Pair of Leg-O-Matic Folding Dining Chairs (Lyre-Back) — c. 1950s
Viridian Eclection
The Set
A matched pair of Leg-O-Matic folding dining chairs, with solid wood frames, blue vinyl seats and the patented automatic leg mechanism.
The backs are a refined lyre, or double X, form, carried on a modern folding chassis. The frames are solid birch or beech under a warm medium stain with an honest, well kept patina, and the seats are upholstered in blue vinyl.
The mechanism is the reason these chairs exist. Pull the seat and the linked steel arms open or collapse the legs in a single motion, so the chairs look like fine furniture and store perfectly flat.
History & Provenance
Leg-O-Matic was born in post war America, and it outfitted compact homes, clubs, cruise ships and, most famously, Airstream trailers with elegant folding seating.
Through the 1950s and into the early 1960s the company offered several back styles over birch and beech frames, all of them using its patented scissor link hardware. The lyre back is one of those styles, which places this pair at circa the 1950s.
These chairs epitomize the design brief of the period, space saving without a sacrifice of style, and the engineering is the argument the company made for itself.
Product Details
| Maker | Leg-O-Matic, U.S.A. |
| Era | c. 1950s |
| Style | Traditional revival lyre back on a modern folding chassis |
| Form | Pair of folding dining chairs. Patented scissor link mechanism, folds and unfolds in a single motion, stores flat |
| Materials | Solid birch or beech frames, steel multi link hinges, blue vinyl upholstered seats |
| Finish | Warm medium stain with honest, well kept patina |
| Dimensions | Seat height approximately 17 to 18 inches. Seat approximately 15.5 to 16.5 inches square. Exact measurements to be confirmed on request |
| Condition | Structurally sound. Hardware complete. Light, age appropriate wear to the wood and the vinyl |
Why It Belongs in Your Home
These are the extra dining chairs that can be tucked away between gatherings, which is a rare thing to find in a chair that also deserves to be seen.
They suit a breakfast nook or an apartment dining room where footprint matters, and they double as entry or desk seating that can pivot to entertaining in seconds.
For an Airstream or camper restoration they are the correct period answer, and in a loft or an eclectic mid century room the lyre back keeps them from reading as utility furniture.
Every piece is packed with professional-grade materials: multiple foam layers, double-boxing, directional and fragile handling labels. For large furniture we use custom timber crating. We photograph packing before dispatch and can provide images on request.
White-glove delivery is complimentary within 100 miles of Reno, NV. National shipping quotes provided at checkout. All shipments are photographed and documented. Damage claims must be filed with the carrier; we provide all documentation needed to support your claim.
Local pickup is available at Viridian HQ (Reno, NV) with 2–4 days notice. Contact us to arrange. Private viewings also available.
All antique and vintage items are sold as described and all sales are final. Each listing includes detailed condition notes and photographs so you can make a fully informed decision. We encourage buyers to ask questions — about condition, dimensions, finish, provenance — before purchasing.
Antiques are irreplaceable and one-of-a-kind. Carrier handling is outside our control once a piece has left our facility, and major carriers including FedEx do not insure antiques. We do everything within our power to ensure safe transit, but cannot accept liability for carrier damage. If damage occurs in transit, we will provide full documentation to support your carrier claim.
Have a question? — we're happy to provide additional photos, condition detail, or discuss the piece directly.
