Made Here: World’s First Tactical Chair

In the early days of World War II, the U.S. Navy embarked on a campaign to rid its combat ships of almost everything that would ignite. A new ban prohibited cork insulation, linoleum flooring, rugs, and curtains, along with items from sailors’ personal belongings, like excess books, dress uniforms, and hair oils. When elimination proved impossible for some necessary items, such as wooden mess benches, the Navy sought non-flammable alternatives. A proposal seeking submissions for a new shipborne chair caught the attention of a young Baltimore engineer named Wilton Dinges. The chairs had to be waterproof, fire- and corrosion-resistant, and light yet tough enough to endure constant abuse and withstand a torpedo blast. With help from aluminum producer Alcoa, Dinges created the seven-pound Model 1006 (“ten oh six”) Navy Chair.