Apparatus for Loading Wagons. (open access)

Apparatus for Loading Wagons.

Patent for a new and improved apparatus for loading wagons. This design consists in "[t]he combination of the platform having the opening and the trap-doors, the fastening devices to secure the trap-doors when closed and to permit the same to open, and the counter-weights connected to the trap-doors" (lines 24-28).
Date: November 27, 1888
Creator: Bernard, Alfred Franklin
System: The Portal to Texas History
Compound for Making Brick, Tile, &c. (open access)

Compound for Making Brick, Tile, &c.

Patent for creating brick, tile and other material using hydraulic cement and magnesian lime-stone.
Date: June 27, 1882
Creator: Hunt, Henrey Hardon
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Cotton-Planter, Cultivator, and Double-Shovel, Single-Shovel, Turning Plow. (open access)

Combined Cotton-Planter, Cultivator, and Double-Shovel, Single-Shovel, Turning Plow.

Patent for the novel design for combination plow-beams or shovel-stocks which allows parts to be attached and detached.
Date: June 27, 1882
Creator: Le Roy, Charles Jerome
System: The Portal to Texas History
Barrel-Truck. (open access)

Barrel-Truck.

Patent for a new barrel truck or wheeled dolly design for moving barrels or boxes more easily, including illustrations.
Date: December 27, 1887
Creator: Wilson, William W. & Newton, Jeremiah L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Apparatus for Obtaining a Vacuum. (open access)

Apparatus for Obtaining a Vacuum.

Patent for a new and improved vacuum. This design utilizes a liquid pump, plates, tubes and valves to make "about as perfect a vacuum . . . as can be obtained by an ordinary pump" (lines 53-55).
Date: July 27, 1880
Creator: Ward, Lyman Henry
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Rotary Harrow and Stalk Cutter or Roller. (open access)

Combined Rotary Harrow and Stalk Cutter or Roller.

Patent for a new and improved harrow combine. This design "provide[s] a rotary harrow, to be used in combination with a stalk-cutter or roller, for the purpose of harrowing ground and at the same time cutting off the stalks of the preceding crop, or for harrowing in and rolling seed. [The] invention consists in a [novel] combination and arrangement of parts" (lines 11-18).
Date: February 27, 1883
Creator: Barker, James
System: The Portal to Texas History
Anti-Friction Wagon Slide. (open access)

Anti-Friction Wagon Slide.

Patent for a new and improved anti-friction wagon slide. This design "consists of flat side pieces provided with bolt-holes near their ends, and connected to diametrically-opposite points of nearly-cylindrical end pieces, which have holes through their axes for the reception of the roller-shaft. The recess is so formed that the lower portion of the end pieces shall bear against its ends when the frame is put in place. This arrangement, together with the bolts through the corners of the frame and the coupling-tongue, prevents any tendency of the frame to displacement" (lines 42-54).
Date: July 27, 1886
Creator: Jowell, George Ratcliff.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wagon-Body (open access)

Wagon-Body

Patent for "new and useful improvements in wagon-bodies, having for its object simplicity and durability," (lines 10-12) including illustrations.
Date: December 27, 1887
Creator: Folsome, Charles F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Insecticide. (open access)

Insecticide.

Patent for a compound to kill insects, formula and instruction on how to mix the ingredients are included. No illustration.
Date: August 27, 1889
Creator: Smith, Byrd
System: The Portal to Texas History
Vehicle for Cotton Pickers. (open access)

Vehicle for Cotton Pickers.

Patent for a new and improved vehicle for picking cotton. This design "consists in a three-wheeled vehicle provided with a seat, in combination with a suitable frame which is supported at one end upon two wheels, and which is loosely attached at its other end to the axle of the three-wheeled vehicle, and which is used for carrying the bag or basket which is to hold the cotton . . . thus enabl[ing] persons to pick cotton who have weak backs" (lines 15-28).
Date: February 27, 1883
Creator: Reid, John Thomas
System: The Portal to Texas History
Irrigating Apparatus. (open access)

Irrigating Apparatus.

Patent for a new and improved irrigation apparatus. This design "pertains to improvements in irrigating apparatus, having for its object to prevent the choking or obstructing of the nozzle and to effect the proper distribution of the water; and it consists of the combination and construction of parts" (lines 13-18).
Date: May 27, 1884
Creator: Chisholm, William R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Well-Drilling Apparatus (open access)

Well-Drilling Apparatus

Patent for a well-drilling apparatus granted to Eli Catlin which is simpler and more convenient to use as well as being less expensive.
Date: November 27, 1883
Creator: Catlin, Eli
System: The Portal to Texas History
Yielding and Buoyant Pile Breakwater. (open access)

Yielding and Buoyant Pile Breakwater.

