Yardstick Calculator. (open access)

Yardstick Calculator.

Patent for a new and useful yard stick calculator for linear measurement. Yard stick is use in connection with dry goods and or business where items are sold by linear measurement including instructions and illustrations.
Date: August 1, 1899
Creator: Praeger, Ewald
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wire Stretcher (open access)

Wire Stretcher

Patent for a wire stretcher. Illustration included.
Date: January 1, 1907
Creator: Miller, Alexander & Leonard, George
System: The Portal to Texas History
Yardstick-Calculator. (open access)

Yardstick-Calculator.

Patent for "a calculating-yardstick adapted for use in connection with the dry goods or any other business in which goods are sold by linear measurement, the object in view being to provide, in connection with a linear measuring scale or rule, an indicating device provided with a plurality of price-scales having relation to the measuring-scale and adapted to indicate the price of a given length of an article at a given price per unit of measure, and also adapted to indicate the length of an article of a given price which may be sold for a given amount." (Lines 8-20) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: September 1, 1896
Creator: Praeger, Ewald
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wrench. (open access)

Wrench.

Patent for "wrenches; and it consists in the improved means for operating the movable jaw thereof." (lines 12-13) including illustrations.
Date: July 1, 1902
Creator: Boozer, George W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Vacuum Storage And Preserving Can (open access)

Vacuum Storage And Preserving Can

Patent for vacuum storage and preserving can. This invention is intended for the use of preserving eggs. Illustration included.
Date: August 1, 1905
Creator: Stukes, John Marion & Lane, Barton George
System: The Portal to Texas History
Manifold-Writing Tablet. (open access)

Manifold-Writing Tablet.

Patent for writing platform which allows for the creation of carbon copies.
Date: April 1, 1879
Creator: Morris, Robert, C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hydraulic Air-Compressor. (open access)

Hydraulic Air-Compressor.

Patent for an improved hydraulic air compressor: "The principal object of my invention is to provide the cylinder with a pressure and water regulating device" (lines 7-9).
Date: March 1, 1881
Creator: Freeman, William R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sulky-Lister (open access)

Sulky-Lister

Patent for improved version of sulky-lister, with more effective spring between planter and lister-plow. Improvements include ability for covering disks to move downward and function at required drill depth.
Date: April 1, 1902
Creator: Engelmann, Gustav
System: The Portal to Texas History
Nut-Cracker. (open access)

Nut-Cracker.

Patent for improvements in nut-cracker by using “a pair of bent handle-limbs pivoted together near the bends of the limbs, a hammer-block rigidly secured on the opposite end of each handle-limb; each hammer-block having a cavity, these cavities being formed in opposed ends of the hammer-blocks; a handhold in each handle-limb, and a guide-piece having parallel members affixed by their ends on one of the handle-limbs, and loosely embracing the other handle-limbs.” (P. 2, lines 42-51.) Illustration is included.
Date: April 1, 1902
Creator: Dickey, William V.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gearing (open access)

Gearing

Patent for gearing for a flying machine. This gearing will allow for two independent drive shafts to work with tow independent engines to allow both engines to connect to either or both draft shafts.
Date: April 1, 1913
Creator: Herrmann, Ernst W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hamper. (open access)

Hamper.

Patent for a hamper that transports post, laundry, baked goods, etc. The hamper is compactly collapsible for easy storage.
Date: June 1, 1915
Creator: Hill, Edwyn
System: The Portal to Texas History
Siding Lumber. (open access)

Siding Lumber.

Patent for siding lumber, which attaches tightly together at the corners to keep out bugs and rain.
Date: February 1, 1910
Creator: Cesinger, George V.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Food Composition (open access)

Food Composition

Patent for food composition. This invention is designed to resemble Italian paste or macaroni.
Date: March 1, 1904
Creator: Dreiss, Edward
System: The Portal to Texas History
Eyeglass Mounting (open access)

Eyeglass Mounting

Patent for the creation of new and useful improvements in eyeglass mounting.
Date: July 1, 1921
Creator: Henderson, W. T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mattress-Machine (open access)

Mattress-Machine

Patent for "an improved machine for making mattress from lint-cotton and the like materials, which is compressed into a bat, ejected from the press, and in the process of being ejected inserted in the tick" (lines 9-13) including instructions and illustrations.
Date: January 1, 1901
Creator: Morgan, John W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Retainer or Dog (open access)

Cotton Retainer or Dog

Patent for improving a tool (dog) used in the operation of processing cotton bales. The (dog) tool does not require the replacement of other tools in cotton processing.
Date: October 1, 1918
Creator: Cameron, Theodore R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Nozzle For Cotton Pickers. (open access)

Nozzle For Cotton Pickers.

Patent for a nozzle for cotton pickers that uses suction to pull a cotton boll away from the cotton burr, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: September 1, 1914
Creator: Hartwell, George Harry, Jr.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Horse Power. (open access)

Horse Power.

Patent for a new and improved "horse power" (engine). This design "convert[s] the force expended by the horse—in pushing as well as in pulling—into power by the use of a solid shaft turned by the revolving platform and working inside of a sleeve-shaft, which is turned by the lever. . . . by means of which all the force expended by the horse is utilized" (lines 11-18).
Date: August 1, 1882
Creator: Tumey, Charles Henry
System: The Portal to Texas History
Display-Counter. (open access)

Display-Counter.

Patent for a grocery display counter that has drawers at the back and transparent containers that enable customers to view merchandise from front and side.
Date: September 1, 1914
Creator: Friedrich, Edward
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fuel Heater For Internal Combustion Engines (open access)

Fuel Heater For Internal Combustion Engines

Patent for a fuel heating system designed to be incorporated into combustion engines.
Date: April 1, 1919
Creator: Vaughan, E. A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Cleaner and Condenser. (open access)

Cotton Cleaner and Condenser.

Patent for a cotton cleaning and condensing machine for cleaning cotton lint and forming it into bats of standard size. Also equipped with a fire-safety mechanism that immediately turns off the machine.
Date: October 1, 1907
Creator: Reagan, Edgar
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car Coupling. (open access)

Car Coupling.

Patent for a new and improved coupling for railroad cars. This design "relates to car-couplings, and more especially to that part or portion of the mechanism usually termed 'link-lifters;' and the object of the invention is to provide means whereby the link can be lifted and caused to enter the draw-head of an approaching car by the operator when standing alongside the stationary car" (lines 7-14).
Date: April 1, 1890
Creator: Small, Henry
System: The Portal to Texas History
Chiropractic Table (open access)

Chiropractic Table

Patent for use by chiropractors in their manipulations of the human body, and has for its object the provision of a table or attachment to a table including simultaneously movable head and abdomen supports. The invention has been designed which embodies a head rest, chest support, and abdomen support all mounted upon a single hinged member which will automatically adjust itself to the patient laying upon the table, spring means being provided for opposing the movement.
Date: November 1, 1921
Creator: Lege, John H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Ship-Protector. (open access)

Ship-Protector.

Patent for a ship protector that uses a system of mats that can be individually lowered to temporarily repair a hole blown in the hull by a torpedo or floating mine, thereby keeping the ship from sinking until it can reach port. The mats can also be used to prevent floating mines from contacting the hull. Designed to be easily applied without requiring any material changes in the ship's construction.
Date: November 1, 1921
Creator: Geroianne, Francesco
System: The Portal to Texas History