Awning Bracket. (open access)

Awning Bracket.

Patent for a new and improved awning bracket. This design "relates to awning-brackets of that class which are secured to the wall of the building over the sidewalk, and secure themselves without the use of posts, &c. The invention has for its object to provide a self-sustaining bracket possessing superior advantages in point of simplicity, inexpensiveness, durability, and general efficiency" (lines 9-16).
Date: August 14, 1883
Creator: Rodgers, Ranzil H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Landside for Plows. (open access)

Landside for Plows.

Patent for a new and improved plow landside. This design "consists in a landside for plows made with a slotted flange to rest upon the forward side of the plow-standard, and a flange to rest upon the bottom of the furrow, whereby the plow will be made stronger, more durable, and more effective, and will be made to run steadier . . . The object of this invention is to increase the strength and durability of plow-plates, and obtain the efficiency and steadiness of ordinary turn-plows without their weight" (lines 21-31).
Date: August 21, 1883
Creator: Wherry, William B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Water Mill. (open access)

Water Mill.

Patent for a new and improved water mill. This design "relates to current water-mills, the object being to provide a mill of inexpensive and durable construction, having a wheel adapted to rise and fall with the tide, and thus to maintain a constant revolution and working of the mill. The invention consists in the combination of parts" (lines 11-18).
Date: August 28, 1883
Creator: Steinhagen, Cristofer Friderich Carl
System: The Portal to Texas History
Post Auger. (open access)

Post Auger.

Patent for a new and improved post auger. This design "has relation to that class of post-augers which consist of a number of concavo-convex cutting blades secured upon the lower end of a shaft having a cross-handle at its upper end, and provided with means for expanding the said blades for the purpose of boring holes of different sizes; and it consists in the detailed construction and combination of parts of the same" (lines 19-27).
Date: August 14, 1883
Creator: Miles, John E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pressure Device. (open access)

Pressure Device.

Patent for a new and improved compacter. This design "has relation to portable pressure-devices for use in casks, boxes, barrels, or other receptacles; and the invention consists in the construction and novel arrangement of the pointed dogs and cam-levers pivoted together, and in the combination therewith of a pivot-bolt having its nut secured by means of a locking-key" (lines 20-27).
Date: August 28, 1883
Creator: Moore, William Alexander
System: The Portal to Texas History
Horse Collar. (open access)

Horse Collar.

Patent for a new and improved horse collar. This design "consists in forming a portion of the large roll of the collar with leather, and the other part with canvas or ducking of two thicknesses, between which double part of ducking or canvas is placed a medicated composition and preservative, which serves as a remedial agent for the galling of horses shoulders', and as a preventative against gnawing of the collar by vermin. It also relates to an improved manner of stitching together the collar roll" (lines 13-23).
Date: August 7, 1883
Creator: Hake, Francis A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Insect Destroying Apparatus. (open access)

Insect Destroying Apparatus.

Patent for a new and improved ant trap. This design "relates to apparatus . . . in which a vessel having an open bottom, but closed top and sides, and containing a furnace for burning obnoxious substances, is projected into or made to form a close joint with the ground, and which has a fan or pump combined with it that causes the fumes from the furnace to enter the ant-holes in the ground. [They] have been . . . attended with so many disadvantages . . . [t]he object of [the] invention is to remove these defects . . . [it] shall be efficient, durable, and labor-saving" (lines 8-25).
Date: August 28, 1883
Creator: Matthews, James M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car Coupling. (open access)

Car Coupling.

Patent for a new and improved coupling for railroad cars. This design "consists in the combination of two draw-heads, in one of which is a spring-actuated jaw, which acts as a support for the coupling-pin until the jaw is pushed back into the coupling-head, and in the other a slotted spring-actuated jaw, which has its end so formed as to support the link in position ready to couple" (lines 11-18).
Date: August 7, 1883
Creator: Learmonth, James
System: The Portal to Texas History