Check - Spring. (open access)

Check - Spring.

Patent for a new and improved check-spring. This design "relates to check reins; and its object is to provide a new and improved check-spring for preventing sudden jars to a horse's mouth when the animal throws his head forward" (line 7 - 11).
Date: January 18, 1898
Creator: Walker, Fred B. & Reid, George W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Blacking-Brush (open access)

Blacking-Brush

Patent for a new and useful improvement in blacking brushes, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: April 18, 1899
Creator: De Witt, Joseph R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car-Coupling. (open access)

Car-Coupling.

Patent for an improved car coupling that can be operated without going between cars. The coupling facilitates "the coupling of cars having drawheads at the same and different heights by readily guiding the link of one of them into the other" (lines 14-17).
Date: July 18, 1893
Creator: Norcross, George A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wrench and Cutter. (open access)

Wrench and Cutter.

Patent for a simple, durable, and economic wrench and cutter that is easily used to turn nuts, pipes, or to cut pipes. The wrench does not need to be removed while cutting.
Date: April 18, 1893
Creator: Fletcher, Theodore
System: The Portal to Texas History
Nut-Lock. (open access)

Nut-Lock.

Patent for a simple, inexpensive, and efficient improved nut-lock that "securely lock[s] a nut against accidental rotation, and adapted to be readily applied to single nuts having either right or left hand threads" (lines 12-15). The invention also is easily screwed and unscrewed without being damaged.
Date: June 18, 1895
Creator: Comminge, Frank
System: The Portal to Texas History
Floor-Clamp. (open access)

Floor-Clamp.

Patent for a simple and inexpensive floor-clamp that aids in laying floors so that the floor is laid uniformly and has a good joint. This prevents the floors from warping or curving.
Date: October 18, 1892
Creator: Zauner, Alexander
System: The Portal to Texas History
Electric-Current Controller. (open access)

Electric-Current Controller.

Patent for a new and improved electric current controller for "use in connection with incandescent electric lamps" (line 10 - 11).
Date: April 18, 1899
Creator: Breeding, James Bouldin
System: The Portal to Texas History
Detachable Handle and Spring-Catch. (open access)

Detachable Handle and Spring-Catch.

Patent for improvements in detachable handles and spring-catches for valises, satchels, traveling-bags, and the like in which a handle “may be readily detached from the valise, and devices for automatically engaging and locking the handle to the valise when the handle is replaced.” (Lines 16-19) Illustration is included.
Date: August 18, 1891
Creator: Epstein, George B.
System: The Portal to Texas History