John Mealey's 1868 School Seat Desk Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 1868
label: patent date
content: 1868-10-27
name: label: patentee
content: Mealey, John
label: transfer
content: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
label: inventor
content: Mealey, John
notes: label: Description
content: John Mealey from St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 83521 was issued on October 27, 1868.
label: Description
content: This model has a folding desktop, making this design popular in schools as well as lecture rooms and halls. The simple construction was durable and accommodating, whether it was being used as a seat, table, or desk. "John Mealey" is written in a golden colored paint on the backrest. The bench is made of a dark, flat wood. There are two shelves underneath the seat that have crevices for an inkwell. The legs and armrest are made out of metal. No part of the desk is compactable or folding.
label: Description
content: We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: referenced in patent specifications
content: United States: California, Fairville
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.65.0369
label: catalog number
content: 65.0369
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: patent number
content: 83,521
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: Measurements
content: overall: 8 in x 11 in x 7 in; 20.32 cm x 27.94 cm x 17.78 cm