Antique American Patent Models
We can help you sell your Antique
Patent Models and Salesman Samples!!
As dealers
of patented and mechanical antiques we are always interested
in
patent models,
antique salesman samples, and other detailed models related to
those categories of antiques that we specialize
in.
Patent Model History
We are active and serious dealers of antique American
Patent Models. Patent Models were models that were submitted
to the Government Patent office for review of the inventor's idea.
If you have some or know of some that may be of interest to us, please let
us know by contacting us at
LCM@AntiqBuyer.com
with as many details as possible.
The idea for the requirement of a model of a given invention or idea was
first authorized by the US Government in 1790. These models came to be known as
a
Patent Model. The process changed over
the next few years, and then evolved in approximately 1836 to the point where
every idea or invention that was to be patented had to have an accompanying model that was to be 
no larger than 12" x 12" square.
The numbering system
for patent models began on this date with #1. It is a bit complicated at
this point, but earlier models were given what is known as an X number to
denote those that were already in existence. There was little
record keeping of these earlier models,
and at about this same time the first of 2 major fires destroyed
most of the known patent models that had been submitted and were being stored
in a warehouse, thus explaining why very few models from before this period are known.
Models of the patented idea were a requirement up into1880's or so when, because of the
sheer volume of patent models already in their possession and the volume
of new models that were arriving daily, this requirement was dropped
and modified. By 1880 the requirement for a model was changed
and they were only to be submitted when required by the commissioner.
At this point there
were over 200,000 models in the government's possession. At
about this time a second fire hit the Patent Office buildings housing the
collection and many more of the models were again destroyed and damaged by
fire. Many of the models found today are damaged or show the effects of
water and smoke from this fire. A lot of these patent models are now being sold on eBay. 
In 1908 the government decided to sell off the remaining patent models, and after giving
some back to original patentees or to their families, and after the
Smithsonian took those that they wanted and deemed historically
significant, the remainder were finally sold off
in 1925 to the first of
many entrepreneurs with a vision for their potential.
The underbidders of this first
sale were buyers from
Japan whose intention was to scrap them for their value as weight.
Luckily for the American collectors this did not happen. Over the
next few years the remaining patent models changed hands several more times after attempts
to form museums or to sell them failed for one reason or another.
They were moved a couple of times and batches of them sold a couple
more times. Small batches were always coming onto the market
for sale as each new owner tried his hand at properly promoting them.
At different times they were sold from kiosks on street corners or in
department stores in New York. They were also offered through
catalog sales in the 70's.
The final sale of the remaining stock was sold just a few years ago, and
again the hope, or claim was to form a museum around the remaining examples that were
purchased, but I have since heard that is no longer in the works either.
The good news is that, although hard to find, there are literally
thousands of these models out and about around the country, and the most
interesting feature is that no two are alike, and each and every one of
them is a unique creation. Some are intricate, some are very simple,
but all display the sense of the American spirit and ethic, making for one
of the greatest of all collectibles available to the American collector
who has interests in history, art, form, and the mechanical intricacies that are
involved in many of
these models. They are great!!
This
example is of a Water Motor patent model from 1881. The idea behind this device was that a standard water motor could be
improved on by adding a provision for injecting an auxiliary jet of steam
or other gaseous material to the mix to increase the efficiency of the
motor. It was good enough an idea to
get Mr. Atwell a patent, but it seems that the ideas for different designs
of water motors put forth by names
such as Pelton, Dodd, and others were better received in the marketplace
as I have seen examples of water motors numerous times, but never a device quite
like this one.
We have more examples of Patent models pictured at our sales site www.Patented-Antiques.com and
what I have shown you on this page is just a small sampling to give you an
idea of how interesting and historically significant these models can be.
We
are active and serious dealers of these antique patent models, and if you have something or
know of some that may be of interest to us, please let us know by
contacting us at
LCM@AntiqBuyer.com
with as many
details as possible.
Examples of
Antique
Patent Models and Salesman Samples Previously Sold
The
examples below are of the
caliber, condition and quality of patent models or salesman samples that I am interested in.
*****Click The Links
Below*****
If you have quality antique or
vintage Patent Models or salesman samples similar to those that you see
on this page that you want to sell, please contact us at
LCM@AntiqBuyer.com
providing as many details as possible. Thank you!!
To see many other examples of antiques
that I currently have for sale please go to our sister site
at www.Patented-Antiques.com.and
visit the sale pages you will find there.
