A school desk in miniature: James Russell’s 1871 patent model

This small wooden model is the patent model for an improved school desk that James Russell of Plymouth, Indiana, patented. The patent, number 117,467, was issued on July 25, 1871. It is held by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

How the model works

The model has two separate seats that fold up, with a backrest connected like a bench. Behind the backrest are two attached desks, each with a lid that lifts. The seat and desk are dark wood with metal hinges. The desktop is divided to make a pair, and the bench on the front of the desk is split the same way. Each desk has storage underneath for books. The seats fold up individually, although the backrest runs across both like a bench. The model still carries its original patent tags.

The inventor

According to the record, Russell was born in 1821 and became a carpenter in Plymouth, Indiana.

Sources

• Smithsonian National Museum of American History, object record 1983.0508.07 (https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-06e3-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa), released under CC0 through Smithsonian Open Access. The record's bequest line is left out.
• Smithsonian National Museum of American History; rewritten in hubnx's own words.