Canceling Stamp. (open access)

Canceling Stamp.

Patent for a new and improved stamp canceler. This design utilizes a washer, flanges, and vertical slots "for the purpose of adjusting the roughened face of the head . . . so that the correct operation of the face is insured" (65-68). This represents an improvement over previous stamp cancelers.
Date: April 19, 1881
Creator: Grothaus, Frederick E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car Door Fastening. (open access)

Car Door Fastening.

Patent for a new and improved car-door fastening. This design "consists in a novel construction and arrangement of a staple, a hook-hasp, key, and a key-plate, whereby several advantages are obtained . . . for securing the sliding doors of box-cars and other railway-cars" (lines 8-14).
Date: April 19, 1881
Creator: Alexander, Francis Marion
System: The Portal to Texas History
Caster. (open access)

Caster.

Patent for an improved design for casters, otherwise known as "rollers for bedsteads and the like" (lines 15-16), including illustrations.
Date: April 19, 1881
Creator: Custer, George
System: The Portal to Texas History
Farm and Garden Implement. (open access)

Farm and Garden Implement.

Patent for a new and improved tool rack. This design "consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, whereby the device may hold implements of various kinds—such as the hoe, rake, a fork, shovel-blade, a trowel, and similar hand-tools—by simply detaching one tool from the holder and inserting another" (lines 12-18).
Date: April 19, 1887
Creator: Hewitt, Ditus Pinson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Game Apparatus. (open access)

Game Apparatus.

Patent for a new and improved game. This design "relates to that class of game apparatus in which tilting levers or arms located at the end of an alley or board and bearing numerals designating their value in the game are designed to be struck by balls, so as to displace or change the position of said levers. The invention consists in the construction and combination of the parts forming the apparatus" (lines 14-22).
Date: April 19, 1881
Creator: Pittman, William D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pen or Pencil Holder. (open access)

Pen or Pencil Holder.

Patent for a new and improved pen or pencil holder. This design obviates "many of the serious objections to the ordinary pen-holder . . . among which may be mentioned cramp and that which is known as 'writer's paralysis.' In addition to this the use of this device will save many tedious hours to the child who is learning to write, as by its use no time will be wasted in teaching the child how to hold his [or her] pen or pencil" (lines 69-77).
Date: April 19, 1887
Creator: Merrick, Sarah J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Saddle Bags (open access)

Saddle Bags

Patent for improvements in saddle bags
Date: April 19, 1881
Creator: Elliot, George W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stove Pipe Damper. (open access)

Stove Pipe Damper.

Patent for a new and improved stove-pipe damper. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with a damper-blade with a spindle rigidly attached thereto and having at one end a cylindrical pivot projecting beyond the periphery of the blade, and at the opposite end a screw projecting beyond said periphery, of a supporting-ring in which the projecting ends of said spindle are journaled, the bearing of the cylindrical end of said spindle being in an inwardly-bent portion of said supporting-ring" (lines 50-59).
Date: April 19, 1887
Creator: Lederle, Edward Emil
System: The Portal to Texas History
Walking Seed-Planter (open access)

Walking Seed-Planter

Patent for an improved walking seed-planter.
Date: April 19, 1881
Creator: Thomas, Joseph H.
System: The Portal to Texas History