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Why every American kid sits on the same chair
- Published_at:2025-05-18
- Category:Education
- Channel:Phil Edwards
- tags: phil edwards history furniture design vox almanac vox chairs schools education
- description: Go check out the first episode of @BusinessExplainsTheWorld https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiwY1zVoYWw And subscribe! Newsletter and select sources: https://www.patreon.com/posts/129190455/ More info and sources at bottom. Find me elsewhere: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philedwardsinc/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/philedwardsinc Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philedwardsinc Some music by the inimitable Tom Fox via Chromatic: https://tfbeats.com/ Where I get some music (Free trial affiliate link): https://share.epidemicsound.com/olkrqv My camera, as of February 2022 (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3HDcWVz My main lens: https://amzn.to/3IteXEK My main light: https://amzn.to/3pjO0M8 My main light accessory: https://amzn.to/3M6eL0j Thanks to the talented artists who made some of these models shareable. Wassily chair https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/wassily-chair-6e4123c255654de993fab5576ef5084f Thonet https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/thonet-s43f-buche-d6b442e39c894b77ad517de53afb6ccd https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/thonet-s34f-85220a536a354e1bb2523e19aaba1b22 https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/reversible-chalkboard-7c2682ee49404e26b65bca26dd29a9c8 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Knowlton_Hat_Factory_(interior),_Upton,_MA.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crowded_Beach,_Westbrook_Bay_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1473091.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wandelen_over_de_Planken_Wambuis_vanuit_Mossel_069_A.jpg https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/crocs-shoe-af005252315d47ffb095acee69b1890c https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/crocs-footwear-33236fedf60e40b499c1390681b172fb https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/lcw-vintage-eames-chair-0b54a9c8ca2149a2897076850e18627b#download https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/vitra-eames-plastic-chair-0a45955e2328459d95f403cb00c08b3a What’s the most iconic school chair in America? Meet the Virco 9000, a plastic and tubular steel classroom staple that’s quietly shaped the experience of public education for decades. First introduced in the 1960s, the Virco 9000 has sold over 60 million units, earning its status as one of the most successful pieces of institutional furniture in history. This video dives deep into the design history of school chairs, the evolution of mass-produced classroom furniture, and how one surprisingly durable chair became a nostalgic touchpoint for millions of students. I trace the chair’s origins through the rise of tubular steel furniture, modernist design movements like the Bauhaus and the Wassily Chair, and the innovations of designers like Charles and Ray Eames. Along the way, I explore how trends in open education, Montessori learning environments, and postwar public school overcrowding created the perfect conditions for a chair like the 9000 to dominate. With its molded plastic shell, Martest seat material, and stackable frame, the Virco 9000 wasn’t just a product — it was a solution. But the real story lies in the business side: school procurement, bulk purchasing contracts, and the power of cooperative networks like OMNIA Partners. I break down how Virco leveraged domestic manufacturing, contract bidding structures, and the logistical reality of shipping bulky assembled furniture to build an unshakeable hold on the U.S. education market. If you’re interested in industrial design, education infrastructure, or how a single object can reflect the forces of culture, policy, and commerce — this is the chair, and this is the video.
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| 2025-05-20 | 303,727 | 13,522 | 1,234 |
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