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Improvement in Cotton and Hay Presses. (open access)

Improvement in Cotton and Hay Presses.

Patent for the "improvement in Horizontal Cotton - Presses for compressing cotton, hay, and other articles and substances for baling; ..." (lines 3-6), including illustrations.
Date: July 5, 1859
Creator: Stockbridge, Elam
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Locomotive Smoke - Stacks. (open access)

Improvement in Locomotive Smoke - Stacks.

Patent for new and useful improvement in locomotive smoke stacks, "in which the sparks, live cinders, and other heavy particles are arrested near the top of the stack." It consists of a petticoat-pipe, arranged so that it may be raised or lowered for the purpose of regulating the draft.
Date: January 5, 1875
Creator: Cleary, Edward
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Blow-Off Cocks. (open access)

Improvement in Blow-Off Cocks.

Patent for improvement in blow-off cocks used in locomotives and steam boilers, including an illustration.
Date: August 5, 1879
Creator: Harrop, Benjamin B.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plow. (open access)

Plow.

Patent for a new and improved plow. This design consists in "the combination of the center bar, the adjustable sweep, and the saddle . . . [the] longitudinal center bar extending below the base of the sweep and having the pointed nose and the fan-shaped lip" (lines 85-90).
Date: March 5, 1889
Creator: Stewart, John A.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Poise for Scale-Beams. (open access)

Poise for Scale-Beams.

Patent for scale-beams to balance "for the poise or its suspending attachment to move on when being adjusted to weight" (lines 10-13) including illustration.
Date: January 5, 1892
Creator: Wilkening, Gustav
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mechanical Motor. (open access)

Mechanical Motor.

Patent for a new and improved motor. This design "is to produce a simple, convenient, and efficient foot-power having a single pedal accessible from each side of the motor or a double pedal accessible at the end to an operator facing the machine" (lines 14-19). It consists "of a horizontal rock-shaft extending lengthwise of the machine, a horizontal connecting-piece running diagonally of and rigidly secured to said shaft, a seat for the operator, a pedal rigidly secured to said rock-shaft, said pedal serving as a single or double pedal and so arranged that the operator shall face the device" (lines 94-101).
Date: July 5, 1892
Creator: Cochins, George
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Speed-Recorder. (open access)

Speed-Recorder.

Patent for an improvement in speed-recorders or device meant especially for street-cars, meant to protect the streets from reckless driving. The machine punches tape, recording the time the trolly takes to travel each block and how long the trolly takes at each stop.
Date: May 5, 1896
Creator: Spence, James, Jr.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bale-Band Tightener (open access)

Bale-Band Tightener

Patent for a bale-band tightener, for "baling-presses; and its object is to provide a new and improved bale-band tightener which is simple and durable in construction and arranged to permit the operator to conveniently place the bands in position and fasten the ends together after the bale is pressed." (Lines 7-13)
Date: October 5, 1897
Creator: Duval, John L.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Steam-Trap (open access)

Steam-Trap

Patent for " a improved steam-separating trap or steam-eliminator for obtaining a supply of dry steam to an engine or like machinery" (lines 7-10 including instructions and illustrations.
Date: June 5, 1900
Creator: Guild, George
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Spoke-Tightener. (open access)

Spoke-Tightener.

Patent for "a new and useful Spoke-Tightener" (lines 5-6) and adjuster, including illustration.
Date: August 5, 1902
Creator: La Bauve, Valcoure J.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hydrocarbon Burner (open access)

Hydrocarbon Burner

Patent for a hydrocarbon burner. The invention is designed to provide certain new and useful improvements for utilizing crude oil as a fuel and for conveniently (line 10-12). Illustration included.
Date: April 5, 1904
Creator: Barton, Charles H.; Henrichsen, Henry E.; Cousins, Jullious & Matthews, Cranmer L.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Well-Drilling Apparatus (open access)

Well-Drilling Apparatus

Patent for a well-drill swivel designed to improve the function of a well-drilling apparatus. The improved swivel is meant to create a better connection between rod and rope and prevent twisting of water-supply.
Date: June 5, 1906
Creator: Hall, Samuel N.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mail-Catcher (open access)

Mail-Catcher

Patent for a mail catcher that obtains mail placed beside the road and automatically carries it to the door of the car. Illustrations included.
Date: January 5, 1909
Creator: Wehling, Henry C.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mail Delivery and Receiving Device (open access)

Mail Delivery and Receiving Device

Patent for a mail delivery and receiving device. This invention is designed for use whereby mail bags may be passed to and from passing trains. Illustrations included.
Date: January 5, 1909
Creator: Wehling, Henry C.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plug for Repairing Hose (open access)

Plug for Repairing Hose

Patent for a plug for repairing hose. Illustration included.
Date: January 5, 1909
Creator: Monaghan, Alphosus Legouri
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Coin-Controlled Vending-Machine (open access)

Coin-Controlled Vending-Machine

Patent for a pencil vending machine that is coin-operated, with illustrations.
Date: September 5, 1911
Creator: Mathes, John W.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Compressed-Air Engine (open access)

Compressed-Air Engine

Patent for a compressed air engine. Illustrations included.
Date: September 5, 1911
Creator: Murray, Dick H.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Automobile Running-Gear (open access)

Automobile Running-Gear

Patent for a new automobile running gear that uses the front and rear wheels to propel the vehicle through rough, uneven terrain.
Date: May 5, 1914
Creator: Beaman, Fred.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oil-burner. (open access)

Oil-burner.

Patent for new design of an improved oil burner.
Date: May 5, 1914
Creator: Matthews, Cranmer L. & Matthews, Arthur B.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rotary Boring-Drill. (open access)

Rotary Boring-Drill.

Patent for new and useful improvement for rotary boring-drills that are used for drilling wells.
Date: January 5, 1915
Creator: Hughes, Howard R.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rotary Boring-Drill (open access)

Rotary Boring-Drill

Patent for a simply constructed rotary drill suitable for drilling wells in soft formations such as shale.
Date: January 5, 1915
Creator: Hughes, Howard R.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Single-Disk Drill (open access)

Single-Disk Drill

Patent for a single disk drill for drilling into soft materials ("gumbo, shale, hard clay, and soft rock") without clogging.
Date: January 5, 1915
Creator: Hughes, Howard R.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Transmission Gear Shifting Device. (open access)

Transmission Gear Shifting Device.

Patent for a new transmission gear shifting device will "provide means for shifting the transmission parts of an automobile or other motor driven vehicle, without employing the usual hand levers and appliances, and to do so by means of electrically controlled operating mechanisms in combination with certain component parts." (Lines 12-18) including illustrations.
Date: January 5, 1915
Creator: De Witt, G.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Motor. (open access)

Motor.

Patent for improvements in motors designed for motor-vehicle operation. Cheaper manufacture and less expensive fuel are included as claimed improvements.
Date: June 5, 1916
Creator: Edwards, Charles R.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History