In 1944, Wilton Carlyle Dinges founded the Electrical Machine and Equipment Company (Emeco) in Hanover, Pennsylvania utilizing the skills of local craftsman. During WWII the U.S. government contracted with Emeco to make chairs that could withstand water, salt air, and sailors while still being lightweight and strong enough to last for a lifetime. Aluminum was the obvious choice, and Emeco named the chair with a number: 1006, though most know it today as the Navy chair. Emeco believes in being sustainable by making products that last, and each Emeco chair is built to last 150 years.