Albert E. Roberts's 1870 School Desk and Seat Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 1870
label: associated date
content: 1878
label: patent date
content: 1870-09-27
name: label: patentee
content: Roberts, Albert E.
label: transfer
content: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
label: inventor
content: Roberts, Albert E.
notes: label: Description
content: .Albert E. Roberts from Des Moines, Iowa, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk hinge. Patent no. 107724 was issued on September 27, 1870.
label: Description
content: This model is made of wood and has a desk attached to the back of the backrest. There is a design cut out on the front legs and a small storage space under the desk. The seat folds up for compatibility. Albert Roberts considered his September 1870 model an improvement on previous models because it strengthened the hinge joints and provided a "means of regulating the friction of the joints." The cover of the joint would specifically "receive, conceal, and protect the end of the screw bolt" making it less likely to loosen.
label: Description
content: Albert E. Roberts was born in 1842 and became a manufacturer of school furniture. He lived in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1870. The collection contains three desk patent model's Mr. Roberts
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: referenced in patent specifications
content: United States: Iowa, Des Moines
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.65.0378
label: catalog number
content: 65.378
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: patent number
content: 107,724
objectType: label: Object Name
content: model
label: Object Name
content: desk hinge model
label: Object Type
content: Patent Model
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 10 1/2 in x 9 in; 26.67 cm x 22.86 cm