Gliders are Good For Your Spirit |
 People often assume that gliders are a recent invention. Actually they date back to within fifty years of the invention of conventional (runner) rockers in the early 1700s. They became so popular in Canada that some people call them "Canadian rocking chairs." In the U.S. the gliders evolved from the invention of the porch swing, which historians believe came into vogue in America during colonial times. Noticed because of its adoption by the upper class, during the early part of the 19th century, porches became woven into the American social fabric. With the increase of quality housing, during the Industrial Revolution, the size of the average house became larger and the impromptu urban planning of the time led to the inclusion of the entryway, ergo the porch. Taking a cue from upper class Victorian homes, which featured covered verandas that sometimes stretched around the entire perimeter of a house, middle class homes incorporated the idea of a covered outer extension. Similar architectural features were also known as a "Portico," "piazza," and "loggia," though those terms were used mainly in Europe. "Porch" is actually a variation of "portico." Because of the growth of industry coupled with the notion of manifest destiny, many people feared that expansion and development would remove the natural aspects of life. In response, people wished to retain some identity with the land and had more leisure time than their agrarian predecessors who were constantly working for survival. To maintain this connection with nature, many took to having seating on the porch. Initially, rudimentary porch swings started as sofa frames. A forward-thinking furniture maker took an unfinished frame and hung it with rope or chain on their porch, and thus, the porch swing was born. When porches became a fixture on homes, there were plenty of ways to hang a swing. Strong steel for chains and bolts supported the weight of two or three people and as time progressed, the idea of a porch swing became more and more popular. Porch swings have contours for the seat and for the back. Some have creative and fanciful designs. Still others use a combination of wood and iron. An easier way to create relaxing motion for two or more people was a glider. In a sense, the porch swing evolved into a glider. Gliders are like porch swings in that they have a long seat, a backrest and arm rests. They sit in a frame that lifts them off the ground and they swing on arms or on an axle. Gliders remove the hassle of chains, hooks, or stands, and also have more size variations than swings. The flexibility of the glider was that it could be used indoors so when porches became outdated and the trend evolved towards developing back yards, the glider became the indoor solution to seating in motion. Gliders provide great environments to read, watch favorite programs, use your computer, spruce up the office or nurse children in total comfort. The easy, effortless, smooth gliding sensation afforded by our extensive line of unique ball bearing mechanism and gliding motion chairs makes stress drain away and replaces it with a calming sensation. Rock me baby, rock me baby all night long. You don't need the immortal words of Sixties rockers Steppenwolf to get an answer to your confusion, or a solution to your stress pollution. Just glide a little every day, and voila! Those troubles will seem to just melt away. At chairs1000.com, we have a selection of retro-colored gliders that move in all directions, to fancy wrought iron or stylish designer styles complete with cushions. Go more traditional with classic wood looks. The choice is yours. To be instantly redirected to our full selection of gliders, please click below. See our gliders. |
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