Combination Door Check and Alarm. (open access)

Combination Door Check and Alarm.

Patent for a new and improved door-check and alarm. With this design, "[t]he latch normally stands in the engaging position, and when it aligns with one of the notches it engages the same automatically. One of the notches is so arranged that it is engaged by the latch when the door is closed, and when the knob is turned to open the door the cord, wire, or chain draws the latch out of engagement with the notch. . . . [a] bell on the end of the latch will give warning when the latch is moved, and the door cannot be opened without moving the latch" (lines 63-92).
Date: February 12, 1889
Creator: King, Charles Rufus
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling-Press. (open access)

Baling-Press.

Patent for a baling press that holds the material in the press while it is being formed into a bale. It consists of a frame with notches in the back, a resistance bar that pivots across the back of the frame, a latch that holds the bar in place, and a pin to pin the bar to the latch.
Date: December 12, 1893
Creator: Mealer, James A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Manure Distributer. (open access)

Manure Distributer.

Patent for a new and improved fertilizer distributor. This design consists in "the rotating shaft having the stirring apparatus, the wheels loosely mounted on the said shaft, the detent to engage the shaft and prevent it from rotating, and the clutch mechanism to secure one of the wheels to the shaft" (lines 5-10).
Date: April 12, 1887
Creator: Harrell, Solomon James
System: The Portal to Texas History
Post-Auger (open access)

Post-Auger

Patent for a post auger.
Date: May 12, 1903
Creator: Sanford, James Dobbs
System: The Portal to Texas History
Shearing-Machine (open access)

Shearing-Machine

Patent for "providing [a shearing machine, patent no.384,545] with what I designate an improved wrinkle-guard, and also in various other changes or improvements"
Date: November 12, 1889
Creator: Richardson, George
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fence. (open access)

Fence.

Patent for a new and improved fence. This design consists of cross-posts pivoted to a stringer, provided with a top-rail, having slats extending from the stringer to the ground, and secured to said stringer by barbed wire and staples (lines 36-40). This design is easily disassembled and moved, and the barbed wire prevents animals from disturbing it.
Date: February 12, 1884
Creator: Messenger, John William
System: The Portal to Texas History