Brake for Vehicles (open access)

Brake for Vehicles

Patent for "a brake which shall be easy in operation, cheap in construction, and not liable to get out of order" (lines 13-17).
Date: October 25, 1887
Creator: Bacon, Edward Hamlin
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lantern. (open access)

Lantern.

Patent for certain new and useful improvements in lanterns, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: October 25, 1898
Creator: Cadwallader, Aldes H. & Carolan, Eugene P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mechanical Packer. (open access)

Mechanical Packer.

Patent for improvements towards the mechanical packing apparatus. The invention will connect the apparatus to power-operated presses, like that of the cotton press.
Date: January 25, 1921
Creator: Cameron, Theodore R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Switch Operating Mechanism for Electric Railways. (open access)

Switch Operating Mechanism for Electric Railways.

Patent for a switch-operating mechanism for electric railways that uses a movable display band to control movement through an electrically operated switch. The arrival of the railway car or street car at a point adjacent to the switch automatically throws the switch to automatically shunt the car from one line to another without a motorman or switchman's intervention.
Date: May 25, 1915
Creator: Craig, Richard M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Roof-Jack (open access)

Roof-Jack

Patent for a roof jack that will hold up scaffolding.
Date: February 25, 1913
Creator: Darnall, Benjamin P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Dumping-Cart (open access)

Dumping-Cart

Patent for a dumping cart with a body that locks to the frame, but can be released quickly to dump materials via two toggle arms connected to a crank handle. Including illustrations and instructions.
Date: February 25, 1903
Creator: Davis, Frank C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lineman's Chair (open access)

Lineman's Chair

Patent for a chair which allows a lineman to connect cables and lines more easily. Illustrations included.
Date: October 25, 1910
Creator: Davis, John W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Electric Time Switch (open access)

Electric Time Switch

Patent for a electric time-switch. Illustration included.
Date: October 25, 1904
Creator: Dubinski, Benjamin
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sound Reproducing Machine (open access)

Sound Reproducing Machine

Patent for a sound reproducing machine. Illustrations included.
Date: October 25, 1904
Creator: Dubinski, Benjamin
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sulky-Lister (open access)

Sulky-Lister

Patent for an improved sulky-lister for planting listed corn, cotton, and other crops.
Date: November 25, 1902
Creator: Engelmann, Gustav
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gas Compressing Pump for Ice Machines. (open access)

Gas Compressing Pump for Ice Machines.

Patent for a new and improved pump for refrigerators. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with the cylinder, having inlet at or near its lower end, a downward-closing valve at its upper end, an open-ended piston having internal ribs or projections, annular valve-seat around its upper open end, and a centrally-apertured bottom plate, of the valve having vertical movement within the piston and closing upwardly against the valve-seat, said valve being formed of the two sections . . . having hemispherical recesses and the lower section having an aperture, communicating therewith" (lines 30-42).
Date: December 25, 1888
Creator: Farnsworth, Thomas
System: The Portal to Texas History
Tool for Truing and Dressing Commutators. (open access)

Tool for Truing and Dressing Commutators.

Patent for a tool "for truing and dressing the commutators of dynamo motors... especially designed for truing and dressing the commutators of motors employed for propelling cars" (lines 9-14).
Date: June 25, 1907
Creator: Frick, Claus Henry
System: The Portal to Texas History
Spark-Arrester (open access)

Spark-Arrester

Patent for a spark arrester designed to extinguish the glowing cinders of smoke stacks. Illustrations included.
Date: October 25, 1910
Creator: Goodrich, Luman L., Jr.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Vehicle Body Suspension (open access)

Vehicle Body Suspension

Patent for the invention of a new and improved vehicle body suspension.
Date: January 25, 1921
Creator: Harper, William D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Truck. (open access)

Truck.

Patent for a new and useful truck, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: April 25, 1899
Creator: Hooper, Johnson M., Sr. & Daniels, James R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hoof-Cleaning Tool. (open access)

Hoof-Cleaning Tool.

Patent for an improved farriers tool that cleans animals' hoofs that is a specially designed hook. It works quickly, thoroughly, and easily.
Date: July 25, 1893
Creator: Jenner, Robert C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cash-Register. (open access)

Cash-Register.

Patent for a simple and inexpensive cash-register that is accurate and alerts the customer to the price. The operator must charge the correct amount for the purchase.
Date: September 25, 1894
Creator: Johnson, William W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Railroad-Rail (open access)

Railroad-Rail

Patent for a new railroad rail design. Illustrations included.
Date: June 25, 1907
Creator: King, Alphonse
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car-Coupling. (open access)

Car-Coupling.

Patent for "automatic pin-and-link car-couplings in which a sliding spring-actuated block is employed for supporting the coupling-pin in an elevated position preparatory to coupling." (Lines 8-12) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: May 25, 1897
Creator: Lee, Charles
System: The Portal to Texas History
Attachment for Coffee-Roasters. (open access)

Attachment for Coffee-Roasters.

Patent for an attachment to a coffee-roaster that assists in separating coffee beans from foreign matter.
Date: December 25, 1917
Creator: Liberto, Samuel
System: The Portal to Texas History
Tire Construction (open access)

Tire Construction

Patent for an improvement to rubber tires. The inner tube is enclosed within a thick detachable shoe to withstand shocks and jars, and also uses side guards to protect from dirt accumulation.
Date: November 25, 1919
Creator: Luck, John J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plaque and Picture Hanger. (open access)

Plaque and Picture Hanger.

Patent for a new and improved holder for plaques and pictures. This design "is to provide a simple and cheap device for conveniently hanging painted or ornamental plaques, plates, tiles, and similar decorative objects" (lines 15-18).
Date: July 25, 1882
Creator: Marucheau, Elizabeth L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Saddles. (open access)

Improvement in Saddles.

Patent for re-enforcing and strengthening the front of a saddle.
Date: September 13, 1873
Creator: McGrath, Thomas H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bench Clamp. (open access)

Bench Clamp.

Patent for a new and improved bench clamp. This design, "[b]eing made of iron or other suitable material . . . is strong, durable, and inexpensive. It requires no bolts or screws to secure it to the work-bench or other object where its use may be required, and can be put in position and removed easily and quickly. It occupies but little room on account of its compactness, and can be applied to any piece of work without marring it" (lines 72-80).
Date: January 25, 1881
Creator: Murphy, James
System: The Portal to Texas History