On account of reader Jan, who tipped us that Flexsteel has reintroduced a refreshed mannequin of their well-known Thunderbird sofa. Ouch, that’s 2018 data that I missed — nevertheless proper right here we go! I reached out to Flexsteel to go looking out out further — they’d been unimaginable about providing pictures, every historic and new. And, I talked currently to the designer accountable for the enterprise, Alek Eglinton, who suggested me in regards to the changes made (and why) and about his enthusiasm for being part of the workers that has launched this well-known design once more to the market. All photos courtesy Flexsteel — many thanks!
In keeping with my evaluation using my subscription at newspapers.com, the Flexsteel line was previewed on the 1965 Worldwide Home Furnishings Market in Chicago. This newspaper report on the Market Preview is from June 20, 1965. The first newspaper industrial for the street that I could uncover was for March 13, 1966.
Above: The Flexsteel Thunderbird sofa, redesigned for the updated market.
Okay, so first off, and to get this out of technique: I feel some readers will ask: Why didn’t they solely recreate the distinctive 1965 design as a result of it was? As I talked this by the use of with Alek, he outlined that to advertise into right now’s market, some changes realistically needed to be made. I fully respect and understand this, and am merely grateful that we have one different mid century modern mannequin sofa to pick from!
Accordingly, readers, may I respectfully request that for individuals who aren’t considerably eager on the changes made, you’re taking a transfer on posting a critique this time spherical? There are totally different sofa selections in the marketplace for individuals who don’t need this particular design adaption. Thank you upfront for serving to to keep up the weblog upbeat! xo pam
Modifications to make the Thunderbird sofa further fascinating to a wider market right now:
- Dimension shortened — The updated Flexsteel Thunderbird sofa is 101″ prolonged vs. the distinctive 115″. 115″ is just too massive for a lot of homes.
- Cushions cushier — The slender trapezoid-shaped once more cushions on the ’65 Thunderbird had been actually snazzy wanting, nevertheless right now’s prospects truly have to nest of their sofas, so the once more cushions had been made to fill out the realm and are thicker.
- Sits bigger — Some mid century modern sofas once more throughout the day sat pretty low. The updated Flexsteel sits at 21″, a sweet spot.
- Upholstered entrance rail / wedge edge — added for comfort so that the once more of your knees/calves don’t hit a tricky edge when you sit down.
- Wood modified — to a further sustainable rubberwood, stained in walnut to emulate the distinctive design.
Above: There’s moreover a coordinating Flexsteel Thunderbird chair and ottoman. I truly like how deciding on a two-tone upholstery ups the snazzy situation — you seen this completed, once more throughout the day with the Thunderbird and associated designs.
Above: The equivalent idea in blue and gray.
The story behind bringing the Flexsteel Thunderbird once more to market
Alek Eglinton, Senior Designer at Flexsteel, was the design lead on the Thunderbird enterprise. He did the evaluation to pitch bringing it once more to market after which, he did the cautious redesign. Alek joined Flexsteel in 2013 and remembers:
The one issue I knew of Flexsteel even sooner than I bought right here proper right here, that they’d this truly cool sofa, this Thunderbird sofa.
How would he not be fascinated by the considered bringing it once more?
Fast forward over the following couple of years… Alek saved seeing traditional Flexsteel Thunderbird sofas in the marketplace for $3,000 and $4,000 at etsy and totally different areas. On excessive of this, he had a major various: Some agency archives in a 100-year-old-factory superior needed cleaning out, stat! So, Alek rolled up his sleeves and positioned some good Thunderbird artifacts.
Historic previous in hand, and mid century modern mania properly beneath technique, Alek and Promoting and advertising and all the other workers members who would should be involved at Flexsteel acquired the inexperienced light to maneuver ahead.
After getting all the details in place, the model new Flexsteel Thunderbird sofa, chair, and ottoman had been launched throughout the fall of 2018. That’s Alek, above, “at market” — the ginormous furnishings maker commerce current that takes place yearly in North Carolina.
Why does Alek love the sofa so? He suggested me, with a little bit little bit of (to me) fascinating designer-speak:
It’s so polarizing — the winged out arms and the robust walnut trim – straightforward and pretty refined.
On this weblog publish the company moreover acknowledges the have an effect on of Adrian Pearsall in popularizing this mannequin of sofa. Methinks that Vladimar Kagan moreover was throughout the mix, by the use of using picket sculpturally (along with structurally) in his sofa and (significantly) chair designs.
Alas, even after searching by the use of as a whole lot of the archives as he might, Alek could not determine who exactly designed the first Flexsteel Thunderbird sofas. The company was rocking busy once more throughout the Nineteen Sixties, there have been “tons” of furnishings designs, probably with “pretty respectable dimension workers” of designers, he guesses. Staff who had been engaged on the manufacturing facility 40 years or further moreover suggested Alek: Flexsteel Thunderbird sofas had been extremely regarded once more throughout the day — the company ran them on the traces frequently.
Re the image above, Flexsteel moreover despatched me a traditional image of what Alek often known as the “tight-back” mannequin of the Thunderbird. It supplies Alek one different twinkle in his eye:
The tight-back mannequin was a extraordinarily good one – I like that one hundreds. If we had been ever to do one different one, that’s what I would pull for.
Alek, we’re pulling with the intention to pull for it!
Many attributable to Flexsteel for bringing this characteristic to market; to Alek for all his time providing further data; and to the PR workers for his or her terrific response with photos and knowledge. Thanks as soon as extra to reader Jan, too, who says that her Flexsteel Thunderbird order — upholstery: “Curry — is in place. Oh, there are 1,200 upholstery alternatives!
Flexsteel has been headquartered in Dubuque since 1936. The company has roots once more to 1893. Instantly’s Thunderbird product line is manufactured in Dublin, Georgia.
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