Edward J. Stearns's 1868 School Desk and Seat Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 1868
label: patent date
content: 1868-04-14
name: label: patentee
content: Stearns, Edward I.
label: transfer
content: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
label: inventor
content: Stearns, Edward I.
notes: label: Description
content: Edward J. Stearns from Cambridge, Maryland, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk model. Patent no. 76839 was issued on April 14, 1868.
label: Description
content: This desk was created to eliminate lid slamming. The design features a lid that opens towards the student and is adequately supported when in use. The desk is supported on a pair of simple turned legs attached to a wooden platform. The platform has a hole for another leg that may have supported a seat. There is writing in black ink across the platform that reads: "E.J. Stearns' School Desk." The stool is round with no backrest. It has a single monobloc base while the desk has two.
label: Description
content: We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: referenced in patent specifications
content: United States: Maryland, Cambridge
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.65.0367
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: catalog number
content: 65.0367
label: patent number
content: 76,839
objectType: label: Object Name
content: model
label: Object Name
content: desk model
label: Object Type
content: Patent Model
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: non ferrous metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 5 3/4 in x 5 in x 4 in; 14.605 cm x 12.7 cm x 10.16 cm