The Curious World of Patent Models October 7, 2011

America's incredible success is primarily due to the dreams and inventions of its many citizens. Few people realize however, that from the time the U.S. Patent Office was formed by Thomas Jefferson in 1790 and throughout the industrial revolution, inventors were required to submit a working, scale model of their invention when applying for a patent. This exhibition of more than fifty charming models is drawn from one of the world's largest collections of this material. These wonderful and fascinating original antiques range from stunning, intricately crafted miniature weaving looms, motors and bridges to common household items such as washing machines, vehicles, mechanical toys, caskets, swing sets and even the checker. Only one model exists for each invention, complete with its hand-written original tag.