William Erwin and Thomas Dugdale's first 1870 School Desk and Seat Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 1870
label: patent date
content: 1870-03-01
name: label: patentee
content: Erwin, William P.
label: patentee
content: Dugdale, Thomas A.
label: transfer
content: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
label: inventor
content: Erwin, William P.
label: inventor
content: Dugdale, Thomas A.
notes: label: Description
content: William Erwin and Thomas Dugdale from Richmond, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 100275 was issued by Dugdale and Erwin on March 1, 1870.
label: Description
content: This desk is made of wood, with brass legs and metal hinges. It has a flat backrest and seat. The seat and backrest do not join. The desktop lifts up and has storage underneath. The seat folds up as well. The specifications state the desk should be made out of ash or walnut lumber and should be put together with wooden screws. The metal parts should be made of cast iron, except for the screws, which they stated should be made of wrought iron. There is a plate on the backrest, but the writing is not legible. Erwin's name is on the backrest. There is a wooden foundation, and the entire base is made of either brass or metal.
label: Description
content: We are not aware of any additional information about William Erwin.
label: Description
content: Thomas Dugdale holds patents for numerous inventions.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Indiana, Richmond
label: referenced in patent specifications
content: United States: Indiana, Richmond
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: See more items in
content: Patent Models
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: CL.65.0374
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: catalog number
content: 65.0374
label: patent number
content: 100275
objectType: label: Object Name
content: model
label: Object Name
content: desk model
label: Object Type
content: Patent Model
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: brass (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 7 1/4 in x 5 3/4 in x 8 1/4 in; 18.415 cm x 14.605 cm x 20.955 cm