Barber's Paper Clip. (open access)

Barber's Paper Clip.

Patent for a new and improved barber's paper clip. This design calls for "a clip formed by doubling upon itself a [flat] strip of metal," which will hold sheets of paper on which barbers can sharpen their razors. A hook exists on the opposite side, by which the paper clip can hang from the hot towel on the customer's face.
Date: January 17, 1882
Creator: Cohen, Moses
System: The Portal to Texas History
Buckle. (open access)

Buckle.

Patent for a new and improved buckle. This design utilizes two separate tongues that run freely along a middle bar, which lengthens the life of the strap by distributing pressure and allowing for broken out, frayed, or otherwise worn holes to be circumvented for new ones.
Date: May 3, 1881
Creator: Burket, John
System: The Portal to Texas History
Well Cleaner. (open access)

Well Cleaner.

Patent for a new and improved well cleaner. This design "is to provide a simple instrument by which wells can be cleaned out without descending into them. It is well known that much danger exists in descending into foul wells on account of the poisonous gases often collected near the bottom of the same" (lines 20-26).
Date: October 7, 1884
Creator: Neitsche, Frederick Theodor
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plow Colter. (open access)

Plow Colter.

Patent for a new and improved plow colter. This design calls for a colter that conforms to the face-curve of the plow shovel, thus forming a landside. The colter can be attached to and removed from either side of the plow standard.
Date: December 27, 1881
Creator: Kersh, Alvin Jacob
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plow. (open access)

Plow.

Patent for a new and improved plow. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with the plow-beam, the slotted and braced standard, and the adjustable land-bar, of the winged attachment formed with perforated lugs, the plow-point formed with upper and lower extensions and secured to said attachment" (lines 95-100).
Date: August 21, 1888
Creator: Wied, August & Lürssen, Henrich
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fan. (open access)

Fan.

Patent for a new and improved fan. This design "consists mainly, first, in the combination with a swinging bar of metal or wood, or both, carrying the fans, of a balance-weight located at an angle to the line of the bar for the purpose of retarding its backward movement; and, second, in the combination, with a shaft and a hinge-connection uniting the fan-holder clamp to the shaft, of a removable pin by means of which the fan may be caused to move positively with the shaft or swing independently of it, as may be desired" (lines 12-22).
Date: June 20, 1882
Creator: Cohen, Moses.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fan Attachment. (open access)

Fan Attachment.

Patent for a new and improved fan attachment. This design "consists of an attachment for rocking-chairs, cradles, &c., and having an oscillatory arm adapted to hold a fan" (lines 9-11).
Date: January 2, 1883
Creator: Cohen, Moses
System: The Portal to Texas History
Harness Buckle. (open access)

Harness Buckle.

Patent for a new and improved harness buckle. This design calls for a central cross-bar, upon which the frame rests, with fold-able arms that form a loop beneath the side-bars with the assistance of metal pins (lines 57-62). This design eliminates the need for stitching the strap being buckled.
Date: March 15, 1881
Creator: Garrett, Charles William
System: The Portal to Texas History