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1838 Humphries's Patent Model of a Carpet

National Museum of American History

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Object Details

inventor
Humphries, John
Description
Carpet Patent Model
Patent No. 1,028, issued December 10, 1838
John Humphries of New York, New York
Humphries’s innovation was the addition of a supplementary layer to the bottom of a carpet to provide an extra cushion and to strengthen the overall structure. The added stuffer weft is a stout, loosely twisted cord, woven into the underside of the carpet and interlaced with the ground warp. These samples of carpeting are important because they are the earliest known examples of patented carpeting in the United States.
Whether this patent was utilized is unknown but there is evidence of Humphries being involved in the manufacture of carpeting. The Journal of the Franklin Institute lists premiums awarded at their eighth exhibition in 1833. John Humphries was presented a premium for four pieces of Brussels carpeting. The judges noted that “these goods are of excellent quality and style, and satisfactory assurances have been received that they are exclusively of American workmanship throughout all the processes from the raw material to the finished product of the loom.”
Location
Currently not on view
model constructed
before 1838-12-10
patent date
1838-12-10
ID Number
TE.T18362
catalog number
T18362.000
patent number
001028
accession number
1978.2402
Object Name
carpet patent model
Object Type
Patent Model
Physical Description
fiber (overall material)
woven (overall production method/technique)
Related Publication
Janssen, Barbara Suit. Patent Models Index
See more items in
Home and Community Life: Textiles
Patent Models, Textile Machinery
Textiles
Patent Models
National Museum of American History
subject
Patent Models
Invention
Record ID
nmah_622769
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-39a7-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

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  • Patent Models: Textile and Sewing Machines

    American History Museum
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