Patent model
On July 31, 1790 inventor Samuel Hopkins of Pittsford, Vermont became the first person to be issued a patent in the United States. His patented invention was an improvement in the "making of Pot Ash by a new apparatus & process." These earliest patent law required that a working model of each invention be produced in miniature.
Vriesendorp &amp; Gaade
The Netherlands have known patents for a long period of time. As early as the Middle Ages patents were granted at regular times and famous names can be found among the patentees, like Leeghwater, Huygens, De Keyser, Stevin and Drebbel. In 1817 a Patents Act came into force under King William I. Under this Act the Firm of Vriesendorp & Gaade was engaged in applying for patents.
The Firm of Vriesendorp & Gaade filed the first patent application in which they acted as representatives on September 27, 1833. The patent in question was granted by the King on November 9, 1833 under the Dutch Patent Act of 1817 It concerned a so-called patent of importation granted to F.M.N. van Aken, who had become familiar with an apparatus for refining sugar and distilling spirits in France described in a French patent which was applied for on 4 February 1833. Ever since the name of the Firm of Vriesendorp & Gaade has been mentioned in the patent records as a patent agent office.