Resource Type

Indicator for Scales. (open access)

Indicator for Scales.

Patent for a new and improved indicator for scales. This design "consists in a weighted rocker and indicating-arm combined with a scale-beam for operation thereby . . . [it has] for [its] object to dispense with the slides heretofore used and provide for an automatic indication of weight" (lines 8-14).
Date: January 17, 1882
Creator: Fulcher, Valentine M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car Coupling. (open access)

Car Coupling.

Patent for a new and improved coupling for railroad cars. This design "consists in a lever pivoted in the front of the top of the draw-head and provided at its outer end with an aperture, through which the coupling-pin is passed into the aperture in the draw-head, below which lever another lever is pivoted, hanging vertically across the front-opening of the draw-head, and provided at the upper part of its inner edge with a projection, so that when the coupling-link pushes the lower lever inward the upper lever and the pin are raised, and drop as soon as the link has passed into the draw-head" (lines 10-21).
Date: January 31, 1882
Creator: Griffin, James Lee
System: The Portal to Texas History