Bobbin Winder for Sewing Machines. (open access)

Bobbin Winder for Sewing Machines.

Patent for a new and improved bobbin winder. This design consists in "the combination, with the main driving-shaft carrying a disk and rotated by the driving-belt of the sewing-machine, of a second shaft in axial line with the said driving-shaft and having a longitudinal movement, a disk held on the said second shaft, a bobbin held by its flanges in said disks, and rollers pressing against the bobbin in the front and rear" (lines 50-58).
Date: October 30, 1888
Creator: Lewis, Annie
System: The Portal to Texas History
Circular Railroad or Round About. (open access)

Circular Railroad or Round About.

Patent for novel improvements on circular railroads, and also to means for propelling a turn-table on which the carriages are secured.
Date: August 22, 1882
Creator: Sturm, William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Composition To Be Used As A Non-Conductor Of Heat And For Other Purposes. (open access)

Composition To Be Used As A Non-Conductor Of Heat And For Other Purposes.

Patent for a non-conducting material designed to prevent heat loss from radiation, prevent damage from frost, for fire-proofing, and for "the deafening of floors and partitions" (lines 21-22). Ingredients and proportions are listed.
Date: August 30, 1887
Creator: Clayton, Nicholas Joseph.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lock. (open access)

Lock.

Patent for a new and improved lock that which "provide a lock for doors, safes, drawers, and the like, the bolt of which is adapted to be unlocked from he outsides by means of a combination, and while being release will instantly ring the door-bell by means of connecting wires, and which, when operated from the inside, can be opened without giving the signal on the bell, and in either operation the parts of the lock will automatically return to their position and lock the bot in the striker-plate unless otherwise adjusted" (lines 14-25)
Date: August 30, 1887
Creator: Rau, Louis Carl
System: The Portal to Texas History
Odometer. (open access)

Odometer.

Patent for "new and Improved Odometer, of which is a full, clear, and exact description."(lines 4-6) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: June 30, 1885
Creator: Hutches, Benjamin F., Jr.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Windmill. (open access)

Windmill.

Patent for a new and improved windmill. This design is "to combine with a windmill a horse-power, so that when the wind ceases to operate the wheel, horse-power may be brought into use for the purpose of continuing the revolution of the wheel, so as to enable the windmill to be used like an ordinary horse-power, and to place the slides or doors upon suitable supports, so that they can be moved back and forth in relation to the wheel for the purpose of cutting off the wind from it" (lines 14-23).
Date: October 30, 1888
Creator: Watkins, William
System: The Portal to Texas History