Automatic Electric Switch (open access)

Automatic Electric Switch

Patent for an automatic electric switch. Illustration included.
Date: October 10, 1905
Creator: Guthrie, William S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Calf-Weaner. (open access)

Calf-Weaner.

Patent for a simple and inexpensive calf-weaner muzzle, that can also be used for colts, and is an "attachment for securing a barbed frame to a halter, whereby the frame is maintained in the operative position without interfering with the adjustment of the members of the halter to suit the size of the head of the animal" (lines 10-15).
Date: October 29, 1895
Creator: Sone, Charles W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Chopper. (open access)

Cotton Chopper.

Patent for a new and improved cotton chopper. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with the frame and the operating-gearing, of the vertical shaft, supported by the frame and acted on by the operating-gearing, the horizontal plate rigidly secured to the lower end of the shaft and provided with radial grooves, and slots in said grooves, the feet having their upper ends bent at right angles, fitted in said grooves and adjustably secured therein by bolts passing through the radial slots, the lower ends of the feet carrying choppers" (lines 39-49).
Date: October 25, 1887
Creator: Ballard, John J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Seed Dropper. (open access)

Cotton Seed Dropper.

Patent for a new and improved planter. This design consists in "the frame, the roller journaled in the rear side thereof and having the crank, the seed-spout, the supporting bars on opposite sides of the frame, the rigid shaft connecting the said bars, the seed-disk rigidly secured to the said shaft and having the curved fingers or teeth, the hopper journaled on the shaft and adapted to oscillate thereon, the said hopper having the discharge-opening in its lower side, through which the lower edge of the seed-disk connects, and the pitman connecting the crank with the hopper" (lines 26-37).
Date: October 25, 1887
Creator: Ballard, John J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Control Mechanism for Internal Combustion Engines (open access)

Control Mechanism for Internal Combustion Engines

Patent for an object that "[provides] economical mixtures when the engine is running under light load without affecting the power of the engine when running under a heavy load."
Date: October 17, 1916
Creator: Guthrie, William S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car-Coupling (open access)

Car-Coupling

Patent for "...certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings..." (lines 4-5) including instructions and illustrations.
Date: October 12, 1886
Creator: Mitchell, William A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lock (open access)

Lock

Patent for a general lock but made especially for trunk locks. It adds a spring lock and preventative measures against lock picking.
Date: October 14, 1902
Creator: Kirk, Robert L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Trap. (open access)

Trap.

Patent for an animal trap, the unique elements of which are found in the "combination and arrangement of parts" (lines 16-17). Improvements include but are not limited to the addition of an open-ended case, a depressed platform and various links.
Date: October 9, 1917
Creator: Ward, Robert Gillespie & Clayton, John Taylor
System: The Portal to Texas History
Propeller for Churns (open access)

Propeller for Churns

Patent for propellers for churns, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: October 5, 1897
Creator: Bolding, James P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Table Screen. (open access)

Table Screen.

Patent for a new and improved table-screen. This design "is to provide a screen of strong and durable construction, adapted to be supported from the ceiling of a room and be arranged above a table, and be lowered thereon and entirely cover the same and securely prevent access of flies to the contents of the table" (lines 9-15). It is "constructed of sheet metal and provided with flanges at the top and bottom thereof, the lower flanges being arranged to rest upon the top of the table around the edges thereof, the semi-cylindrical wire-gauze screen secured to the flanges at the top" (lines 70-76).
Date: October 21, 1890
Creator: Spikes, Lizzie
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hay Press. (open access)

Hay Press.

Patent for a new and improved baling press. This design consists in "the combination of the frame, the baling-chamber at the front end of the same, the plunger, the toggle-links connecting said plunger with a cross-piece at the rear end of the frame, a base extending laterally from the frame, a horizontal crank mounted pivotally upon said base, the pitman connecting said crank with the connecting-point of the toggle-links, said pitman consisting of end pieces connected by a bridge-piece lying in a lower plane than the said end-pieces, and an operating-sweep" (lines 13-24).
Date: October 22, 1889
Creator: Robburts, George W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fan Construction (open access)

Fan Construction

Patent for a fan construction. This invention uses a spring motor to provided hours of fan use.
Date: October 13, 1903
Creator: Burnes, Worley Walden
System: The Portal to Texas History
Thread-Box. (open access)

Thread-Box.

Patent for Thread-Box designed for a neat appearance, storage, and access to sewing materials.
Date: October 5, 1920
Creator: Crumbaugh, Hallie V. D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Massage-Machine. (open access)

Massage-Machine.

Patent for a massage machine, which can dispense a liquid antiseptic for softening the skin.
Date: October 15, 1907
Creator: Davenport, Walter D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Head-Rest For Barbers' Chairs (open access)

Head-Rest For Barbers' Chairs

Patent for a headrest to be used for chairs used by barbers and doctors. Illustrations included.
Date: October 19, 1909
Creator: Wallace, Robert S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Planter. (open access)

Planter.

Patent for a new and improved planter. This design consists in "the combination of the hopper having the opening in its base, the seed-slide provided with the slot, the strip having the longitudinal adjusting-slot and set-screw, the pivoted vibrating lever, the limiting-bracket, the coiled spring, the pivoted reciprocating bar moving in the bracket and having the beveled rear end, the conveyer-wheel, and the arms standing from the side of the conveyer-wheel and actuating the bar" (lines 21-31).
Date: October 16, 1888
Creator: Knox, Washington Irvine
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oil Burner (open access)

Oil Burner

Patent for an oil burner. Illustration included.
Date: October 6, 1906
Creator: Butler, Albert Carroll
System: The Portal to Texas History