John L. Riter's 1873 School Desk and Seat Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 1873
label: patent date
content: 1873-03-04
name: label: patentee
content: Riter, John L.
label: transfer
content: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
label: inventor
content: Riter, John L.
notes: label: Description
content: Herbert L. Andrews from Chicago, Illinois, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 82061 was issued on September 15, 1868.
label: Description
content: This desk has a square wooden top and three brass legs connected to the bottom of the desktop. The metal work is considered Gothic, with a diamond-shaped pattern. The monobloc and hinges are brass colored with two knobs so the height of the desk can be raised or lowered. The seat is adjustable in height, which allows the two parts to be held together more securely. This desk was produced by A.H. Andrews & Co. in 1870 in Chicago. It was made in six sizes and called the "Triumph School Desk." The desk got a good deal of acclaim and was exhibited at the International State Industrial Exposition in Chicago in 1873. It was displayed again at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, where it won an award for "strength, durability, and good form." According to Andrews he sold over 50,000 of these school desks yearly.
label: Description
content: Herbert Lee Andrews was born in New Britain, Connecticut, on June 6, 1844. He was educated in public schools and taught for a short period in Meriden and Plantsville, Connecticut. In 1868 he moved to Chicago and entered into manufacturing with his brother Alfred H. Andrews. They were partners in the A. H. Andrews & Co. The National Cyclopedia of American Biography (1917) states that Herbert Lee Andrews was the inventor of the first folding seat school desk. He made other desks as well as opera chairs, a dustless blackboard eraser, and an ink well. He also created steel rod framed chairs, tables, and stools, which became a staple of school furniture. In 1895 he invented a steel woven fabric to be used in place of leather or plush for car seats or railroad cars.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: referenced in patent specifications
content: United States: Indiana, Brownsville
topic: label: general subject association
content: Education
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.65.0388
label: catalog number
content: 65.0388
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: patent number
content: 136,548
objectType: label: Object Name
content: model
label: Object Name
content: desk 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: paint (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 11 1/2 in x 11 in x 11 1/2 in; 29.21 cm x 27.94 cm x 29.21 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall:11 in x 4.25 in x 0.5 in