Back-Band Hook. (open access)

Back-Band Hook.

Patent for certain new and useful improvements in back band hooks, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: September 11, 1898
Creator: Lynch, John Elbert
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling-Press. (open access)

Baling-Press.

Patent for an improvement to machinery to wind fibrous materials (e.g., cotton) into cylindrical bales that does not use a core or fixed horizontal rollers.
Date: March 30, 1897
Creator: Ross, William Andrew
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wire-Stretcher and Wheel-Carrier. (open access)

Wire-Stretcher and Wheel-Carrier.

Patent for a simple and inexpensive wire-stretcher and reel-carrier, meant to make wire needed for fences easier to be ready at the builder's disposal and to stretch the wire to the correct amount of tension.
Date: November 3, 1896
Creator: Pruitt, Andrew L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wire-Stretcher. (open access)

Wire-Stretcher.

Patent for a simple and inexpensive wire-stretcher that can easily stretch a wire in a series on a fence in such a way that the stretcher doesn't need to brace against a post.
Date: January 9, 1894
Creator: Sparkman, James S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Type-Writing Machine (open access)

Type-Writing Machine

Patent for improvements to typewriting machines with the aim of providing "a machine of simple and durable construction, capable of use for the ordinary purposes to which type-writers are applied, but especially adapted and designed for typewriting upon blank books, thereby facilitating the making of official records and producing records that are more legible and compact than it is possible to obtain by handwriting" (lines 11-18).
Date: June 14, 1892
Creator: Borden, William J. & Johnson, Jahu W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Knee-Pad. (open access)

Knee-Pad.

Patent for a knee-pad that is meant to protect cotton-pickers as they crawl in uncomfortable areas. The knee-pads are made up of a concave oval made from leather, metal, or another strong material, with cloth attached to the base and edges of the oval. Straps go around the cloth and around the leg to hold it in place.
Date: July 7, 1896
Creator: Fergusson, William P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Saddle Jack. (open access)

Saddle Jack.

Patent for a new and improved saddle-jack. This design consists in "the combination, with a support, of a post having a hollow trunnion and carrying a saddle-tree support on its upper end, and a bolt passing through the hollow trunnion and carrying hooks on its upper end for engaging a saddle-tree to hold it on its support" (lines 84-90).
Date: April 1, 1890
Creator: Garrett, Richard
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sash Holder (open access)

Sash Holder

Patent for a sash-holder, which "consists in an improved sash-fastener embodying novel features" (lines 16-18). Instructions and illustrations are included.
Date: August 10, 1897
Creator: Beck, George Washington
System: The Portal to Texas History
Planter. (open access)

Planter.

Patent for improvements in planters by having two hoppers C and D attached on each side of the concave wheel. A third and smaller hopper E can be interchanged with hopper C when planting seeds or grains. Hopper D is mainly for planting fertilizer. The bottom of hoppers C and D are provided with slides for the purpose of keeping the fertilizer, grain or seeds from banking up. Illustration is included.
Date: June 16, 1891
Creator: Patterson, Thomas C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pen Holder. (open access)

Pen Holder.

Patent for a new and improved pen holder. This design "is to provide a pen holder of simple construction that may be easily held between the fingers without cramping the same, that will hold the pen in such a position in relation to the eye as to enable the writer to write well, and that will be adapted to hands of various sizes. To this end [the] invention consists of a curved flat holder having a shank projecting from the end thereof, to which a pen may be attached, said shank being nearly parallel with the straight portion of the holder, and in line with the eye when held in position for writing" (lines 9-22).
Date: July 29, 1890
Creator: Palmer, Joshua C.
System: The Portal to Texas History