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Parker Knoll:
Your Parker Knoll has a long and distinguished pedigree and is amongst the very best of British made furniture.
Practically all Parker Knoll models are worthy of rejuvination, either with tailored covers or by reupholstery. In fact, some Parker Knoll models have become collectors' pieces, particularly chairs from the 60's and there is a brisk trade in secon hand chairs on ebay.
The frame of your chair or sofa is almost certainlt solid beech with doweled joints which is why it has lasted so long. For a short period in the 1960's they did experiment with fibreglass and expanded plastic frames on shell chairs but these were short lived).
Days' of Oswestry has had a very close relationship with Parker Knoll and has unrivalled knowledge of the brand. Below is a selection of useful information:
Genuine Parker Knoll furniture has the makers name on it. On early models it was stamped on the wooden side rails under the seat, on later models it would be found on a metal plate under the furniture or on labels sewn into the seat platform under the seat.
Model numbers will be found on all Parker Knoll furniture made after 1950 and before 2005. The numbers begin with PK, PKN or N. On early models it was stamped on the side rail under the seat with the makers name, and on later models on the metal plate under the furniture. Within a series of models there will be variations on a theme e.g. with wings, with side panels etc. Generally one series model number covering the group was stamped on the rail e.g. 1016/9 which covers models 1016, 1017, 1018 and 1019. Days' have an illustrated identification guide that helps distinguish which model is which, when they are stamped with a series number.
Pre-1950 the chairs usually carried a patent number. Since 2005 following the Parker Knoll factory closure at High Wycombe and the move to production elsewhere, the furniture does not carry a model number.
The most famous Parker Knoll recliner is the Norton. Many thousands of these were made and for many people it's not been surpassed for comfort even today. Particularly impressive was the robust mechanism made especially for Parker Knoll. Unfortunately, following the loss of the tools for making the mechanisms, they are no longer manufactured. The Norton name originated with the Cornwall Norton company taken over by Parker Knoll and which eventually became incorporated into the company as Cornwall Parker when it went public.
The show wood is one of the most delightful features of the early Parker Knoll furniture. However, if you are tempted to strip back the wood, stain it and repolish it yourself you are likely to be disappointed. The beech was not cut with the direction of the grain in mind for polishing so the result will not look very good. You will find if you look carefully at the wood that most of the colour is in the polish itself, so although the grain is evident, it's not prominent. To recreate the same effect you need to use a coloured lacquer which really needs to be sprayed on to get that lovely smooth polished effect. At Day's of Oswestry this is exactly how we achieve the desired quality of finish.
The Queen Anne Penshurst wing chair has been one of the most enduring Parker Knoll designs. In production for over 50 years it has gone through many subtle changes which are reflected in the model number. Starting with PK720, there are many extensions through PK720/45, PK720/2, PK720MkIII etc. All these models are subtly different so if you are ordering tailored covers from us you need to check the exact model number carefully.
For enquiries please do not hesitate to call:
0800 542 0008
or visit our contact page
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