Combination Plow And Stalk-Chopper. (open access)

Combination Plow And Stalk-Chopper.

Patent for certain new and useful improvements in a combination plow and stalk chopper, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: December 6, 1898
Creator: Williams, Wood
System: The Portal to Texas History
Automatic Trip Gear for Power Presses. (open access)

Automatic Trip Gear for Power Presses.

Patent for a new and improved trip-gear for power-presses. This design "consists in providing the lever connected with an ordinary reversible gearing with a cord and weight, so that when in its normal position and not in use the small friction-wheel will not come in contact with either face of the large friction wheel. The upper end of the press is provided with a notched metallic plate connected with the reversing-lever, so that when the follow-block in its upward passage passes the said plate the lever will be released, and, falling back into its normal position by the press, is immediately stopped" (lines 24-36).
Date: December 1, 1885
Creator: Wilson, Martin M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car-Coupling (open access)

Car-Coupling

Patent for improvements to railroad car couplings granted to Conrad H. Carpenter. Improvements simplify the coupling construction and allow the cars to be couples automatically.
Date: December 27, 1892
Creator: Carpenter, Conrad H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Addressing-Machines. (open access)

Improvement in Addressing-Machines.

Patent for a new and improved design of addressing-machine which is intended for use in newspaper offices and business purposes in general. It includes illustrations.
Date: December 17, 1878
Creator: Piner, John
System: The Portal to Texas History
Envelop. (open access)

Envelop.

Patent for an envelope "whereby the cutting device acts as a partial ejector for the letter" (lines 12-13), including illustrations and instructions.
Date: December 1, 1914
Creator: Donaldson, James Macon
System: The Portal to Texas History
Window-Shade Bracket. (open access)

Window-Shade Bracket.

Patent for a window shade bracket, which holds the shade straight.
Date: December 7, 1909
Creator: Brown, Colbert W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Combined Cultivator and Planter. (open access)

Improvement in Combined Cultivator and Planter.

Patent for "a new and useful improvement in a combined corn and cotton planter and cultivator" (lines 3-6), includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: December 18, 1877
Creator: Skinner, Miles T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lamp-Hanger. (open access)

Lamp-Hanger.

Patent for adjustable-height lamp hanger primarily for electric lamps, including description and illustration.
Date: December 3, 1901
Creator: White, Herbert L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Washing Apparatus. (open access)

Washing Apparatus.

Patent for a "new and useful Washing Apparatus" (lines 6-7) that decreases the cost and increases the efficiency of current washing machines by automatically circulating hot water and steam through the clothes.
Date: December 1, 1903
Creator: Huffman, Wiliam Anthony & Huffman, Oscar Moses
System: The Portal to Texas History
Meat-Scale. (open access)

Meat-Scale.

Patent for a meat scale "designed for weighing large pieces of meat while the scale is also adjustable subsequent to determining the total weight of the meat" (lines 16-19) including illustrations.
Date: December 17, 1918
Creator: Stringer, Joe John
System: The Portal to Texas History
Reed-Organ. (open access)

Reed-Organ.

Patent for "a removable attachment for a reed organ or harmonium, to be placed upon the wind chest either the tremble or bass end of the keyboard, or at both ends..." (lines 8-12) including illustrations and instructions.
Date: December 30, 1913
Creator: Rue, Oliver H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wind-Motor. (open access)

Wind-Motor.

Patent for wind motors that has new and useful improvements," is simple and durable in its constructions, very effective and powerful in operation, transmits the force of a series of wind-wheels to a common shaft for driving pumps or other machines" (lines 11-16).
Date: December 16, 1902
Creator: Cochran, James M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Foldable Crate or Coop. (open access)

Foldable Crate or Coop.

Patent for a new and useful fordable crate or coop, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: December 27, 1898
Creator: Moss, John O.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Quilting Frame. (open access)

Quilting Frame.

Patent for a new and improved quilting frame for sewing machines. This design consists "[i]n a quilting frame, the combination, with suitable supporting standards having an inclined V-shaped track secured thereto, of a rail having rollers mounted upon the side thereof and traveling upon said track, depending brackets secured to the ends of said rail, transverse secured to the ends of said depending rods, and rollers having bearing in said transverse strips" (lines 3-11).
Date: December 9, 1884
Creator: German, Francis M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Device for Sheltering Animals. (open access)

Device for Sheltering Animals.

Patent for a new and improved animal shelter. This design "relates to a device which may be adapted for use as a hen's nest, a dog-kennel, a stable for domestic animals, or for analogous purposes. The principle of construction prevalent in all these different adaptations for use of the device consists of certain improved means for automatically closing the door as the animal steps into a vertically-swinging compartment, and for automatically opening the door as the animal leaves said swinging compartment" (lines 13-23).
Date: December 21, 1880
Creator: Austin, John Overton
System: The Portal to Texas History