Patent Model of Miners' Lamp, 1876

01

Artifact Overview

From 1790 to 1880, the U.S. Patent Office required applicants to submit a miniature model along with diagrams and written descriptions detailing the operation of their invention. Patent models could be no larger than 12" by 12" by 12". Though they were usually not operational, these models helped explain an inventor's idea and protect it from competitors.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Model (Patent)

Date Made

1876

Subject Date

04 January 1876

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

26.160.6

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of the Smithsonian Institution

Material

Brass (Alloy)

Dimensions

Height: 2.875 in
Length: 3.5 in
Diameter: 1.625 in

Inscriptions

Marked diagonally upward on both sides of lamp: J.C. MARSHALL. Above spout: MAKER. Large tag marked in script: 71,675 / J.C. / MARSHALL / Miner's / Lamp / Patented Jan. 4th / 1876. Small tag marked in script: J.C. Marshall / Miners Lamp / Received Nov. 27th. The date 1875 across end of tag. Another small tag marked: PATENT OFFICE / CAT. 330748 / ACC. 88881 / ORIG. 171675, reverse marked in script: U.S. National / Museum / Wash.