Of possible interest to members of the list: there is 
currently up for auction on ebay a patent model of a 
brick kiln, dated 1878.  The item no. is 7360320826.
There is a huge collectible market for patent models.
The U.S. patent office got rid of("deaccessioned") the
models submitted with patent applications some years ago.
I don't know why -- probably for space/storage reasons, still
it's something of a travesty for Am. material culture 
history (IMO).  Reportedly, a number of the models were
destroyed by fire and some were given to other public
institutions (UVa's library has a few).  Many still turn
up on ebay.  FWIW..,.

Marty Perdue
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