Improvement in Fire-Escapes and Extension-Ladders. (open access)

Improvement in Fire-Escapes and Extension-Ladders.

Patent for a truck-mounted "portable extension-ladder that may be used by firemen in gaining access to buildings, and may also be used as a fire escape" (lines 15-17) including illustration.
Date: August 7, 1877
Creator: Hoyt, William A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Plow-Couplings. (open access)

Improvement in Plow-Couplings.

Patent for a new and useful Improvement in Plow-Coupling including illustration.
Date: August 19, 1873
Creator: Thrasher, Thomas L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Attachment for Locomotives. (open access)

Attachment for Locomotives.

Patent for a safety attachment for locomotives that is simple and prevents unwelcome people from getting into a position to take control of the train. It consists of steam pipes with open jets connected with the boiler that go around the entrances of the cab, and the train engineer can turn a valve and make hot steam project across the entrances.
Date: August 29, 1894
Creator: Rutherford, James Rice
System: The Portal to Texas History
Washing-Machine. (open access)

Washing-Machine.

Patent for "washing-machines which combine in one structure means for heating the suds-water and maintaining the same at the required temperature, a suds-box having chambered or hollow bottom and sides to secure a circulation of the suds-water independently of the agitation resulting from turning the drum or clothes-receptacle upon its axis, and a drum removably journaled in the suds-box and comprising longitudinal slats or bars having bent edge portions for scooping up the suds-water and directing the same into the drum and upon the clothes contained therein, whereby the washing process is greatly facilitated." (Lines 7-21) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: August 24, 1897
Creator: Roach, Henry B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Plows (open access)

Improvement in Plows

Patent for the improvement of plows, with illustration.
Date: August 13, 1878
Creator: Johnson, Felix
System: The Portal to Texas History
Feed-Trough (open access)

Feed-Trough

Patent for "a stock-feeder which shall permit of the feeding of a measured quantity of food to cattle in the barn or stable from a point remote, so as to enable the farmer or any of the members of his family to feed the cattle from the dwelling without going out into the weather" (lines 7-13).
Date: August 19, 1890
Creator: Reed, Francis O.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fork for Handling Cotton and Other Substances. (open access)

Fork for Handling Cotton and Other Substances.

Patent for a new and improved pitchfork. This design "relates to a hand-fork for handling cotton in the seed and cotton-seed at the gins, as well as for other useful purposes; and it consists in the novel construction of the teeth and tines or head, together with the means for fastening the teeth to the head" (lines 9-15).
Date: August 19, 1884
Creator: Shannon, Joel J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Attachment for Ginning-Machines. (open access)

Attachment for Ginning-Machines.

Patent for improvements in attachment for ginning machines: "provide mechanical means for conveying the cotton and seed that is delivered from the gins through pneumatic tubes to the baling room and see house" (lines 15-19).
Date: August 31, 1897
Creator: Coursey, Netter R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Water Heater and Smoke Consumer (open access)

Combined Water Heater and Smoke Consumer

Patent for a combined water heater and smoke consumer. Illustration included.
Date: August 14, 1906
Creator: Miles, Joseph Furnas; Rodgers, A. N. & Wade, James William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Back or Lining for Fireplaces. (open access)

Back or Lining for Fireplaces.

Patent for improvement linings of fireplaces including the cost for creation, the adaption to fireplaces of different sizes, the expansion and contraction of parts under the influence of heat.
Date: August 9, 1898
Creator: Dickson, John Albert
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car-Fender. (open access)

Car-Fender.

Patent for new and useful improvements in car fenders, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: August 29, 1899
Creator: Forwood, Reginald
System: The Portal to Texas History
Tire Tightener (open access)

Tire Tightener

Patent for a tire tightener. Illustration included.
Date: August 16, 1904
Creator: Leveritt, Nicholas Tompkins & Cameron, James H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Drinking Fountain (open access)

Drinking Fountain

Patent for a drinking fountain. "The object of the invention is to provide a drinking fountain having a drinking trough to which water will be automatically supplied as the same is removed by the stock." Illustration included.
Date: August 15, 1905
Creator: McCormick, James V.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Extension Car-Step (open access)

Extension Car-Step

Patent for an extension car step. Illustrations included.
Date: August 20, 1907
Creator: Cameron, James H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Brick-Kiln Construction (open access)

Brick-Kiln Construction

Patent for Brick Kiln Construction. The particular innovation enables bricks and tiles to be manufactured, burned, and dried in one building. This helps in saving fuel, using the fuel economically, and reducing the time needed for the burning of bricks.
Date: August 2, 1921
Creator: Pokorny, James T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Linting Machine. (open access)

Linting Machine.

Patent for a linting machine (Carver type) that contains an air pocket at the end of the passage to prevent cotton from clogging the machine.
Date: August 10, 1920
Creator: Woodrow, George N. & Bruce, Thomas D.
System: The Portal to Texas History