Calvin W. Sherwood's 1870 School Desk and Seat Patent Model
date: label: patent date
content: 1870
label: patent date
content: 1870-04-05
name: label: bequest
content: Hoffman, John
label: patentee
content: Sherwood, Calvin W.
label: inventor
content: Sherwood, Calvin W.
notes: label: Description
content: George Sherwood from Chicago, Illinois, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 69850 was issued on October 15, 1867.
label: Description
content: Calvin W. Sherwood from Chicago, Illinois, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 101670 was issued on April 5, 1870.
label: Description
content: These patents use a combination of cast iron and wood, though other suitable materials could be used if desired. George Sherwood’s patent allowed the desk seat to be raised without striking the back of the seat. Calvin Sherwood’s patent allowed for a space leaving the back of the seat independent of the desk behind it. Because desks were frequently attached to the chair of the student in front, his patent was designed to address the problem of a student seated in front moving around and disrupting the student sitting behind.
label: Description
content: In 1856 George Sherwood moved from Connecticut to Chicago, Illinois, where he started George Sherwood & Company, later known as the Sherwood School Furniture Company. His brother, Calvin, taught school for many years before joining his brother’s company. In addition to student desks, the company manufactured other school items as well as publishing textbooks.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: referenced in patent specifications
content: United States: Illinois, Chicago
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
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Bequest of John R. Hoffman
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1983.0508.04
label: accession number
content: 1983.0508
label: catalog number
content: 1983.0508.04
label: patent number
content: 101,670
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: brass (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 7 in x 5 3/4 in x 6 1/2 in; 17.78 cm x 14.605 cm x 16.51 cm