Patent for a new and improved breakwater. This design is "of a cheap, durable, and efficient breakwater for localities exposed to the destructive action of the waves; and it consists mainly in a line of single-column buoyant piles, arranged side-by-side, and grouped together in sections . . . and anchored to their water-bed, and also in certain constructions and combination of parts" (lines 28-35).
Date: June 27, 1882
Creator: Franklin, Robert M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Ventilating Attachment to Hearths. (open access)

Ventilating Attachment to Hearths.

Patent for a new and improved ventilating attachment for hearths. This design "consists in extending the ventilating box or casing . . . sufficiently below the floor of the room to the hearth to which it is applied to allow it to project into the room below" (lines 19-23).
Date: June 27, 1882
Creator: Howard, Joshua Eaffrom
System: The Portal to Texas History
Water Cooler. (open access)

Water Cooler.

Patent for a new and improved water cooler. This design consists in "vessels, packing, cross-bars in [a] compartment, connecting tube, coiled pipe, coupling, and faucet . . . [and] the swinging bracket arranged below the faucet, and having stands for two or more glasses," as well as casing and lining (lines 1-7).
Date: March 27, 1883
Creator: Schultze, August J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Ventilator. (open access)

Ventilator.

Patent for a new and improved ventilator. This design is "to provide a ventilator which shall automatically accommodate or turn the collecting-hood thereof to the direction in which the wind is blowing, to collect and conduct fresh pure air into buildings, cars, &c.; to provide means for regulating the distribution of the air to the compartments or different parts of the buildings, &c.; to diminish the friction and wear between the swiveled collecting-hood and its supporting devices whereby said hood and its attached vane are enabled to turn more freely and readily" (lines 17-29).
Date: April 27, 1886
Creator: Sellars, James K.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Ventilator. (open access)

Ventilator.

Patent for a new and improved ventilator. This design consists in "[t]he improved combined flue and ventilator . . . consisting of an outer casing surmounted by a cap and provided with a central flue, funnels hinged to the outer casing and provided with flexible connections for elevating the same, and means for conducting the air downward from said funnels" (lines 8-15).
Date: April 27, 1886
Creator: Shanley, Michael H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Store Shelving. (open access)

Store Shelving.

Patent for new and improved store shelving. This design utilizes a hinge whereby the shelving can collapse onto a flat surface, which is otherwise available as storage itself. This design also utilizes wheeled legs for easy transportation and zinc plating so as to partially fire-proof the shelving.
Date: February 27, 1883
Creator: Harris, Thomas A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stalk Cutter and Mower. (open access)

Stalk Cutter and Mower.

Patent for a new and improved stalk-cutter and mower. This design consists, "with the shaft, having pulley and means . . . to rotate the same, of the pivoted links, the reel having its shaft journaled in said links and provided with the longitudinal cutters and with the pulley, the endless belt connecting the said pulleys . . . and the lever connected to the reel to raise and lower the same" (lines 9-17).
Date: August 27, 1889
Creator: Knox, Washington Irvin
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pressure Regulator for Fermented Liquids. (open access)

Pressure Regulator for Fermented Liquids.

Patent for a new and improved pressure regulator for fermented liquids. This design "has for its object to provide an improved automatic hydraulic apparatus for supplying compressed air to kegs or casks containing fermented liquids, to replace the vacuum caused by drawing off a portion of the said liquid, and thus to maintain a uniform pressure in such vessels as long as any portion of their contents remain to be drawn therefrom" (lines 8-15).
Date: December 27, 1881
Creator: Freeman, William R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plow Colter. (open access)

Plow Colter.

Patent for a new and improved plow colter. This design calls for a colter that conforms to the face-curve of the plow shovel, thus forming a landside. The colter can be attached to and removed from either side of the plow standard.
Date: December 27, 1881
Creator: Kersh, Alvin Jacob
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pump for Oil Cans, &c. (open access)

Pump for Oil Cans, &c.

Patent for a new and improved pump for oil cans. This design "especially relates to means for holding a pump cylinder or barrel within the cask or can, and preventing oil from escaping through the aperture or opening through which the cylinder passes; and to these ends it consists of the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts" (lines 20-26).
Date: October 27, 1885
Creator: Nelson, John Bryon
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lamp. (open access)

Lamp.

Patent for a new and improved lantern. This design "has relation to that class of lamp in which the reflector is secured to the lamp, having an aperture in its upper portion for the passage of the chimney of the lamp, and in which the reflector may be adjusted to throw the light from the lamp in different directions without moving the lamp; and it consists in the improved construction and combination of parts of the same" (lines 23-31).
Date: April 27, 1886
Creator: Williams, Robert E. & Trammell, William A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lamp Attachment. (open access)

Lamp Attachment.

Patent for a new and improved lamp attachment. This design "is to provide sewing-machine tables with lamp attachments applied in such manner as that the lamp will cast its light upon the presser-foot and needle from the back and will not obstruct the table or interfere with the work, and when not in use may be swung underneath the table out of the way" (lines 7-14).
Date: August 27, 1889
Creator: Walker, Catharine S.
System: The Portal to Texas History