Churn. (open access)

Churn.

Patent for an automatic churn, which is an improvement to a previous churn, no. 39,532. It has a two-part cabinet, the top part equipped with a hinged top, a crank shaft, ratchet-wheel, spring pawl, and a tubular square pocket at the end of the crank-shaft. The square pocket is where one can attach a handle to operate the churn. The lower half of the cabinet opens on the side and contains the container, dasher-rod, and churn-dashers.
Date: September 15, 1896
Creator: Roberts, John A. & Vermillion, William E. C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lifting Device. (open access)

Lifting Device.

Patent for "lifting devices, and particularly to the mechanism adapted for use as a stump-puller and for elevating heavy weights, the object in view being to provide a simple and efficient construction and arrangement of parts whereby sufficient power for elevating heavy weights may be communicated to a rotary shaft or drum, and whereby the means communicating motion to the drum may be moved out of operative position and a brake simultaneously applied in order to relieve the operating-lever from strain when the mechanism is at rest." (Lines 8-20) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: September 15, 1896
Creator: Jensen, Ole T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Square. (open access)

Square.

Patent for a square meant "to provide a simple and cheap steel square embodying also a level, an inclinometer, and mitrometer" (lines 13-15).
Date: September 15, 1896
Creator: Johns, John P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Metal Packing-Case for Food Products. (open access)

Metal Packing-Case for Food Products.

Patent for "a new and useful packing-case for food products" (lines 13-14), particularly for cured meats. It protects "against flies, souring, shrinking, &c., than the ordinary forms of packing" (lines 20-21). It is made from metal, stamped into a packing-case.
Date: September 15, 1896
Creator: Blanke, Louis H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Paper Box. (open access)

Paper Box.

Patent for a paper box that can be easily and securely locked. The ends of the box are locked into place with inwardly-curved edges, and slits receive the end portions of the inwardly -curved edges.
Date: September 15, 1896
Creator: Girard, Alexandre Ferdinand
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fire-Dog. (open access)

Fire-Dog.

Patent for "a simple and inexpensive fire-dog adapted to be used in any ordinary open grate and capable of affording convenient means for cooking in an open fireplace." (Lines 10-13) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: September 15, 1896
Creator: Lewis, Harry J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gas-Generating Apparatus. (open access)

Gas-Generating Apparatus.

Patent for a gas-generator, especially generating acetylene, "with uniformity of flow of gas and at a uniform pressure" (lines 15-16). It is simple and can be constructed in many sizes. "This apparatus is especially adapted for generating gas and mixing it with air from that class of chemicals that generate gas from water by decomposition thereof and by affinity for oxygen or hydrogen" (lines 25-30).
Date: September 15, 1896
Creator: Eldridge, Hilliary
System: The Portal to Texas History
Ratchet-Wrench. (open access)

Ratchet-Wrench.

Patent for a wrench that uses friction-rollers to clamp the thing that is being turned. A rotary ring-shaped cam is what actually turns the wrench's object, and there are teeth that surround the outside of the cam. A pawl, when turning the handle, turns the teeth. This is what makes the cam rotate.
Date: September 15, 1896
Creator: Fisk, Marston
System: The Portal to Texas History
Culvert. (open access)

Culvert.

Patent for "a culvert which shall be so constructed that the jarring caused by the passing of trains or wagons will not impair the solidity of the culvert." (Lines 14-17) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: September 15, 1896
Creator: Parker, William Sink
System: The Portal to Texas History