Object Details
- patentee
- Curtis, Rowland K.
- transfer
- U.S. Patent Office
- inventor
- Curtis, Rowland K.
- Description
- Rowland K. Curtis from Wabash, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 202934 was issued on April 30, 1878.
- This patent was designed to simplify the construction of school desks and increase their strength. The front legs of the desk follow the direction of the grain of the wood. Brackets support the seat and brace the legs at their junction. The legs are made of a single piece of wood, creating the necessary support. The desk is made out of glossed oak with cast iron hinges. The seat is slatted and folds to the backrest. There are iron supporters under the seat, and the feet are made of iron. There is a lid that lifts up to reveal a storage area. The writing surface has a circular cut out to represent an area for an inkwell.
- Rowland K. Curtis was born in 1829. He worked at various building trades. In 1874 he was appointed superintendent of the Wabash School Furniture Company.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- 1878
- patent date
- 1878-04-30
- ID Number
- CL.65.0406
- catalog number
- 65.0406
- accession number
- 249602
- patent number
- 202,934
- Object Name
- model
- desk model
- Object Type
- Patent Model
- Physical Description
- wood (overall material)
- metal (overall material)
- oak (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 10 1/4 in x 9 1/2 in x 10 in; 26.035 cm x 24.13 cm x 25.4 cm
- referenced in patent specifications
- United States: Indiana, Wabash
- See more items in
- Home and Community Life: Education
- American History Education Collection
- Cultures & Communities
- Patent Model School Seats and Desks
- National Museum of American History
- general subject association
- Education
- classified
- Patent Models
- Record ID
- nmah_664176
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-b685-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
