Convertible Mixing and Cleaning Machine (open access)

Convertible Mixing and Cleaning Machine

Patent for convertible mixing and cleaning machine. Illustrations included.
Date: July 5, 1904
Creator: Stacey, John W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Chimney-Cowl. (open access)

Chimney-Cowl.

Patent for an elbow-shaped chimney cowl that is simple yet durable, which may be attached to chimneys of various sizes. It It has a vane that enables the cowl to turn and send smoke in the direction the wind is blowing. It also has a screen to cover the opening, which will prevent large sparks or partially burned materials from exiting the chimney.
Date: December 5, 1911
Creator: Powell, John T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling-Press. (open access)

Baling-Press.

Patent for "baling-presses of that class wherein motion is communicated to the plunger from a sweep operated by horse or similar power, and the object in view is to improve the construction of the baling-chamber and attachments, and, furthermore, to provide a simple and efficient construction of plunger-operating mechanism" (lines 8-15)
Date: January 5, 1897
Creator: Pearce, William J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Buckle. (open access)

Buckle.

Patent for a buckle meant for use with harnesses and "wherein the ordinary movable and hinged tongue is dispensed with, and a rigid stud or pointed projection is used in reversed positions at opposite ends of connecting loops" (lines 9-13).
Date: December 5, 1893
Creator: Odom, Plesant W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Conduit Electric Railway. (open access)

Conduit Electric Railway.

Patent for an underground conduit electric railway meant to propel cars. The conduit can be drained and kept dry, and a trolley attachment protects the conduit from dirt and water as well.
Date: December 5, 1893
Creator: de Voe, William R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Apparatus for Boring Artesian Wells. (open access)

Apparatus for Boring Artesian Wells.

Patent for a new and improved artesian-well borer. This design "has for its object to furnish a combination tool which will wear or cut the harder grades or rock frequently met with in boring wells of this class, and also to furnish a tool which will be harder than the common steel too or auger, thereby dispensing with the necessity of taking out and sharpening" (lines 13-20). It consists in "[a] fluted hemispherical mass of corundum for boring Artesian wells, said mass being provided with cutting-edges which extend from the apex to the base, [and] a metallic core embedded within the mass" (lines 16-20).
Date: April 5, 1892
Creator: Brown, Frank O.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Catch. (open access)

Catch.

Patent for an improved catch (latch) to hold open gates that will "prevent a rebound of the gate" (lines 20) and is "simpler, less expensive, and otherwise more convenient" (lines 29-30) to manufacture and use.
Date: March 5, 1918
Creator: Borah, Dee.
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
Antileak Composition. (open access)

Antileak Composition.

Patent for improvements in antileak composition in order to prevent leaks in liquid holding containers like radiators, boilers, etc.
Date: July 5, 1921
Creator: Shrum, Will N.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Chair and Table. (open access)

Combined Chair and Table.

Patent for a piece of furniture that can operate as either a table or a chair.
Date: February 5, 1918
Creator: Macon, Alexander W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Window-Shade Roller (open access)

Window-Shade Roller

Patent for spring acting window shade rollers. The spring acting mechanism allows for the raising up or down of the shade to any desired position without unnecessary wear.
Date: August 5, 1913
Creator: Schindler, Emil F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Line-Type-Casting Machine (open access)

Line-Type-Casting Machine

Patent for a line type casting machine that focuses on improvements to the pot charging device and uses a type of float mechanism (as opposed to a thermostat) including instructions and illustrations.
Date: March 5, 1918
Creator: Wilmans, Lloyd I.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lattice. (open access)

Lattice.

Patent for a simple, strong, and economic lattice that is meant for use in jail cells. It allows air and light into the cell, and they are formed with "alternately opposite depressions and elevations for the reception of the bars running at right angles thereto" (lines 12-24). It should have alternating bars of steel and iron.
Date: February 5, 1895
Creator: Hull, William S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lathe-Chuck (open access)

Lathe-Chuck

Patent for a lathe chuck to be used with cotton gins. Illustrations included.
Date: May 5, 1908
Creator: Jipperson, John Marsen
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvements in Automatic Advertising Devices (open access)

Improvements in Automatic Advertising Devices

Patent for an automatic advertising device that can show various signs or display cards and provides "an endless belt of transparent material which is differently colored" (lines 12-15) so that the sign may be "artistically changed" (lines 17-18). Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: March 5, 1912
Creator: Murphey, William A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Vapor-Burner (open access)

Vapor-Burner

Patent for a vapor burner and generator. Illustrations included.
Date: January 5, 1909
Creator: Jordan, James T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Cultivators. (open access)

Improvement in Cultivators.

Patent for a new and useful improvement in cultivators.
Date: February 5, 1878
Creator: Graves, Jefferson M.
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.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plow Attachment (open access)

Plow Attachment

Patent for Plow Attachment
Date: December 5, 1916
Creator: Smith, Fletcher
System: The Portal to Texas History
Switching Device (open access)

Switching Device

Patent for switching devices. This invention is for electrically operated switch tongue throwing mechanisms and is for use in switching cars from one track to another. illustrations included.
Date: February 5, 1907
Creator: Makley, John N.; Manett, Edward F. & Dannelly, Frank M.
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
Grave-Marker. (open access)

Grave-Marker.

Patent for a new and useful Grave-Marker. The body of the improved grave marker or cradle is elongated or somewhat elliptical in contour, and its central portion is open, in order that the grave marker or cradle may surround a grave.
Date: May 5, 1914
Creator: Kimball, Herbert E
System: The Portal to Texas History
Grain-Separator. (open access)

Grain-Separator.

Patent for improved grain separators or threshing machines "whereby vibrating straw-racks will be entirely dispensed with and the machine so simplified as to obviate the heavy jars and jerks of most grain-separators or threshing machines, while at the same time providing a construction of machine that will effectually separate the grain from the straw and will also keep the feeding end of the machine entirely free from dust, which is often a serious drawback to the operation of most machines of this character." (Lines 11-21) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: October 5, 1897
Creator: McCue, John Marshall
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hinge Seat Cutter (open access)

Hinge Seat Cutter

Patent for as hinge seat cutter. This device is designed to cut apertures so that mounted windows and door will be flush. Illustration included.
Date: November 5, 1912
Creator: Franklin, William E.
System: The Portal to Texas History