Plaque and Picture Hanger. (open access)

Plaque and Picture Hanger.

Patent for a new and improved holder for plaques and pictures. This design "is to provide a simple and cheap device for conveniently hanging painted or ornamental plaques, plates, tiles, and similar decorative objects" (lines 15-18).
Date: July 25, 1882
Creator: Marucheau, Elizabeth L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Ice-Machine. (open access)

Ice-Machine.

Patent for the improvements of ice machine gas compressors and its adjuncts.
Date: May 25, 1886
Creator: Schuehle, Jacob
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gas Compressing Pump for Ice Machines. (open access)

Gas Compressing Pump for Ice Machines.

Patent for a new and improved pump for refrigerators. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with the cylinder, having inlet at or near its lower end, a downward-closing valve at its upper end, an open-ended piston having internal ribs or projections, annular valve-seat around its upper open end, and a centrally-apertured bottom plate, of the valve having vertical movement within the piston and closing upwardly against the valve-seat, said valve being formed of the two sections . . . having hemispherical recesses and the lower section having an aperture, communicating therewith" (lines 30-42).
Date: December 25, 1888
Creator: Farnsworth, Thomas
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bench Clamp. (open access)

Bench Clamp.

Patent for a new and improved bench clamp. This design, "[b]eing made of iron or other suitable material . . . is strong, durable, and inexpensive. It requires no bolts or screws to secure it to the work-bench or other object where its use may be required, and can be put in position and removed easily and quickly. It occupies but little room on account of its compactness, and can be applied to any piece of work without marring it" (lines 72-80).
Date: January 25, 1881
Creator: Murphy, James
System: The Portal to Texas History
Brake for Vehicles (open access)

Brake for Vehicles

Patent for "a brake which shall be easy in operation, cheap in construction, and not liable to get out of order" (lines 13-17).
Date: October 25, 1887
Creator: Bacon, Edward Hamlin
System: The Portal to Texas History