Combination Tool. (open access)

Combination Tool.

Patent for a new and improved multi-tool. This design consists in "the combination of the two overlapping fulcrumed or pivoted levers having handles and forward ends of flattened crescent shape bent in reverse directions to cause their extreme reduced ends to abut to form nippers, and provided with beveled shoulders at the bases of their inner edges to form cutters and with serrated projections in rear of the pivot or fulcrum, and an angular arm movably attached to said pivot or fulcrum, carrying a receptacle adapted to be adjusted under the nippers for the reception of staples" (lines 29-42).
Date: July 16, 1889
Creator: Carter, James T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Painter's Scaffold-chairs. (open access)

Improvement in Painter's Scaffold-chairs.

Patent for use of house-painters and others an improved scaffold-chair that may be elevated and lowered at pleasure by the person sitting on the scaffold.
Date: May 16, 1876
Creator: Crockett, John R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Insect-Destroyers. (open access)

Improvement in Insect-Destroyers.

Patent for improvements on insect destroyers to be used in cotton fields, including illustrations.
Date: October 16, 1877
Creator: Fordtran, Eugene H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bridle. (open access)

Bridle.

Patent for "a bridle wherein means for controlling a horse is provided." (lines 15-16) including instructions and illustrations.
Date: March 16, 1915
Creator: Hentschel, Andrew J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improved Ditching-Machine. (open access)

Improved Ditching-Machine.

Patent for improvement in ditching machine which “consists of a boring or ditching-auger, suspended from the frame of a truck, and having an enlarged head projecting in advance of the truck, and rotated, so as to bore out a groove as the truck is moved along, screwing the earth taken back through a trough, to an elevator which carries it up to a spout, chuting it to one side.” (Lines 13-19) Illustration is included.
Date: November 16, 1869
Creator: McGehee, James W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Liniment (open access)

Liniment

Patent for "improvements in that class of topical remedies which are compounded for the purpose of relieving rheumatism, neuralgia, gout, toothache, sprains, swellings, bruises, sores, and similar afflictions. . .To these I add cotton-seed oil in sufficient quantity to make one quart of the medicine, the root and bark of the trumpet flower and the root of the pokeberry being boiled in the latter and the ammonia and turpentine being added on the cooling of the mixture" (lines 11-16, 31-37).
Date: December 16, 1890
Creator: Meinen, Diedrich
System: The Portal to Texas History
Crate or Box Forming Machine (open access)

Crate or Box Forming Machine

Patent for a crate or box forming machine. Illustrations included.
Date: May 16, 1911
Creator: Nitschmann, Eduard
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pencil. (open access)

Pencil.

Patent for a mechanical pencil, which allows the lead to be extended by turning the cap.
Date: March 16, 1909
Creator: Vasicek, John
System: The Portal to Texas History
Railway-Signal. (open access)

Railway-Signal.

Patent for improvement to the "construction of railway-signals and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive one adapted to utilize the light of a telegraph-office or other structure and capable of housing and protecting parts and of being readily operated for displaying either white or colored light" (lines 10-17).
Date: July 16, 1901
Creator: Walker, Millard Fillmore
System: The Portal to Texas History