William N. Foster's 1872 School Desk and Seat Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 1872
label: patent date
content: 1872-07-09
name: label: patentee
content: Foster, William N.
label: transfer
content: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
label: inventor
content: Foster, William N.
notes: label: Description
content: William N. Foster from Indianapolis, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved bench. Patent no. 128871 was issued on July 9, 1872.
label: Description
content: This desk features a seat with five slats of alternating dark and light wood. The metal hinges allow the seat to fold up. The backrest and seat are not joined. There is a storage shelf underneath, but the desktop does not lift up. "Fosters patent Applied for May 1st" is painted on the desk. Foster was concerned with all the practical elements of the desk, incorporating a groove for the holding of pens and pencils and providing an inkstand attached to the desk. He also considered the comfort of the students and added a place for them to rest their feet.
label: Description
content: William N. Foster founded Foster’s Bent Wood School Furniture in Indianapolis.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: referenced in patent specifications
content: United States: Indiana, Indianapolis
topic: label: classified
content: Patent Models
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Education
label: See more items in
content: American History Education Collection
label: See more items in
content: Cultures & Communities
label: See more items in
content: Patent Model School Seats and Desks
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: CL.65.0385
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: catalog number
content: 65.0385
label: patent number
content: 128,871
objectType: label: Object Name
content: model
label: Object Name
content: desk model
label: Object Type
content: Patent Model
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 8 1/4 in x 2 1/2 in x 3 3/4 in; 20.955 cm x 6.35 cm x 9.525 cm