Patent Pending

For more than 200 years, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has been recording all patents. I got lost for hours on the National Archives‘ site looking at inventions such as Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone and Thomas Edison’s electric lamp. These curious patent drawings from the 19th century just go to show how wicked inventive and creative some people were. Fascinating!

(top to bottom: Drawing of Rocking Chair and Fan, August 7, 1847; Drawing for a Flying Machine, October 5, 1869; Drawing of Diving Dress, December 24, 1810; Drawing of Fan Moved by Mechanism, November 27, 1830; Drawing of Improvements in Hoop Skirts, April 2, 1861; Drawing of a Life Boat, November 11, 1837)

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12 Comments

  1. That life boat looks so ridiculous, haha 😀

    xoxo
    http://fashionagony.blogspot.com/

    4.6.11
    Reply
  2. Jessie wrote:

    nice pictures! love the antique ness.

    http://wordbyjessie.com

    4.6.11
    Reply
  3. january wrote:

    wow, these are genius! i could spend days looking at stuff like this.

    january, x
    jessicajanuary.com

    4.6.11
    Reply
  4. This is a beautiful post those drawings are incredible. There really are some great ideas here, love the rocking chair and fan and flying machine.

    http://www.fashionablecollections.blogspot.com

    4.6.11
    Reply
  5. ashley wrote:

    What an amazing post! i had no idea you could find these images online! The drawings are so articulate! Sweeeet….i know what will keep me from “working” today at work…;)

    -AR
    http://plum-bucket.blogspot.com

    4.6.11
    Reply
  6. Such an interesting post. Had to tweet it. Love what you guys manage to dig up and share.

    4.6.11
    Reply
  7. gala wrote:

    wow this is a beautiful find. soo cartoon-like and whimsical!

    4.6.11
    Reply
  8. anne wrote:

    how inspiring!

    4.6.11
    Reply
  9. Letitia wrote:

    Such fascinating posts! Always a treat to read

    4.6.11
    Reply
  10. Barret wrote:

    i love obscure items like this – would be sweet to print some of those out and frame them for some unique artwork. nice find!

    4.6.11
    Reply
  11. Skaie wrote:

    These are great! I’d love to print them out and frame ’em!

    4.28.11
    Reply