Meeker's
Mechanical
Nature Antiques
Larry and Carole
Meeker

Purveyors of Americana
Patented & Mechanical Antiques
www.AntiqBuyer.com

LCM@AntiqBuyer.com

530-620-7019

Antique & Vintage
American Patent Models

Past Sales Archive

This is just a sample of the many antiques we have sold. Click link to see other Sales Archive Pages on this Site.

We can help you sell quality Antiques  Contact Us.

For further info on consigning / selling your antiques with us please see our FAQ page, the Appraisal / Selling Page and the Selling Your Collection Pages.

Our current offering of Antiques for sale are at our sister Website Patented-Antiques.com.



Orpoy Patent Model Lantern1878 Patent Model of Lantern by J. W. Orphy This is a very important patent model in the development of Barn Lanterns.  Mr. Orphy, who was the inventor, assigned this idea to the well known maker of lanterns C. T. Ham and F. D. Clarke of Rochester New York back in 1878.  Mr. Orphy also had a least two other patents for lanterns or parts for them that I have been able to find information about.  The ideas for this lantern revolve around the tubes running up the sides that will provide air for combustion and not be affected by the wind or by the lantern being swung about in use and blowing out or making the flame flicker.  A problem that was being addressed by several other makers and inventors of lanterns during this period as well.  There are a lot of lanterns out and about, and not being an expert about them, I do not know if this was his idea alone, or whether other folks were using the same basic ideas before this or not, or where this idea fits into the scope chronologically in the development of this idea.  The first person I showed this too said the patent was most likely for the screw top and that being the means to hold the globe in place, but in the papers, Mr. Orphy barely mentions that and instead talks about air getting to the burner and the tubes and so forth.  Makes little difference, it still looks great,  the condition is super and patent models of anything interesting, significant or graphic are getting harder and harder to find.

Good . . . . .  $2450.00       SOLD




1875 Patent Model of Weathervane / Chimney Top /  Deflector1875 Patent Model of Weathervane / Chimney Top /  Deflector Here is a great example of a wonderful and graphic design that comes in a small package.  This dated and tagged Patent Model is from 1875, and only stands about 6" tall to the top of the flat bodied fish weathervane portion.  The inventors name was Munger, and the patent # is 159,344.  The idea was the the prevailing wind would spin this around so that it's tail would faced the wind, and then the spinning vanes would draw the smoke up and out of the chimney, with the small shield at the bottom keeping rain or snow from entering.  It would also have the effect of rotating and protecting the chimney top away from strong winds that in some instances can or would create downdrafts that would smoke up the house.  It is interesting to note that this style of chimney top is still in use today and marketed to folks who live along the coast of Oregon and Ca to help with the strong winds and driving rains that can occur there.  I can remember seeing them on roofs and marveling at what a neat idea this was, and then a couple years ago I found this model and recognized it as being very similar in design and function.  No new ideas!!   The overall condition is OK, noting that the top of the tag has what appears to be some fire / burn damage.  The base of the model also appears to be a replacement and was paper holder, but it looks proper and feels great to the overall effect.   A nice display piece that has a great look.

Good . . . . .  $650.00       SOLD





Patent Model of Light fixture / Heater and Delivery 
        System1871 Silber & White Patent Model of Light fixture / Heater and Delivery System This is an interesting patent model depicting a series of fuel storage tanks, a float, shutoff valves and more to control the flow of a given liquid fuel to the round fixture holder at the left which could be a light, heater or whatever else was consuming the fuel.  This model was made to represent different floors of a house, building or factory, etc.  The inventors were both from England, and bought their novel and cutting edge technology to the US Patent office to obtain a patent here in 1871 least anybody else try and steal their idea.  The top tank is the major reservoir, which was to be located outside the building or on the roof or other convenient place.  The second tank is referred to as the filtering tank and would distribute the fuel to all the other fixtures found at that level.  The tank with the white porcelain float valve is one of the main factors for the patent in that it senses the demand and will either allow fuel to be constantly fed to the burner, or when the burner is turned off and the float rises to it top position it will cause the flow of fuel to stop, thus eliminating overflows.  It is very graphic, measures approx 12x12" the limit allowed by the patent office, and has a great look.  The condition is super and patent models of anything interesting, significant or graphic are getting harder and harder to find.  This is a good one and will display nicely as it is flat and can be hung on the wall behind the desk as a reminder of just how far we have come!!

