Apparatus for Baling Cotton. (open access)

Apparatus for Baling Cotton.

Patent for improvements to an apparatus that softens and compresses cotton, and prevents clogging and breakage. Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: November 5, 1890
Creator: Goldthwaite, Joseph G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Blotter. (open access)

Blotter.

Patent for "a combined hand-blotter, ruler, paper-cutter, and pen-rack... especially for the use of book-keepers and accountants," (lines 12-15) with instructions and illustrations.
Date: July 14, 1891
Creator: Betts, Walter & Herbert, William B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Breakwater, &c. (open access)

Breakwater, &c.

Patent for an improved way of constructing piers, jetties, breakwaters, and similar structures. "It can be constructed from boats, barges, or from a trestle, or can be built continuously from a starting-point on shore to the objective point in the lake, bay, gulf, or other body of water" (lines 17-21). This invention is especially useful for places that don't have banks or ledges.
Date: August 9, 1892
Creator: Shannon, Alexander M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cabinet for Holding Postage Stamps, &c. (open access)

Cabinet for Holding Postage Stamps, &c.

Patent for a new and improved cabinet. This design "consists in a commercial postage-stamp holding, preserving, and denomination-indicating book, the same having its blank leaves formed of paper so prepared that postage-stamps will not adhere to them, and some of said leaves being provided at intervals with exposed tabs which have numerical indices marked upon them and serve for indicating the denomination of the stamps placed between the leaves at different parts of the book. It also consists in . . . a rigid outer supporting-cabinet provided with means for confining the book" (lines 12-27).
Date: May 24, 1892
Creator: Exline, Marcus P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Record, Diary, and Ledger (open access)

Combined Record, Diary, and Ledger

Patent for improvements to books by combining "a general record, a diary, a ledger, and index leaves, including the months and days of the week and alphabetical and numerical indices" (lines 10-12).
Date: August 30, 1892
Creator: Meyer, Henry
System: The Portal to Texas History
Game Counter. (open access)

Game Counter.

Patent for a new and improved game-counter. This design consists "in a tabular counting device of novel construction applicable to counting with great accuracy and exemption from dispute, together with a clear exhibit of progress and result, in the game of dominoes and other games, such as whist, euchre, casino, &c., also applicable as a petty-cash counter" (lines 8-14).
Date: September 13, 1892
Creator: Herbert, William B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hot Box Alarm. (open access)

Hot Box Alarm.

Patent for a new and improved hot-box alarm. This design "relates to alarms to indicate overheated journal-boxes; and it has for its object to provide a device of this character . . . which will be useful upon boxes of stationary engines, car-wheels, or any style or form of machinery in which shafting or boxes are employed which are liable to get overheated" (lines 8-16). It consists, "with a journal-box, of a cylinder supported upon said box and designed to accommodate a liquefying solid, a perforated plunger supported upon the solid within the cylinder and adapted to work through the solid when melted" (lines 12-17).
Date: October 4, 1892
Creator: Basel, John Conrad & Fruehauf, Eduard
System: The Portal to Texas History
Keel. (open access)

Keel.

Patent for an improved type of keel construction, "of which the distance between the keel and covering-boards is equalized throughout the length of the vessel and a vessel of exceptional strength and advantageous construction is afforded." (Lines 16-20) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: March 4, 1891
Creator: Grothgar, John & Garfield, John M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Machine for Decorticating Jute, Ramie, and Other Fibrous Plants (open access)

Machine for Decorticating Jute, Ramie, and Other Fibrous Plants

Patent for "a machine for separating the valuable fibrous portions of the stems of the plants of the jute, ramie, flax, and hemp, and like varieties from refuse matter and preparing the same for use with the least possible injury and waste" (lines 10-15).
Date: April 19, 1892
Creator: Fremery, Felix B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plaiting-Machine. (open access)

Plaiting-Machine.

Patent for "a machine upon which a dress-skirt or similar article may be easily placed and which is adapted to secure the plaits or folds in the skirts and hold them so that they may be conveniently ironed." (Lines 10-14) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: November 16, 1891
Creator: Olson, Alfred
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sign. (open access)

Sign.

Patent for signs that are to be mounted to the roof of a car, and can be illuminated and read from any angle. Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: July 1, 1891
Creator: Garner, William R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Two-Wheeled Delivery-Vehicle. (open access)

Two-Wheeled Delivery-Vehicle.

Patent for "a light and convenient vehicle for the use of mail-collectors in cities, and for the transportation and delivery of parcels, milk, or other articles," (lines 8-12) with instructions and illustrations.
Date: June 12, 1891
Creator: Boone, Manly Breaker
System: The Portal to Texas History