Exploring The History Of The Drafting Stool

Despite the fact that the drafting stool has been in existence for well over one hundred years you don’t have to look far to see many modern variations. In fact we’re pleased to announce the arrival of our new small adjustable Detroit stool with ash timber seat in black. If you’re wondering why these stools are so popular it’s because they have an effortless knack of fitting in with the contemporary industrial theme that is flooding Melbourne and most Australian cities right now. That said, the original drafting stool wasn’t designed to be fashionable, instead it was born out of necessity.

Let’s take a brief look at its interesting history. Back in 1903 the motor car was causing quite a stir amongst members of the public. Henry Ford had just set up the Ford Motor Company and for owners of bicycle manufacturing companies this was a cause of real concern. One such factory owner, Clement Uhl, knew that his business was in jeopardy and his days were numbered unless he took some sort of action to prevent his business from going to the dogs. In order to supplement his trade which was rapidly dwindling he began experimenting with designs of heavy duty metal furniture which was practical for the workplace. To his surprise it began to take off and in 1905 as furniture sales overtook bicycle sales, the Cycle Emporium changed its name to the Toledo Metal Company.

The very same year, Uhl was approached by the Ohio Drafting Company who asked him to design a fully adjustable rugged stool for their workers – one that could easily be positioned and repositioned. He set to work and eventually came up with the Toledo Adjustable Drafting Stool. Thanks to its simple angular shape and adjustable seat that screwed up or down, it became an immediate hit and in no time at all could be found all over the country in factories, offices, schools, and telephone exchanges.

Left on the shelf

The popularity of the drafting stool continued throughout the 20’s, 30’s and war years and were used widely in the US and exported all over the world. However its popularity waned in the 1950’s as customers began to turn to sleeker sophisticated styles which offered more comfort. As the large scale factories started to close the Toledo Drafting Stool was left on the shelves.

For the next 50 odd years they couldn’t even give away the Toledo Stool but all that was about to change with the arrival of the modern day industrial look. This took the world by storm and is a look which is still very popular today particularly with Cafe owners who realise the full potential of industrial style furniture in terms of its durability, functionality, and affordability. The original Toledo Drafting Stool fits perfectly into this ethos.

However, if you want an original, it will set you back a small fortune. That said, there are plenty of modern day versions such as our Detroit drafting stool which slot with ease into an industrial theme. If you want the look at a fraction of the price then take a look in our online store, or better still, come at see our products first hand at our warehouse in Campbellfield, Victoria. Alternatively you can call us on (03) 9125 6859 in your need any help.