William A. Bradford's 1875 School Desk and Seat Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 1875
label: patent date
content: 1875-12-07
name: label: patentee
content: Bradford, William A.
label: transfer
content: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
label: inventor
content: Bradford, William A.
notes: label: Description
content: William A. Bradford from Goshen, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 170810 was issued on December 12, 1875.
label: Description
content: This model is a combination of thick cast iron and wood. The ironwork features a scrollwork design and Romanesque arches along the side of the desktop. The seat folds up, but the desk is attached to the back of the backrest and does not lift up. The seat and backrest are curved and joined for lower back support. There are metal hinges and the legs have feet with holes in them to allow the desk to be mounted to the platform. Stops were used below the seat hinges to allow greater control of movement. The stops were a part of another patent filed by Bradford.
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: Indiana, Goshen
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.65.0394
label: catalog number
content: 65.0394
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: patent number
content: 170,810
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: iron (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 8 3/4 in x 10 in x 9 1/2 in; 22.225 cm x 25.4 cm x 24.13 cm