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 book-stitching machine which was granted patent number 232446 in 1880. This was an improvement on Boynton's earlier patent, number 203530 in 1878, and allowed for easier adjustment for books of different sizes.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a book-stitching machine which was granted patent number 232446 in 1880. This was an improvement on Boynton's earlier patent, number 203530 in 1878, and allowed for easier adjustment for books of different sizes. The model is damaged.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1880
patent date
1880-09-21
maker
Boynton, Edward S.
ID Number
GA.24910
patent number
232447
catalog number
GA*24910
accession number
1978.1070
patent number
232,447
catalog number
24910
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a lithographic printing press which was granted patent number 116406. A self-inking rotary press carrying the stone or plate on a segment of a large cylinder.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a lithographic printing press which was granted patent number 116406. A self-inking rotary press carrying the stone or plate on a segment of a large cylinder. The bed of the stone and the shaft of the cylinder were adjustable, to meet the surface of the smaller impression cylinder. The rights to this patent were assigned jointly to Boynton and Charles Parker of Meriden, Connecticut.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1871
patent date
1871-06-27
maker
Boynton, Edward S.
ID Number
GA.89797.116406
accession number
089797
patent number
116406
catalog number
GA*89797.116406
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a signature holding and presenting device which was granted patent number 232446. The invention was to be used with David McConnel Smyth's book-stitching invention (Patent 220312, 1879).
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a signature holding and presenting device which was granted patent number 232446. The invention was to be used with David McConnel Smyth's book-stitching invention (Patent 220312, 1879). The model is incomplete, only the folding metal signature holder and wooden carriage rack survive.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1880
patent date
1880-09-21
maker
Boynton, Edward S.
ID Number
GA.89797.232446
patent number
232446
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.232446

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