Patent Models: Graphic Arts

Of the 10,000 patent models held in this Museum, some 400 models are housed in and relate to the Graphic Arts Collection. These include models prepared for the printing, type, paper, and bookbinding trades.

The following Introduction is copied directly from Elizabeth M. Harris, Patent Models in the Graphic Arts Collection (Washington, D.C.: The National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, 1997). This publication is illustrated with line drawings.

Black and white photographs of many of the 400 plus patent models in the Graphic Arts Collection were taken in the 1960s. We hope the publication of these photographs will also assist the public in better understanding the Collection.

“Until 1880, the U.S. Patent Office required most inventors to submit a model with their application for patent protection. The Patent Office thus became the keeper of a huge collection, one that suffered several catastrophes over the years. In 1836 a fire at Blodgett's Hotel, where the Patent Office was housed, destroyed all existing models—about 10,000 items—as well as the records of some specifications. After the fire new patents, hitherto unnumbered, were numbered in a consecutive series. In 1840 an effort was made to restore models and specifications lost in the fire. Some 2845 were restored (and numbered in a new X... series), but there were gaps that could not be filled and remain blank to this day. In 1887 a second fire started in a loft in the Patent Office where 12,000 rejected models were stored. It spread rapidly, destroying or damaging 114,000 more models out of the total collection of around 200,000. Of these, 27,000 were eventually restored, while 87,000 were lost.

The first patent models now in the Graphic Arts Division came to the Smithsonian in 1908—a group of eleven models transferred by the Patent Office. In 1926 Congress decided to dispose of the remaining Patent Office collection, which then consisted of some 150,000 models. About 10,000 pieces came to the Smithsonian's U.S. National Museum.

The largest single group within that transfer—about 4,000—consisted of models for the textiles industry. More than 300 were for the printing trades. Other printing models have arrived since 1926, singly or in small groups.”

For more information about the Museum’s patent model collection, see Patent Model Index, Guide to the Collections of the National Museum of American History.

