Resource Type

Combination Door Check and Alarm. (open access)

Combination Door Check and Alarm.

Patent for a new and improved door-check and alarm. With this design, "[t]he latch normally stands in the engaging position, and when it aligns with one of the notches it engages the same automatically. One of the notches is so arranged that it is engaged by the latch when the door is closed, and when the knob is turned to open the door the cord, wire, or chain draws the latch out of engagement with the notch. . . . [a] bell on the end of the latch will give warning when the latch is moved, and the door cannot be opened without moving the latch" (lines 63-92).
Date: February 12, 1889
Creator: King, Charles Rufus
System: The Portal to Texas History
Machine for Polishing Shoes. (open access)

Machine for Polishing Shoes.

Patent for "an improvement in machines for polishing shoes" (lines 8-9) including illustrations.
Date: February 19, 1889
Creator: Bright, Joseph Daniel
System: The Portal to Texas History