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Apparatus for Stamping Envelopes (open access)

Apparatus for Stamping Envelopes

Patent for "a means whereby with one motion a stamp will be supplied from the'apparatus, moistened, and placed in position upon a letter, wrapper, or parcel adapted to receive it, and wherein a number of stamps may be consecutively placed when and as desired" (lines 10-15).
Date: September 24, 1889
Creator: Helland, Hans & Matzow, Frantz
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Air Compressor for Deep Well Pumps. (open access)

Air Compressor for Deep Well Pumps.

Patent for a new and improved air-compressor. This design "relates to improvements in air-compressing mechanism for the purpose of pumping for forcing from deep wells and performing similar work; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of a larger and smaller air-cylinder, and the combination therewith of mechanism to force the air from the larger into the smaller cylinder to increase the air-pressure in the latter" (lines 22-30).
Date: August 2, 1887
Creator: Adams, John R.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Apparatus for Making Soap. (open access)

Apparatus for Making Soap.

Patent for a new and improved soap-making machine. This design "consist[s] of grease and soda tanks, the latter tank having a diaphragm . . . a register-tank, pipes leading from said grease and soda tanks to said register-tank, a pivoted converter, a rotary shaft in said converter and blades, a shaft journaled in uprights attached to said converter and provided with a crank and a bevel wheel, the latter gearing with a bevel-wheel on said rotary shaft in the converter, and removable furnaces for said grease tank and converter" (lines 21-32).
Date: September 20, 1887
Creator: Grant, William A.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Satchel and Pillow. (open access)

Combined Satchel and Pillow.

Patent for a new and improved combined satchel and pillow. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with a valise or satchel, of an airbag permanently incorporated in the same to form one of the sides thereof, and having a mouthpiece upon the exterior of the valise, whereby the bag may be inflated without opening the valise" (lines 62-67).
Date: August 19, 1884
Creator: Kiam, Benjamin
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Tent and Bed. (open access)

Combined Tent and Bed.

Patent for improvements in the construction of a combined folding bed and tent.
Date: June 19, 1883
Creator: Perez, Mitchel
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bale Tie. (open access)

Bale Tie.

Patent for a new and improved bale tie. This design "consists of a short thin plate of metal having two tongues . . . fronting each other, said plate being pivoted at one end to the bale-hoop . . . the other end of the bale-hoop being passed under the tongues and drawn tightly around the bale, the expansion of the bale on the hoop causes the respective ends to pull on the respective ends of the tie-plate . . . so as to grip the edges of the end passed between the tongues and hold it firmly" (lines 7-19).
Date: July 24, 1883
Creator: Arnold, Abbott
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Spark-Arrester. (open access)

Spark-Arrester.

Patent for the "construction of a spark-arrester adapted to the smoke-stack of any locomotive" (lines 12-13) detailing a new and better combination and arrangement of plates and screens.
Date: February 10, 1880
Creator: Wiggin, John E.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Spark-Arrester. (open access)

Spark-Arrester.

Patent for concepts and designs used to improve performance of Spark-Arresters used in the smoke stacks of locomotives with illustrations and instructions.
Date: April 6, 1880
Creator: Wiggin, John E.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car-Coupling. (open access)

Car-Coupling.

Patent for "construction and arrangement of arrow-shaped draw-heads and lever-bars adjustable upon rack-bars for the purpose of raising and lowering the draw-heads" (lines 16-20)including instructions and illustrations.
Date: April 20, 1880
Creator: Gray, John D.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Amalgamator. (open access)

Amalgamator.

Patent for a new and improved amalgamator. This design "consists in placing in the bottoms of the chambers a number of iron balls or other suitable-shaped pieces of amalgamated iron, which have sufficient room to move freely among themselves, and then forcing up through the balls or pieces of iron, in contradistinction to forcing it down over their tops, the amalgamated ore and water, so as to cause the pieces of iron to vibrate, and thus to grind and break the pieces of quartz passing up through them" (lines 14-24).
Date: September 12, 1882
Creator: Schmidt, Erich Franz & Streernwitz, William Henry
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History

City of Houston, Texas, 1884.

Map shows first, second, third, fourth, and fifth wards of Houston, Texas with street names, buildings, parks, churches, businesses, cemeteries, railroads, block numbers, lot numbers, and ownership. Inset: [The center of Houston on an enlarged scale]. Scales [1:12,000] and [1:3,000].
Date: 1884
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Map
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Receipt of Levi Perryman, June 11, 1880] (open access)

[Receipt of Levi Perryman, June 11, 1880]

Received of Levi Perryman through W. A. Morris the sum of $2.00. Collected upon the execution issued in the case Wheeler & Wilson Co. vs W. P. Leverett. Signed by the Justice of the Peace of Harris County, H Brashear.
Date: June 11, 1880
Creator: Brashear, H.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
[Denton County Alliance Delegates Certificate] (open access)

[Denton County Alliance Delegates Certificate]

