war-time-litter

Quick Intro

What are the Eames Wartime Prototypes?

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Designed between 1942 and 1945, the Eames Wartime Prototypes were a series of designs with the purpose of aiding the second world war effort. Ranging in size and purpose, the Wartime Prototypes were made using the Plyform material (molded plywood layers) which Charles Eames pioneered with the help of the Evans Plywood Company.

Unlike the leg splint, which was successfully deployed to the field by the Navy, the prototypes never made mass production. Whilst we generally only catalog Eames designs that made it to the marketplace in our Eames Wiki, there are a number of wartime prototypes that have made it into private hands and are therefore relevant to the collector.

Following the success of the leg splint, focus initially remained on designs with medical benefits. A full body litter (stretcher) was developed using the very strong Plyform material, made from layers of molded plywood fused together using heat and glue. The litter was an impressive 'coffin shape' design which had been molded to the contours of the human body along with multiple slots on its circumference in order to attach ties or act as carry handles. An arm splint was also created to lend aid to those with upper body injuries.

As the war progressed the Evans Company were able to negotiate projects for aircraft parts, primarily for the Vultee BT15 training plane and the CG-16 Cargo glider. Experiments and prototypes were made of numerous parts including a pilot's seat, gas tank, stabilizers, trim tabs and even a full nose section. Although some of the parts were utilized on test flights, they were not contracted for production.

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Buying Tips and Authenticity

Is my wartime prototype authentic? What makes it valuable?

  • The first thing that needs to be pointed out is that there are very few examples (as one may expect) in private hands.
  • The pilot's seat, trim tabs and one or two other wartime pieces are known to be in collections, whereas some of the other experimentation work is unknown outside of the heritage Eames Office.
  • It is not expected that these will ever be the subject of copying and the age and patina of such pieces should be fairly clear to the viewer. Examples will likely have factory stamps, either of the process (Plyformed) or the Evans Company or the model number.
  • Once authenticity has been established, early examples of the work of Charles Eames such as this is likely to attract collector interest at auction.
  • Condition is largely unimportant, due to the historical nature and rarity of the work. That said, the better it is the better the yield a collector is likely to gain from auction or sale.
  • Leg Splints are commonly found and are generally on the wish list of most Eames Collectors. The prototypes however are marked as an investment piece and are very rare indeed.
Early work and tooling machines, seen here for wartime work on the plywood leg splints.

Early work and tooling machines, seen here for wartime work on the plywood leg splints.

Images

The full body litter was one of the experimental designs made from Plyform but after various prototype forms was not sanctioned for production.

The full body litter was one of the experimental designs made from Plyform but after various prototype forms was not sanctioned for production.

The success of the leg splint for the Navy resulted in experimentation for a version to be used for upper body injuries, like this arm splint.

The success of the leg splint for the Navy resulted in experimentation for a version to be used for upper body injuries, like this arm splint.

One of the early plywood molding apparatus nickname a 'Kazaam Machine' by Charles Eames who helped to bring the process to the fore.

One of the early plywood molding apparatus nickname a 'Kazaam Machine' by Charles Eames who helped to bring the process to the fore.

Part of the experimentation during the war years involved creating parts for aircraft including this full size section for the CG-16 Glider.

Part of the experimentation during the war years involved creating parts for aircraft including this full size section for the CG-16 Glider.

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