Reproduction of Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin Model

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Object Details

Description

In 1794, Eli Whitney patented a new kind of cotton gin. His invention, using rotating brushes and teeth to remove the seeds from cotton, was quickly pirated by others.

Southern plantation owners depended on slaves for labor-intensive crops such as rice, sugar, tobacco, and especially cotton. As the market demand for cotton increased in the early 1800s, the Southern cotton industry expanded dramatically, as did the system of slave labor it relied on.

Location

Currently not on view

ID Number

TE.T08791.000

catalog number

T8791

accession number

48865

catalog number

T-8791

Object Name

gin, reproduction cotton

Physical Description

wood (overall material)

metal (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 11 in x 14 in x 14 in; 27.94 cm x 35.56 cm x 35.56 cm

Related Publication

Kendrick, Kathleen M. and Peter C. Liebhold. Smithsonian Treasures of American History

See more items in

Home and Community Life: Textiles

Industry & Manufacturing

National Treasures exhibit

Agriculture

Textiles

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Metadata Usage

CC0

Link to Original Record

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-55a6-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record ID

nmah_625483