Remember that the chair in my pictures is not the same chair manufactured during the war.  My chair is a postwar chair based on the same design, but with different material and a waterfall seam (the original had a straight seam).


Picture 1:

This is the finished cushion upside down.  The seat boxing width is 1/4 (.25) inch less than the thickness of the foam, plus the 3/8 (.375) inch over wrap seam in which the draw metal cable is stitched.  Where the End Seam on the boxing is noted there is 1 inch of extra cover laid flat in opposite directions and stitched down to prevent the back seam from breaking open.


Picture 2:

This is a close-up of the draw metal cable ends.  One end is simply a loop and the other is a loop and spring.  The spring is 1 5/16 (1.3125) inches long with a diameter of 1/4 (.25).  The overall length of the cable can be determined by running a piece a cable around the grooved seat plate and adding 4 1/2 (4.5) inches to allow for stretching.  The cable will be stretched to two nails on the seat plate on one side 6 inches apart, each 1 inch from the outside edge.  The loop and spring ends of the cable are soldered to hold when pulled.


Picture 3:

This is a close-up of the 1 inch of extra cover that is stitched down.  Be careful not to stitch the cable hidden inside the bottom 3/8 (.375) inch seam.


Picture 4:

This is a larger view of the area viewed in Picture 3.


Picture 5:

This is the foam.  It is 2 1/4 (2.25) inches thick.

Note: The wartime cushion example we have was filled not with foam, but with kapok and a bottom layer of animal hair.


Picture 6:

This is a view of the finished cushion with the cable ends visible.  Remember that original cushions did not have a waterfall seam but a strait seam


Picture 7:

This shows how the cushion attaches to the seat plate.  This is a postwar metal plate, as the originals used “hog-nose” nails to hold the cable ends in place.


Picture 8:

This is the installed cushion.  Remember that original cushions did not have a waterfall seam but a strait seam.