Good . . . . .  $950.00       SOLD





1881
Patent Model of Water / Steam Motor1881 Patent Model of Water / Steam Motor This Patent Model came out of an old time collection here in California.  It is unusual in that you have to read and study the papers that came with it to fully understand and appreciate exactly what it is.  Typically, Patent Models have their primary feature or the patented idea clearly visible to the eye so that you could see and get a sense of what you were giving / getting a patent for.  This is a very detailed and well made brass model, and has a water wheel / motor inside, but Mr. Atwell did not do a cutaway, or allow any visual means of seeing what was going on inside his water motor's outside brass housing. And there is no provision for taking it apart to inspect the innards.   Basically his idea was that you could increase the power and efficiency of a pretty standard design water motor by installing and utilizing an auxiliary port through which you fed additional streams of steam or gas in addition to the main jet of water.  As with most patent descriptions this one is very wordy and extremely detailed, to the point of being confusing, but it seems to have been enough to impress the proper government officials as Mr. Atwater was granted his patent in 1881.  This one has a great look, and alternative power devices are all the rage these days

Good . . . . .  $950.00       SOLD





1875
      Patent Model of Sad Iron Heater1875 Patent Model of Sad Iron Heater   This is an original Patent Model of a Sadiron Heater that we obtained at auction a number of years ago. There are many different variations of these devices available in full size, and they make for a very graphic display.  There were also stoves specifically made for this purpose of heating sadirons called laundry stoves that have built in ledges or holders to heat the irons that the person ironing would set the iron on to reheat as she was using another one that had been heating on a different ledge.  The idea with this style iron heater was that you would remove two burner lids and their frame from your big old wood fired cookstove that you were also boiling your water on, and insert a unit like this in their place into the top. The lid feature would trap and retain that much more heat, thus always assuring a heated iron, not to mention the handle, for the busy lady of the house.  Ironing is almost a lost art, and I can easily imagine that in the drudgery of that job the original concept of the women's movement was born or conceptualized back in those good old days.

Good . . . . .  $495.00       SOLD





Patent Model of Hub BorerPatent Model of Hub Borer   This patent model has its original tag and was designed to make the job of boring wagon wheel hobs an easier task   Think of it as a beam bore meant to fit over a round wheel.  I have never seen the manufactured version, and this might well be one of those that was never put into production..

Good . . . . .  $495.00       SOLD





Patent Model of Wedge CutterPatent Model of Wedge Cutter   From a time when there was a need to have wedges.  Primarily for tool handles I suppose.  It is operable and has its original tags.   

Good . . . . .  $495.00       SOLD





1848 Patent Model of Cook Stove by D. Buck I'm not sure if this super and interesting patent model is by anyone having anything to do with the current line of Buck Stoves,  but this fellow sure was proud of his name, and embellished and decorated every available panel with scenes of a large deer in the forest.  These are not just painted on the surface, they are 3-dimensional.  I never pulled the patent, but he has vents and chambers and even a cold air intake on the bottom.  In addition to the original tag and red ribbon, the top of the stove is clearly marked "D. Buck's Patent".  Overall it measures just under 12" deep by 8" wide and 6 1/2" tall.  It is made out of tinned steel with the exterior painted black.  The hinged doors and vents are present and operable, and as with many patent models,  Mr. Buck didn't bother with the top plates to give you a better and unobstructed view of the inner workings.   This is a great example of a one-of-a-kind patent model and a super piece of Americana to boot.  It has the added plus of  name recognition in today's world, and the artistic endeavors by Mr. Buck are an added bonus rarely seen on such models.

Good . . . . .  $695.00       SOLD





1876 Patent Model of Burglar Door Alarm and Locking Mechanism   Here is a super one of a kind original Patent Model of a Burglar Alarm & Door Lock Mechanism dating from 1876 which is just incredible.  It measures approx. 12 " tall by 10" wide and is made of a stained wood to resemble a walnut or mahogany.  Its provenance is that it is from the O. Rundle Gilbert Collection, and was sold at the Christies Auction a few years ago.  It has its original  patent office receiving tag and red ribbon, along with a green one from Mr. Gilbert's inventory.  There are remnants of  another tag nailed on the model, but most of this one is gone.  The idea from looking at and playing with it a bit is that once you had set it,  if someone were to later jiggle or try and force the handle in either direction the bell would sound, and at the same time lock the door.  It would do this if the handle was turned in either direction.  The dome for the bell is not present, but that is proper as it would not be needed and would interfere with viewing of the operation of the model.  I have seen a couple of really great patent models passed over because the perspective buyer did not feel it was complete, when in actuality it was made that way and submitted like that, to better demonstrate the model.  This is an interesting and desirable piece of Early American History, and as I said in the beginning it is a one of a kind, so when this one is gone, there will not be another.

Good . . . . .  $1250.00       SOLD





Sept. 3 1867 Patent Model of Oil Dispenser / Can This is an interesting patent model of the type of Oil Dispenser / Can that you  occasionally see full-size at old time auctions, or in petroliana museums or collections.  You will never have the opportunity to find another one this size with its original patent tags as this is the only one there is.   These Patent Models are far rarer than they may seem, and when the small supply that are presently around are gone, there will be no more.  These wonderful pieces of Americana are one-of-a-kinds and each one has a story to tell, and should have a place high up on the shelf in your collection or museum.  This super piece measures just under 12" tall by about 8" across.  It is in super condition, noting the one small dent in the of the name G. H. Hatch, who was from Pomeroy, Ohio.  The pump was made to work, and is complete with stop valves, gaskets, and the rest.  Oftentimes you see a model of a piece of which you have never seen the actual full-size item, but that is not the case here, and hopefully Mr. Hatch made a lot of money with his idea.

