Punching Machine Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 20
label: date made
content: 1879
label: patent date
content: 1879-09-30
name: label: inventor
content: Cowhig, Jerry
notes: label: Description
content: Patent: US220129
label: Description
content: This is a patent model for a punching machine, patented by Jerry Cowhig of Richmond, Indiana on September 30, 1879. It introduced a compact and portable sheet-metal punching machine built from two U-shaped sheet-iron side plates joined by bolts or rivets. It was significantly lighter and more mobile than the heavy cast-iron frames commonly used at the time.
label: Description
content: Between these plates sits a supporting brace that holds the die, while vertical guides ensure the punch moves straight down into position. The punch itself is operated by a system of hand levers that multiplies the force applied by the worker, driving the punch cleanly through the metal. A counterweight helps keep the lever balanced and ready for repeated use, and simple iron feet provide stability without adding bulk. The result is a sturdy, efficient machine that can be made by blacksmiths with ordinary tools, offering durability and ease of use at a much lower cost than traditional punching machines.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Indiana, Richmond
label: associated place
content: United States: Indiana, Richmond
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Mechanical and Civil Engineering
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MC.309405
label: catalog number
content: 309405
label: patent number
content: 220,129
label: accession number
content: 89797
objectType: label: Object Name
content: patent model, punching machine, metal
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 7 1/4 in x 10 in x 3 1/2 in; 18.415 cm x 25.4 cm x 8.89 cm