Charles J. Higgins's 1873 School Desk Patent Model Leg Support
date: label: date made
content: 1873
label: patent date
content: 1873-10-21
name: label: patentee
content: Higgins, Charles J.
label: transfer
content: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
label: inventor
content: Higgins, Charles J.
notes: label: Description
content: Charles J. Higgins from Marion, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 143760 was issued on October 21, 1873.
label: Description
content: This was designed as a partial model consisting of the side support or end of a desk. Painted onto the desk are the words "Charles J. Higgins. Improvement in Desk Ends.” There are two pieces of bent or curved wood, which flares out as two legs for one side of a desk.
label: Description
content: Charles J. Higgins founded Higgins Bent Wood School Furniture Co. and produced crafted school desks with beautiful wood "ends" or supports as advertised in the <i>Indiana School Journal</i> and sold in 1874 and 1875. By September 12, 1876, <i>The Indianapolis News</i> was reporting that the company was in financial trouble and liquidating their stock.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: referenced in patent specifications
content: United States: Indiana, Indianapolis
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
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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.65.0416
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: catalog number
content: 65.0416
label: patent number
content: 143,760
objectType: label: Object Name
content: desk leg support patent model
label: Object Name
content: model
label: Object Type
content: Patent Model
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 12 1/4 in x 5 in; 31.115 cm x 12.7 cm