I have a 1950s Belmont Barber chair, the break for the tilt works fine having trouble with the lift. The handle to pump the hydraulic seems to be locked. I have watched several videos but none seem to address the problem.
It sounds like you’ve done your homework already by checking videos—sometimes those older Belmont chairs can be tricky since the hydraulics wear differently over time. If the tilt brake is fine but the pump handle feels locked, it could be that the release valve is stuck, or there’s old hydraulic fluid causing resistance. Many chair owners have had success by cleaning and re-lubricating the mechanism, or in some cases, replacing worn seals.
Thank you very much for the quick response. I’ve had this chair since I was in my early 30s. Means a lot to me so I will try fluid first and if that doesn’t help I will look into the release valve. Semi retired now so prefer to give it a go first before taking it somewhere. Much appreciated.