Which chair, as Goldilocks so aptly put it, is just right? Rocker recliners — think traditional La-Z-Boy — rock when upright and lower fully, usually by means of a hand lever. They start at about $350, but expect to pay $600 and up for a well-built model. A trendier option these days for the space- or style-conscious are push-back models, which recline when you lean back. They can cost as little as $250, but, on the downside, tend not to last as long as those with levers, since the mechanism gets more of a workout. Also new: wall-saver recliners, which require only about six inches of space between chair and wall, compared to a foot or more needed for heftier traditional versions (though the price is about the same).There are specialty chairs, such as massage and electric recliners. The former can be quite expensive (from $800 to $5,000), and the latter are designed for people with mobility issues. Regardless of what type you choose, check that there's no more than a five-inch gap between the seat and the open leg rest;
otherwise, children or pets can get caught and injured. Same goes for the lever — make sure tiny hands (or your own fingers) can't get stuck inside or pinched.Recliners are like shoes — looks are important, but comfort is key. When you're shopping, have family members who'll spend the most time in the chair sit in it for five minutes or more. Ask yourself: Do my feet touch the floor when the back is upright? Does the headrest support my head and neck? Inspect the seat and back for bumpy parts. And look for foam with a density rating of 1.9 or higher (most furniture cushions range from 0.9 to 2.5), which will ensure that it keeps its shape longer. Test the chair's footrest several times to make sure it's easy to maneuver. Listen for squeaks, which may indicate loose parts or improper alignment.Chairs upholstered in leather are the most durable — and the most expensive, about $1,000 and up. Choose a thick, top-grain leather. If you prefer a suede-like feel, go for a synthetic microfiber instead — it resists moisture and wrinkling and costs from $500 to $1,000.
(Don't forget to ask how many times a sample of the fabric has been machine-tested for durability — you want one that's been rubbed at least 10,000 times.) Beware of vinyl chairs. Sure, the new, improved material looks and feels similar to leather for less money ($300 to $700). But vinyl is less pliable and can crack. Wool is a top fabric choice because it's long-wearing and naturally stain-resistant. Plan on spending about $1,200 and up.Repair experts say it's usually the nonmoving parts that break on a recliner. So scope the underside of the chair (or, if that's not possible, ask to view photos, videos, or sample "cutaways" from the manufacturer). You want to see heavy-duty screws, not dinky ones or, worse, plastic fasteners. Don't be fooled by a gimmicky description like "all-wood construction," which may be code for low-quality pressboard — too soft to withstand the back-and-forth motion of a recliner. Get the salesperson to clarify, and actually look at the bones: Hardwood, like birch or poplar, is superior, but be prepared to spend about $1,000 or more.
A decent second choice is plywood, starting at a low $300. Finally, with any recliner, check the manufacturer's guarantee and opt for one that spans at least three years.Ready to shop for the perfect recliner? Check out Recliners for Every Decorating Style for inspiration and ideas.Join our email list for exclusive discounts: SpinLife respects your privacy. We will never sell your personal information or share it with another company. Read our Privacy Policy for details. Sign up for our newsletter and receive special offers!The page you're looking for cannot be found. Feel free to browse the categories below: , 4-Wheel Travel Scooter , 3-Wheel Full Size Scooter , 4-Wheel Full Size Scooter Scooters and Power Wheelchairs Shop All Power Wheelchairs & Scooters , Heavy Duty Power Wheelchairs & Scooters , Top Sellers Under $1699 , 3-Position lift chair , Infinite-Position lift chair , Zero Gravity Lift Chair , Power Patient Lifts
The electric chair was proposed to be a more “humane” way to execute criminals. On June 4, 1888 New York’s Governor David B. Hill signed a law passed by the legislature that the punishment for murder after January 1, 1889 should be “death by means of an electrical current that should be caused to pass through the body of the condemned.” Electrical experts then came up with the plan to apply the current and strap a man in a chair while he sat. The New York Evening World wrote of the convict Kemmler on the day of his execution, “If vengeance were what the law seeks by capital punishment for murder it would get little satisfaction out of the event today, for the poor wretch whose life has been taken within the walls of Auburn Prison has for weeks awaited the coming of black-visored Death with a child-like expectancy One of eleven children, William Kemmler was born into poverty in 1860 in Philadelphia, PA. Kemmler was poorly educated and never learned a trade, surviving by helping his father in a butcher shop.
