John H. French from Burlington, Vermont, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 115839 was issued on June 13, 1871.
This model features a folding desk lid and seat, making it easy for the students to move around. The lid encloses the book box, keeping out dust. "John H. French, Albany NY" is written in black ink on the backrest of the bench. It is made up of dark wood but with a brass metal frame.
We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
David G. Venable from Christiansburg, Kentucky, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 137263 was issued on March 25, 1873.
This desk is made of wood, with the exception of metal nails or screws. The folding seat is attached to the front of the desk. The desk is rectangular with a slight overhang and is divided horizontally. The upper portion is further divided vertically into a pair of hinged lids with a well beneath. The desk lids are beveled to reduce noise. With the lidded book boxes beyond the actual desk the students can get to the desk without changing their position in the seat.
David G. Venable and his brother, William T. Venable, obtained numerous patents ranging from school desks to washing machines.
William Wooton from Richmond, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 87386 was issued on March 2, 1869.
This patent was an improvement on Patent No. 83896. By improving the brace and the mechanism for locking, Wooton designed a way to fold the seat and desk together noiselessly. The desktop folds up completely to form an additional backrest. The mechanism for locking the desk is claimed in the patent by Wooton as well. The model is made of polished dark wood and has metal hinges. There is an indent for placing pencils, and underneath the desk there is storage.
William Wooton was born in 1835. He joined George H. Grant & Company after John P. Allen died in 1868. In 1870, Wooton formed the Wooton Desk Company after he won a five-dollar prize for a school desk at the Indiana State Fair in 1868. His best known invention was patent 155604, the Wooton’s Patent Cabinet Office Secretary. In 1884, he retired and became a preacher. He was known for introducing a revolutionary type of furniture into the business world during the Industrial Revolution. Most museums have "The Desk of the Age” in their collection. A 94-page book, published in 1983, by the Indiana State and Oakland Museums, is devoted solely to the history of the Wooton Desk Company and the evolution of the 19th century office. William Wooton died in 1907 at the age of 72. His last name is often spelled Wooten however the patent specifications clearly spell his last name Wooton as does the advertising for the company.
James Smith from Richmond, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 100334 was issued on March 1, 1869.
This desk features a wooden bench with a flat backrest and seat. The seat folds up with the use of wooden hinges. The desk is attached to the back and does not lift up. There is a storage shelf underneath the desktop. There are no legs, but instead a pew-like support system. There is a silver plaque, tarnished, on the desktop that reads, "Improved School Desk, James Smith, Richmond Ind."
Ezra Smith, Asa Smith, and James Smith owned Ezra Smith & Co., where they manufactured various types of school furniture.
Albert E. Roberts from Des Moines, Iowa, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 79145 was issued on June 23, 1868.
This combined wooden desk and seat has a folding lid for the desktop that enables students to pass between the desks easily. There is a box for books featuring a lid with a slate surface and a portfolio underneath the desk. It is made up of a double seat with an armrest in the middle. "A. E. Roberts" is painted on the back of the seat. Letters designating model parts are pasted onto the model for reference. There are remnants of a leather envelope behind the seat. The backrest and seat are flat, and there are no curves for body support. The legs are wooden and flare outwards. There is also a leather pouch attached to the back of the backrest. The pouch attached to the backside of the backrest has been ripped off and worn.
Albert E. Roberts was born in 1842 and became a manufacturer of school furniture. He lived in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1870. The collection contains three desk patent model's Mr. Roberts.
.Albert E. Roberts from Des Moines, Iowa, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk hinge. Patent no. 107724 was issued on September 27, 1870.
This model is made of wood and has a desk attached to the back of the backrest. There is a design cut out on the front legs and a small storage space under the desk. The seat folds up for compatibility. Albert Roberts considered his September 1870 model an improvement on previous models because it strengthened the hinge joints and provided a "means of regulating the friction of the joints." The cover of the joint would specifically "receive, conceal, and protect the end of the screw bolt" making it less likely to loosen.
Albert E. Roberts was born in 1842 and became a manufacturer of school furniture. He lived in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1870. The collection contains three desk patent model's Mr. Roberts
Henry R. Fry from Marion, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved standard support for the school seat and desk. Patent no. 164160 was issued on June 8, 1875.
This model shows a side view of a seat only. The model has two wooden legs and a hinge bracket for the seat to rest on. Both are painted black. The patent features a way to simplify and improve the end pieces of the desk support. While it was intended for school desks, it also had applications for general business purposes such as folding seats in theaters.
We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
Henry H. Elberg from Greenfield, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 191846 was issued on June 12, 1877.
This model is made of wood and has metal hinges. The seat curves and can be folded up. The desk's backrest is metal and has wooden hinges so that the desk folds down. A cushion of rubber or leather was to be inserted between the leg and the seat bracket to help prevent noise. The front legs flare out from the desk. There is no storage for books.
We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
Isaac Cook from St. Louis, Missouri, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 74993 was issued on March 3, 1868.
This patent features a wooden flat bench with no lower back support. The legs are attached to a wooden platform with brass and metal hinges, and the seat folds up. The desk is attached behind the backrest and features a metal-checkered pattern on the sides. There is a shelf underneath the desk top for storage. A plaque on the backrest says "Isaac Cook, Saint Louis M.O. Adjustable Seat."
We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
William Joeckel from New York City received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 33994 was issued on December 24, 1861.
This desk was made to accommodate students of different ages with seats and desks that are adjustable. The seat and desk are wood, while other parts are made of cast iron. The desk has a storage shelf underneath, but its opening faces away from the stool. The seats can be raised so that they are out of the way, allowing for easy passage. The pedestal desk form became popular around the time of the Civil War.
