Portable Extensible Ladder (open access)

Portable Extensible Ladder

Patent for a portable extendable ladder, designed for use, among other things, as a means of fire escape or observation, along with illustrations and explanations.
Date: July 2, 1918
Creator: Trojan, J. E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Apparatus for Destroying Insects. (open access)

Apparatus for Destroying Insects.

Patent for a new and improved apparatus for killing ants. This design "consist[s] of frame, levers, pivoted arms, piston-rod, piston provided with valves and openings, air-tight iron chamber having opening pipe, furnace provided with double lid, lugs, pipe, clamp, and wedge . . . whereby the flame as well as the poisonous vapors are injected into the insect chambers" (lines 50-58).
Date: August 2, 1881
Creator: Gray, Hiram Balderston
System: The Portal to Texas History