Car-Replacer. (open access)

Car-Replacer.

Patent for a car-replacer that is meant to "provide a strong and compact skid of comparatively light weight to form the body portion of the car-replacer and which shall be especially adapted to raise the car-wheels above the track, deflect toward them toward the rails until the tread of the wheels is suspended over the ball of the rails from an inclined surface terminating in a rounded end, over which the wheels move until they meet the track" (lines 12-21). The car-replacer does not have any liability of the skid tilting endwise or sidewise.
Date: October 15, 1895
Creator: Ragan, John
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car-Coupling. (open access)

Car-Coupling.

Patent for a simple, practical, and reliable car-coupling with a side latch. It is "adapted for automatic connection in pairs, when two cars having the improvements are brought together on the same track, which will be capable of a ready release from the side of either coupled car, and also that will be adapted by its peculiar formation to receive support from one part of the improvements, when a coupled drawhead is partly detached from its connections to the car, and which if not so sustained might fall on the track, derail the car having the disabled coupling, and occasion the wreckage of said car and others of a train" (lines 14-27).
Date: January 15, 1895
Creator: Curry, Charles D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wire-Tightening Implement. (open access)

Wire-Tightening Implement.

Patent for a wire-tightening implement meant to tightening wires in fences by making loops or twists in the wires. It has two handles forming jaws around a fulcrum, the jaws have flat faces with parallel grooves, and the jaws coming together at their ends. The grooves in the jaws form different sized loops.
Date: October 15, 1895
Creator: West, James M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Trap. (open access)

Trap.

Patent for a hunting trap that will "effectively prevent the escape of the captives." (Line 17) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: October 15, 1895
Creator: Wallace, Bar P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Surgical Instrument. (open access)

Surgical Instrument.

Patent for a surgical instrument meant to help examine and treat the urethra and similar internal canals and passages. It can easily be cleaned and taken apart.
Date: January 15, 1895
Creator: Johnson, Emmet E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Governor for Steam-Engines. (open access)

Governor for Steam-Engines.

Patent for a governor for steam-engines that provides "an automatic governing device controlled by the speed, and hence, by the load of the engine, in order to maintain uniformity of movement under variations of load" (lines 10-14).
Date: January 15, 1895
Creator: Johnson, Billie
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hame-Fastener. (open access)

Hame-Fastener.

Patent for a simple and inexpensive hame-fastener that has "two adjustable parts, one of which is provided with hooks to be engaged by means on the other part" (lines 11-13). The invention is adjustable and does not unlock or disengage accidentally but can easily be unlocked on purpose.
Date: October 15, 1895
Creator: Anderson, Lee
System: The Portal to Texas History
Portable Dental Chair. (open access)

Portable Dental Chair.

Patent for a simple portable dental chair meant for traveling dentists. It adjusts easily and folds compactly.
Date: January 15, 1895
Creator: Lovejoy, Edward Harrison
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pipe-Wrench. (open access)

Pipe-Wrench.

Patent for a pipe-wrench that can "be adjusted to fit accurately pipes and rods from the smallest to the largest of those in more common use, that will grip each with almost any desired degree of force and yet will not materially mar or injure it, and that may also be used for ends not usually possible with pipe-wrenches" (lines 12-18).
Date: October 15, 1895
Creator: McCauley, John H. & Winfrey, Edgar M.
System: The Portal to Texas History