Lounge Chair Base Identification Comparison Vitra | Herman Miller

When Ray and Charles Eames designed Lounge Chair 670, they designed it with the Herman Miller base. Herman Miller started the production in 1956.

In 1957 VITRA in Germany started production of the Lounge Chair in license of Herman Miller. The Lounge Chair over all was the same, but the base is different to that used in US. I never found information why the design changed for Germany.
If someone know the reason I appreciate any information.

The Herman Miller base had some changes since production starts, like different glides, very early ones have so-called rubber boots, later domes of silence.
Vitra base is unchanged and still uses the same parts, glides, bushing, seat support and locking ring are the same over the years.

The bases are made of cast aluminium, with steel shaft inside, and a plastic bushing.
All bases, Herman Miller and Vitra are 5-star. Ottoman is 4-star.

The picture above shows the difference of both bases, to identify, if your Lounge Chair is a Herman Miller US production, or a Vitra European production. You just need to compare the base.

Please note:
Early Vitra production Lounge Chair may also show a Herman Miller label, but if it has the Vitra or European style base it is Vitra or European production! They just used the Herman Miller label.
Later it was Herman Miller by Vitra, and even later Vitra.

In 1970 licenses to manufacture where given to
Nordiska Kompaniet (NK) in Sweden
ICF in Italy,
Hille International in the UK and
Mobilier International in France.

All have the European Vitra base.
Please note our YouTube channel for instruction videos how to disassemble Lounge Chair, and overhaul base if it is wobbly.
Visit our youtube channel ++link++