This patent model demonstrates an invention for improvements in the printing press; the invention was granted patent number 4025. The patent details improvements in feed and delivery, in raising the cylinder, and in stopping the bed.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for improvements in the printing press; the invention was granted patent number 4025. The patent details improvements in feed and delivery, in raising the cylinder, and in stopping the bed.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1845
patent date
1845-05-01
maker
Hoe, Richard March
ID Number
GA.11016
catalog number
GA*11016
patent number
004025
accession number
48865
This patent model demonstrates an invention for an improvement on Hoe's rotary printing press; the invention was granted patent number 5199.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for an improvement on Hoe's rotary printing press; the invention was granted patent number 5199. The patent includes improvements to the inking apparatus, the use of a portion of the type cylinder for ink distribution, and locking type to the cylinder with tapering rules.
date made
ca 1847
patent date
1847-07-24
inventor
Hoe, Richard March
ID Number
GA.11017
accession number
48865
catalog number
GA*11017
patent number
5199
This patent model demonstrates an invention for various improvements on the English presses of Applegath, Napier, and others, especially methods of stopping and reversing the press bed in its travel and of raising the impression cylinders to allow the bed to pass underneath.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for various improvements on the English presses of Applegath, Napier, and others, especially methods of stopping and reversing the press bed in its travel and of raising the impression cylinders to allow the bed to pass underneath. The invention was granted patent number 2629.
This was the patent for Hoe's Pony press, built specifically for the New York Sun to print 5-6,000 impressions per hour. Richard March Hoe (1812-1886) was the son of Robert Hoe, founder of the original company, which he took over in 1833 after his father's death. Among many outstanding inventions, his most famous press was the Lightning of 1846. He was also known for solicitous management of his employees, for whom he set up set up a free but compulsory apprentice school.
Location
Currently not on view (printing press fragment)
date made
ca 1842
patent date
1842-05-20
patentee
Hoe, Richard March
maker
Hoe, Richard March
ID Number
GA.11023
catalog number
GA*11023
accession number
48865
patent number
002629
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a flatbed cylinder press which was granted patent number 3551. This presses’ tapered bearers were attached to the bed to prevent slurring of the impression at the ends of the formCurrently not on view
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a flatbed cylinder press which was granted patent number 3551. This presses’ tapered bearers were attached to the bed to prevent slurring of the impression at the ends of the form
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1844
patent date
1844-04-17
patentee
Hoe, Richard March
maker
Hoe, Richard March
ID Number
GA.89797.003551
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.003551
patent number
003551
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a sheet-handling system for printing both sides of a rotary press; the invention was granted patent number 24875. According to Stephen D. Tucker’s History of R.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a sheet-handling system for printing both sides of a rotary press; the invention was granted patent number 24875. According to Stephen D. Tucker’s History of R. Hoe & Company, this apparatus did not work well and was never brought into use.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1859
patent date
1859-07-26
patentee
Hoe, Richard March
maker
Hoe, Richard March
ID Number
GA.89797.024875
accession number
089797
patent number
024875
catalog number
GA*89797.024875
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a rotary perfecting press which was granted patent number 92050. The patent details improvements to sheet- or web-fed perfecting presses.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a rotary perfecting press which was granted patent number 92050. The patent details improvements to sheet- or web-fed perfecting presses. Instead of being attached to the impression cylinder, the press blanket was an endless web that travelled with the paper and acted as its support. The press was patented in England in 1871 (Patent 1825 to W.E.Newton).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1869
patent date
1869-06-29
patentee
Hoe, Richard March
maker
Tucker, Stephen D.
Hoe, Richard March
ID Number
GA.89797.092050
accession number
89797
patent number
092050
catalog number
GA*89797.092050
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a flatbed cylinder printing press which was granted patent number 108785. The patent details methods of controlling the motion of the type bed. The model is broken.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a flatbed cylinder printing press which was granted patent number 108785. The patent details methods of controlling the motion of the type bed. The model is broken.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1870
date made
ca 1870
patent date
1870-11-01
maker
Tucker, Stephen D.
Hoe, Richard March
ID Number
GA.89797.108785
accession number
89797
patent number
108785
catalog number
GA*89797.108785
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a rotary perfecting press which was granted patent number 113769.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a rotary perfecting press which was granted patent number 113769. The patent allows for separating and piling set-off sheets on perfecting presses, and providing easier access to the blankets on the second cylinder.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1871
patent date
1871-04-18
patentee
Hoe, Richard March
maker
Hoe, Richard March
ID Number
GA.89797.113769
accession number
089797
patent number
113769
catalog number
GA*89797.113769
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a rotary printing press which was granted patent number 131217. The invention offers a new system of feeding, carrying, and delivering sheets for rotary perfecting presses.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a rotary printing press which was granted patent number 131217. The invention offers a new system of feeding, carrying, and delivering sheets for rotary perfecting presses. The model consists of the central group of feeding cylinders. According to Stephen D. Tucker’s History of R. Hoe & Company, a press on this plan was capable of printing 8000 sheets per hour and was used successfully by the New York Daily News.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1872
patent date
1872-09-10
maker
Tucker, Stephen D.
Hoe, Richard March
ID Number
GA.89797.131217
patent number
131217
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.131217
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a rotary perfecting printing press which was granted patent number 162651. The press used a web of set-off paper that replaced the usual sheets.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a rotary perfecting printing press which was granted patent number 162651. The press used a web of set-off paper that replaced the usual sheets. The web was used on one side and then the other, repeatedly, allowing the ink time to dry on each side before it was presented again.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1875
patent date
1875-04-27
maker
Hoe, Richard March
ID Number
GA.89797.162651
catalog number
GA*89797.162651
patent number
162651
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a flatbed printing press; the invention was granted patent number 173295. The patent describes improvements to the movement of the bed, the sheet fly, and the inking table of cylinder presses.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a flatbed printing press; the invention was granted patent number 173295. The patent describes improvements to the movement of the bed, the sheet fly, and the inking table of cylinder presses.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1876
date made
ca 1876
patent date
1876-02-08
maker
Hoe, Richard March
Tucker, Stephen D.
ID Number
GA.89797.173295
patent number
173295
catalog number
GA*89797.173295
accession number
89797

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