George F. Perkins's 1871 School Seat Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 1871
label: patent date
content: 1871-12-12
name: label: patentee
content: Perkins, George F.
label: transfer
content: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
label: inventor
content: Perkins, George F.
notes: label: Description
content: George F. Perkins from San Francisco, California, received a U.S. patent for an improved reading desk. Patent no. 121810 was issued on December 12, 1871.
label: Description
content: This desk is entirely wooden and has pew-like supporters rather than traditional chair legs. It was referred to as the “pendent reading desk” although there is no desk with this seat today. It was designed to be fastened to a chair or even a bedstead, and it stays in place with the help of a strap. There are armrests, and the top of the seat back has two arches as a design element. The support arches curve above the user's head. The shelf for reading is pictured holding a lamp as well. The patent model describes it as being “a very convenient apparatus for reading or writing with ease.” There are armrests and the top of the seat back has two arches as a design element.
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: California, San Francisco
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.65.0351
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: catalog number
content: 65.0351
label: patent number
content: 121,810
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: Measurements
content: overall: 5 1/2 in x 4 in x 4 in; 13.97 cm x 10.16 cm x 10.16 cm