Good . . . . .  $995.00       SOLD





Patent 
	Model from 1865 of Leather Skiver or SplitterPatent Model from 1865 of Leather Skiver or Splitter   The nickel plated copper plaque or tag says that the inventor, A Mr. Marsh was from Indianapolis Indiana, and that the name he picked for his machine was Eureka.   The idea here was that the thickness of the material was set by moving the large flat table under the knife on a sloped track to achieve different thicknesses.  I have not pulled the papers for this one and so do not know much else other than the fact that it must have been a bitch going up against the crowd over in Newark with any new ideas about how to do something with leather for if they did not already, in a few more years they would have a near monopoly on the manufacture of such devices.  Different at the least, and surely rare as I certainly have not run into any full size examples of this machine.

Good . . . . .  $1295.00       SOLD





Patent Model / Salesman Sample GristmillA Model of a Overshot Waterwheel & Mill   This is a very nicely done representation or model of a overshot waterwheel or as the label says it is sometimes called a Pitchback Wheel.  The card that is at the bottom left says that this was done by a Edwin F. Bristol in 1881 when he was 80 some years old.  It was donated by his wife, but it is not clear to whom.  In any case it , like many other gifts to museums and historical societies was de-accessioned and this example ended up here in California in my museum.  It is well done and in pretty good condition, but there is some evidence that there has been some modification to the outside corners.  Perhaps there was a shed roof or the like at some point.   We will never know.  Also included with this wheel  I  have a 2 story representation of a grain mill / grinding wheel arrangement set up in an open framed barn type area, the idea being that the waterwheel drove this thing, and thus showed the audience how it was done back then in upstate New Hampshire.  I got them together and I will sell them together or separate.

Good . . . . .  $1295.00       SOLD





Salesman 
        Sample Tool Handles Salesman Sample Tool Handles  Besides salesman samples of the washing machines and farm implements that we have managed to gather and collect and which are a major part of the collections we have, we are also always on the lookout for other interesting examples of vintage salesman samples of products or consumer goods that were produced early in the last century or before.  In general, salesman samples were produced for a few different reasons, there were those of very large products for use by traveling salesman who would travel from town to town and state to state attempting to peddle their wares to not only the general public but also to the stores and shops in any given location.   Salesman Sample Stoves, washers and the farm implement models are good examples of this type of salesman sample.  But there were also many other salesman samples of  smaller products that were made, both for the traveling salesman, and for use as displays in stores or shop.  These tool handles on the left are a good example of this type of salesman sample that could be carried around by the salesman, but probably just offered to the hardware stores and the buyers for such places rather than the general public.  I have seen several of these over the years with different labels on them, but would bet they were all put out by the same company and then marketed with the different labels in different regions or locals.  These are in near mint condition, and each one measures between 6-9" or so.  There are handles for a host of tools including different grades for different axes and mauls, picks, hammers, etc.

Good . . . . .  $195.00       SOLD





Salesman 
        Sample or Display of Machinery Oilers Salesman Sample or Display of Machinery Oilers  Another type of salesman sample is the miniature or store display that was probably not carried around by a traveling salesman at all, but was rather displayed or hung up in the shop or store as an enticement for all that came through.  The patented machinery Oilers on the right are probably an example of thesis type of vintage sample.  This display was meant to be mounted near the counter and to impress  those who saw it.  It is a neat piece, as each oiler is slightly different, and the Patentee had his name and other information embossed on the glass of each oiler.   This is pretty neat, to think that there were so many different styles available to the public back then.

Good . . . . .  $1295.00       SOLD





Salesman 
        Sample Rope / TwineSalesman Sample Rope / Twine   I believe this salesman sample of different style rope and twine are a bit earlier than the handles above.  From an era when there was more than one type or style of twine offered for the discerning shop keeper to offer his customers.  Today there are 20 different grades of toilet paper, back then people needed and used ropes much more often I suppose.  The small tags with most describe the twist or make-up of each.  It appears to me to date from the 1880's or so.  Different!

Good . . . . .  $95.00       SOLD






Salesman Bread SlicerSalesman Sample Bread Slicer   I believe this is a salesman sample and not a Patent Model for 2 reasons.  There is no tag, and it has a lot of info printed on it.  It could be, but I do not think so.  None the less it is nice, and well done, and will make an attractive addition to the display..    Different!

Good . . . . .  $295.00       SOLD







Salesman Sample Fishing Line DisplaySalesman Sample Hall Fishing Line Display   A stash of these came out of the old factory which had burned and closed down.  Somewhere back on the late 80's early 90's a large amount of these appeared on the market, and for a while they were bringing crazy prices, than as is typical the supply exceeded the demand and prices fell.  Now they are back to almost impossible to find.     Different!

Good + . . . . .  $295.00       SOLD





BACK

This is just a sample of the many antiques we have sold. Click link to see other Sales Archive Pages on this Site.

We can help you sell quality Antiques  Contact Us.

For further info on consigning / selling your antiques with us please see our FAQ page, the Appraisal / Selling Page and the Selling Your Collection Pages.

Our current offering of Antiques for sale are at our sister Website Patented-Antiques.com.


This website is Copyrighted
(1998 - 2009)
Larry & Carole Meeker