pilots was the Lloyd Loom chair - a company called Lusty produced Lloyd Loom furniture in the UK and they designed a chair specifically for the RAF, called the Pilots Chair, which was wide enough to allow the pilot to sit down fully clothed and ready to scramble. Lloyd Loom is still being made today and there are some chair designs that have barely changed in 70 years. This one is from Country Gear in Bridgehampton NY:

I could easily imagine a group of pilots carrying these chairs outside to catch the sun while waiting for Jerry to arrive.

On my inner screen I see this very famous photo of USAF Col. Don Blakeslee
(4th FG) sitting in one of them. The picture is in Kaplans book: Lttle Friends.
Just haven't got the book here.

 

[GOK]

I am so amused by this thread. I see deckchairs as being the epitome of British beach holidays in the 60s and 70s. In fact, even now, if you stroll along the seafront of any given English seaside town, you'll see hundreds of the things! And of course, it doesn't matter what the weather - the Brits will be sitting in the chairs, on the beach! My grandparents, sometime in the late 30s (note Grandad's plus fours and Argyle socks!)...

In fact, my grandparents had deckchairs in their garden too. I hated them! I was forever getting my fingers trapped in them and always got in knots trying to erect them! lol

I should also warn you that if you have any kind of back problem at all, these are not the chairs for you. Not only will they do you no good but they will most certainly make your back ache and stiffen. Take it from one who knows.

The Lloyd Loom chairs are great - again, we had these when I was a child. If you are after a genuine one, check any you find with a magnet. If it sticks, it's LL, if it doesn't, it's a fake. This is because LL furniture is actually made of rolled paper with a thin wire going through the middle. There are a lot of imposters around, which are mostly made from rattan etc.

Oh, and one last thing; please, please, if you are going for teak furniture, make sure it comes from a certified and sustainable source. There are a few dodgy retailers and manufacturers out there that will claim their products are legit but are in fact, highly illegally sourced. Certified companies such as Brooks Bros use reclaimed teak, so worth looking out for.

 

[Salv]

I've got a small collection of original 30s and 40s Lloyd Loom chairs, including one with a CC41 stamp, and one dated 1934. I've got one rare chair in poor condition that is missing the original seat, but it's a lovely rounded shape. I'll take some photos if anyone wants to see them.

 

[Mike in Seattle]

I googled "canvas sling beach chair" and got a lot of possibilities - in fact, Target has some like the one from the UK.

 

[Zemke Fan]

Not bad at all, Mike...

I googled "canvas sling beach chair" and got a lot of possibilities - in fact, Target has some like the one from the UK.

Target - $59.95 Click Here

And I like the fact that it has arms...

 

[Smithy]

If you really are going for the Battle of Britain lounging outside waiting for Jerry look, you can use pretty much any old chair, deck or otherwise. The Few had a tendency to chuck any old chair available from the Dispersal or Mess on the grass. Thus deck chairs, leather armchairs, cane furniture, any old thing was the order of the day.

Deck chair wise it looks like you've got some great choices!

 

[BegintheBeguine]

like this? $35

if you figure out how to get one let us know.

I'm still looking for ones like this. Don't y'all MAKE me go to Tanzania!!

 

[Nick Charles]

if you do go get me 2 of em also