George Sherwood's 1867 Folding Seat Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 1867
label: patent date
content: 1867-10-15
name: label: inventor
content: Sherwood, George
notes: label: Description
content: George Sherwood from Chicago, Illinois, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 69850 was issued on October 15, 1867.
label: Description
content: Calvin W. Sherwood from Chicago, Illinois, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 101670 was issued on April 5, 1870.
label: Description
content: These patents use a combination of cast iron and wood, though other suitable materials could be used. George Sherwood’s patent allowed the desk seat to be raised without striking the back of the seat. Calvin Sherwood’s patent allowed for a space leaving the back of the seat independent of the desk behind it. Because desks were frequently attached to the chair of the student in front, his patent was designed to address the problem of a student seated in front moving around and disrupting the student sitting behind.
label: Description
content: In 1856 George Sherwood moved from Connecticut to Chicago, Illinois, where he started George Sherwood & Company, later known as the Sherwood School Furniture Company. His brother, Calvin, taught school for many years before joining his brother’s company. In addition to student desks, the company manufactured other school items as well as publishing textbooks.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: referenced in patent specifications
content: United States: Illinois, Chicago
topic: label: classified
content: Patent Models
label: general subject association
content: Education
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.249602.584
label: catalog number
content: 249602.584
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: patent number
content: 69.850
objectType: label: Object Name
content: seat model
label: Object Type
content: Patent Model
label: Other Terms
content: seat model; Furniture; Folding
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (seat legs material)
label: Physical Description
content: wood (seat; backrest material)
label: Measurements
content: overall (seat open): 9 1/2 in x 9 in x 5 1/4 in; 24.13 cm x 22.86 cm x 13.335 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall (seat closed): 9 in x 2 3/4 in; 22.86 cm x 6.985 cm