David Francis's 1874 School Seat Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 1874
label: patent date
content: 1874-09-22
name: label: patentee
content: Francis, David
label: transfer
content: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
label: inventor
content: Francis, David
notes: label: Description
content: David Francis from Birckenhead, Chester, England, first received a British patent for an improved desk and seat on June 27, 1873 and then received an American patent, no.155231, which was issued on September 22, 1874.
label: Description
content: This model is a combination of black cast iron and wood. The cast iron has circular designs, while the seat and backrest are flat and create a 90-degree angle with no curves for body comfort. The desktop reads, "Lift the top to unlock it - Francis's patent." There is no lower back seat support because there is a gap between the backrest and seat. The seat itself has no curves for body comfort or support. There are also black tacks bolted from the wooden seat onto an iron-based support system. The backrest folds up towards the desktop. Francis advertised the full sized production version of this desk.
label: Description
content: David Francis was born in Somerset, England ca 1830. He worked as a carpenter/joiner in England, and died in Kenilworth, England on July 9, 1902.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: referenced in patent specifications
content: United Kingdom: England, Wirral, Birkenhead
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.65.0345
label: catalog number
content: 65.0345
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: patent number
content: 155,231
objectType: label: Object Name
content: school desk
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: 12 1/2 in x 11 1/2 in x 8 in; 31.75 cm x 29.21 cm x 20.32 cm