Natural Resources
The natural resources collections offer centuries of evidence about how Americans have used the bounty of the American continent and coastal waters. Artifacts related to flood control, dam construction, and irrigation illustrate the nation's attempts to manage the natural world. Oil-drilling, iron-mining, and steel-making artifacts show the connection between natural resources and industrial strength.
Forestry is represented by saws, axes, a smokejumper's suit, and many other objects. Hooks, nets, and other gear from New England fisheries of the late 1800s are among the fishing artifacts, as well as more recent acquisitions from the Pacific Northwest and Chesapeake Bay. Whaling artifacts include harpoons, lances, scrimshaw etchings in whalebone, and several paintings of a whaler's work at sea. The modern environmental movement has contributed buttons and other protest artifacts on issues from scenic rivers to biodiversity.
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Patent model for printers' furniture
- Description (Brief)
- This patent model demonstrates an invention for hollow metal furniture (printers' spacing material), which was granted patent number 508263.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1893
- patent date
- 1893-11-07
- maker
- Wolfe, Jacob C.
- ID Number
- 1996.0062.19
- catalog number
- 1996.0062.19
- accession number
- 1996.0062
- patent number
- 508263
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patent Model for a Flatbed Cylinder Printing Press
- Description (Brief)
- This patent model demonstrates an invention for a flatbed cylinder press which was granted patent number 16826. The bed on this flatbed cylinder press ran on sloping ways, or tracks. For the impression pass, the bed was powered up the slope and under the cylinder. It was returned by gravity.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1857
- patent date
- 1857-03-17
- maker
- Davis, John C.
- Miller, William
- ID Number
- GA.89797.016826
- patent number
- 016826
- accession number
- 089797
- catalog number
- GA*89797.016826
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Patent model for feeding apparatus for cylinder presses
- Description (Brief)
- This patent model demonstrates an invention for a feeding apparatus for cylinder presses. Maker, patent number, and date are unknown.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1870
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 1997.0198.20
- catalog number
- 1997.0198.20
- accession number
- 1997.0198
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patent model for printing or decorating the surface of celluloid
- Description (Brief)
- This patent model demonstrates an invention for printing and decorating the surface of celluloid. A celluloid sheet was printed, and then heated under pressure against a polished sheet to finish the surface. The invention was granted patent number 346376. Model consists of two photogravure specimens.
- The patent rights were assigned to the Celluloid Manufacturing Company, New York. Marshall Clifford Lefferts (born 1848) first worked with the American Telegraph Company. In 1870 he joined with the new Celluloid Manufacturing Company, of which he became president in 1890.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1886
- patent date
- 1886-07-27
- patentee
- Lefferts, Marshall C.
- ID Number
- GA.89797.346376
- accession number
- 089797
- patent number
- 346376
- catalog number
- GA*89797.346376
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patent model for inking apparatus for printing presses
- Description (Brief)
- This patent model demonstrates an invention for an inking apparatus for printing presses, which provided an improved means of operating the carriage of inking rollers. Rollers pass over the entire length of a stone distributing ink more accurately and efficiently. The invention was granted patent number 188386.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1877
- patent date
- 1877-03-13
- maker
- Macdonald, F.
- ID Number
- 1997.0198.13
- accession number
- 1997.0198
- patent number
- 188386
- catalog number
- GA.89797.188386
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patent model for printers' sidesticks and quoins
- Description (Brief)
- This patent model demonstrates an invention for printers' quoins and sidesticks which was granted patent number 164543. Tapered sidesticks were grooved along the inclined side. Quoins, with a metal key to slide in the groove, were made using a pair of wedge-shaped blocks to provide fine adjustment.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1875
- patent date
- 1875-06-15
- maker
- Gilbert, William
- ID Number
- GA.89797.164543
- patent number
- 164543
- accession number
- 089797
- catalog number
- GA*89797.164543
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patent Model of a Copying Press
- Description (Brief)
- This patent model demonstrates an invention for a copying press which was granted patent number 193346. The patent describes a letter-copying press in which the pressure was produced by inflating an air bag.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1877
- patent date
- 1877-07-24
- maker
- Powlett, James A.
- ID Number
- GA.89797.193346
- patent number
- 193346
- accession number
- 089797
- catalog number
- GA*89797.193346
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patent Model of a Typesetting and Distributing Machine
- Description (Brief)
- This patent model demonstrates an invention for a typesetting and distributing machine which was granted patent number 28463. Typing at the keyboard perforated a paper tape to produce a complete "registry" of the keystrokes, including all spacing and leading. This record could be used to set several identical pages of type or, fed in reverse, to redistribute the type to its cases. The keyboard is missing from the model.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1860
- patent date
- 1860-05-29
- maker
- Felt, Charles W.
- ID Number
- GA.89797.028463
- accession number
- 89797
- patent number
- 028463
- catalog number
- GA*89797.028463
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patent Model for Bed-and-Platen Printing Press
- 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
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patent model for printing photomechanical plates
- Description (Brief)
- This patent model demonstrates an invention for methods of making photomechanical or other prints resemble original photographs. The invention was granted patent number 493850.
- Tonal photomechanical reproductions had an objectionable coarseness because of the perceptible pattern of the halftone screen. By this invention, screened plates-either bearing an image or blank-were printed several times slightly out of register with each other, softening the effect of the screen. The key impression of the image would be made first in a dark ink with a heavy body, and then the other impressions in paler or lighter-bodied inks. To imitate sepia photographs, later impressions were made in brown tinted inks.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1893
- patent date
- 1893-03-21
- patentee
- Woodward, Charles B.
