Stalk-Breaker. (open access)

Stalk-Breaker.

Patent for a stalk-breaker that breaks "the stalks into small pieces and which will be under the control of the driver so as to be thrown in and out of gear at will, and in which the breaker mechanism will be so constructed that it will give when an unyielding substance is run against, thereby preventing breakage or damage to the machine" (lines 13-20).
Date: March 28, 1893
Creator: James, Will S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hay-Press. (open access)

Hay-Press.

Patent for a hay press that is meant to "check the rebound of the plunger so that the working beam or lever will not be thrown against the horse; also to provide for automatically applying a brake for the purpose of checking the rebound; also to provide for cushioning the rebound of the plunger so as to prevent or check its tendency to throw the toggle elver against the main lever; also to provide for automatically giving a signal or alarm to indicate when a bale of a given size has been compressed; also to improve the construction of the tie box portion of the press; also to generally improve the construction of parts" (lines 17-30).
Date: April 18, 1893
Creator: McNeill, Charles DeWitt
System: The Portal to Texas History