Corn Sheller. (open access)

Corn Sheller.

Patent for a new and improved corn sheller. This design "comprises a double-shelling surface of peculiar construction in one plate or bed-piece, whereby a corn-sheller having but little weight is produced, which shall be capable of shelling either one ear of corn, or, by using both hands, two ears of corn at the same time, and which shall do its work with increased ease, ready clearance for the shelled corn, and protection, when using both hands, against their striking each other" (lines 12-21).
Date: March 4, 1884
Creator: Matthews, Luther
System: The Portal to Texas History
Quilting Frame. (open access)

Quilting Frame.

Patent for a new and improved quilting frame. This design consists in "the combination of the vertical standards bent forward at their upper ends and provided with dovetailed projections, the track-bar beveled toward the upper edge and provided with dovetailed notches to receive the projections whereby the said bar may be removed from the standards, the folding braces between the standards, the roller-bar having the rollers to run on the track-bar, and the frame connected to the roller-bar by the suspending-cords" (lines 38-49).
Date: March 20, 1888
Creator: Raines, Burress Wesley
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton-Chopper. (open access)

Cotton-Chopper.

Patent for a mechanism that aims "to promote convenience in adjusting and regulating cotton choppers" (line 44-46), including instructions and illustrations.
Date: March 6, 1883
Creator: Mowrey, Ephraim L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car Seat Recorder. (open access)

Car Seat Recorder.

Patent for a new and improved car-seat recorder. This design consists in "[t]he combination of the following elements: a car-axle, the depressible car-seat, and the recording apparatus arranged alongside the seat and consisting of friction feed-wheels, a paper strip, meshing spur-gears, and a puncturing device arranged vertically, a lever which operatively connects said seat and apparatus, and gearing which connects the latter with the axle, whereby movement of the car operates said apparatus and enables the record to be made by slitting the strip when the seat is depressed" (lines 22-33).
Date: March 2, 1886
Creator: Bywaters, Joseph K. & Burke, John Y.
System: The Portal to Texas History