Resource Type

Bale-Tie Opener. (open access)

Bale-Tie Opener.

Patent for "a simple and durable device by means of which the buckles or securing devices on cotton-bale ties or bands may be readily opened and the band removed from the bale without destroying the buckle or the band, so that they may be again used." (Lines 11-16) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: June 1, 1897
Creator: Gaskill, Clinton R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Blind-Slat Fastener. (open access)

Blind-Slat Fastener.

Patent for blind-salt fastener, with description and illustrations.
Date: June 1, 1897
Creator: Wright, John Alexander
System: The Portal to Texas History
Automatic Drop-Lid for Bins or Boxes. (open access)

Automatic Drop-Lid for Bins or Boxes.

Patent for "boxes or bins for store counters and shelves; and it has for its object to provide certain improvements in the lid devices for boxes or bins, so as to avoid the many objections to hinged lids, which interfere with free access to the interior of the box or bin when the same is used under the counter or on shelves" (lines 8-15).
Date: August 1, 1893
Creator: Dailey, Basil
System: The Portal to Texas History
Churn. (open access)

Churn.

Patent for a new and improved churn. This design consists "[i]n combination with the standard and bracket, the hinged arm having [a] bearing, oscillating driving-wheel, belt, belt-tightening wheels, dasher-wheel, and socket" (lines 94-98). It facilitates churning.
Date: December 1, 1885
Creator: White, Frank Lewis
System: The Portal to Texas History
Automatic Trip Gear for Power Presses. (open access)

Automatic Trip Gear for Power Presses.

Patent for a new and improved trip-gear for power-presses. This design "consists in providing the lever connected with an ordinary reversible gearing with a cord and weight, so that when in its normal position and not in use the small friction-wheel will not come in contact with either face of the large friction wheel. The upper end of the press is provided with a notched metallic plate connected with the reversing-lever, so that when the follow-block in its upward passage passes the said plate the lever will be released, and, falling back into its normal position by the press, is immediately stopped" (lines 24-36).
Date: December 1, 1885
Creator: Wilson, Martin M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combination-Lock. (open access)

Combination-Lock.

Patent for improvement upon a combination-lock.
Date: May 1, 1888
Creator: Bergman, John
System: The Portal to Texas History
Band-Cutter and Feeder for Thrashing-Machines (open access)

Band-Cutter and Feeder for Thrashing-Machines

Patent for an attachment for thrashing-machines "for cutting the bands on the sheaves of wheat, rice, or other grain, to spread the loosened bundles out uniformly, and to then feed them thus spread out into the thrashing-machine, whereby the strain on the machine can be made more uniform" (lines 15-20) and the capacity and efficiency can be increased.
Date: November 1, 1892
Creator: Hill, Frank R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Measure and Funnel. (open access)

Combined Measure and Funnel.

Patent for a combined measure and funnel that can be used to fill small-mouthed vessels. It can support itself and is adjustable in order to fit different sized vessels and has "a means for stopping the flow of liquid from the measure whenever so desired and to allow it to flow at will" (lines 26-28).
Date: November 1, 1892
Creator: Holt, Dudley T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Corn Planter. (open access)

Corn Planter.

Patent for a new and improved planter. This design consists in "[t]he combination of the frame and the hopper having the closed bottom and the openings in one side, with the driving-wheel, having the tappet-pins, the seed-slides having the openings or cups, the fulcrumed levers actuated by the tappet-pins, and connected to the lower ends of the seed-slides, and the cord or strap passing over the sheave, and secured to the free ends of the levers, whereby the seed-slides are reciprocated alternately in opposite directions" (lines 74-84).
Date: September 1, 1885
Creator: Easley, Levi
System: The Portal to Texas History
Apparatus for Delinting Cotton-Seed. (open access)

Apparatus for Delinting Cotton-Seed.

Patent for improvements in apparatus for delinting cotton seed: " Our invention relates to improvements in apparatus for burning off or removing the lint from cotton seed" (lines 14-16).
Date: September 1, 1891
Creator: Hollingsworth, Joseph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Chimney-Cowl. (open access)

Chimney-Cowl.

