Today, the Franklin Pierce School of Law’s IP Library welcomed a very special guest: Patricia Strong, Ph.D., a descendant of 19th-century inventor Jacob Voegtle. Dr. Strong traveled from Lafayette, California to Concord, New Hampshire with one goal—see the original patent model her great-great-grandfather built in 1868, an “Economical Heat Regulator” that still stands proudly in our Homer and Jean Blair Patent Model Collection.
Professor Jon Cavicchi, curator of the Blair Collection, personally rolled aside the glass case and invited Dr. Strong to examine the artifact up close. The gleaming 8-by-12-inch tower of black-painted metal trimmed with copper looks more like a miniature Corinthian monument than a stove accessory. Its engraved crown reads:
“Economical Heat Regulator, Jacob Voegtle, Inventor, Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana.”
Two original Patent Office tags dangle from the model—rare survivors of the 1877 Patent Office fire that destroyed thousands of prototypes.
Voegtle’s invention slipped over a stove pipe and used a sequence of inner and outer cylinders, perforated rings, and movable plates to fine-tune airflow. By opening or closing different chambers, the homeowner could dial in just the right amount of heat while wasting less fuel—an early exercise in energy efficiency.
For Dr. Strong, this visit was more than academic. She brought along an archival photograph of Jacob and his son Oscar, explaining that the regulator’s survival feels “like a miracle” for the family’s legacy.
Standing in the stacks where patent models line the walls, she traced her fingers over the copper rim and whispered, “So this is the spark that warmed their home—and maybe their imaginations.” Professor Cavicchi replied, “And now it warms ours.”
Housed in UNH Law’s IP Library, the Blair Collection preserves more than 100 U.S. patent models spanning 1836-1880—tiny sculptures of innovation rescued by collectors Homer and Jean Blair. Students and scholars use them to study design history, IP policy, and the tactile side of invention.
Hands-on Inspiration: Nothing beats seeing the gears, damper rings, and etched brass plates that once convinced examiners an idea would work.
STEAM Storytelling: Each model bridges engineering, art, and law—perfect for classrooms exploring STEM and humanities together.
Family & Community Ties: Dr. Strong’s pilgrimage shows that patent models are also touchstones for living descendants, linking personal heritage to national innovation.
If Jacob Voegtle could step into our library today, he’d likely marvel that his “stove-drum” now educates future IP lawyers and sparks heartfelt family journeys. As Dr. Strong put it, “Some inventions change technology; others keep changing stories.”
Want to explore more relics of American ingenuity? Dive into UNH Law’s IP Mall to browse high-resolution images and specs of every Blair patent model online. We promise: history has never felt so hands-on—or so heart-warming.
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