Back Band Buckle. (open access)

Back Band Buckle.

Patent for a new and improved back band buckle. This design "consists in the construction and novel arrangement of the middle bar having an outwardly-projecting stud, the upper bar parallel to the middle bar and having an under offset recess, and a depending lug-hook and spring-snap" (lines 19-26).
Date: April 18, 1882
Creator: Lowe, Joseph Alfred
System: The Portal to Texas History
Store Counter. (open access)

Store Counter.

Patent for a new and improved store counter. This design "consists in the construction and novel arrangement of the horizontal slideways in the lower portion of the counter extending from front to rear, the rectangular slide-frames working therein, and the angular boxes pivoted by their lower and middle portions to the slide-frames and reversible therein by a rocking movement" (lines 17-24).
Date: February 21, 1882
Creator: Conrad, William Jenkens
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Plow, Harrow, and Cultivator. (open access)

Combined Plow, Harrow, and Cultivator.

Patent for improvement in the construction of combined plows, harrows, and cultivators.
Date: May 2, 1882
Creator: Moss, John Carlton
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fence Post. (open access)

Fence Post.

Patent for a new and improved fence post. This design is for a "fence-post molded of a cement and sand or gravel, with a transverse vertical slot . . . a vertical opening in its top communicating with the vertical slot [designed] for the wire fastening . . . openings [found] in its sides or edges for the wires [as well as] a flange" (lines 51-56).
Date: October 10, 1882
Creator: McGee, William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Flour Sieve. (open access)

Flour Sieve.

Patent for a new and improved flour sieve. This design has an "upwardly-flaring outer wall . . . and the inner more flattened conical guide-wall, provided with the wire-cloth stretched across its top and about its upper edge, said guide-wall being sprung into or secured to the crease of the outer wall, the latter extending downward to the level of the discharge" (lines 19-27). This results in "more accurately directed . . . deposit than if the opening were as large as that of the outer wall" (lines 59-61).
Date: August 29, 1882
Creator: Lowe, Joseph Alfred
System: The Portal to Texas History
Provision Safe. (open access)

Provision Safe.

Patent for a new and improved safe. This design "provide[s] a household safe that will prevent rats and mice from gaining access thereto, and at the same time allow a ready handling of the articles contained in it; and the novelty consists in the construction of the same," utilizing jointed covers, spring-locks, metallic bottoms, caster-rollers, and a clasp (lines 11-15).
Date: May 23, 1882
Creator: Sykes, Robert R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Permutation Lock. (open access)

Permutation Lock.

Patent for a new and improved combination lock. This design "consists in the construction and novel arrangement of the slotted bolt, follower, and follower-shaft, the elongated bolt-stop pivoted in the slot of the bolt, the radially-slotted disks having concentric stems on the follower-shaft, and the lettered or figured and graduated stem-caps engaging the respective stems by means of circular series of teeth" (lines 20-27).
Date: December 12, 1882
Creator: Saxon, James W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Device for Converting Motion. (open access)

Device for Converting Motion.

Patent for a new and improved motion converter. This design "has relation to mechanical movements for converting a reciprocating into a rotary motion so as to impart a steady and regular motion to such machinery as windmills and engines, churning and washing machines, as well as to all other motors to which it may be applied; and the novelty consists in the construction of the same" (lines 9-16).
Date: September 19, 1882
Creator: Brown, James F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car Coupling. (open access)

Car Coupling.

Patent for a new and improved coupling for railroad cars. This design consists in "having [a] bell-mouthed draw-head, pin, plane-faced link, spring, and slide, having transverse plane face laterally secured in the draw-head by means of side guide-plates, [and] inlet into rabbets" (lines 85-90).
Date: November 7, 1882
Creator: Saxon, James W.
System: The Portal to Texas History