Before an invention became history, it began as an idea.
Historical patent models were created to make new ideas understandable. Built from materials such as wood, brass, glass, iron, and wire, they allowed inventions to be examined in physical form before detailed modern documentation became standard.
Kay brings these stories into the digital world through carefully designed collectibles that celebrate the people, mechanisms, and ideas behind American innovation.
Explore the CollectionEach collectible draws from real historical patent records, inventor biographies, and technical documentation preserved across American archives.
Stories behind real people who shaped history.
Preserving history in verified digital form.