Thomas Elkins was an accomplished African American inventor, abolitionist, and medical professional.
Thomas Elkins received a U.S. Patent for his “Improved dining and ironing-table and quilting-frame” on February 22, 1870, under U.S. Patent number 100,020.
Here’s what made this invention noteworthy:
- Multifunctional Design: The core of Elkins’ invention was its remarkable versatility. It was designed to serve three distinct purposes in a single piece of furniture:
- Dining Table: It could be used as a regular dining table with a full top.
- Ironing Table: When certain “detachable pieces” or “leaves” of the top were removed, the central part transformed into a sturdy ironing surface.
- Quilting Frame: With all the top pieces removed, the remaining structure and swinging brackets could support rollers, effectively converting it into a quilting frame.
- Space-Saving and Efficiency: This invention was a brilliant solution for households in the 19th century that might have had limited space. Instead of needing three separate pieces of furniture (a dining table, an ironing board, and a quilting frame), Elkins provided a single, convertible item. This not only saved space but also potentially made domestic tasks more efficient.
- Mechanical Ingenuity: The patent described a system of “standards” and “swinging brackets” that could be adjusted and reconfigured to support the different table configurations or the quilting rollers. This demonstrated a clever understanding of mechanical design for practical household use.
More About Thomas Elkins:
Thomas Elkins (1818-1900) was a prominent figure in Albany, New York. Beyond his inventions, he was:
- Abolitionist: He was active in the Underground Railroad and served as secretary of the Albany Vigilance Committee, which aided self-liberated enslaved people.
- Medical Professional: He was a trained surgeon, dentist, and pharmacist. He even served as a medical examiner for the 54th and 55th Massachusetts “colored” regiments during the Civil War.
- Other Inventions: Elkins was a prolific inventor. His other notable patents include:
- An improved chamber commode (U.S. Patent #122,518, 1872), which was a combination of a bureau, mirror, bookshelf, washstand, table, easy-chair, and chamber-stool.
- A refrigerating apparatus (U.S. Patent #221,222, 1879), designed to improve the preservation of perishable foods and even human corpses.
Elkins’ combined dining, ironing table, and quilting frame stands as a testament to his inventive mind and his focus on creating practical solutions for everyday life, especially in a time when household efficiency was paramount.
