Car-Coupling (open access)

Car-Coupling

Patent for an improved car-coupling, including illustrations.
Date: January 11, 1887
Creator: Young, James D.
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
Mechanical Telegraph-Sounder (open access)

Mechanical Telegraph-Sounder

Patent for "a sounder wherein a finger-lever and sounding-lever are combined together with a spring" (lines 13-15) and is "adapted for the use of learners for practicing the manipulation of a telegraph finger-key" (lines 8-10) including instructions and illustrations.
Date: June 22, 1880
Creator: Clopton, John B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gin Saw Gummer. (open access)

Gin Saw Gummer.

Patent for a new and improved gin saw gummer. This design "consists in constructing a gin-saw gummer of a base-block, having a slot to receive the saw, and carrying the dics or stationary cutters, the guide-bar and shoe, the weight-bar, the pivoted bar, carrying the cutter and the gage, the lever and cam for operating the cutter-bar, and the feed mechanism" (lines 23-29).
Date: March 1, 1881
Creator: Clopton, John Benjamin
System: The Portal to Texas History
Washing-Machine. (open access)

Washing-Machine.

Patent for an improved washing machine: "The invention consists in combining a lower cylinder having longitudinal spiral grooves with an upper cylinder having longitudinal straight grooves and holes" (lines 14-17).
Date: January 20, 1880
Creator: Dorris, George W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rein Holder. (open access)

Rein Holder.

Patent for a new and improved rein holder. This design "relates to rein-holders, the object being to provide a device of this character which will firmly and securely hold the reins in place and prevent their forward movement and yet allow them to be readily drawn in a rearward direction to allow of detachment; and, further, to provide a rein-holder which may be readily and easily attached to or detached from the front gate of a wagon or the dash-board of a buggy" (lines 8-17).
Date: February 16, 1886
Creator: Young, James D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rein Holder. (open access)

Rein Holder.

Patent for a new and improved rein holder. This design consists in "the combination of the plate or part secured upon the dash-board, the T-head thereon extending a proper distance above the dash-board, and the spring-actuated arm pivoted to the side of [the plate] at a suitable distance down its length and having the clamping-head to act in conjunction with [the] head in holding the rein, said arm having a bearing upon the dash-board in its forward movement, and a stop . . . to limit its backward movement" (lines 12-22).
Date: June 1, 1886
Creator: Zevely, Van Neiman
System: The Portal to Texas History
Folding Lamp Shelf for Pianos. (open access)

Folding Lamp Shelf for Pianos.

Patent for a new and improved lamp shelf for pianos. This design "consists in an arm pivoted to the back of a music-rack and carrying a lamp-shelf, the arm being arranged to swing outward into a horizontal position, and the shelf being connected with the end of the arm by a pivotal connection, which permits of turning it outward and downward into a horizontal position in front of the plane of the music-rack" (lines 22-30).
Date: August 31, 1886
Creator: Prause, Reinhard
System: The Portal to Texas History
Saw Gummer. (open access)

Saw Gummer.

Patent for a new and improved saw gummer. This design "is to improve the action and prolong the usefulness of the bit and dies, and to prevent the clippings from interfering with the operation of the machine" (lines 26-29).
Date: July 28, 1885
Creator: Clopton, John Benjamin
System: The Portal to Texas History