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PATENT MODELS & SALESMAN SAMPLES

THIS COLLECTION CONTAINS 19th CENTURY AND EARLY 20th CENTURY FENCING PATENT MODELS AND SALESMAN SAMPLES. BETWEEN 1836 AND 1889 A MODEL WAS REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE PATENT OFFICE ALONG WITH AN APPLICATION FOR A PATENT. WHO KNEW THAT THOUSANDS OF NEW PRODUCTS WOULD BE INVENTED? THE REQUIREMENT WAS DISCONTINUED DUE TO THE BURDENSOME COLLECTION AMASSED BY THE PATENT OFFICE. A FEW MODELS WERE PLACED IN THE SMITHSONIAN. THE REMAINDER WERE SOLD TO THE PUBLIC. MANY STILL HAVE THE PATENT OFFICE TAGS ATTACHED. THESE ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO BE ONE-OF-A-KIND. SALESMAN SAMPLES WERE CREATED FOR SALESMEN TO DEMONSTRATE A FULL SIZE PRODUCT TOO LARGE TO CARRY AROUND. THESE MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED IN QUANTITY.