Object Details
- Description
- Sylvanus Cox and William Fanning from Richmond, Indiana, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk and chair. Patent no. 135089 was issued on January 21, 1873.
- This model consists of a wood and iron combination folding seat and desk. The brass desk supports have Gothic arches. The seat has dark and light wood slats with a curved, smooth bench and back support. The desktop is made of wood and features a groove for writing utensils. The cutout for an ink well would have been an option. It is attached to the back of the bench and has a folding mechanism to reduce noise. The brass base supports and legs form two birds with beaks touching. There is a small brass label on the desktop. The Cox and Fanning design was become one of the most attractive desk designs of the nineteenth century.
- There were a few men with the name Sylvanus Cox living in Indiana when this model was created so we do not have specific information about the inventor. William W. Fanning was a carpenter who lived in Richmond, Indiana. He was born in November 1843 and died February 20, 1909 at age 65 in Richmond, Indiana.
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- patentee
- Cox, Sylvanus
- Fanning, William W.
- transfer
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- inventor
- Cox, Sylvanus
- Fanning, William W.
- date made
- 1873
- patent date
- 1873-01-21
- Physical Description
- wood (overall material)
- metal (overall material)
- oak (overall material)
- brass (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 8 1/4 in x 6 1/4 in x 8 in; 20.955 cm x 15.875 cm x 20.32 cm
- seat: 1/4 in x 5 3/16 in x 3 1/2 in; .635 cm x 13.208 cm x 8.89 cm
- Object Name
- model
- desk model
- Object Type
- Patent Model
- model
