Ticket Reel. (open access)

Ticket Reel.

Patent for a new and improved ticket reel. This design, "which is filled with the ticket-strip, is mounted upon an angular shaft moving with the reel; said shaft being provided with a journal at or near one end, said journal having bearing in a standard or bracket rigid upon a base piece or plate adapted to be bolted or screwed to a table or desk. . . . [A]lso, to mount upon the end of the shaft immediately outside the bracket or standard a ratchet-wheel, and to pivot upon the bracket a spring-pressed pawl engaging said ratchet, and to combine with the ticket-reel a suitable friction-spring" (lines 16-28).
Date: January 6, 1891
Creator: Everett, Milton
System: The Portal to Texas History
Padlock. (open access)

Padlock.

Patent for a new and improved padlock. This design "relates . . . more particularly to those padlocks which are used for locking railway-switches . . . [T]he invention consists in a padlock comprising a bow, or hasp, or shackle, a spring-bolt for engaging the same, tumblers, and a lever connecting the tumblers and bolt, a locking device for the tumblers, and an audible alarm, such as a bell" (lines 9-25).
Date: January 13, 1891
Creator: Lucas, George William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Spring Bed Bottom. (open access)

Spring Bed Bottom.

Patent for a new and improved box-spring. This design consists in "[a] main frame having slats and springs and a metallic frame encircling said springs, in combination with the curved brace-springs having the coils and loops pressing on top of the slats, said springs being secured to the slats and metallic frame, and the rods secured to said frame and passing through the ends of the slats" (lines 76-83).
Date: January 13, 1891
Creator: Houston, Leonard B.
System: The Portal to Texas History