Patent Model: Brick Making Machine

Hi, I’m Rich Beem. I’m a Chicago patent attorney and I’m talking about some unique items – one of a kind originals – in my collection of old patents and a patent model. It used to be the patent models were required for every patent application that was filed. You had to show how the invention worked with a scale model. This is a scale model of a brick making machine. It’s made out of brass and it’s conformed to be the size that was permitted by the patent office. These gears actually turn, there’s a drum here – a 55 gallon drum – and clay was extruded out of the bottom of this drum and into little holes – or dies – in this wheel. And there’s doctor blade that shaves off the top so it will be level. And that’s how the bricks are made and somewhere in the back the bricks were dropped off as they were made. And this is a power system and there would have been a leather belt attached to this and it would have been attached to a mechanical drive for driving this machine. So that’s the patent model. I’m Rich Beem. I will continue on with other items in the collection of old patents and models and inventor letters. Thank you for joining me!