Brilliant self-trained American designer Paul McCobb collaborated with New York salesman B.G. Mesberg to create what is now a widely revered collection of mid-century modern furniture called the Planner Group. Produced by renowned manufacturer Winchendon Furniture Company, vintage Planner Group dressers, credenzas, chairs and other pieces bring honesty and heritage into any interior.
More than any other designer beside Russel Wright, the Massachusetts-born McCobb was arguably responsible for the introduction of modern design into middle-class American households — if for no other reason than that he designed the 1952 set for the original Today show.
Of McCobb’s cohesive lines of furnishings, his best-known Planner Group gave homes an instant “look.” McCobb designed for several companies, most notably Directional, the New York firm he cofounded with Mesberg that also produced designs by other legends such as Paul Evans and Vladimir Kagan.
Known for their superior quality and affordable prices aimed at new homeowners, vintage Winchendon case furniture, side tables and desks were must-have staples for middle-class Americans in the postwar years. McCobb and Mesberg’s Planner Group for the manufacturer boasts a wide range of furnishings created in woods such as walnut and maple.
McCobb drew on the simplicity of Shaker furniture and Windsor chairs and was an advocate for modular furniture. A new homeowner could plan for properly furnishing each room with the Planner collection — a brochure touted its versatility — beginning with a couple of pieces from the series and gradually introducing more seating, cabinets and tables, stacking and combining as needed.
McCobb shared the limelight with the likes of celebrated American designers Charles and Ray Eames and was supposed to appear in a 1961 issue of Playboy magazine — a mid-century tastemaker of sorts — alongside other designers such as Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Jens Risom and Edward Wormley. A social and charismatic figure, McCobb can be found in photos from a party that took place the night before, but he was too hungover the next day to join the photo shoot.
For more than a decade beginning in 1950, the Planner designs comprised the best-selling furniture suite in the United States.
Find vintage Planner Group furniture and other Paul McCobb furniture on 1stDibs.
Paul McCobb Sectional Corner Sofa Custom Craft/ Planner Group Newly Upholstered
By Planner Group, Custom Craft Inc., Paul McCobb
Located in Berlin, DE
Sectional corner sofa by Paul McCobb for Custom craft or Planner Group, US. Newly upholstered with fabric by Chase Erwin.
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
$2,880Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 32 in W 19 in D 18 in
Mid-Century Paul McCobb Planner Group Dining Chairs Maple Spindle Back Chairs
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of 6 All original midcentury maple Paul McCobb Planner Group spindle back side chairs. Solid maple seat and curved back on tapered legs. Original vintage condition. Original blon...
Maple
$4,995 / set
H 35.25 in W 21 in D 19.5 in
Mid-Century Modern Planner Group Dining Chairs Paul McCobb for Winchendon Set 5
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Topeka, KS
Fabulous set of five Mid-Century Modern Planner Group style #1534 dining chairs by Paul McCobb for Winchendon. Comprised of a dark walnut finished maple. They have been newly upholstered at some point in their recent past in a brown background fabric with chenille squiggly undulating lines in gold and turquoise or teal. Beautiful condition with age-appropriate wear as you would expect with vintage pieces. Two of the chair backs do have small nicks. One has been repaired. All chairs have been re-glued. We have used restore-a-finish on the original finish to bring back its original shine. Please see photos. Circa 1949-1964. Simply Amazing!! What a fabulous set of five Mid-Century Modern dining chairs! They are part of the Planner Group for Winchendon designed by internationally known and revered designer Paul McCobb. They are style number 1534, and they are comprised of a beautiful maple frame with a dark walnut finish. The foam seats are covered in a brown chenille fabric with raised fiber squiggly undulating lines in colors of gold and turquoise or maybe its teal. The fabric is so awesome it reminds us of a comfy chenille bedspread...
Fabric, Maple
$2,230 / set
H 29.5 in W 17 in D 19 in
1950s Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Planner for Group Dining Chairs
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Charleston, SC
A set of four dining chairs Designed by Paul McCobb's iconic for Winchendon Furniture Planner Group series, manufactured from 1950-1964. These chairs have been professionally resto...
Maple
$2,795 / set
H 31.5 in W 19.5 in D 19.5 in
Paul McCobb Planner Group Mid-Century Modern Spindle Back Dining Chairs, 4/Set
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Southampton, NJ
An exceptional set of iconic Mid-Century Modern solid Maple spindle back dining chairs by Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture, "Planner Group" USA, 1950s. Dimensions: 19.5"W x 19.5...
Maple
$2,000 / set
H 32 in W 19 in D 18 in
4 Mid-Century Paul McCobb Planner Group Dining Chairs Maple Spindle Back Chairs
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of 4 All original midcentury maple Paul McCobb Planner Group spindle back side chairs. Solid maple seat and curved back on tapered legs. Original vintage condition. Original blon...
Maple
$6,895 / set
H 33.5 in W 18.5 in D 20 in
Paul McCobb "Planner Group" Iron & Maple Dining Chairs for Winchendon Furniture
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Paul McCobb "Planner Group" iron and maple dining chairs for Winchendon Furniture. ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is ...
Iron
$1,500
H 20 in W 36 in D 18 in
Paul McCobb Planner Group Iron & Tobacco Finish Birch Higher Coffee Table, Bench
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Early Paul McCobb Winchendon Planner Group high Coffee Table, Bench. Bed End Bench. Nightstand, 1950s. Featuring an open sturdy rectangular, braced thre...
Iron
$8,500 / set
H 29.5 in W 26.5 in D 33.5 in
Pair Original Paul McCobb Custom Craft Directional Lounge Chairs in Mahogany
By Paul McCobb, Custom Craft Inc., Directional
Located in Troy, MI
Pair of rare angular lounge chairs designed by Paul McCobb Manufactured by Custom Craft Inc for Directional circa 1950 Architectural low profile design with dark stained mahogany fr...
Leather, Mohair, Mahogany
Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates Sectional Sofa
By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates Sectional Sofa Sectional consist of 6 pieces plus two ottomans. Multiple sections of sofa retain Craft Assoc. labels. Each ottoman measures- 3...
Upholstery
Postmodern Serpentine Sectional Sofa By Weiman Newly Reupholstered
Located in Chicago, IL
Postmodern Vladimir Kagan Style Serpentine 3 Piece Sectional Sofa by Weimann Newly Reupholstered in a Charcoal Alpaca Mohair Velvet Striking postmodern serpentine 3-piece sectional...
Mohair, Velvet
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 31 in W 21 in D 22 in
Mid century Paul McCobb Planner Group Captain Lounge Maple Arm Chair
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful all original midcentury maple Paul McCobb Planner Group Captain arm chair. Solid maple seat and curved back on tapered legs. Original vintage condition. Original blonde map...
Maple
4x Planner Group Paul McCobb chairs, United States, 1950s
By Winchendon, Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Nashville, TN
Item Details: 4x spindle-back dining chairs Creator: Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture Planner Group Series, labeled ...
Wood, Maple
Paul McCobb for Planner Group Mid Century 2 Piece 4-Seat Sectional Sofa
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Paul McCobb for Planner Group Mid Century 2-piece 4-seat sectional sofa Each piece is 51 wide x 32 deep x 31 inches high, and a total combined width of 102; the seat height is 17.5 ...
Upholstery, Wood