Brace for Back and Legs. (open access)

Brace for Back and Legs.

Patent for a new and improved back and leg brace. This design consists in "the combination of the belt, the straps secured to the belt, [other] straps secured to the [same] belt and extending downward V-shaped, the links at the lower ends of the straps, the [other] strap, the pads attached to the lower ends of the straps, and the necessary buckles to secure and adjust the device to the body of the wearer" (lines 54-62).
Date: April 9, 1889
Creator: Smith, Joseph Henry
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling-Press (open access)

Baling-Press

Patent for improvements in construction of cotton baling-presses.
Date: August 29, 1882
Creator: Robburts, George W.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling Press. (open access)

Baling Press.

Patent for a new and improved baling-press. This design consists in "[t]he combination of the frame or support, the lever-arms, the winch and the ropes connecting the said arms thereto, the follower, the toggle-jointed levers connecting the said follower with the frame, and the rods connecting the joints of the said levers to the lever-arms, with the follower and the fulcrumed levers, having their inner ends connected to the follower and their outer ends connected to [a different] follower whereby the said followers move simultaneously when the winch is turned" (lines 83-94).
Date: March 30, 1886
Creator: Robburts, George W.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Boot Cleaner. (open access)

Boot Cleaner.

Patent for a new and improved boot cleaner. This design "affords facilities for readily and conveniently scraping all parts of the boot or shoe. The heel is scraped on [a] semicircular portion located at the top of the arch, the sides of the sole by the arms, the upper hollow of the foot by the projections, [and] the toe by the lower side of the arch or bow" (lines 38-45).
Date: May 25, 1886
Creator: Scovel, Purley A.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Carrier. (open access)

Cotton Carrier.

Patent for a new and improved cotton-carrier. This design consists in "the bottom having the ridged portion and the oppositely-inclined portions, said bottom being provided with a hook in front, the upright post in front for holding the lines, the posts upon the sides near the front, to which the mouth of the bag is secured to be held open, and the upright posts on the sides in the rear of the posts for holding the bags when filled" (lines 78-85).
Date: June 11, 1889
Creator: Smith, Robert Toumbleson
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car-Brake. (open access)

Car-Brake.

Patent for a new and more effective brake for trains, with illustrations.
Date: November 27, 1887
Creator: Stovall, John D.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Adjustable Book Support. (open access)

Adjustable Book Support.

Patent for a new and improved book rest. This design consists "of an upright pivoted in a support or base, a sliding lower supporting cross-bar, an upper sliding supporting-bar, both bars having sockets upon their rear sides sliding upon the upright and provided with set-screws, and leaf-clamps consisting of a piece of spring doubled at one end to form slides sliding upon the arms of the upper cross-bar, forming curved yielding portions, forming transverse eyes at the other ends, having flat blocks hinged at the said eyes, and provided with thumb-pieces" (lines 72-83).
Date: November 25, 1884
Creator: Johnson, William Oscar
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Churn. (open access)

Churn.

Patent for a new and improved churn. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with a suitable frame having a fly-wheel mounted in bearings thereof, and a wrist-pin on said fly-wheel, of the lever pivoted to the frame at one end" (lines 95-98). Further, it consists in "carrying a pivoted dasher at its other end, said lever having a slot or opening to receive the wrist-pin, a crank-arm, a treadle pivoted to the frame at one end, and carrying a handle at its other end, and a rod connecting the treadle and crank-arm" (lines 1-6).
Date: May 5, 1885
Creator: Rogers, William Joseph
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling Press. (open access)

Baling Press.

Patent for a new and improved baling press. This design consists in "the combination of sill having uprights or fulcrums, levers mounted upon the latter, a follow-block connected to the inner ends of said levers by loose joints, a vertically-sliding follower, rods connecting the outer ends of said follower with the outer ends of the levers, and mechanism for operating the follower . . . the follower moving vertically above the sill, levers pivoted to uprights or fulcrums upon the sill, and having inner beveled ends, a follow-block loosely jointed between the inner ends of said levers" (lines 64-77).
Date: February 5, 1884
Creator: Robburts, George W.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combination-Wrench. (open access)

Combination-Wrench.

