Fruit-Gatherer and Pruning Implement. (open access)

Fruit-Gatherer and Pruning Implement.

Patent for a combination orchard tool that gathers fruit, holds it in a bag, and can sever fruit stems in order to pick them. After severing, the fruit falls into the bag. The operator pulls a string that falls along the long handle, and the knife springs up from the bag so that it can sever the stems.
Date: May 30, 1893
Creator: Chambers, Silas
System: The Portal to Texas History
Film Actuating Mechanism For Motion Picture Cameras. (open access)

Film Actuating Mechanism For Motion Picture Cameras.

Patent for useful improvement in Film Actuating Mechanism for Motion-Picture cameras and cinematograph motion picture cameras. This invention simplifies and improves on the construction and capacity of film.
Date: May 12, 1917
Creator: Gildersleeve, Fred E. & Trice, William L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fastening Device (open access)

Fastening Device

Patent for Fastening Device which relates to "improvements in fastening devices and more particularly to latches and cooperating strikes such as used in fastening gates, etc. One object of my invention is to provide a strike for such latching means which is easily and quickly put in place, which is easily adjustable to different heights of the latching member, which is easily and quickly adjustable to different horizontal positions of the latching member, and which is so constructed that it is firmly but simply held in place in any of its positions" (lines 8-20).
Date: May 31, 1912
Creator: Torian, William H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Razor (open access)

Razor

Patent for a razor. Illustration included.
Date: May 3, 1910
Creator: Hollon, George F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rotary Gang-Plow. (open access)

Rotary Gang-Plow.

Patent for a rotary gang-plow that has laterally movable castings, stirrups, beams working in the stirrups, axles connected to the disks, and adjustable sleeves.
Date: May 14, 1895
Creator: Willis, WIlliam Beale
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rail-Joint. (open access)

Rail-Joint.

Patent for a modification of a conventional rail joint, adding a solid abutment that allows for the use of conventional splice bars that "does not involve any appreciable increase in cost over the conventional rail joint" (lines 29-30). Includes Illustration.
Date: May 22, 1917
Creator: Baker, William E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oil-Burner (open access)

Oil-Burner

Patent for an oil burner for refined oil which vaporizes all the oil put into the burner.
Date: May 4, 1909
Creator: Breckenridge, William D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oil-Burner. (open access)

Oil-Burner.

Patent for an oil-burner, which can be turned on and off with a single switch.
Date: May 4, 1909
Creator: Breckenridge, William D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Door Check. (open access)

Door Check.

Patent for a new and improved door-check. This design "relates to improvements in devices for checking the movements of a door to prevent its forcible contact with a wall or other object, and for automatically fastening it in an open position, so that it will not be accidentally closed. The invention consists of a check or catch plate adapted to be secured to the floor or wall and provided with an inclined track for the passage of a spring-bolt on the door, a transverse projection being arranged vertically at the rear end of said inclined track and formed into a seat for the spring-bolt" (lines 8-20).
Date: May 25, 1886
Creator: Cevor, Charles
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rubber Tire-Filler With a Flexible Metal Cable in the Center. (open access)

Rubber Tire-Filler With a Flexible Metal Cable in the Center.

Patent for "an improved rubber tire filler which is reinforced by a metal cable or nonstretchable strand or strands to prevent the fillers from slipping while permitting of sufficient flexibility to allow the tire casing to be readily engaged over the filler" (lines 10-15)
Date: May 11, 1920
Creator: Needham, Moses W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sash-Lock. (open access)

Sash-Lock.

Patent for a sash lock that comprises two members that are secured together in a manner to hold the meeting rails in close contact.
Date: May 2, 1916
Creator: Huber, Frederick K.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rotary Engine (open access)

Rotary Engine

Patent for a rotary engine that operates by virtually any type of motive fluid. Illustrations included.
Date: May 28, 1907
Creator: Walker, James C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improved Horse-Power. (open access)

Improved Horse-Power.

Patent for an improvement in horse-powers (tread-powers) by changing the construction and arrangement of the driving wheels.
Date: May 18, 1869
Creator: Dillaha, J. G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton-Chopper. (open access)

Cotton-Chopper.

Patent for the revolving hoe type of cotton chopper which allows steering to laterally adjust the hoe shaft, including instructions and illustrations. Addition features include breakable shanks to prevent the hoe from being damaged when hitting an obstruction, and for these parts to be durable and inexpensive to construct.
Date: May 5, 1914
Creator: Noblett, Adoniram J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cylindrical Structure (open access)

Cylindrical Structure

Patent for improvements for hollow structures of cylindrical shape that provides "for formation of such a structure of lumber and metal materials of standard dimensions and shapes that ordinarily can be obtained from commercial stocks, so that the minimum amount of shop work on materials will be required." (lines 18-22)
Date: May 11, 1920
Creator: Pearson, Terrell Brooks
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton-Chopping Machine. (open access)

Cotton-Chopping Machine.

Patent for improvement in stalk-choppers particularly adapted for chopping cotton. When the chopper is started the sprocket upon one of the traveling wheels will impart motion to the sprocket through the medium of the sprocket-chain, which will rotate the gear-wheel and in turn the pinion and the crank will impart a reciprocatory motion to the pitman and the horizontal bar, this will give the cutter-blade a reciprocatory motion. The speed of the reciprocatory chopping blade can be regulated. (Lines 45-55) Illustration is included.
Date: May 26, 1891
Creator: Guyton, James W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hair Clipper. (open access)

Hair Clipper.

Patent for hair clippers that simplifies construction, reduces vibration, and improves efficiency.
Date: May 16, 1922
Creator: Monroe, Collier
System: The Portal to Texas History
Compressing-Machine. (open access)

Compressing-Machine.

Patent for a compressing machine for pressing plastic, cotton, and cotton seeds.
Date: May 2, 1911
Creator: Baade, John
System: The Portal to Texas History