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 a crank-driven guillotine paper cutter; the invention is considered an unnumbered patent.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a crank-driven guillotine paper cutter; the invention is considered an unnumbered patent.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1834
patent date
1834-02-28
maker
Ames, J.
ID Number
1997.0198.17
catalog number
1997.0198.17
accession number
1997.0198
patent number
8030X
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a double bed-and-platen power press with a frisket at each end and is considered an unnumbered patent. The bed was raised by toggles beneath against the fixed platen.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a double bed-and-platen power press with a frisket at each end and is considered an unnumbered patent. The bed was raised by toggles beneath against the fixed platen. This patent provided the basis for the single-ended Adams Power Press, a well-loved iron machine later produced by R. Hoe & Co. In the 1870s it was still considered to produce finer letterpress work than any other machine on the market. It was pre-eminently a book press. Isaac Adams (1803-1883), with no schooling but ample inventive genius, introduced his power press at the age of 25 and derived his living from its success.
Date made
1830
ca 1830
patent date
1830-10-04
maker
Adams, Isaac
ID Number
GA.11024
accession number
48865
catalog number
GA*11024
GA.11024
patent number
6178X
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a bed-and-platen power press with two friskets which carried paper under the platen alternately. The platen was drawn down by toggles against a fixed bed; it was to be powered by man, steam, horse, or water.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a bed-and-platen power press with two friskets which carried paper under the platen alternately. The platen was drawn down by toggles against a fixed bed; it was to be powered by man, steam, horse, or water. The invention is considered an unnumbered patent.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1834
patent date
1834-08-22
maker
Tufts, Otis
ID Number
GA.11025
catalog number
GA*11025
accession number
48865
patent number
8380X
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a web perfecting rotary press which was granted patent number 468. Flat forms of type were arranged around the surface of two type cylinders to form polygons.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a web perfecting rotary press which was granted patent number 468. Flat forms of type were arranged around the surface of two type cylinders to form polygons. The web of paper was printed on both sides at this press, then sent to a drying machine still in the web, and finally cut into sheets. The inventor is named "Trench" on the patent drawings and "French" on the specification.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1837
patent date
1837-11-20
maker
French, Thomas
ID Number
GA.11026
catalog number
GA*11026
accession number
49064
patent number
000468
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a machine to smooth the sides of type; the invention was granted patent number 631.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a machine to smooth the sides of type; the invention was granted patent number 631. In the inventor's opinion, this foot-driven machine allowed the operator to rub around sixty thousand types in a day, in conditions of less "unhealthiness" than the usual. The model is missing its treadle.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1838
patent date
1838-03-10
maker
Bruce, Jr., David
ID Number
GA.89797.000631
patent number
000631
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.000631
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a platen-printing press; the invention was granted patent number 1315. On the press, the feeding, inking and printing actions were directed by grooves on a driving cylinder.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a platen-printing press; the invention was granted patent number 1315. On the press, the feeding, inking and printing actions were directed by grooves on a driving cylinder.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1839
patent date
1839-09-07
maker
Schuebly, William
Schuebly, Thomas
ID Number
GA.89797.001315
accession number
089797
patent number
001315
catalog number
GA*89797.001315

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