William P. Goodman from Kansas City, Missouri, received a U.S. patent for an improved desk. Patent no. 152224 was issued on June 23, 1874.
The remaining parts of this desk model are four slats of dark wood that are indented on each side. The slats are connected by a museum foam board. According to the drawing and specifications both the seat and desk can be folded. The desktop was designed to be supported at different angles and included an ink well strip and bookrack. When the desk was folded, items sitting on the desk would not roll off.
We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
Morris Lancaster from Richmond, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved hinge to work with the school desk lid. Patent no. 181689 was issued on August 29, 1876.
This model features a combination of wood and metal. The patent has a new mechanism called a “pawl” or “dog” that acted as a stop concerning the desk lid. This held the lid in position and operated automatically to hold or release it.
Morris Lancaster was born in 1842 and became a carpenter in Richmond, Indiana.
Addison S. Vorse from Des Moines, Iowa, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 97005 was issued on March 16, 1869.
This seat frpm the desk model is made of wood and has steel hardware attached to the bottom. A wooden plaque with a metal piece is screwed into the board as well. The seat was able to fold down, and there is storage for books. According to the patent draeing, the desk is attached to the back of the bench.
Addison S. Vorse was born in 1821. Along with his brother, Norman, he manufactured and sold agricultural implements in Iowa.
Bickford N. Hemenway from Rockland, Maine, received a U.S. patent for an improvement on adjustability of school desks. Patent no. 129559 was issued on July 16, 1872.
This model contains a mechanism that allows the desktop to be adjusted in height. The desktop has a crevice to hold pencils and an inkwell. It is made of dark wood. Only the desktop has survived, and there is a crack down it's middle. It should be noted that while the application for the patent emphasizes an improvement for school desks, the text of the patent specifications also mentions the use could be applied to writing desks in offices and counting houses.
We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
Eldridge J. Smith from Washington, D.C., received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk and seat. Patent no. 128432 was issued on June 25, 1872.
This patent featured a school seat and desk that improved adjustability. Only the seat exists from the original model. There are small nails that hold the wooden slates to a circular wooden frame.
Eldridge J. Smith was born in 1825 and became a patent lawyer in Washington, D.C.
Thomas Redmayne from Sheffield, York, England, received a British patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 169478 was issued on November 2, 1875.
This is a partial model, consisting of a dark wooden rectangular plank with metal screws and two brackets that are connected by three screws, and there is a metal circular piece on each end. The desk was made of dark wood and designed to be adjustable. A wheel mechanism was used for adjusting and altering the angle of the desktop. Lying flat, it formed a table; reclined, it formed a desk, and placed in a vertical position, it served as a seat back.
We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
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.
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.
James Blair from New Haven, Connecticut, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 63839 was issued on April 16, 1867.
This desk is made of polished wood and metal hinges. The desk tilts towards the chair, and its sides are made with slabs of wood instead of constructed legs. The patent features a reversible desktop that would switch easily between a traditional wood desktop and a slate blackboard. "James Blair, New Haven CT" is painted on the bottom of the desk.
We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
John Peard from New York City received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk and settee. Patent no. 66384 was issued on May 7, 1867.
This model is made of wood featuring a Gothic design. "John Peard" is lightly written on the top of the desk. Only a fragment of the patent model has survived. The support piece has two grooved pencil areas and a circular cutout in the center. There are several tags attached to the piece.
We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
Henry G. Sellman from North Newburg, Michigan, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 114869 was issued on May 16, 1871.
This model features an improved hinge that facilitates a seat that folds up and a desk on the back of the backrest that folds down. The innovation would give more room between desks when necessary. The desk and seat combination was constructed of metal and wood but only the side support featuring the hinge remains.
We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
James Smith from Richmond, Indiana received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 62375 was issued on February 26, 1867.
This model features wooden benches with dividers that are used for storage and open from the top. The desk compartment is located behind the bench and also has storage.
Ezra Smith, Asa Smith, and James Smith owned Ezra Smith & Co. where they manufactured various types of school furniture.
Frank T. June from Chicago, Illinois, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 198922 was issued on January 1, 1878.
This model has four thick, large wooden slats held together by a vertical cast iron rod. The patent established a way to join the slats that form seat backs and seat. The vertical standards would feature a groove and dovetailed slats would slide into place. This system offered ease of construction with few tools.
Frank T. June joined Aaron J. Hull in running the Novelty Iron Works which produced the supports and metal work for many school desk manufacturers. It later became Sterling School Furniture Company. At one time, Hull also served as President of the Sherwood School Furniture Company. A prolific inventor, Hull moved from desks to pumps in the late 1870s.
Charles J. Higgins from Marion, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 143760 was issued on October 21, 1873.
This was designed as a partial model consisting of the side support or end of a desk. Painted onto the desk are the words "Charles J. Higgins. Improvement in Desk Ends.” There are two pieces of bent or curved wood, which flares out as two legs for one side of a desk.
Charles J. Higgins founded Higgins Bent Wood School Furniture Co. and produced crafted school desks with beautiful wood "ends" or supports as advertised in the Indiana School Journal and sold in 1874 and 1875. By September 12, 1876, The Indianapolis News was reporting that the company was in financial trouble and liquidating their stock.
George Elsey from Springfield, Massachusetts, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 203252 was issued on May 7, 1878.
This model of a manufacturing improvement for school desks is made out of wood and iron. The wood is joined to the iron by using oblique tendons and transverse angular slots that fit into each other. The design holds the wooden slats firmly so they will not separate, but brace each other. There is a small silver plaque that reads: "George Elsey Inventor Dec. 1 1877" but the remainder of the patent model is missing.
George Elsey founded the Elsey School Furniture Company and produced settees, lawn and school benches, folding event chairs, and a desk called "The Model," based on this patent..
Benjamin Allen from Trenton, New Jersey, received a U.S. patent for a hinge for school seat. Patent no. 163622 was issued on May 25, 1875.
This model features a side view of a wooden seat with an improved hinge and lever that lift the seat. The model is painted a dull green color. By adding a spring for constant friction, the seats could be raised and lowered without dropping, creating less noise. In addition to school desks, the invention was applicable to folding seats in other venues.
We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
David I. Stagg from New York received a U.S. patent for an improved seat. Patent no. 45091 was issued on November 15, 1864.
This model is a bench seat that can fit two people. The bottom of the seat has the ability to fold upward so that it will not be in the way of people walking between the seats. There are small designs where the seat and backrest meet. The backrest has three horizontal pieces of wood or slats that are spaced for back support . It is made for both schools and public buildings.
David I. Stagg was born in 1817. For fifty years he served as an apprentice and journeyman in the New York school system. In his last post he served as Superintendent of School Buildings, overseeing school construction. He died in 1886.
Thomas Gregg from Montour, Pennsylvania, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 119515 was issued on October 3, 1871.
This model features exposed joints and brass nails which hold the desktop and tendon cross members forming the back and seat. Mounted on a platform, the framework is made up of brass and is decorative in design. The desktop does not lift up, but there is a shelf underneath for storage.
We are not aware of any additional information about the inventor/patentee.
School desk model, no patent tags or number are evident so this may be a salesman's sample. The seat folds up to back rest. Slatted horizontal wood. Slats alternate between light and dark colored wood. Metal legs, hinges and support frame. The desk portion is behind bench back rest so these would have been lined up in rows in a classroom. A shelf is underneath desk top for storage. The legs have feet and holes to mount to a platform. Pivot piece is metal as are the legs.