Patent for improvements in chimney-cowls by providing a “self-operating smoke-conductor especially adapted for use in all windy climates, to be placed over the discharge-opening of the flues.” (Lines 10-13) So that a “smoke-conductor can be automatically reversed or turned by the wind in any and all directions” (15-18) to carry the smoke away. Illustration is included.
Date: September 1, 1891
Creator: Gardner, Perris W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Andiron. (open access)

Andiron.

Patent for improvement of andirons, to accommodate fuel or sticks of wood and to burn either wood or coal fuel. Includes illustrations.
Date: December 1, 1891
Creator: Kimbro, Jeremiah H. & Kimbro, John A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bellows Attachment for Barrels. (open access)

Bellows Attachment for Barrels.

Patent for a new and improved bellows attachment for barrels. This design "provide[s] means for securely attaching the bellows to the barrels, so as to exclude the admission of air, except such as is forced in by the bellows; and a further object of the same provides for the shutting off the flow of liquid, as desired" (lines 13-18).
Date: July 1, 1884
Creator: Park, Hardy B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Balanced Pump. (open access)

Balanced Pump.

Patent for a new and improved balanced pump. This design "relates to improvements in balanced pumps having a horizontal cylinder provided with a horizontally-reciprocating plunger, and a curved cylinder placed directly under it, provided with a curved plunger, both having suitable valves operating automatically in conjunction therewith" (lines 8-14).
Date: July 1, 1884
Creator: Ramsey, Haley S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cart-Saddle (open access)

Cart-Saddle

Patent for a more animal-friendly saddle to attach a horse to a cart by adjusting the way the girth is handled as the cart is loaded.
Date: April 1, 1879
Creator: Franks, Ely Anderson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Hay Press and Horse Power. (open access)

Combined Hay Press and Horse Power.

Patent for a combined hay-press and horse-power with illustrations.
Date: January 1, 1884
Creator: Randle, William, Sr
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling-Press (open access)

Baling-Press

Patent for a new press for baling cotton and hay that is "simple, durable, and convenient," including illustrations.
Date: May 1, 1883
Creator: McIver, James
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bell-Ringer. (open access)

Bell-Ringer.

Patent for a bell ringer for use in locomotives, with instructions and illustrations.
Date: October 15, 1891
Creator: Baker, John L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Apparatus for Aging Whisky. (open access)

Apparatus for Aging Whisky.

Patent for a barrel for heating and aging whiskey, which accelerates aging time. Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: June 15, 1891
Creator: Halligan, John H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Buckle. (open access)

Buckle.

Patent for a new and improved buckle. This design utilizes a bifurcated end and crossbars, a flat crossbar, a swinging crossbar, a tongue, and a stud to cover the underside of the strap, which would otherwise be exposed. This eliminates the need for stitching the strap, as well as being stronger than previous buckles.
Date: February 1, 1881
Creator: Owen, Abram
System: The Portal to Texas History
Buckle. (open access)

Buckle.

Patent for a new and improved buckle. This design utilizes two frames rather than one, and each has a stud. The studs fasten the strap(s) to the frame; thus the studs eliminate the need for a tongue and for the stitching of the strap to itself around the frame. Additionally, the larger frames allow for easier use in the cold or the dark.
Date: February 1, 1881
Creator: Owen, Abram
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car-Coupling. (open access)

Car-Coupling.

Patent for a car-coupling that has a draw head with a link opening, a pin opening that goes across the link opening and has two side recesses, a sliding head in the link opening, a spring that holds the sliding head in place, two lever arms in the side recesses, a catch block that the lever arms move, and an apparatus for raising the coupling pin.
Date: January 1, 1895
Creator: Shwadlenak, August Frank
System: The Portal to Texas History
Checkrein-Holder. (open access)

Checkrein-Holder.

Patent for a checkrein-holder for harness-saddles that has a hook grooved on one side, a plate or wire inside the groove that attaches the hook to a smaller hook, a link that engages one end of the hook and as connected to a bell-crank lever, the bell crank lever that locks the link into the hook, and a screw bolt for the bell-crank lever.
Date: January 1, 1895
Creator: Winans, Myron L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Broom or Mop Holder. (open access)

Broom or Mop Holder.

Patent for a wire folded so that it firmly clamps "broom-corn, corn-shucks, mops, and feathers, or other material for brushes" (lines 10-11).
Date: September 1, 1896
Creator: McIlhany, Joseph W.
System: The Portal to Texas History