Rubber Band
notes: label: Description
content: In 1844, the American chemist Charles Goodyear (1800-1860) patented a process for producing rubber that was pliable, moldable and waterproof. In short order, many “India rubber” goods were to be had. This early rubber band came from Leo Hershkowitz, a professor of history at Queens College in New York City who was known for having “Unearthed New York City’s History by Scavenging Archives.” The inscription reads “Metallic Gum E(la)stic Bands / (Man)ufactured under his P(ate)nts of 1844 / Henry Davenport, New York.” Davenport sold an assortment of india rubber goods and, in 1855, received a medal from the American Institute of New York, for “rubber elastic bands.” In 1856 he received a patent for mode of making gutta percha cord.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1983.0624.001
label: catalog number
content: 1983.0624.001
label: accession number
content: 1983.0624
objectType: label: Object Name
content: rubber band
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall; card object is mounted on: 1 5/8 in x 4 1/4 in; 4.1275 cm x 10.795 cm