How Was The Office Chair Invented?

Source - MBTC

                                              

In the early days, the corporates were known as “paper offices” in comparison to the recent “paper-less offices” where all the data you need is stored at the click of a button on computers and laptops.

With the evolution of managing data, there has also been a drastic change in the ambience of offices. Gone are the days of uncomfortable wooden chairs. Every office now uses the office wheelchairs, comfortable and soft to sit with wheels to steer you in any direction. Sitting on this chair and pushing the ground with your foot takes you some distance. It is convenient to go from one desk to another without having to actually get-up and walk.

Today, the market caters to the needs of every office with personalized wheelchairs.

Who invented the Office Wheelchairs?

A name is familiar to the world, however a moment of surprise for those who don’t know that the “Father of Evolution”, Charles Darwin, is also the “Father of the Office Chairs”

Who is Darwin?

There are many theories and arguments about how life originated on earth. Among them was Darwin, who proposed the theory of biological evolution that the world admired and believed in. In 1859, he wrote “The origin of species” a book on the origin of life on earth. He had claimed that life on earth did not originate on a platform, but many organisms evolved over time from a single cell.

Darwin’s theory states that monkeys evolved into humans. This is accepted by many scientists and academicians but also condemned by others who believe in alternate theories.

How did Charles Darwin invent the office chairs?

In 1809, born into a wealthy family in England on February 12, Charles Darwin has always been interested and keen on studying animals, birds and life-processes. Thus, he began to do research in the field biology.

In the early 1840’s Darwin was conducting a research on various species in his personal laboratory. His Laboratory was full of equipment and notes spread across the room, when he wanted something, he would have to get up from his chair, go across the room, and pick up the relevant equipment or paper.

This process happened to frustrate him so much that he had wheels installed under the legs of this chair so he could easily glide across the room whilst sit remaining seated.  

How the chairs gained popularity

Around the same time, merchants who used to run their business from home began to run their business from office which was then a new normal. Merchants began hiring employees for carrying out activities and paperwork instead of burdening their family members. Wheelchairs, such as those made by Darwin, were then made for these employees.

A prominent German Politician, Bismarck recognized the utility of office chairs and had them installed in the Parliament as well.

Then, in 1849, the American company “Troy” was founded by Thomas E. The centripetal string armchair 9(the basic form of current office chairs) was developed by Scientist Warren, which was then exhibited in London.

Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. Charles Darwin recognized the significance of rotating chairs and how it could make work-life easier. Years of innovation and modernization has brought to us our office chairs, that we are absolutely grateful for.

Written By - Keerthana Bharadwaj 

Edited By - Tushna Choksey