Wire-Stretcher. (open access)

Wire-Stretcher.

Patent for an improved wire-stretcher that tightens fence wire.
Date: December 1, 1885
Creator: Mullinax, Eli Stephens
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wire Stretcher. (open access)

Wire Stretcher.

Patent for a new and improved wire stretcher. This design is "for stretching and repairing wire, the combination of a main bar having a longitudinal slot, and having an upwardly-facing shoulder provided with a groove, a guide-block in the lower end of the slot, a shaft journaled in the sides of the slot and having a pinion within the slot and a ratchet handle at its outer end for revolving it, a spring pawl engaging the pinion, a cam-lever pivoted upon the upper end of the main bar and engaging the grooved shoulder with its cam end, [and] a rack-bar sliding in the lower end of the slot upon the guide-block" (lines 43-55).
Date: May 4, 1886
Creator: La Bauve, Odelon Joseph
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wire Stretcher. (open access)

Wire Stretcher.

Patent for a new and improved wire-stretcher. This design "has relation to that class of wire-stretchers in which a drum is journaled in a frame and is provided with a ratchet-wheel at one end, and in which a lever is pivoted in the frame, which engages the ratchet-wheel, serving to revolve it, and a pawl engages the ratchet-wheel, so as to prevent it from revolving backward, the frame being provided with a wire-clamp, and a rope or chain upon the drum being also provided with a wire-clamp, so that by revolving the drum one end of the wire may be drawn toward the end of another wire" (lines 25-37).
Date: June 29, 1886
Creator: Menefee, Stephen Austin & Mullinax, Eli Stephens
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Insect-Destroyer. (open access)

Insect-Destroyer.

Patent for an insect destroyer for removing boll weevils and other insects from cotton or other crops.
Date: April 7, 1908
Creator: Ednall, George W.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Washing-Machines. (open access)

Improvement in Washing-Machines.

Patent for an improvement to washing machines, in which "the novelty consists in allowing both cylinder and blades to be rotated or oscillated independently of each other." (Lines 17-19) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: January 5, 1875
Creator: Starr, Henry D.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Dish-Washing Machines. (open access)

Improvement in Dish-Washing Machines.

Patent for a dish washer that allows dishes to be placed on shelves and rotated through a column of water. The machine can also be modified for washing clothing. It includes illustrations.
Date: February 24, 1874
Creator: Starr, Henry Daniel
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Prod-Pole (open access)

Prod-Pole

Patent for care of live stock and particularly the pod poles. This invention is to produce a pod designed to podding the animals when they are loading or unloading for the shipment.
Date: July 4, 1916
Creator: Bishop, William P.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Post-Hole Diggers (open access)

Improvement in Post-Hole Diggers

Patent for certain new and useful improvements in Post-Hole Diggers.
Date: November 20, 1877
Creator: Armstrong, John J.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Animal-Traps. (open access)

Improvement in Animal-Traps.

Patent for an improvements in animal traps. It is similar to a hook and proper for mouse and rat.
Date: June 10, 1879
Creator: Milby, Frank Whitson
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Tractor (open access)

Tractor

Patent for a tractor. Illustrations included.
Date: October 22, 1912
Creator: Miks, Ambrose
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plunger Head or Valve. (open access)

Plunger Head or Valve.

Patent for a plunger head or valve, which cannot come unscrewed accidentally while inside a pump.
Date: November 23, 1909
Creator: Shutt, John E.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Seed-Planters. (open access)

Improvement in Seed-Planters.

Patent for a seed feeder using a tube connected to a revolving cylinder at the bottom of the hopper to deposit the seeds into the earth, including illustration.
Date: March 9, 1858
Creator: Doss, William C.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Seeding-Machines. (open access)

Improvement in Seeding-Machines.

Patent for the improvement of the seed-box so the seeds are properly distributed into the soil while preventing the seed from clogging the machine, including illustration.
Date: August 24, 1858
Creator: Keiper, D. B. & Fox, A. C.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gasket (open access)

Gasket

Patent for a gasket. Illustration included.
Date: January 8, 1907
Creator: Shutt, John E.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Snap-Hook. (open access)

Snap-Hook.

Patent for a snap-hook for general use that can be used for attaching whips, ropes, and similar things to saddles and harnesses. It is composed of a flat metal plate with screw holes, a hook that is secured to the edge of the plate, and a screw.
Date: February 14, 1893
Creator: McDowell, Anthony B.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Filling-Box For Cotton-Presses. (open access)

Filling-Box For Cotton-Presses.

Patent for a new and improved filling box for cotton presses, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: October 10, 1899
Creator: Thorsen, Ole Andrias & Shutt, John Edward
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sewing-Machine Attachment. (open access)

Sewing-Machine Attachment.

Patent for a sewing machine attachment "which can be used for the purpose of sharpening any instrument of small size - such as needles, scissors, knives, &c.;" (lines 11-13) with instructions and illustrations.
Date: June 11, 1891
Creator: McDowell, Anthony B.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Feed-Delivering Attachment for Silos. (open access)

Feed-Delivering Attachment for Silos.

Patent for a rotatable feed delivering frame attachment for silos. This eliminates the need to manually climb the silo to transfer ensilage.
Date: July 22, 1913
Creator: Scott, Stephen M.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rotatable Table. (open access)

Rotatable Table.

Patent for a table that has a rotatable central section, on which food is placed. The table is useful in facilitating the access to food for those dining at the table.
Date: October 28, 1913
Creator: Bryant, Jesse M. & Lind, John
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Harness Loop. (open access)

Harness Loop.

Patent for a new and improved harness loop. This design calls for two loops, one of which has a knob for perforated straps, with a single base in common. This eliminates the need for leather loops and for stitching leather straps.
Date: February 15, 1881
Creator: Owen, Abram
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pessary. (open access)

Pessary.

Patent for a ring pessary used as a female birth control device, including illustration.
Date: February 22, 1859
Creator: Wells, Francis, F.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pessary. (open access)

Pessary.

Patent for an improved pessary, as an instrument to support for the uterus against prolapse, including illustration.
Date: March 13, 1860
Creator: Wells, Francis F.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pump (open access)

Pump

Patent for a pump. Illustration included.
Date: June 15, 1909
Creator: Shuit, John E.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History