Vintage Koken Barber Chair | Serial Number List

These are the "holy grail" finds. If your chair has a cast iron base with ornate scrollwork and a porcelain shave-stand, check the patent dates stamped on the metal plate.

The serial number on a Koken chair is typically found in two places:

How to read the number: While Koken changed their system over the decades, later models (1940s–1960s) often used a format where the first one or two digits indicate the year of manufacture.

Note: On very early chairs (1910s–1930s), serial numbers were sequential and do not contain the year. You must date these by Patent Dates and features.

| Source | What It Contains | Reliability | |--------|----------------|--------------| | Barber chair forums (The Holy Black, Badger & Blade, Sharp Razor Palace) | Scattered user-reported serials with estimated decades | Moderate – good for narrowing to ±5 years | | Antique barber supply sites | General production eras (e.g., “1900–1915 oval base”) | Low precision, no serial matching | | eBay / LiveAuctioneers listings | Photos of serial plates from specific chairs | Useful for pattern recognition (prefix letters, digit length) | | Patent records | Dates of mechanisms (e.g., 1913 pump lift) | Helps confirm max age of a design, not a specific chair | | Official Koken records | None publicly available – company changed hands, old records lost | None | vintage koken barber chair serial number list

When you find a serial number:

Vintage Koken barber chairs are identifiable by serial numbers typically stamped on the underside of the seat frame, wood base, or metal frame. While exact factory records are scarce, collectors use sequential production ranges to estimate age. Koken Serial Number Aging Guide (Approximate)

Manufacturing years are estimated based on these sequential ranges: 1 – 999: c. 1881 (Earliest reclining models).

1,000 – 9,999: c. 1885 – 1888 (Introduction of swiveling features). These are the "holy grail" finds

10,000 – 25,000: c. 1895 – 1905 (First hydraulic models). 25,001 – 50,000: c. 1906 – 1915. 50,001 – 85,000: c. 1916 – 1925.

85,001 – 125,000: c. 1926 – 1935 (Art Deco styling peak). 125,001 – 175,000: c. 1936 – 1945.

175,001 – 225,000: c. 1946 – 1955 (Post-war production). 225,001+: c. 1956 – 1960s (Late-stage production). Key Identifying Features by Era

Beyond serial numbers, specific mechanical and design shifts help verify the age of your chair: Key Features Late 1800s How to read the number: While Koken changed

Wood frames (oak or walnut), elaborate carvings, manual reclining only (pre-1892). Early 1900s

Introduction of the hydraulic lift and "joystick" side lever for control. 1920s–1930s

Transition to porcelain and chrome finishes with Art Deco aesthetic. 1940s–1950s

Simpler mid-century designs, often with less ornate metalwork and more vinyl upholstery. Historical Context Determine Koken Chair Age by Serial Number - Expert Guide

I was unable to locate a single, comprehensive, or official “vintage Koken barber chair serial number list” that you can simply download or search by number. Here’s an honest review of what actually exists and how to work with Koken serial numbers.