Life Boat. (open access)

Life Boat.

Patent for a new and improved life boat. This design "consists in providing a steam-launch with a float on each side, secured by suitable strong braces thereto, and to provide said floats with a hand-rail, so that persons can hold onto said rails, and are prevented from being washed off" (lines 17-22).
Date: March 13, 1883
Creator: Dwyer, Daniel
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stalk Cutter. (open access)

Stalk Cutter.

Patent for a new and improved stalk cutter. This design "has for its object to produce a machine which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability, and general efficiency. To this end it consists in certain improvements in the construction of the same" (lines 10-14).
Date: November 13, 1883
Creator: Snider, John J. & O'Bannon, William H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mud Shoe. (open access)

Mud Shoe.

Patent for a new and improved mud shoe. This design has for its object "to provide a device adapted to be worn over the ordinary boot or shoe and afford a convenient means for keeping the same out of the mud, dirt, or water; and the novelty consists in the detail of the construction and combination of the several parts" (lines 18-24).
Date: November 13, 1883
Creator: Carroll, Samuel T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Thill Carrier for Harness. (open access)

Thill Carrier for Harness.

Patent for a new and improved thill-carrier for harnesses. This design utilizes a loop or ring, and "[b]y this construction of the thill-carriers it will be seen that the trouble and annoyance of running the thills into and backing them out of the thill-carriers are entirely overcome, and by means of the loops or rings . . . the thills are perfectly confined in the carriers . . . [they] may be made very cheap, and also very ornamental to the harness" (lines 66-76).
Date: March 13, 1883
Creator: Hake, Francis A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Seed Planter. (open access)

Seed Planter.

Patent for a new and improved seed planter. This design "relates to machines for dropping or planting cotton, corn, or other seed, and has for its object to provide a device embodying simplicity, convenience, cheapness, and efficiency. To this end it consists in certain improvements in construction and operation of the same" (lines 12-18).
Date: March 13, 1883
Creator: Lowder, John Ellis
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sheep-Wash. (open access)

Sheep-Wash.

Patent for "a new and useful sheep dip or wash for the prevention and cure of 'scabs' " (lines 10-12) which lists the ingredients, measurements, and instructions for making and applying.
Date: March 13, 1883
Creator: Dunlap, John Q.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Seeding Machine. (open access)

Seeding Machine.

Patent for a new and improved seed planter. This design "relates to seeding-machines, and has for its object to provide a simple and efficient machine that will plant all kinds of grain or seed, and in which the mechanism can be readily and conveniently changed to adapt it to the different kids of seed" (lines 9-14).
Date: March 13, 1883
Creator: Miller, Tedor T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Horse Detacher. (open access)

Horse Detacher.

Patent for a new and improved device for detaching animals from vehicles. This design "relates to horse detaching devices, the object being to provide a device of this character of simple, inexpensive, and durable construction, and adapted to readily disengage the traces from the single tree. [The] invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts" (lines 10-16).
Date: February 13, 1883
Creator: Willson, Sam A.
System: The Portal to Texas History