Improvement in Nails. (open access)

Improvement in Nails.

Patent for a nail with hexagonal form with two sides nearly flat and beveled edges.
Date: January 21, 1873
Creator: Hall, William N.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Key-Hole Guards. (open access)

Improvement in Key-Hole Guards.

Patent for "a guard for key-holes of locks, to prevent the use of keys by unauthorized persons, the picking of the lock, and as a means for operating the bolt when fitted for that purpose." (Lines 7-11) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: December 23, 1873
Creator: Hall, William N.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Permutation Locks. (open access)

Improvement in Permutation Locks.

Patent for improvements to permutation locks by various means.
Date: September 27, 1870
Creator: Hall, William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Fire-Place Fenders. (open access)

Improvement in Fire-Place Fenders.

Patent for "an extensible fender adapted for large or small fire-places" (lines 8-10) including instructions and illustrations.
Date: February 27, 1872
Creator: Hall, William N.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Combination Locks. (open access)

Improvement in Combination Locks.

Patent for improved combination locks, with a bolt that is locked or unlocked by the combination of spindles and pivoted buttons. The invention combines the spindles in to an "annular ring having letters or numbers and a series of different shaped pegs or combinations of letters or figures or both jointly" (pg 1).
Date: September 12, 1871
Creator: Hall, William N.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Ant Traps (open access)

Improvement in Ant Traps

Patent for the improvement of Ant traps, including to illustrated and labeled figures.
Date: April 1, 1873
Creator: Ames, Theodore G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Combined Adjustable Fire-Fenders, Grates, and Andirons. (open access)

Improvement in Combined Adjustable Fire-Fenders, Grates, and Andirons.

Patent for improvement in fire-fender and grate with separable andirons that is adjustable to different fireplaces, and which can be adapted for wood or coal.
Date: May 13, 1873
Creator: Hall, William N.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Combination-Padlocks. (open access)

Improvement in Combination-Padlocks.

Patent for "a padlock in which the permutation locking device is not permanently connected to the hasp; and said invention consists of a permutation device the fixed ends whereof are provided with sockets to receive the ends of a separate hasp, and be locked therewith by a notched bolt passing through the permutation device and both ends of the hasp, whereby the usual hinged connection of the parts is avoided, and the padlock made more secure and cheaper than when the parts are permanently united." (Lines 6-17) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: December 23, 1873
Creator: Hall, William N.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement In Cotton-Gin-Saw Cleaners. (open access)

Improvement In Cotton-Gin-Saw Cleaners.

Patent for "a device for quickly cleaning the saws of cotton-gins when they become gummed. It consists in a series of knives that are supported by a movable bar or frame, and may be thrust between the saws when the saws are to be cleaned (para. 4-5).
Date: April 23, 1878
Creator: Munger, Robert S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Bale-Ties. (open access)

Improvement in Bale-Ties.

Patent for new bale-tie formed from a single metal piece where the locking side (B) can be fastened to a rounded eye (C) on the opposite end.
Date: June 22, 1878
Creator: Anderson, William G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Cotton-Gin-Saw Cleaners. (open access)

Improvement in Cotton-Gin-Saw Cleaners.

Patent for improvement in cotton-gin-saw cleaners used in cotton ginning processes, including illustration.
Date: July 22, 1879
Creator: Munger, Robert S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Hand Cotton Pickers. (open access)

Improvement in Hand Cotton Pickers.

Patent for a new method of picking cotton by hand, whereby 3 spindles remove the fibers from the bolls.
Date: October 14, 1879
Creator: Ham, Thomas William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Cotton-Gin-Saw Cleaners. (open access)

Improvement in Cotton-Gin-Saw Cleaners.

Reissued patent for "a device for quickly cleaning the saws of cotton-gins when they become gummed. It consists in a series of knives that are supported by a movable bar or frame, and may be thrust between the saws when the same are to be cleaned (para. 4-5).
Date: May 20, 1879
Creator: Munger, Robert S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Corn-Shellers. (open access)

Improvement in Corn-Shellers.

Patent for improvement in the design of the corn-sheller, including illustrations.
Date: August 17, 1875
Creator: Williams, Solomon
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Baling-Presses. (open access)

Improvement in Baling-Presses.

Patent for a new and useful improvements in baling-presses.
Date: May 16, 1876
Creator: Page, John H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Buckles. (open access)

Improvement in Buckles.

Patent for improvement in buckles by providing “with two two tongues on the same pivot, and with a guard for securing the same and the straps in position, thereby producing a simple and reliable means of connecting two straps.” (Lines 6-10) Illustration is included.
Date: June 18, 1872
Creator: Hardeman, Jerome B. R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Presses. (open access)

Improvement in Presses.

Patent for a new press design, including illustrations.
Date: September 24, 1872
Creator: Lasswell, Allen
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Carriage-Axles. (open access)

Improvement in Carriage-Axles.

Patent for an easily replaceable and self-lubricating carriage axle. Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: July 26, 1870
Creator: Hall, William N.
System: The Portal to Texas History