Schoolhouse Blackboard

This is a Hemmetts Schoolhouse Blackboard. John Hemmetts invented chalkboard paint (supposally it could turn any wall into a chalkboard) and the modern eraser in 1863. While he was giving a sales pitch for one of his blackboards he couldn't quickly locate a rag (which was then the state-of-the-art in chalk erasing technology) but some wool carpent remnants were handy so he used them instead and was amazed at how well they worked. He ended up nailing wool carpet pieces to wooden blocks and subsquently applied for and received a patent.

John was a writer, salesman and school teacher and opened a store selling the items he invented well before the end of the Civil War. He then quickly added other school and educational products and in 1895 he sold his thriving business to others who kept the name and focus of the busines. In 2003 there were over 63 Hemmetts School Supply stores in the United States. However, even by then the business was moving on-line and today exists mostly via catalog sales on the Internet.

There was 143 years of Hemmetts stores in business selling schoolhouse and educational products and this two sided (reversible) chalkboard was one of those products. We think it was originally sold sometime in the 1940s-1960s era. The blackboard easily swings around so that both sides are fully usable at the same time. It is in excellent condition and can quickly and easily be taken apart for shipment or for storage.

It measures 72 inches high, 53 inches wide and the base legs are 26 inches wide. Our price is for in-store pick up or free local delivery. Please call or email for an out of state delivery quote.

$485.00