Lamp or Lantern. (open access)

Lamp or Lantern.

Patent for a new and improved oil lamp. This design calls for transparent material (e.g., glass) to be installed on the top of the oil chamber, so one can better predict the fullness, which prevents overflowing. Additionally, a second opening to the side of the main opening allows the oil chamber to be safely refilled while already lit.
Date: December 21, 1880
Creator: Eason, Bolivar
System: The Portal to Texas History
Churn-Power (open access)

Churn-Power

Patent for an improvement to a churning by allowing a churn to be attached to a sewing machine. The churn and sewing machine could then be used separately or at the same time.
Date: November 21, 1882
Creator: Jones, Isaac Van Zandt
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling Press. (open access)

Baling Press.

Patent for a new and improved baling press. This design "consists in the combination, with the follower, the right-and-left-screw, and nuts, of the hinged levers and the bars swiveled thereto; also, in the combination . . . of the slotted bars, the hinged socket, and the swiveled arms; also, in the combination, with the nuts having shoulders and the hinged levers having forked up ends, of the anti-friction rollers journaled in recesses in the said nuts; also . . . of the curved and flattened swiveled arms, whereby the lower ends of the said follower-bars can have a lateral movement" (lines 23-38).
Date: March 21, 1882
Creator: Jones, Isaac Van Zandt
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling-Press (open access)

Baling-Press

Patent for "a press of this character by means of which a direct stroke will be given to the plunger, the latter permitted to rebound by the recoil of the hay, and the hay properly held in position" (lines 8-12).
Date: May 21, 1889
Creator: Hallam, Leigh H.
System: The Portal to Texas History