James Russell"s 1871 School Desk Patent Specifications
date: label: date made
content: 1871
label: date made
content: July 25, 1871
name: label: maker
content: Russell, James
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: Original patent specifications for patent no. 117467, a combination style school desk and seat, designed by James Russell of Plymouth, Indiana. The printed page of the specifications leaves off the 2nd "l" in the patentee's last name, which is clearly evident on the first page and with his signature.
label: Description (Brief)
content: James Russell of Plymouth, IN, received U.S. Patent No. 117467 on July 25, 1871, for his "improved school desk". This model has two separate seats that fold up, with a backrest connected like a bench. There are two attached desks behind the back rest that both have lids that can lift up. The wooden bench seat and desk are made of a dark wood with metal hinges. The desktop is divided to make a pair. The bench on the desk front is split in the same manner as the desktop. There is storage underneath both desks for books. The seats fold up individually. The model and original original patent tags are part of a separate museum acquistion- 1983.0508.07.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Indiana, Plymouth
topic: label: used
content: Education
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Education
label: See more items in
content: Patent Model School Seats and Desks
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Dr. Richard Lodish American School Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2014.0244.372
label: accession number
content: 2014.0244
label: catalog number
content: 2014.0244.372
objectType: label: Object Name
content: patent specification
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: paper (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: ink (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 40.5 cm x 50.7 cm x .4 cm; 15 15/16 in x 19 31/32 in x 5/32 in