- ID Number
- GA.89797.493850
- patent number
- 493850
- accession number
- 089797
- catalog number
- GA*89797.493850
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patent Model for a Book-Trimming and Paper-Cutting Machine
- Description (Brief)
- This patent model demonstrates an invention for a book-trimmer and paper-cutting machine which was granted patent number 19654. The machine describes a paper cutter on which the table rode up a sloping track, pulling the paper obliquely across the horizontally mounted blade.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1858
- patent date
- 1858-03-16
- maker
- Semple, Amzi C.
- ID Number
- GA.89797.019654
- accession number
- 089797
- patent number
- 019654
- catalog number
- GA*89797.019654
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patent Model of a Book-stitching Machine
- Description (Brief)
- This patent model demonstrates an invention for improvements to the method of feeding sheets to a book-sewing mechanism; the invention was granted patent number 250987. David Smyth (1833-1907), was a prolific inventor in many fields of manufacturing before patenting his first book-sewing machine in 1868. Ultimately his machines redefined bookbinding, in the term Smyth-sewn. The model is incomplete.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1881
- patent date
- 1881-12-13
- maker
- Smyth, David McConnel
- ID Number
- GA.89797.250987
- patent number
- 250987
- accession number
- 089797
- catalog number
- GA*89797.250987
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patent Model for a Press for Printing Railroad Tickets in Two or More Colors
- Description (Brief)
- This patent model demonstrates an invention for a printing press for printing railroad tickets which was granted patent number 38781. The press carried two or more reciprocating "heads," each with a form of type, and an inking apparatus capable of inking each form in a different color. Printing was on a roll of paper or card, which was cut into strips after printing.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1863
- patent date
- 1863-06-02
- maker
- Baker, William H.
- Hill, George J.
- ID Number
- GA.89797.038781
- patent number
- 038781
- accession number
- 089797
- catalog number
- GA*89797.038781
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patend model for an inking apparatus for printing presses
- 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
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patent Model of a Railway Ticket Printing and Registering Machine
- Description (Brief)
- This patent model demonstrates an invention for a railway ticket printing and registering machine; the invention was granted patent number 141336. A roll of card blanks was pre-numbered and printed with the station name. This machine added the destination and date and cut off each ticket, while printing a record copy of the sale. It was an improvement on an earlier Dyer patent (1872, Patent 134042).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1873
- patent date
- 1873-07-29
- maker
- Dyer, John
- ID Number
- GA.89797.141336
- accession number
- 089797
- patent number
- 141336
- catalog number
- GA*89797.141336
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patent model for printers' quoins
- Description (Brief)
- This patent model demonstrates an invention for printers' quoins combined with sidesticks, adjusted by wedge-shaped nuts; the invention was granted patent number 483792.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1892
- patent date
- 1892-10-04
- patentee
- Schmid, Ernest A.
- Schmid, Adolph G.
- ID Number
- GA.89797.483792
- patent number
- 483792
- accession number
- 089797
- catalog number
- GA*89797.483792
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patent Model of an Intaglio Plate Printing Machine
- Description (Brief)
- This patent model demonstrates an invention for an intaglio printing press, which was granted patent number 210116. The patent describes a plate wiping mechanism that reproduced the sweeping movement of the human hand. The wiping cloth was in lengths travelling from one storage roller to another, always offering a fresh portion to the plate. Constant Guy was from Paris, France.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1878
- patent date
- 1878-11-19
- maker
- Guy, Constant A.
- ID Number
- GA.89797.210116
- accession number
- 89797
- 89797
- patent number
- 210116
- catalog number
- GA*89797.210116
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patent Model of a Rotary Lithographic or Type Press
- Description (Brief)
- This patent model demonstrates an invention for a rotary lithographic press which was granted patent number 200927. The revolving type cylinder had two flat sides where type forms or lithographic stones were mounted. The two curved surfaces of the cylinder were used as ink distributing surfaces. Patentee George Newsum was from Leeds, England, where he patented this press in 1872.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1878
- patent date
- 1878-03-05
- maker
- Newsum, George
- ID Number
- GA.89797.200927
- accession number
- 089797
- patent number
- 200927
- catalog number
- GA*89797.200927
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patent model for printers' sidesticks and quoins
- Description (Brief)
- This patent model demonstrates an invention for sidesticks made with two symmetrical series of inclined surfaces; the invention was granted patent number 133948. Matching quoins were adjusted by turning a double-threaded screw.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1872
- patent date
- 1872-12-17
- maker
- McGrath, Thomas
- ID Number
- 1996.0062.12
- patent number
- 133948
- accession number
- 1996.0062
- catalog number
- 1996.0062.12
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patent model for pantographic carving machine
- Description (Brief)
- This patent model demonstrates an invention for an engraving pantograph, particularly intended for cutting letters from a pattern into stone; the invention was granted patent number 27827. The graver was provided with a rotating and/or a pecking motion.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1860
- patent date
- 1860-04-10
- maker
- Pease, W. H.
- ID Number
- GA.89797.027827
- patent number
- 027827
- accession number
- 089797
- catalog number
- GA*89797.027827
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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- Models 394
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- Machine, Sewing 10
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- National Museum of American History 6
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