Resource Type

Car-Coupling. (open access)

Car-Coupling.

Patent for a car-coupling that has a draw head with a link opening, a pin opening that goes across the link opening and has two side recesses, a sliding head in the link opening, a spring that holds the sliding head in place, two lever arms in the side recesses, a catch block that the lever arms move, and an apparatus for raising the coupling pin.
Date: January 1, 1895
Creator: Shwadlenak, August Frank
System: The Portal to Texas History
Tire Adjuster. (open access)

Tire Adjuster.

Patent for a new and improved wheel adjuster. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with the terminal tire-lugs having right and left screw-threaded sockets, of a right and left screw-stem, a turning block of substantially the same cross-section as the rim of the wheel, connected to the screw-stem so as to slide thereon but revolve rigidly together, and means . . . for locking the turning block to the terminal lugs" (lines 8-16).
Date: April 1, 1890
Creator: Surratt, George
System: The Portal to Texas History
Paint Compound. (open access)

Paint Compound.

Patent for "a fire and water-proof coating material adapted for application to wood and metallic roofing, boats, &c., to preserve the material from corrosion and render the same impervious to water." (Lines 9-13) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: January 1, 1895
Creator: Rook, Benjamin F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Reading-Stand. (open access)

Reading-Stand.

Patent for a simple, durable, and economic reading stand that has two desks, one of which is adjustable so that a person can read while sitting at any angle. The second desk is capable of holding heavy books. Both stands are vertically adjustable. The stand can be constructed to hold a lamp in addition to books.
Date: August 1, 1893
Creator: Anderson, Francis John & Irick, William Madison
System: The Portal to Texas History