Ever wonder what is hiddening from view under that upholstery on that theater recliner you are considering? I don’t think the next time you visit one of those Big Box Furniture stores, or even a Home Theater retailer, that you will have the chance to tear back the leather and see what is in there. I can tell you one thing, all chairs are not created equal! In 1998, I had the pleasure of touring a few of the old time furniture manufacturers of America (some of which have since gone out of business) and even made a trip to Mexico, just across the border to check out one there.
All were huge manufacturing facilities, between 250,000 and 500,000 square feet! It became very obvious who were in the heirloom furniture business and who were just turning out inexpensive furniture.Three of the five I visited are now gone. The economic downturn in 2008 put them away. Sadly, there was a scramble by off-shore manufacturers to buy their names at auction and today produce their inferior furniture hiding behind the legacy of some of them. I cover that in another Post.
So what is inside some of these products? all start with the scissor life mechanism. Now just like anything else, you can buy the cheapest mechanism out there, or step up and offer a level of performance that is also, legendary in furniture. I am speaking of Leggett & Platt®. Pioneering sleep technology, when it introduced its bedspring more than 125 years ago, they continue with the same pride and integrity today. An S&P 500 diversified manufacturer, today serves a broad collection of customers that comprise a “Who’s Who” of U.S. companies. Leggett & Platt conceives, designs, and produces a diverse array of products that can be found in most homes, offices, and vehicles. Founded in 1883, the company is made up of 17 business units, 20,000 employee-partners, and 130 facilities in 19 countries. Leggett & Platt continues to infuse its products with its trademark innovation, helping customers enjoy more comfortable lives. At PremiereHTS we only use the finest of Leggett & Platt’s devices.
Many manufacturers elect to buy the cheap, imitation, press metal, three stage lifts and stand them on the floor, adding two press board or corrugated side arm boxes, acting as arm rest. The back is another single piece snapped into the mechanism and the whole chair is ready for upholstery. The skeleton is wrapped with thin foam and a single low density foam is added as a seat cushion, resting on what looks like lawn chair interwoven straps. The covers (are what they call, cut & sew, delivered from their off-shore partners) with a small opening left open where a tube is placed in and combed poly-fill or Dacron is blown in. Done Deal!
I have seen it at more than one factory. Press board frames are stapled, side boxes are screwed to the frames and the integrity of a sold frame is non-existent! The low density seat begins to break down, the Dacron/poly-fill also sags or compresses and you are left with a frame sticking you in the back or your butt sitting in a hole! So much for their 90 day guaranty!
What you will see at our factory and the finest motion furniture made, is an integrated factory where the entire piece of furniture is made from the ground up. Real kiln dried hard wood frames are build to spec on CNC machines for consistent accuracy. I call it a Uni-Body frame. You could take the entire seat frame up to the roof and throw it off. It is screwed, glues and assembled with machined metal fitting. The arms are part of the frame and are assembled to the mechanism, again with metal screws to metal receptacles. The entire frame is wrapped with thick upholstery padding to protect hard edges and then again wrapped in a comfort foam. Both the backs and seats are three layered memory foam and wrapped in a Dacron for more comfort. The foam seats are, “crowned” to take into consideration some relaxation of the material. Furniture quality finished hard woods, fashioned into beautiful accent feet are added. No vinyl or imitation leathers, but 100%, European top grain full hides.
When you build a product like this you can stand behind it for the life of the product as far as manufacturers defects or workmanship (see our complete warranty). If you want to make this seating purchase the last one you will need to make, than buy the best because, “Nobody was ever sorry for buying the BEST!”
You have my word on it,,, Michael Laurino CEO/President www.premierehts.com
