Eames LCM Side Chair, Eames Plywood Lounge Side Chair

Quick Intro

What is an Eames plywood LCM lounge chair?

The Eames LCM Chair was the abbreviated name of the famous 1946 Lounge Height (D) Side Chair (C) on Metal (M) Rod Base. The LCM was the lounger edition of the metal leg plywood chairs developed by Charles Eames in collaboration with the Evans Plywood Company.

The end of the second world war enabled Charles to bring together the experimental plywood techniques he had helped to develop, and his long-time interest for furniture design. The result was a series of four chairs which went on to be defined in history as ‘the Eames chairs’. The LCM was one of the first four adult chairs to be released using the new material along with the dining version DCM and the wood leg DCW and LCW chairs.

Although most were made in the readily available Birch or Ash, the Eames LCM Side Chair was made in a great number of other woods including Walnut and later on, Rosewood. They were also upholstered by factory fabrics and those later designed by Alexander Girard for Herman Miller.

Many of the plywood products ceased to be produced by the end of the 50s largely due to new trends and new materials being available to designers. They were of course superseded by the arrival of the plastic chair series but even they were based on the idea of changing bases and tops started with the plywood range. The LCM and sister DCM however were spared and continued to be produced through the decades until now.

The Eames Plywood Lounge Side Chair was first made by the Evans Plywood Company, in Los Angeles California. After some time production was shifted to Grand Lake in Michigan whereby the Herman Miller company was the principal distributor. In 1949 the Evans company sold the furniture range and all its rights to Herman Miller whom continued the production through the decades.

The Charles and Ray Eames LCM Plywood Lounge Chair - A Video Introduction

Part of the first group of commercially released furniture designs by Charles and Ray Eames, the 1946 LCM was one of two lounge chair options in the newly developed post war molded plywood. Initially manufactured by Evans, Herman Miller took over full production from 1949 and have made the design, without interruption, ever since. Over the years they have released the chair in a whole host of veneer finishes including Rosewood, Calico Ash, Walnut, Cherry and Palisander. The video showcases a beautiful, original and authentic Herman Miller made LCM from the early 1960's, made using the popular Calico Ash with mid color tones.

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Specification

What are the original sizes of the plywood LCM Side Chair?

Height	27.375”	69.53 cm
Width	22.25”	56.52 cm
Depth	25.375”	64.45 cm
Seat Height	15.25”	38.74 cm

The Materials that went into producing the Eames LCM plywood chair were:

Top	5 Layers of Molded Plywood, glued and with Rubber Shock Mounts
Base	Welded Steel Rod Base
Feet	Screw in Domes of Silence, Boot Glides, Nylon Glides

Generations

There is no such thing as a 'generation' of a chair, not in real terms anyway. We can however, pinpoint certain periods of metamorphosis and natural evolution of a piece of furniture which helps us to define age, maker and potentially value. This is what we define as a generation!

Below are generations of the plywood LCM lounge side chair, first brought to the market in 1946 and where it continues even today.

First Gen Evans plywood LCM with round attachment connectors

1st Generation - Evans Plywood Products

1st edition LCM chairs should have one from a few different labels by the Evans Plywood Company.

Without a label, turn your attention to the metal frame itself to help identify.

First generation Evans LCM chairs have round connectors where screwed to the back rest.

The actual metal frame was made from solid cast and the feet called 'domes of silence' made from alu and rubber.

The 'domes of silence' feet of Evans original LCM chairs

1st Generation - Evans Plywood Products - Continued

Evans labels will include the medal label, the paper label and the more common foil label.

The early frames are predominantly zinc plated silver color with a lesser amount in black.

The shock mounts on the plywood series were thicker than those found on fiberglass chairs.

Often, the model abbreviation (LCM) was hand written onto the label or seat underside, presumably for assemly.

The oval connectors of the 2nd generation and 1st Herman Miller LCM

2nd Generation - (1st Herman Miller Gen)

The second generation was Herman Miller's first manufacture of the chair and they changed some small details.

If you notice the connectors have changed from round to an oval shape instead.

The shock mounts remain the same size but have 4 noticeable holes punched into the outer surface.

The frame and feet however remain the same solid cast and domes of silence.

The estimated years is from 1951 to 1953

The third generation LCM had a change to rubber boot feet

3rd Generation - (2nd Herman Miller Gen)

The third generation, and second Herman Miller involved a change in feet.

The original domes of silence were replaced by rubber and alu boots which pushed onto the solid cast legs.

The change was initiated for ease and cost and because domes could break and prove tricky to replace.

All other aspects of the chair remained, the oval connectors, solid frame and mounts with holes.

The estimated years is from 1954-1960

The fourth generation LCM with tubular frame and nylon floor glides

4th Generation - (3rd Herman Miller Gen)

The 4th generation introduced a completely new frame for the chair and new feet once again.

The frame of the chair would no longer be cast and instead was tubular. This lightened the weight of the chair and allowed for better fitting feet.

New nylon glides were introduced. These were fully inserted into the tubular frame and are extremely difficult to remove. The feet contain a small ball bearing which allows the feet to pivot on the floor better.

The estimated years is from early 60's to late 80's

The fifth generation had smaller, thinner shock mounts utilized.

5th Generation - (4th Herman Miller Gen)

The fifth generation oversaw a reduction in the shock mount size.

The mounts were reduced to a thinner sizes similar to those found on shell chairs through the years.

All generations help to age the chair and this is one of the easier ones to see as well the labels.

Many of the reproduction copies use these later thinner mounts.

The estimated years is from early early 90's till late 00's

The sixth and current generation with small oval connector and cut in of the frame

6th Generation - (5th Herman Miller Gen)

The 6th generation is the most current of the LCM chairs and see a change in the frame.

The oval connectors have been reduced in size and you can also see a steep 'cut in' to the oval connection instead of a rounded bar.

You are also more likely to find a full label on this generation as they are still relatively new and they are available in more wood types including Santos, a replacement for the original Rosewood.

The estimated years is from late 00's till current

Buying Tips and Authenticity

Is my LCM authentic? What makes it valuable?

Like the Dining DCM, the LCM has been in continuous production since 1946 and this means there are many labels used over the years which help the authenticity of the chair.
Check the generations of the LCM to recognize key features that not only help with authenticity but the age too.
From the earliest generation into the 90's the shockmounts were thicker with many having four distinctive holes punched into them. Look out for those and the cast heavy legs used into the 60's.
The frame should show signs of age and potential pitting or rusting in the join welds, certainly in the earlier versions.
The plywood thickness should always be 5 layers thick and early generations often had written or stamped abbreviations on the underside of the seat section which we presume was for assembly.
Look out for cheap chrome on the frame which may indicate a reproduction model as well as stains on the wood instead of natural veneers.

The value of an LCM is largely dictated by the age of the chair with the older the generation the more valuable it generally is, condition dependent.
Models with labels remaining add value as do those without any signs of chipping or flaking of any of the ply layers, especially around the edges.
Some of the wood types utilized over the years can also affect the value. Rosewood versions which came in during the later 50's were more expensive to buy at the time and due to their relative rarity are highly desirable today.
Upholstered versions can also add value. Some of the early generations were upholstered with leather and slunk skin (calf hide) and later ones with fabrics and textiles designed by Alexander Girard.
Look out for bad repairs on these chairs. One of the common repair mistakes is when back rest shockmoutns have dislodged and instead of being replaced in the same way are screwed/bolted together through the plywood backrest itself.