I just ordered one of those stools, too. I never sit all the way back in a chair, and the office chairs are sloped towards the back and way too long front to back. I can reach the floor, but up, down, up, down all the time is faster sitting on the edge than all the way in.
As for stuff made in the 60s and 70s:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]522762[/ATTACH]
The base is massive aluminum, I think the chair might be leather or a very good naugahyde. It has shown no signs of ripping. It had the small wheels on it, we replaced with larger. I bought it used and have had it for over 20 years.