Animal-Trap. (open access)

Animal-Trap.

Patent for certain new and useful improvements in animal traps, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: August 29, 1899
Creator: Griffin, Walter R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car - Coupling. (open access)

Car - Coupling.

Patent for a new and useful car coupling, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: July 5, 1898
Creator: Oden, Joshua K.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car Coupling. (open access)

Car Coupling.

Patent for a new and improved coupling for railroad cars. This design's "objects are, first, to couple cars of various altitudes; second, to couple the cars automatically; third, to uncouple from the top or side of the car; [and] fourth, to dispense with pins" (lines 16-20). It consists in a "draw-head [that] is provided with an elastic cover having a link-lifting arm secured thereto, a lever for oscillating said cover, performing the duplex function of disengaging the link and permitting its egress, a sloping projection from the base of said draw-head engaging the link on contact, and the bent link" (lines 51-58).
Date: November 11, 1890
Creator: Burns, John Calvin
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton-Chopper. (open access)

Cotton-Chopper.

Patent for a device by which cotton can be easily, quickly and accurately chopped, "leaving cotton stands the distance apart for future cultivation and to insure the most rapid and satisfactory growth," (lines 13-16) including illustrations.
Date: November 10, 1891
Creator: Henderson, Neely Trimmier & Smith, William F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lumber-Carrier (open access)

Lumber-Carrier

Patent for an improved lumber carrier which, as the cart travels down hill with the weight of the lumber it is prevented from rolling backwards if it were to lose speed by engaging of pawls with notches to hold it in place. It can then be manually pushed to get it started again.
Date: November 15, 1892
Creator: Chauvin, Phillip A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lumber-Drier (open access)

Lumber-Drier

Patent for "means adapted to superheat steam and supply it to a drying-chamber, substantially" (lines 28-30).
Date: February 4, 1890
Creator: Hooton, James M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Steam-Engine. (open access)

Steam-Engine.

Patent for a steam-engine that has "no dead-center" (lines 15-16), and "a volume of one full port will always be exerted on a piston" (lines 18-19). "The full power of the steam will be applied when the crank is on the quarter and there is the greatest leverage in favor of the engine" (lines 21-24). Steam supply is regulated automatically and has a shutoff system in case anything breaks.
Date: November 10, 1896
Creator: Barton, James
System: The Portal to Texas History
Watchmaker's Tool. (open access)

Watchmaker's Tool.

Patent for a watchmaking device that allows for the operator to hold the watch wheel in one hand "while the instrument is fastened upon the roller by the other" (lines 20-22). The invention also has a centering device and auxiliary appliances that make all movements by the extractor accurate and even. This device does not injure the staff or pivot.
Date: January 16, 1894
Creator: Bricker, John A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Support for Carriage Tops (open access)

Support for Carriage Tops

Patent for a new and useful improvements in supports for carriage tops. This invention "consists in the features of construction hereinafter more particularly set forth and specifically claimed" (line 19-21).
Date: December 7, 1897
Creator: Gallaway, Edgar
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gate. (open access)

Gate.

Patent for an improved, simple, and inexpensive swinging gate that is strong, durable, and doesn't sag. It can be fully opened and easily conteracted.
Date: November 6, 1894
Creator: Hefner, John M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plow. (open access)

Plow.

Patent for an improved plow which is attached in the usual manner to the standard of a suitable beam, when the device is used for cultivating young crops, the fender is place in position and will serve to prevent the loose, dirt from tumbling over upon the growing plants. When the plants grew larger, the fender can be removed and a portion of the loose soil will thus be permitted to cover. (Lines 65-73) Illustration is included.
Date: May 5, 1891
Creator: Haynes, Leonard Franklin
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plow-Fender (open access)

Plow-Fender

Patent for a plow fender that would be more gentle with new or fragile plants by moving them to the side, and would be easily adaptable to all kinds of plows while also being cost efficient to install and durable.
Date: January 17, 1893
Creator: Ellington, Alvey Marcellous
System: The Portal to Texas History
Planter. (open access)

Planter.

Patent for a planter in which "the seed-dropping mechanism is adjustable to suit the nature of the seed to be planted and to drop the same closer together or farther apart, as desired." (Lines 13-16) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: August 31, 1897
Creator: Rausheck, John E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fruit-Picker. (open access)

Fruit-Picker.

Patent for an inexpensive, efficient, and durable fruit-picker that picks small fruit and does not bruise them. The picker is easily operated.
Date: March 6, 1894
Creator: Armstrong, George W.
System: The Portal to Texas History