Vintage Metal Rockers is the creation of Lee Harwell, a resident of Evans, Georgia. The company traces its roots back over 30 years ago to when Harwell first had the good fortune of experiencing the look and feel of a Francois Carre chair. Specifically, one of the large cantilever rockers.
Eventually, enthralled with their intrinsic beauty, Harwell began researching the chairs and their rich history. Having an engineering background, he began analyzing how to take them apart and re-assemble them.
Those little steps have grown into his small business: Vintage Metal Rockers, LLC. This business focuses on Carre chair restoration with replacement parts. Ultimately, Harwell wants everyone to have the opportunity to experience the astonishing comfort of a Carre chair.
Harwell’s background has enabled him to create this company, with a foundation for manufacturing beginning at Berry College in Rome, Georgia, where he earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering (1979). From there, he gained experience in several industries including heat treating, injection molding, HVAC, and tool & die. In actuality, tool & die was Harwell’s career focus for many years. Interestingly, this mosaic of experiences equipped him with the skill set needed to restore these beautiful chairs! He is most proud of being able to perform the restorations using the same techniques that were used in their original manufacture. This allows him to restore the chairs so that they look and feel as they did a century ago.
Vintage Metal Rockers 