Bran Dresser (open access)

Bran Dresser

Patent for new and valuable Improvement in Bran-Dressers
Date: December 13, 1881
Creator: De Haven, Charles
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bridge. (open access)

Bridge.

Patent for a new and improved bridge. This design consists in "the combination, with the base, stringers, the top arched bars, and the upright tie-bars, of the intermediate stringers, arched bars, and their horizontal tie-bars, and wedge-keys . . . whereby the structure is greatly strengthened" (lines 85-91).
Date: December 13, 1881
Creator: Ibel, Justus H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Chopper. (open access)

Cotton Chopper.

Patent for a new and improved cotton-chopper. This design consists in "the combination, with the frame and wheels, of the axle, journal-boxes for said axle adjustable lengthwise of said frame, a gear-wheel on said axle adjustable longitudinally thereon, the shaft parallel with the axle, a plurality of gear-wheels of varying diameters on said shaft, a bevel-pinion also on said shaft, and an inclined shaft carrying the hoe and provided with a bevel-pinion engaging the pinion on the shaft" (lines 8-17).
Date: December 13, 1887
Creator: Marshall, Benjamin C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling Press. (open access)

Baling Press.

Patent for a new and improved baling press. This design consists in "a box having its upper end open and having an outwardly-opening door at the lower portion of one side, a plunger in the box having a post provided with a braced cross-piece near the upper end, ropes secured to the ends of the cross-piece, a drum under the lower end of the box, having a helical pulley at one end and a small drum at the other end, and having the ropes secured to it and winding upon it, a rope passing over guide-pulleys above the upper end of the box and winding upon the small drum" (lines 16-28).
Date: December 13, 1887
Creator: Weddle, Henry
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wire Splicer. (open access)

Wire Splicer.

Patent for a new and improved wire-splicer. This design "consist[s] of a handle having an integral lateral offset at one end, provided with a transverse perforation formed substantially in line with the handle, a groove being formed in the angle formed by the lateral offset and the handle, and an enlarged recess being formed in the side of the handle and top of the offset concentrically with the groove" (lines 53-61).
Date: December 13, 1887
Creator: Batters, William Francis
System: The Portal to Texas History
River Steamboat (open access)

River Steamboat

Patent for improvements in the construction and design of passenger and freight river steamboats.
Date: December 13, 1887
Creator: Simpson, George Louis James
System: The Portal to Texas History
Farm Gate. (open access)

Farm Gate.

Patent for a new and improved farm gate. This design "provide[s] the gate with a suitable spring-bolt, in connection with an arrangement of devices or mechanism whereby the bolt is operated as the gate is being opened; also, in providing means whereby the pressure on the gate caused by the wind is equalized, thereby enabling the gate to be more easily operated" (lines 22-29).
Date: December 13, 1881
Creator: Wolfram, John Arnold
System: The Portal to Texas History
Earth Auger. (open access)

Earth Auger.

Patent for a new and improved earth auger. This design "relates to machines for boring post-holes, &c.; and it consists especially in certain improvements in the frame and operating mechanism" (lines 21-24).
Date: December 13, 1881
Creator: Blake, Llewellyn A.
System: The Portal to Texas History