Combined Pencil Holder and Sharpener. (open access)

Combined Pencil Holder and Sharpener.

Patent for a combined pencil holder and sharpener, which uses the sharpener as a pencil cap.
Date: November 30, 1909
Creator: Haase, Conrad H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Process of Refining Asphaltic Mineral Oils. (open access)

Process of Refining Asphaltic Mineral Oils.

Patent for process for refining asphaltic mineral oils such as might be found in wells in Texas and Louisiana. Designed to remove asphaltum.
Date: November 11, 1902
Creator: Mims, John Carwile
System: The Portal to Texas History
Method of and Apparatus for Treating Mineral Pitch. (open access)

Method of and Apparatus for Treating Mineral Pitch.

Patent for an "improved method of and apparatus for treating mineral pitch and similar material to readily separate the asphalt and asphalt-oils from sand, bituminous rock, and other impurities contained in the mined material and removing the sand and impurities" (lines 12-17). The method circulates the material in hot water to separate the asphalt and asphalt-oils from the sand and impurities. The asphalt and oil rise to the top of the water and the impurities sink.
Date: November 5, 1895
Creator: Sellers, Harvey Lee; Conyngton, Hugh Ronald & Conyngton, Thomas
System: The Portal to Texas History