He married Ida Prier in October 1888, but after two days of marriage he deserted his wife and ran off with Mrs. Matilda Ziegler and settled in the slum area of Buffalo, NY. There the couple quarreled constantly and Tillie Ziegler took the little money that Kemmler had and spent it having affairs with the worst sort of men and women. On the morning of March 29 1889 after Mrs. Ziegler had served breakfast, Kemmler confronted her about her indiscretions. Things grew heated and Kemmler picked up a hatchet and buried it into Tillie’s forehead. Kemmler went berserk and hacked Tillie’s head, shoulder and breast until it was an indistinguishable mass of flesh, blood and bone. Kemmler dropped the hatchet and left their flat covered in blood and began visiting neighbors telling of what he had done. “I’m glad I’ve killed her. I had to do it and I’m willing to hang for it.” Unlike today where murder trials take months or even years to come before the court, on May 9 ,1889, just five weeks after the crime, Kemmler was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to die by electrocution in the prison at Auburn, NY.
Immediately after the conviction Kemmler’s lawyer Charles S. Hatch appealed to Justice Charles C. Dwight of the State Supreme Court that Kemmler’s sentence of death by electricity was cruel and unusual punishment. A referee was appointed to listen to both sides of the argument and for four months testimony was heard. It was decided on October 9 against Kemmler. The case was then brought before the Court of Appeals and on March 30, 1890 it was again decided the law and sentence was constitutional. One final appeal before the United States Supreme Court was also denied. Some more legal wrangling delayed the inevitable and on August 6, 1890 the sentence was scheduled to be carried out. At Auburn Prison the electric chair was set up in a room 17 feet wide by 25 feet long which also held 27 witnesses to the execution. The dynamo where the electric current was produced, was 1,000 feet away in another part of the prison and carried into the room by wires. There in the execution room was set up a push button on a board which contained a voltage meter that would measure the amount of current flowing to the chair.
A small switch next to the meter would turn the current on and off. The twenty four lights next to the electric chair that can be seen in the photograph above were not for lighting the room but for signaling when the current was on and running steadily. Two switches would then carry the current to the chair. It was 6:45 a.m. as Kemmler was strapped into the chair. Warden Durston asked Kemmler if he had any last words to say. Then after a moment he added, “Goodbye. And I wish you all good luck boys.” As Kemmler was repeating his goodbyes he was cut short as the executioner flipped the switch. The first jolt lasting 17 seconds did not kill him. The voltage increased as jolts were given intermittently. For four and a half minutes jolts of electricity registering between 800 to 1,300 volts passed through Kemmler’s body. His chest convulsed and he sat up rigidly every time the current passed through his body with his arms stretching out as far as the straps which held him would allow.
His mouth was frothing and his body was smoking. Finally Kemmler stopped moving. The smell of burnt flesh permeated the room. Every witness to the execution was distressed as to what they were seeing according to Dr. Shrady who witnessed the electrocution and later conducted the autopsy. Dr. Shrady’s conclusion upon exiting the death chamber was, “The execution was brutal – worse, I think, than hanging. It probably was not painful, but the failure to kill at the first application was barbarous.” The autopsy confirmed what many of the witnesses believed: that Kemmler probably had suffered greatly during the execution.The base of Kemmler’s spinal column where an electrode had been placed burned a hole the size of a palm of a man’s hand. The muscles were baked clear to the bone. On the top of his head the scalp was burned off and his brain was actually baked. Debates raged afterwards on cruel and unusual punishment and no one could be certain how long Kemmler was in pain, but one thing was sure: William Kemmler had entered history as the first man to be executed by the electric chair.