Language

Blackboard-Eraser (open access)

Blackboard-Eraser

Patent for "blackboard-erasers in which the erasing material is detachable from the wood block or handle and permits...being used continuously."
Date: November 18, 1902
Creator: Williams, Lavinia B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Well-Drilling Machine. (open access)

Well-Drilling Machine.

Patent for “a new and improved well-drilling machine adapted to be driven by horse-power and arranged to permit of actuating the drilling tools for drilling purposes and to allow of conveniently and quickly raising the tools from the well…” (lines 8-14) including illustrations.
Date: November 18, 1902
Creator: Moore, Robert Burns
System: The Portal to Texas History
Attachment for Sewing Machines. (open access)

Attachment for Sewing Machines.

Patent for a new and improved attachment for sewing machines. This design "is to prevent the presser-foot from catching in the fibers of the material as the same is being sewed" (lines 13-15). It is "composed of a sheet-metal plate bent upon itself to form a loop and having an integral arm extending from the upper edge of the loop out of the plane thereof and having its free end concaved" (lines 93-97).
Date: November 18, 1890
Creator: Tynes, Minor E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Attachment for Lathes. (open access)

Attachment for Lathes.

Patent for an improved attachment for lathes and (more specifically) as a cutting attachment for a jeweler's lathe.
Date: November 18, 1913
Creator: Norton, Walter S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Burner. (open access)

Burner.

Patent for an inexpensive and efficient burner for oil "with a maximum production of heat." (lines 14-15) including illustrations.
Date: November 18, 1919
Creator: Upton, Arthur L. & Immer, Samuel N.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Bur Breaker and Suction Fan. (open access)

Cotton Bur Breaker and Suction Fan.

Patent for "a new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Bur Breakers and Suction-Fans" (lines 6-8) and is designed for loading and unloading cotton from a wagon while separating the cotton lint from the hulls, including illustrations.
Date: November 18, 1919
Creator: Irwin, Samuel D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wire-Stretcher. (open access)

Wire-Stretcher.

Patent for "drawing the ends of wire together for the purpose of splicing" (lines 10-12) with illustrations.
Date: November 18, 1913
Creator: Holland, Isaac W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Trunk Fastening. (open access)

Trunk Fastening.

Patent for a new and improved trunk-fastening. This design "consist[s] of a stationary block having a segmental groove in its under side, a stop at one end of said groove, an overlapping flange projecting from the outside bounding-rib of said groove, a rotary disk having a segmental extension, a flange projecting from the outer surface of said extension and adapted to enter said segmental groove, a circular flange projecting from the outside surface of the disk and fitting beneath the overlapping flange of the stationary block, said circular flange forming with the segmental flange" (lines 7-19).
Date: November 18, 1890
Creator: Hutton, Milton C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wagon Step. (open access)

Wagon Step.

Patent for a new and improved wagon-step. This design "permit[s] a driver to mount or dismount without necessitating his [or her] dropping the reins, and which when not in use can be folded up out of the way of the wheels" (lines 14-17). It consists in "the rod provided at its upper end with a handle and journaled in suitable bearings and extending diagonally along the side of the body, and the step-brackets arranged at intervals along the rod and consisting of the stems rigidly secured to the rod and the steps formed integral with the stems and extending out horizontally therefrom" (lines 64-71).
Date: November 18, 1890
Creator: Thompson, Robert K.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Leather-Dressing. (open access)

Leather-Dressing.

Patent for improvements to "composition of matter for the stuffing or filling of leather and to soften and polish the same, and also to preserve the leather, and is particularly applicable as a dressing for harness, boots, shoes, and all leather exposed to the weather" (lines 9-14).
Date: November 18, 1890
Creator: Jolly, John M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lid and Label Holder. (open access)

Lid and Label Holder.

Patent for an improvement to lid and label holders (boxes) that allows for the lid to be held against the side of the box so that the box sits at an inclination and displays the contents of the box.
Date: November 18, 1919
Creator: Watts, Albert B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Windmill. (open access)

Windmill.

Patent for an improvement to the "construction of windmills and to provide means for varying the stroke of a windmill with the velocity or force of the wind, to increase the length of the stroke as the velocity of the wind increases, and to reduce the length of stroke as the force of the wind abates." (lines 10-16)
Date: November 18, 1902
Creator: Tinney, James R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Water-Heater. (open access)

Water-Heater.

Patent for a portable water heater "in which a circulation of water may be had, whereby the same may become readily heated for use in a bath tub or other receptacle." (lines 12-15)
Date: November 18, 1913
Creator: Ramsey, Lee
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mail-Bag-Handling Apparatus. (open access)

Mail-Bag-Handling Apparatus.

Patent for "a mail-bag handing apparatus, and more specifically [an] apparatus designed to practically simultaneously deliver and receive bags or pouches containing mail or other matter, to and from a moving train or body" (lines 9-14), including instructions and illustrations.
Date: November 18, 1913
Creator: Brunkenhoefer, Henry F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Machine for Cleaning and Feeding Cotton. (open access)

Machine for Cleaning and Feeding Cotton.

Patent for a machine that cleans and feeds cotton in a simple, compact form. It separates dust and trash, as well as heavy objects such as stones, from cotton.
Date: November 18, 1913
Creator: Cook, Cas W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Fire-Lighters. (open access)

Improvement in Fire-Lighters.

Patent for a device which allows the lighting of "fires, lights, blasts, &c., by a person located some distance from the object to be ignited." (lines 7-10) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: November 18, 1879
Creator: Craig, Samuel M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Saw-Sets (open access)

Improvement in Saw-Sets

Patent for an improvement in a device which sets the teeth of a saw, with instructions and illustrations.
Date: November 18, 1879
Creator: Holton, Samuel
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Ironing-Machines. (open access)

Improvement in Ironing-Machines.

Patent for an ironing machine that includes a "movable table operated by a crank" (lines 16-17). Illustration included.
Date: November 18, 1873
Creator: Cottingham, Gideon W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Cultivators. (open access)

Improvement in Cultivators.

Patent for improving on a plowing device. This apparatus has four independent and adjustable shovels attached together to work to cultivate a field.
Date: September 6, 1873
Creator: Cavett, Richard S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Portable Fences. (open access)

Improvement in Portable Fences.

Patent for "a simple, cheap, and portable fence...which can be readily folded up for transportation from place to place." (Lines 11-13) Illustration included.
Date: November 18, 1873
Creator: Taylor, Byron L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Cotton-Bale Ties. (open access)

Improvement in Cotton-Bale Ties.

Patent for improving cotton bale ties with buckle-tie plate and zinc-galvanized iron wire.
Date: November 18, 1873
Creator: Quarles, Fred.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Apparatus for Destroying Insects. (open access)

Improvement in Apparatus for Destroying Insects.

Patent for an "improvement in devices for destroying ants and burrowing animals of all kinds." (lines 13-15) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: November 18, 1879
Creator: Melcher, John C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Propeller of Machinery to be used in Currents. (open access)

Propeller of Machinery to be used in Currents.

Patent for a propelled water wheel that is attached to the back of a vessel that uses a current of water and stream power, including illustrations.
Date: November 18, 1851
Creator: Hardie, James
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hub-Attaching Device. (open access)

Hub-Attaching Device.

Patent for hub attaching device. "This invention relates to means applied to ordinary vehicle-axles for preventing wear upon the same, a false wearing-surface being provided, which may be renewed when necessary, either on account of wear or for any other reason"(lines 11-16)
Date: November 18, 1902
Creator: Simon, Adolph P.
System: The Portal to Texas History