Legend has it that Wilton Dinges, who founded Emeco in 1944, actually tossed a 1006 Navy Chair out the window of a six-story building. The result? A few minor scratches. Emeco's 77-step patented construction process was invented to satisfy a military need for lightweight, corrosion-resistant equipment. In the late 1990s, the Navy Chair's iconic design began catching the attention of architects and designers, initiating a new era for Emeco. Beginning with soft, recycled aluminum, 1006 Navy seating goes through a series of hand-crafted processes, including heat treatment and anodizing, to render the chair diamond-hard and virtually indestructible. Though imitations of the 1006 exist far and wide, Emeco's Navy Chair is the only one to go through this rigorous production process. Three small welds on the back of the slats are left exposed to indicate that this often-copied seating is the real thing. Specially made stainless steel foot caps are covered with a clear plastic glide to prevent scratching floors or snagging carpets. Optional seat pad available separately.