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 platen printing press which was granted patent number 17449. The patent details improvements to the feed and delivery systems of a press patented by Merwin Davis in 1855.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for a platen printing press which was granted patent number 17449. The patent details improvements to the feed and delivery systems of a press patented by Merwin Davis in 1855. Charles Potter was at this time in business building Merwin Davis's Oscillating Press and a jobber for George Babcock. After 1864 he turned to his own large cylinder presses, for which he is better known.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1857
patent date
1857-06-02
maker
Potter, Jr., Charles
ID Number
GA.89797.017449
accession number
089797
patent number
017449
catalog number
GA*89797.017449
This patent model demonstrates inventions relating to the inking apparatus on oscillating presses, such as Potter's jobbing press.
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates inventions relating to the inking apparatus on oscillating presses, such as Potter's jobbing press. The two patents, numbered 169191 for bearings for distributing rollers, and 171243 for the inking apparatus itself, are demonstrated on one model.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1875
patent date
1875-12-21
maker
Hubbard, James F.
Potter, Jr., Charles
ID Number
GA.89797.171243
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*89797.171243
patent number
171243
169191
This patent model demonstrates an invention for improvements to the distribution, inking, and feeding apparatus on stop cylinder presses. The invention was granted patent number 178326.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This patent model demonstrates an invention for improvements to the distribution, inking, and feeding apparatus on stop cylinder presses. The invention was granted patent number 178326.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1876
patent date
1876-06-06
maker
Potter, Jr., Charles
Judson, Anson
ID Number
GA.89797.178326
patent number
178326
accession number
089797
catalog number
GA*897979.178326

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