Shown here is a 1950s Chromcraft brochure with sample chips of plastic laminates for dinette tabletops and plastic upholstery for the coordinating chairs. Very modern-looking, durable dinette sets were all the rage from the mid-1940s through the early 1960s. I recognize both the table and chair coverings that we had on our set when I was very young. Chromcraft dinettes were very practical and hardwearing, since the table and chair surfaces were plastic and the table and chair legs were steel. This type of furniture construction preceded the use of Formica and vinyl that came years later. Chromcraft sets were very well made and there are many that are still in use today.
The Chromcraft Corporation began as a subdivision of the American Fixture and Showcase Co. that was founded in 1908. Chromcraft was originally located in St. Louis, Missouri, but continued growth lead to a move to a new plant in Senatobia, Mississippi in 1962. They have been a very successful manufacturer of metal dining furniture, office chairs and barstools and are still in business today.
It’s interesting to see the colors and patterns that were so popular in 1950s America. Many of these are making a comeback as more people are favoring the retro look in their own homes. This Chromcraft brochure has been added to the Retro Planet PDF Library. If you’d like to view the color charts there, just click on the link.
I just bought a dinnette set at a Goodwill store and noticed that it said Chromcraft Exclusive ‘68 on the bottom so it is fun to find out some of the history of Chromcraft.