Automatic Separator and Evaporator. (open access)

Automatic Separator and Evaporator.

Patent for an improved automatic separator and evaporator which controls the intake with an included air-lift or jet-ejector, including illustrations.
Date: April 5, 1921
Creator: Allen, Charles
System: The Portal to Texas History
Overflow Separating Device. (open access)

Overflow Separating Device.

Patent for an invention that allows for the separation of materials, such as fluid, between two objects, one of higher altitude than the other, with minimal disruption at the surface of the lower object.
Date: October 5, 1920
Creator: Allen, Charles
System: The Portal to Texas History
Thickener and Means for Removing Settled Solids Therefrom. (open access)

Thickener and Means for Removing Settled Solids Therefrom.

Patent for a machine which can automatically and continuously remove thickened material, which is a byproduct of wet milling ores. "The present device has been particularly designed to permit feed and discharge to be on the same level or for that matter the constant density discharge may be above or below the level of the feed stream, as may best fit the conditions of the particular installation" (lines 39-45).
Date: October 5, 1920
Creator: Allen, Charles
System: The Portal to Texas History
Saw-Filing Device (open access)

Saw-Filing Device

Patent for an improved saw filing machine. Illustration is included
Date: October 5, 1920
Creator: Barger, Bernard J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Stalk Cutter and Insect Killer (open access)

Cotton Stalk Cutter and Insect Killer

Patent for improvements to mechanical cotton stalk cutting and insect destroying apparatus. The machine's object is "cutting the stalks into small pieces, and the crushing the stalks so as to crush and destroy insects which may be upon the withered stalks." (lines 26-29).
Date: September 5, 1922
Creator: Batla, Thomas H. & Holan, Heny J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Safety-Razor (open access)

Safety-Razor

Patent for a razor held in place by a guard that protects the user against injury and the razor against dulling. The safety razor is easy to clean and is designed to be "cheaply and easily manufactured" (lines 21-22).
Date: July 5, 1921
Creator: Benton, Columbus A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rubber Razor. (open access)

Rubber Razor.

Patent for a rubber razor. The rubber razor provides a flexible support for multiple blade and will allow the blades to contour to one's face.
Date: July 5, 1921
Creator: Billingsley, Rennie E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Animal-Trap (open access)

Animal-Trap

Patent for an animal trap which is to be sprung by the animal when the bait is touched. It is constructed in such a manner that the animal will be instantly killed. The metal parts of the trap are to create a strong and durable trap and to be manufactured at a small expense.
Date: April 5, 1921
Creator: Brewington, Philip Jennings
System: The Portal to Texas History
Means For Protecting Vaults. (open access)

Means For Protecting Vaults.

Patent for protecting bank vaults by using metal shells (that are adapted to receive frangible gas containers containing asphyxiating or other disabling gas) as inner linings inside and next to the brick wall of the vault. The metal shells containing the gas containers will break upon contact when a person or persons are trying to breach the outer (brick wall) to gain access to the bank vault.
Date: April 5, 1921
Creator: Bumpass, Leonard E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fire-Extinguisher for Aeroplanes and the Like. (open access)

Fire-Extinguisher for Aeroplanes and the Like.

Patent for a fire extinguisher apparatus to be used in air crafts, boats, and other vehicles designed to be lightweight and to quickly extinguish fires.
Date: July 5, 1921
Creator: Clark, Walter C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Process of Removing Surface Finish (open access)

Process of Removing Surface Finish

Patent for the process of removing paint, enamel, varnish, and lacquer from the surfaces of coated materials.
Date: October 5, 1920
Creator: Cleveland, David P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Well-Drilling Tool. (open access)

Well-Drilling Tool.

Patent for a bit that can be attached to a rotary tool for drilling wells. It features a means for using water to dislodge any accumulated mud from the tool.
Date: April 5, 1921
Creator: Clore, Franklin H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Animated Sign (open access)

Animated Sign

Patent for a display apparatus to be implemented as animated advertising signs which successively display different images by controlling the timing of changes in the colors of light used to flood the front and to backlight the display surfaces. The images are created in such a way that certain elements created in certain colors become absorbed or are made invisible when illuminated by certain colors of light. An apparatus controls the cyclical changes of the colored lights used by the sign.
Date: September 5, 1922
Creator: Craig, Richard M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Method of and Apparatus for Producing Transformation Effects (open access)

Method of and Apparatus for Producing Transformation Effects

Patent for a method of creating transformation effects through the use of particular colors of illumination, to be used in the theater, amusement houses, or other performances. The invention involves using lights whose colors can either "absorb" or "wash out" certain objects or designs of the same color while revealing objects of a complementary color.
Date: September 5, 1922
Creator: Craig, Richard M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Thread-Box. (open access)

Thread-Box.

Patent for Thread-Box designed for a neat appearance, storage, and access to sewing materials.
Date: October 5, 1920
Creator: Crumbaugh, Hallie V. D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton-Chopper (open access)

Cotton-Chopper

Patent for a cotton-chopper with two moveable, adjustable cutting apparatuses, which is operated using the foot. One of the cutters moves along the path of travel of the device and the other is stationary, as to prevent the chopper from pulling the cotton plant from the ground while cutting. Patent includes illustrations.
Date: October 5, 1920
Creator: Dawson, William L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sample-Taking Device (open access)

Sample-Taking Device

Patent for new and useful improvements for devices to take samples from wells. Specifically designed to take samples from hard formations, such as rock or other hard surfaces, being pierced from the drill from any depth in a well.
Date: April 5, 1921
Creator: Dodds, Redus D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Punch (open access)

Punch

Patent for punch. Intent of patent is to provide a more stable way of connecting a punching tool mechanism to a reciprocating shaft.
Date: January 5, 1920
Creator: Doolittle, John F
System: The Portal to Texas History
Excavating Bucket. (open access)

Excavating Bucket.

Patent for an "excavating bucket designed for use in connection with an excavating machine" (lines 10-12).
Date: December 5, 1922
Creator: Dyke, Samuel
System: The Portal to Texas History
Check-Book (open access)

Check-Book

Patent for a foldable check book. Illustration is included.
Date: October 5, 1920
Creator: Exline, Marcus P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Adjustable Luggage-carrier (open access)

Adjustable Luggage-carrier

Patent for a luggage carrier that attaches to vehicles to carry packages of various sizes. Includes illustrations.
Date: April 5, 1921
Creator: Green, John R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Battery Terminal Fastening (open access)

Battery Terminal Fastening

Patent for fastening "the rubber caps or tops on the cells of storage batteries in various ways." (Lines 12-14.)
Date: May 5, 1920
Creator: Hawkins, Alda F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Digging-Machine. (open access)

Digging-Machine.

Patent for a digging machine specialized in breaking hard soil and creating ridges that attempt to reduce erosion.
Date: April 5, 1921
Creator: Holly, Charles
System: The Portal to Texas History
Traction Device. (open access)

Traction Device.

Patent for a traction device to be attached to the wheels of a motor vehicle to provide greater traction than the treads of the wheels. The traction device is meant to attach to and detach from the wheels as needed and to be adjustable to the dimensions of the wheels and their treads.
Date: July 5, 1921
Creator: Houston, Hugh Edward
System: The Portal to Texas History