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Samuel Crumrine's 1876 School Desk and Seat Patent Model

American History Museum

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    Object Details

    patentee

    Crumrine, Samuel

    transfer

    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

    inventor

    Crumrine, Samuel

    Description

    Samuel Crumrine from Indianapolis, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 173272 was issued on February 8, 1876.
    This model is wooden with alternating dark and light slats for the bench. The desk does not use any screws or nails in its construction, nor does it have any metal parts. This makes the desk cheap, strong, and durable. However, the desk is meant to be fastened to the floor with the use of L-shaped pieces of iron. The desk is attached to the backrest and has wooden stilts underneath the desktop to prop it up or fold down.
    Samuel Crumrine was registered as a carpenter in 1880.

    Location

    Currently not on view

    date made

    1876

    patent date

    1876-02-08

    associated date

    1880

    ID Number

    CL.249602.580

    catalog number

    249602.580

    accession number

    249602

    patent number

    173,272

    Object Name

    school desk
    model
    desk model

    Object Type

    Patent Model

    Physical Description

    wood (overall material)

    Measurements

    overall: 10 1/4 in x 8 in x 8 1/2 in; 26.035 cm x 20.32 cm x 21.59 cm

    referenced in patent specifications

    United States: Indiana, Indianapolis

    See more items in

    Home and Community Life: Education
    American History Education Collection
    Cultures & Communities
    Patent Model School Seats and Desks

    Data Source

    National Museum of American History

    general subject association

    Education

    classified

    Patent Models

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-b138-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

    Record ID

    nmah_660960

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