Late 1800's
Brick Making Machine Patent Model
Location of original: Offices of Beem Patent Law Firm, Chicago, IL
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Initially, United States patent law required inventors to submit scale models of their inventions, which were retained by the Patent Office and required housing. In 1836, construction began on the the Greek Revival style Patent Office building in Washington, D.C., and the massive structure took 31 years to complete. Due to the space required and cost of storage, in 1880 the model requirement was deemed impractical and the law was changed to permit models only when required by the Commissioner of Patents. (http://www.patentmodel.org/History.aspx)
