Corn-Husker. (open access)

Corn-Husker.

Patent for a "simple, inexpensive, and convenient hand-operated machine employing an oscillating knife or cutter for severing the stalk or stem and at at the same time clamping the shucks, so that the ear, when turned, will effect the bursting open of the shucks, thus permitting the ready removal of the ear" (lines 8-15).
Date: December 22, 1896
Creator: Willmann, Joseph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wagon-Standard. (open access)

Wagon-Standard.

Patent for an improvement on wagon-standards, to produce a durable, inexpensive, and simple wagon. When the wagon-body is removed, the wagon-standard can fold compactly. This allows the running-gear to carry timber or a platform for carrying other heavy materials.
Date: December 22, 1896
Creator: Foutrel, Emile
System: The Portal to Texas History
Means for Operating Fans &c. (open access)

Means for Operating Fans &c.

Patent for a way to mechanically fan oneself. The machine is "held in the hand and driven by pressure of the thumb applied intermittently to a vibrating lever" (lines 15-17).
Date: December 22, 1896
Creator: Flores, Alfredo
System: The Portal to Texas History
Telephone Attachment. (open access)

Telephone Attachment.

Patent for "a device which will support the weight of the telephone-receiver on the switch-lever whether the receiver be hung on the hooks of said lever or carelessly dropped, [the] object being to provide against the short-circuiting of the local battery when the telephone is not being used, whereby it would become uselessly exhausted, and also to insure that the signal-bell shall at such times always be in operative circuit with the central station, so that the annoyance to a distant exchange or subscriber by a failure of the call-bell to respond is avoided." (Lines 9-21) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: December 22, 1896
Creator: Christopher, William O.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hay-Press. (open access)

Hay-Press.

Patent for a hay-press that has an easily detachable tie-box and power-head, and the plunger-beam has an improved construction. Loose hay "fed into the feed-box [is] gathered or collected by the plunger through the instrumentality of teeth on a peculiarly-formed power-head engaging teeth on the plunger-beam and then compressed by a finger or arm on the power-head baring against the end of the plunger-beam" (lines 22-28). The press does not need to pinned to the ground.
Date: December 22, 1896
Creator: Jones, Charles E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Show-Globe. (open access)

Show-Globe.

Patent for "a globe adapted to serve simply for the purpose of illumination and furnishing a pure white bright light for general purposes, or to serve as an illuminated show-globe for druggists," (lines 10-14) including instructions and illustrations.
Date: August 4, 1891
Creator: Berger, Otto & Eldridge, Hilliary
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sewing-Machine Attachment. (open access)

Sewing-Machine Attachment.

Patent for a sewing machine attachment "which can be used for the purpose of sharpening any instrument of small size - such as needles, scissors, knives, &c.;" (lines 11-13) with instructions and illustrations.
Date: June 11, 1891
Creator: McDowell, Anthony B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Provision-Safe. (open access)

Provision-Safe.

Patent for "a pantry and kitchen safe combined and designed to be built apart from the house and constituting a distinct and removable piece of furniture," (lines 11-14) including instructions and illustrations.
Date: June 15, 1891
Creator: Jones, Walter Adolphus
System: The Portal to Texas History
Piano Attachment. (open access)

Piano Attachment.

Patent for "an attachment for upright pianos designed to produce a harp, mandolin, of cithern tone, and the object in view is to provide an attachment having an improved construction of strikers." (Lines 8-12) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: December 22, 1896
Creator: Moyer, Jesse Hechler
System: The Portal to Texas History
Attachment for Plows. (open access)

Attachment for Plows.

Patent for an attachment for plows, which "may be utilized as a cutter or the plow converted into a double-shovel plow," (lines 18-19) with instructions and illustrations.
Date: April 15, 1891
Creator: Williams, George M. D.
System: The Portal to Texas History