Charles T. Christmas, a former slave from Riverton, Bolivar County, Mississippi, made this baling press patent model. The model was patented on May 25, 1880. Christmas designed the press to make cotton bales more compact and, thus, cut shipping costs. This is one of several patent models in the collection of the Museum Division.
Artifacts from the Museum Division collection that are not on exhibit are available for viewing by appointment. Please contact Nan Prince, Asst. Director of Collections, by email to schedule an appointment.