Eames DSS Dollies, Eames Dolly A

Quick Intro

What are the Eames DSS Stacking Chair Dollies?

Released in 1955 alongside the Eames stacking DSS side chairs, the Eames DSS Dollies were two specially adapted carts utilized to safely stack and transport the chairs.

The Eames DSS stacking chairs were a real breakthrough for the fiberglass series. The clever design enabled commercial and public spaces to be able to use multiple seats and be able to stack and store them efficiently afterwards. Once a number of DSS chairs had been put together the resulting stack would be very heavy and almost impossible to move without using force. The Eames DSS Dollies were created to take the hard work out of moving the chairs around, a requirement with seating not meant to be permanent but large in number.

Two Dolly models were created, the square Eames Dolly A and the rectangular Eames Dolly B. Dolly B was in essence just a double of the first version. Each dolly had perfectly aligned recesses in order for the feet of the bottom chair to sit without the ability to move or tip. Further chairs could then be stacked up to 15 in number.

The wooden top of the Eames Dolly was supported with 4 castors, two of which swiveled and two that were fixed. This allowed the user to easily maneuver the fully loaded stack with a good degree of control. A black butyrate plastic edging also provided the Dolly with a protection against bumps and knocks during movement and stacking.

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Specification

What are the original sizes of the Eames Stacking Chair Dollies?

Height	4.375	11.11 cm
Width	24" (48" Dolly B)	60.96 cm (121.92 Dolly B)
Depth	24"	60.96 cm

Buying Tips and Authenticity

Is my Eames Stacking Chair Dolly authentic? What makes it valuable?

As with all Herman Miller products, the Dollies will have a label affixed to the underside of the platform on both models for authenticity.
Whilst there is nothing to really distinguish these from other trolleys and carts, it is the fact they are made for the stacking chairs that makes them special. it is true that the stacking versions of the chairs are not the most popular base type of the fiberglass series in this age but where they are still used for their original purpose, these Dollies are a functional and indeed authentic addition.
The square Eames Dolly A is found more than the rectangular Dolly B, as a great many more of them were made at the time. Either way they don't show up in the secondary markets an awful lot and have a small collectible value to the right person.
The Eames DSS Dollies started in the 1950's with the introduction of the DSS stackers and were available right through until the fiberglass chairs were discontinued in 1989. There isn't really any noticeable difference in value but it would be much harder to find a working 50's version in good order. They were available in a few colors over the years including grey tops, dark and light natural woods.

This 1960's brochure was one of very few featuring the Dolly version B for double stacking

Images

Stack of red fiberglass DSS chairs on Dolly version A for single stack of chairs

Late 1960's Herman Miller brochure advert for the DSS stacking chairs and featuring Dolly A

Late 1950's Herman Miller printed brochure featuring the DSS stackers and Dolly

1970's Herman Miller catalog page featuring the Eames DSS stacking chairs and Dollies