Charles Perley's 1859 School and Church Seat Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 1859
label: patent date
content: 1859-05-24
name: label: patentee
content: Perley, Charles
label: transfer
content: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
label: inventor
content: Perley, Charles
notes: label: Description
content: Charles Perley from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, received a U.S. patent for an improved school seat. Patent no. 24151 was issued on May 24, 1859.
label: Description
content: The patent is a combination of wood and metal, with a very wide bench. It is mechanically able to fold up from the bottom seat. There are no curves or slopes that mold to the body and no armrests. They were designed to be used on the perimeter of the room when the rest of the school room, church, or other building is full. The folding seat was important for moving, as well as making the rooms easier to clean. There are two marks: "C. Perely and Sons/ 114 Columbia St, NY/ 1858," inscribed with a stamp on top of the base and on the seat back. The base is incorrrectly stamped with the name mispelled. The patent paper signature clearly spells "Perley."
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: New York, New York City
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.65.0504
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: catalog number
content: 65.0504
label: patent number
content: 24151
objectType: label: Object Name
content: model
label: Object Name
content: seat model
label: Object Type
content: Patent Model
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 10 3/4 in x 5 1/2 in x 8 1/8 in; 27.305 cm x 13.97 cm x 20.6375 cm
label: Measurements
content: seat: 10 3/4 in x 7 1/4 in x 5 1/2 in; 27.305 cm x 18.415 cm x 13.97 cm
label: Measurements
content: base: 10 3/4 in x 5 1/2 in x 1/2 in; 27.305 cm x 13.97 cm x 1.27 cm