Insect Destroyer. (open access)

Insect Destroyer.

Patent for a new and improved pest control device. This design "consist[s] of the flexible air-supply funnel, having end-supporting and mouth-distending rim, terminating in vertical bottom legs or branches, the gas generator, the air-inlet tube having the valve, and the rigid gas-discharge tube" (lines 22-28).
Date: December 25, 1883
Creator: Grafton, William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Manufacture of artificial stone. (open access)

Manufacture of artificial stone.

Patent for the manufacture of artificial stone using gravel, sand, water, cement, lamp-black, isinglass and sesquioxide of iron.
Date: December 25, 1883
Creator: Gallup, John W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sweat Leather for Riding Saddles. (open access)

Sweat Leather for Riding Saddles.

Patent for a new and improved sweat-leather for saddles. This design "has for its object to construct sweat-leathers which shall be absolutely impervious to the sweat and moisture exuding from the animal, and thus serve to protect the rider's clothes. Sweat-pads, as ordinarily constructed of leather, are liable to be permeated with moisture, by which their efficiency as protectors is not only impaired, but they are liable to curl up . . . To avoid this . . . [the] improved sweat-pads [have] linings of India-rubber" (lines 20-31).
Date: December 25, 1883
Creator: Harriss, James Wilson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fire Kindler. (open access)

Fire Kindler.

Patent for a new and improved fire-kindler. This design is for "[a] fire-kindling torch consisting of two perforated sections, each having an exterior longitudinal ridge, and angular side flanges, and provided at one end with lugs which bear flatly against each other, a pivot-pin passing transversely through the lugs to permanently connect the sections and form a pintle on which they can turn, and a handle connecting the other ends of the sections together, said sections having an interposed filling of mineral wool" (lines 1-11).
Date: December 25, 1883
Creator: Osborn, Adelbert E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Removable Can Top. (open access)

Removable Can Top.

Patent for a new and improved removable lid for cans. This design "consists of a can top or protector to be fitted over the top of the can which has had one of its heads cut out in such a manner that the contents of the can can be easily and conveniently removed and, should it be desired, the life and usefulness of the can prolonged at a trifling expense" (lines 24-30).
Date: December 25, 1883
Creator: Grainger, Charles J.
System: The Portal to Texas History