EC127 Upholstered Pull-up Chair

Even as Herman Miller’s business shifted away from individual customers and towards institutional and contract buyers, the classic molded plywood DCM (Dining Chair Metal) remained popular. In 1968 the design was updated slightly with a higher back leg and more upright posture for use in libraries, which led directly to the development of the EC127, a completely rehauled design executed with then state-of-the-art materials. Substituting fiberglass-reinforced plastic for the two plywood shells, and adding an integral 1 1/18th-inch upholstered urethane pad to the seat and backrest, the EC127 improved upon the DCM in both durability and comfort—reflecting its intended use for longer periods of time in high-traffic, public spaces. With three shell colors, and multiple options for upholstery and the vinyl edge, the new design also enabled a higher degree of customization to work within a broader variety of environments. This particular example, which is stenciled “S&C P.O. 7 — 1971” on its underside, was specified with parchment shells, orange Hopsak, and a special crimson vinyl edge (which, while not available as a standard option on the EC127, was part of the offer for upholstered fiberglass chairs). Century Plastics Industries, in Compton, California, fabricated the fiberglass parts.