William Joeckel was a partner in Joeckel & Johnson Church & School Furniture in New York City. It was common during the 19th Century for school desk manufacturers to also make church and theater furnishings.
William N. Foster from Indianapolis, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved bench. Patent no. 128871 was issued on July 9, 1872.
This desk features a seat with five slats of alternating dark and light wood. The metal hinges allow the seat to fold up. The backrest and seat are not joined. There is a storage shelf underneath, but the desktop does not lift up. "Fosters patent Applied for May 1st" is painted on the desk. Foster was concerned with all the practical elements of the desk, incorporating a groove for the holding of pens and pencils and providing an inkstand attached to the desk. He also considered the comfort of the students and added a place for them to rest their feet.
William N. Foster founded Foster’s Bent Wood School Furniture in Indianapolis.
Aaron W. Hempleman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 177835 was issued on May 23, 1876.
This model has metal legs and feet and a desk that consists of both light and dark wooden slats. The metal sides feature a tree like design, adding visual interest to the desk. The desk is attached to the backrest, and although the seat and backrest are curved, there is no lower back support. There is a storage shelf underneath the desktop that remains stationary. There is an extra bracket attached to the side of the desk.
Aaron W. Hempleman joined the firm originated by John P. Allen and George H. Grant. In 1876, he and Grant formed Grant & Hempleman to manufacture church and school furniture. It was not unusual during the 19th Century for school furniture companies to also produce pews and pulpits for churches, and fold up seating for theaters.
Bruce Wolverton from Rohnerville, California, received a U.S. patent for an improved iron and wood school desk. Patent no. 183877 was issued on October 31, 1876.
This school desk was made of iron and a dark wood. The seat and top can be raised or lowered independently. The folding desk is attached to the backrest, and the backrest and folding seat have almost no curve. A metal pole runs horizontally across the bottom of the desk for support.
Bruce Wolverton was born in 1853 while his family was crossing the prairie. In 1875 he moved to California to teach. He left teaching to join the ministry. He then became the first Superintendent of City Schools for Spokane, Washington, where he served from June 1888 to February 1889.
John Glendenning from Norwich, England, received a British patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 224171 was issued on February 3, 1880.
This model is made of wood and metal and is painted a bluish gray color. His patent connects the desk and chair together at the bottom by a metal pole base. The desk is welded in front of the chair. The chair curves, gives back and seat support, and is narrow to fit only one person. The desktop can be lifted or folded. It had a metal monobloc desk stem and chair stem that connect on the ground. The seat is curved; however there is no lower back support. A metal rod connects the seat and rest. The desk faces the chair and has two boards that fold to create a longer desktop at the decline. There is a crevice for pencils and inkwell.
We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
John Upham, William Kline and S. D. Tuttle from Easton, Ohio, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk and seat. Patent no. 127940 was issued on June 11, 1872.
This desk has a wooden seat and legs with a cast iron frame and a curved, slatted backrest and seat. The seat folds up and the desk behind folds up. The desktop slides down behind the backrest. The desktop does not lift open, and it has no storage but folds compactly.
John Upham was born in Easton, Ohio, in 1834. He worked as a carpenter and filed numerous patents. He died in 1911.
William H. Kline was born in Easton, Ohio, in 1824. He worked as a wagon maker and filed numerous patents. He died in 1901.
Dr. Sterling Dayton Tuttle was born April 25, 1825 in Connecticut and died in 1899. He worked as a dentist.
Theos. Weaver from Harrisburg, New Hampshire, received a U.S. patent for an improved school table and seat model. Patent no. 45286 was issued on November 29, 1864.
This table is a combination of metal and wood, which is mostly polished. The bottom seat folds up. The backrest has a folding desk attached to the back of the seat. There are gold hinges on the seat along with two metal pieces that flare from two baseboards. The wooden pole connects both bases horizontally, replacing leg support. There is a spring between the hinges on the seat. The desk incorporates a footrest and book holder.
We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
Charles M. Hughes from Lima, Ohio, received a U.S. patent for an improved hinge. Patent no. 249627 was issued on November 15, 1881.
This model is made of wood and comprises two pieces. It has a hinge that goes up and down like a lever, making the seat and desk compactable for more space. The design includes a place to hold books.
We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
Seth Wilkinson from Cross Plains, Tennessee, received a U.S. patent for an improved wooden school desk. Patent no. 30102 was issued on September 18, 1860.
This school desk is positioned so that the student is at a right angle to the seat. This would make sitting more pleasant and help with posture. The construction of his desk takes up less room than other desks. However, it is not adjustable or compact.
We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
John Piehl from Richmond, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved combination desk and seat. Patent no. 106403 was issued on August 16,1870.
This patent featured a school desk and seat that had a clam-hinge, holding the desk more firmly in place. This design created a longer lasting hinge. There are four cross members that form the folding seat. It has a swiveling book compartment, decorative brass supports, and is mounted on a wooden platform. The plate on the backrest is ripped off. There is storage underneath the desk, but the top does not lift up.
We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
Eldridge Clark Haynes from Kirk's Cross Roads, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 186729 was issued on January 30, 1877.
This model is made of wood and has metal hinges. It has alternating light and dark slats of wood and the seat folds up. It does not have legs, but rather has two boards for base support. There is a shelf underneath the desk top for storage and a routed crevice for holding pencils.
Eldridge Haynes was born on July 10, 1816 in New York. He died on August 25, 1882 in Kirklin, Indiana.