PATENT MODEL - 1878 IMPROVED FARM GATE

September 24, 1878 John Coffits of Central City, Iowa was awarded patent No. 208,225 for his improved farm gate. This model was submitted to the US Patent Office along with his patent application. One hundred thirty nine years later it ended up in McKinney, Texas via New Jersey. One small piece of the original patent tag is attached to the gate with "red tape." The hinged section at the bottom of the gate is not mentioned in the patent. I feel sure that it is meant to be folded up during the winter when there is heavy snow cover.

Several parts are missing that I plan to fabricate and add to the model to bring it back to operating condition. Stay tuned for additional photos of the restoration.

September 2017 - Gate restored. 1st photo.

This gate won a Blue Ribbon in the Mechanical Items category in the Hobby Collections Division of the 2018 State Fair of Texas Creative Arts Department.