Photograph of a Delegates Certificate for the County Alliance of Denton, Texas from July 12th, 1886. A State Democratic Convention ribbon from Houston, Texas, 1892, is also visible. It is sign by J.W. cook, president and Charles A. McMeans, secretary.
Date: July 12, 1886
Creator: Chas. A. McMeans
Object Type: Legal Document
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Freight Receipt from the Houston & Texas Central Railway Co. to David C. Dickson] (open access)

[Freight Receipt from the Houston & Texas Central Railway Co. to David C. Dickson]

Freight receipt from the Houston & Texas Central Railway Co. to David C. Dickson listed as bill number 484, and includes a list of items being shipped. The table at the bottom lists the items, their weight, the rate, and finally the total cost.
Date: September 21, 1882
Creator: Patrick, W. D.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letters from Adelitia McGee to the Moore family and Alice McGee, October 16-17, 1889] (open access)

[Letters from Adelitia McGee to the Moore family and Alice McGee, October 16-17, 1889]

This is a letter from the Charles B. Moore Collection. It is written by Adelitia "Dinkie" McGee to the Moore family and Alice McGee. In this letter, Dinkie details the goings-on in Gallatin, Tennessee and the news includes: weather updates, a discussion concerning Alice's Grandma McGee who has passed, a dialogue about making molasses from cane, news about the crops that survived and the crops that were ruined from frost, updates on family and friends, and the daily happenings since the Moore family and Alice have left. She closes the letter by Birdie want to see Alice and Linnet very badly but since Bessie has come to visit, she has not been as lonely. Dinkie notes that she would like for the Moore's and Alice to write soon. On the first page, Dinkie writes another letter dated October 17 to the Moore family and Alice. She details her daily schedule and mentions that Birdie will write next time. She writes a note for Alice to write Bettie Wilson and that Mother (Matilda Dodd) will write the Moore family on Sunday. The envelope is included with the letter.
Date: October 16, 1889
Creator: Dodd, Adelitia
Object Type: Letter
System: The UNT Digital Library
[Diary of Minnie M. Howard: June 14,1885 to June 12, 1886] (open access)

[Diary of Minnie M. Howard: June 14,1885 to June 12, 1886]

Diary of Minnie M. Howard from June 14, 1885 through June 12, 1886.
Date: 1885-06-14/1886-06-12
Creator: Howard, Minnie M.
Object Type: Book
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Diary of Minnie Howard Walker: 1881] (open access)

[Diary of Minnie Howard Walker: 1881]

Diary of Minnie Howard Walker from the year 1881.
Date: 1881-01-01/1881-12-11
Creator: Walker, Minnie Maud Howard
Object Type: Book
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Emily Hand to Adina de Zavala February 14th, 1881] (open access)

[Letter from Emily Hand to Adina de Zavala February 14th, 1881]

An affectionate letter regarding the welfare of the family
Date: February 14, 1881
Creator: Zavala, Emily West de, 1809-1882
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Woman and two little boys.]

Photograph of woman and two little boys, identified on back as Mrs. B.A. Hinson, Walter and Gus Hinson. Mrs. Hinson is wearing a dark, solid colored Victorian dress with pleats extending from the neckline to the waist line. She is wearing a leaf shaped brooch at her neck. The boys are both dressed in jackets and knickers, White shirts with round collars(child on left has round, ruffled collar), cravat ties. Both are holding hats. Image is mounted on a white card identifying the photographer as Guy and Cooke, of Houston.
Date: 1885
Creator: Guy and Cooke
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Telegram to Alexander Simon from Sol Heidingsfelder of Houston] (open access)

[Telegram to Alexander Simon from Sol Heidingsfelder of Houston]

Papers of Alexander Simon. Telegram to Simon from Sol Heidingsfelder of Houston; "Break the news gently to mother of Babys death funeral tomorrow answer if coming."
Date: May 21, 1884
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History

Houston 1885 Sheet 1

Sanborn map sheet showing an area of Houston in Harris County, Texas, including geographic features, buildings, and details related to risk assessment for fire insurance.
Date: 1885
Creator: Sanborn Map Company
Object Type: Map
System: The Portal to Texas History

Houston 1885 Sheet 4

Sanborn map sheet showing an area of Houston in Harris County, Texas, including geographic features, buildings, and details related to risk assessment for fire insurance.
Date: 1885
Creator: Sanborn Map Company
Object Type: Map
System: The Portal to Texas History

Houston 1885 Sheet 3

Sanborn map sheet showing an area of Houston in Harris County, Texas, including geographic features, buildings, and details related to risk assessment for fire insurance.
Date: 1885
Creator: Sanborn Map Company
Object Type: Map
System: The Portal to Texas History

Houston 1885 Sheet 12

Sanborn map sheet showing an area of Houston in Harris County, Texas, including geographic features, buildings, and details related to risk assessment for fire insurance.
Date: 1885
Creator: Sanborn Map Company
Object Type: Map
System: The Portal to Texas History