Axle-Box. (open access)

Axle-Box.

Patent for a simple, inexpensive, and durable wheel-axle box that is "adapted to contain a supply of lubricating material and constructed to feed the same continuously to the axle-spindle to prevent overheating, and furthermore, to provide means for preventing ingress of dust" (lines 9-14).
Date: November 19, 1895
Creator: Casto, Tony Lo
System: The Portal to Texas History
Adjustable Pilot. (open access)

Adjustable Pilot.

Patent for Improvements in Adjustable Pilot for locomotives
Date: November 11, 1913
Creator: Sledge, John M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Seed-Planters. (open access)

Improvement in Seed-Planters.

Patent for "revolving-cylinder seed-planters; and its object is to furnish a strong and durable implement adapted to plant with precision various kinds of seed, and the wheels of which are not liable to become clogged with earth." (Lines 12-17) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: November 13, 1877
Creator: Burris, John W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Harmony Attachments for Piano-Fortes. (open access)

Improvement in Harmony Attachments for Piano-Fortes.

Patent for, "an attachment for piano-fortes, whereby the musician may play the melody upon an instrument like the violin with his hands in the usual manner, and the accompaniment or harmony by operating the attachment with his feet."
Date: November 11, 1879
Creator: Radinsky, Gustav A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Spur Attachment For Stirrups (open access)

Spur Attachment For Stirrups

Patent for spur attachment for stirrups. "The purpose of the invention is to provide a spur attachment to saddle-stirrups so constructed that a body-bar having an offset carrying a rowel is so hinged at its forward end to the stirrup that when the stirrup is not in use the body-bar carrying the rowel will hang perpendicularly downward, but wherein as soon as the foot is placed in the stirrup" (9-16). Illustration included.
Date: November 17, 1903
Creator: Poorter, Charles Louis
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plumbing System. (open access)

Plumbing System.

Patent for "improvements in plumbing systems whereby the service-pipes will automatically drain themselves when a sufficiently low temperature is reached to congeal the water contained therein, thereby obviating frozen pipes and the resultant damage incident thereto." (Lines 8-14) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: November 3, 1896
Creator: Coleman, Thomas S. & Coleman, William P.
System: The Portal to Texas History