James Smith's 1869 School Desk and Seat Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 1869
label: patent date
content: 1870-03-01
label: associated date
content: 1876
name: label: transfer
content: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
label: patentee
content: Smith, James
label: inventor
content: Smith, James
notes: label: Description
content: James Smith from Richmond, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 100334 was issued on March 1, 1869.
label: Description
content: This desk features a wooden bench with a flat backrest and seat. The seat folds up with the use of wooden hinges. The desk is attached to the back and does not lift up. There is a storage shelf underneath the desktop. There are no legs, but instead a pew-like support system. There is a silver plaque, tarnished, on the desktop that reads, "Improved School Desk, James Smith, Richmond Ind."
label: Description
content: Ezra Smith, Asa Smith, and James Smith owned Ezra Smith & Co., where they manufactured various types of school furniture.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: referenced in patent specifications
content: United States: Indiana, Richmond
topic: label: general subject association
content: Education
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.249602.586
label: catalog number
content: 249602.586
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: patent number
content: 100,334
objectType: label: Object Name
content: school desk
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: Measurements
content: overall: 7 3/4 in x 6 1/2 in x 5 1/4 in; 19.685 cm x 16.51 cm x 13.335 cm