Charles H. Presbrey's 1873 School Desk and Seat Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 1873
label: patent date
content: 1873-01-21
name: label: patentee
content: Presbrey, Charles H.
label: transfer
content: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
label: inventor
content: Presbrey, Charles H.
notes: label: Description
content: Charles H. Presbrey from Sterling, Illinoi,s received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 135154 was issued on January 21, 1873.
label: Description
content: This desk features a hinge designed to minimize the damage done by friction. The wood is an oak color with iron painted black and has a novelty design to it. Dark and light colored wood alternate together. The seat folds up. The seat is curved, and the desk is attached behind the bench. There is a groove for writing utensils and storage under the desk for books. On both sides of the desk is an iron logo that is shaped as a circle. "COGGER" is carved on the wooden base, and there is a signature in black ink on top of the seat that says "Charles H. Presbrey." The monogram “A” is impressed in the lower leg support of the desk probably as a manufacturer's mark. The model is attached to a wooden base for stability, but this would not be present in the full sized desk. Disjointed parts are tied together and attached to the model, indicating an earlier repair.
label: Description
content: Charles Presbrey was born in 1835. In 1885 Presbrey and Edward Thomas founded C.H. Presbrey & Co. taking over the Novelty Manufacturing Company, originally founded in 1869.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: referenced in patent specifications
content: United States: Illinois, Sterling
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.65.0387
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: catalog number
content: 65.0387
label: patent number
content: 135,154
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: iron (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 11 3/4 in x 11 in x 8 in; 29.845 cm x 27.94 cm x 20.32 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall: 11 3/4 in x 8 in x 13 in; 29.845 cm x 20.32 cm x 33.02 cm