Animal Trap. (open access)

Animal Trap.

Patent for a new and improved animal-trap. This design consists in "the combination, with the frame, of the spear fitted to slide therein and provided with a notched shank, spring for forcing the spear down, and the trigger pivoted to the frame and provided with a forked plate at its lower end, and with a toe for engaging the notch of the shank of the spear" (lines 8-15).
Date: November 29, 1887
Creator: Wood, Evans
System: The Portal to Texas History
Expansion Double-Shovel Corn And Cotton Planter. (open access)

Expansion Double-Shovel Corn And Cotton Planter.

Patent for a new machine for planting corn or cotton that can be "adapted for use as a plow or cultivator" (lines 60-61), including instructions and illustrations.
Date: March 1, 1887
Creator: Draper, Richard Edward.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Jar Fastener. (open access)

Jar Fastener.

Patent for a new and improved jar fastener. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with a fruit can or jar, having a continuous groove across its bottom and up its sides, of a U-shaped bolt resting in said groove, a cap-plate resting on the top of the jar and through which the legs of the bolt extend, and securing nuts turning on the ends of the bolt above the cap-plate" (lines 78-84).
Date: April 5, 1887
Creator: Dickey, Marion Flutcher
System: The Portal to Texas History
Seed Planter. (open access)

Seed Planter.

Patent for a new and improved planter. This design consists in "the combination of the frame, the hopper having a notch or opening in its rear edge, the seed-spout extending vertically along the rear side of the hopper and communicating therewith through said notch, the reciprocating rod having a jointed upper end provided with a seed-cup, the rock-shaft having crank-arm, and an arm connected with said reciprocating-rod, the crank-shaft, pitman, driving-wheel, and the sprocket-gears and chain connecting the crank-shaft and wheel-axle" (lines 84-96).
Date: May 10, 1887
Creator: Clark, Council H.
System: The Portal to Texas History