William Joeckel's 1861 School Desk and Seat Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 1861
label: patent date
content: 1861-12-24
name: label: patentee
content: Joeckel, William H.
label: transfer
content: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
label: inventor
content: Joeckel, William H.
notes: label: Description
content: William Joeckel from New York City received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 33994 was issued on December 24, 1861.
label: Description
content: This desk was made to accommodate students of different ages with seats and desks that are adjustable. The seat and desk are wood, while other parts are made of cast iron. The desk has a storage shelf underneath, but its opening faces away from the stool. The seats can be raised so that they are out of the way, allowing for easy passage. The pedestal desk form became popular around the time of the Civil War.
label: Description
content: William Joeckel was a partner in Joeckel & Johnson Church & School Furniture in New York City. It was common during the 19th Century for school desk manufacturers to also make church and theater furnishings.
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
label: Exhibition
content: Inventing in America
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: CL.65.0512
label: catalog number
content: 65.0512
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: patent number
content: 33,994
objectType: label: Object Name
content: model
label: Object Name
content: seat model
label: Object Name
content: desk and seat model
label: Object Type
content: Patent Model
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: iron (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 9 1/2 in x 6 3/4 in x 7 in; 24.13 cm x 17.145 cm x 17.78 cm
label: Measurements
content: desk: 4 3/4 in x 7 in x 6 3/4 in; 12.065 cm x 17.78 cm x 17.145 cm
label: Measurements
content: seat: 2 1/2 in x 2 1/2 in x 1/4 in; 6.35 cm x 6.35 cm x .635 cm