Buckle. (open access)

Buckle.

Patent for a new and improved buckle. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with [a] frame, having [a] hook on [a] cross-piece and [a] tongue on [another] cross-piece, of a loop or keeper, arranged on the under side of frame and between the two cross-pieces" (lines 69-73).
Date: April 10, 1883
Creator: Thomas, Floyd W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plow (open access)

Plow

Patent for an improved invention providing a convertible plow and cultivator. Illustrations included.
Date: December 8, 1885
Creator: Moore, Thomas M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hand Support for Use in Writing. (open access)

Hand Support for Use in Writing.

Patent for a new and improved writing aid. This design "is an improved device to rest the hand and give ease and fluency thereto in writing; and it consists, essentially, in a support made of glass, rubber, or other similar suitable material, and having very smooth edges to travel without friction over the writing-paper, in combination with a hand-rest pivoted and capable of a certain degree of motion thereon, and having connected to it the handle of the pen" (lines 18-27).
Date: March 16, 1886
Creator: Wyche, John Louis
System: The Portal to Texas History
Horse Detacher. (open access)

Horse Detacher.

Patent for a new and improved device for detaching animals from vehicles. This design "relates to horse detaching devices, the object being to provide a device of this character of simple, inexpensive, and durable construction, and adapted to readily disengage the traces from the single tree. [The] invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts" (lines 10-16).
Date: February 13, 1883
Creator: Willson, Sam A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Device For Illustrating the Transposition of Musical Scales (open access)

Device For Illustrating the Transposition of Musical Scales

Patent for an improvement in machines for transposing musical scales in which a marked and perforated original scale is run over the machine and automatically transported, with levers and rods to mark the sharps, flats, and other information.
Date: July 28, 1885
Creator: Neill, John, Frances
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Planter and Chopper (open access)

Cotton Planter and Chopper

Patent for improvements in "combined cotton planters and choppers; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices" (line 9-12), includes detailed illustration.
Date: July 3, 1888
Creator: Lester, Isaac L. & Whittly, Josiah
System: The Portal to Texas History