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Genuine American Antiques are becoming increasingly difficult to find. A lot of "stuff" that appears at antiques shows, in "antique malls", and on the marketplace dates from much later than the pre-1900 era that genuine Antiques and Americana with historical significance originate from.

Much of the stuff that you find offered today is outright fakes---brand new and offered up with a wink and a nod, or the latest craze, assemblages, stuff made up from old things, and offered as something special, whether it is called Steampunk, repurposed, or whatever. It might be art, it might be popular, cute, or some even interesting, but it has little to do with authentic antiques or original Americana. I am at a loss for words to describe much of it.

Patent Models

Antique American Patent Models have a colorful and interesting history. Patent Models represent one of the most graphic and rare forms  of American ingenuity and inventiveness that is available on the antique market. The requirement that each invention would require a model of the invention was first mandated by the government in 1790. That requirement was essentially dropped in the late 1800's as the volume of models the government was taking in and storing became enormous.

Over the years there were two different fires in the government patent model storage locations and many of the earliest patent models were destroyed. These wonderful pieces of Americana were neglected and ignored for years with all of them nearly being sold off for scrap in the 20's at a government auction. They were saved from that fate through the wisdom and foresight of a few devoted and visionary collectors.

Most patent models available today came from either O. Rundle Gilbert or Cliff Peterson, both of whom at one time owned and marketed patent models during their period of ownership. There are small stashes of, and collections of models all over the country that were formed when these owners were selling off portions of the original collection.

More recently there has been a large collection of parts and pieces of patent models with fake tags being offered for sale on eBay. At times the spiel / grift has been that the proceeds are going to some charitable fund or foundation to benefit the "kids", build a museum, bridge, or something similar. I expect to see offers for shares in the ownership of the bridge being built to that imaginary place, as in bridge to nowhere next. No shame.

 

Americana

Office - Scientific - Technology - Calculation & Electrical
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