Patent for a combination wrench that combines a sliding-jaw wrench with a tallow box, hammer, nail claw, horseshoe-pick, plow-paddle, and screwdriver.
Date: December 1, 1885
Creator: McKenzie, Winfield S.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car-Coupling (open access)

Car-Coupling

Patent for "...certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings..." (lines 4-5) including instructions and illustrations.
Date: October 12, 1886
Creator: Mitchell, William A.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
North Texas Hospital for the Insane Annual Report: 1889 (open access)

North Texas Hospital for the Insane Annual Report: 1889

Annual report of the North Texas Hospital for the Insane, providing data about operations, updates about programs, and other information related to activities at the hospital.
Date: 1889
Creator: North Texas Hospital for the Insane
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
North Texas Hospital for the Insane Annual Report: 1888 (open access)

North Texas Hospital for the Insane Annual Report: 1888

Annual report of the North Texas Hospital for the Insane, providing data about operations, updates about programs, and other information related to activities at the hospital.
Date: 1888
Creator: North Texas Hospital for the Insane
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
North Texas Hospital for the Insane Annual Report: 1887 (open access)

North Texas Hospital for the Insane Annual Report: 1887

Annual report of the North Texas Hospital for the Insane, providing data about operations, updates about programs, and other information related to activities at the hospital.
Date: 1887
Creator: North Texas Hospital for the Insane
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
Vehicle. (open access)

Vehicle.

Patent for a new and improved horse carriage. This design calls for "the rider [to] press the treadles so as to hold the wheels in contact with the ground. When sufficient speed has been acquired the treadles are released, and the springs will then raise the wheels from contact with the ground, and the momentum will then be sufficient to keep the wheel erect. Should it be inclined to tilt, it may easily be righted by pressing either treadle so as to throw the wheel on the tilting side in contact with the ground" (lines 61-74).
Date: July 10, 1883
Creator: Smith, James Franklin
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Violin Tail Piece. (open access)

Violin Tail Piece.

Patent for a new and improved tail piece for violins. This design "has for its object to raise or lower the pitch of the strings simultaneously, when required" (lines 10-12).
Date: June 10, 1884
Creator: Smith, John J.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Water Elevator. (open access)

Water Elevator.

Patent for a new and improved water elevator. This design "relates to improvements in water-elevators in which water is made to perform the operations heretofore performed by steam; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts . . . whereby the rarefaction of heated air is employed to raise or set in motion a continuous stream of water" (lines 14-21).
Date: January 25, 1881
Creator: Smith, William A. & Smith, Robert T.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Machine for Cutting Basket Splints. (open access)

Machine for Cutting Basket Splints.

Patent for a new machine for cutting basket splints. This design is for a large ring with grooves of varying depths to receive pieces of timber, whereupon a horse pulls a knife-tipped sweep along the perimeter of the ring, gradually turning the timber into splints for baskets. The machine can be conveniently disassembled and stored when not in use, and it is simple and easy enough for a unskilled laborer to assemble.
Date: March 29, 1881
Creator: Crow, Thomas
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Treadle. (open access)

Treadle.

Patent for a new and improved treadle. This design "has for its object to provide an adjustable pad . . . preferably formed of rubber, to the ordinary iron treadle . . . and may be detached therefrom, as desired. . . . whereby wear of the shoes is saved and cold feet will be avoided" (lines 10-24).
Date: December 4, 1883
Creator: Johnson, William Oscar
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Medical Compond (open access)

Medical Compond

Patent for “medical compound designed for the treatment of diseases of the throat and lungs” (lines 10-12).
Date: December 21, 1880
Creator: Rippetoe, Amasa
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stalk-Shopper (open access)

Stalk-Shopper

Patent for "improved stalk-chopper for corn, cotton, or other stalks, where-in a reel or reels carrying longitudinal knives is supported and adjusted upon a frame which may be easily connected and disconnected from the running-gear of an ordinary wagon" (lines 14-20)
Date: August 17, 1888
Creator: Ferrel, Alexander
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stalk Cutter and Mower. (open access)

Stalk Cutter and Mower.

Patent for a new and improved stalk-cutter and mower. This design consists, "with the shaft, having pulley and means . . . to rotate the same, of the pivoted links, the reel having its shaft journaled in said links and provided with the longitudinal cutters and with the pulley, the endless belt connecting the said pulleys . . . and the lever connected to the reel to raise and lower the same" (lines 9-17).
Date: August 27, 1889
Creator: Knox, Washington Irvin
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Track Raiser. (open access)

Track Raiser.

Patent for improvements to railroad track raisers.
Date: February 16, 1886
Creator: Robburts, Geoorge W.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hay-Press (open access)

Hay-Press

Patent for "a simple and effective machine of the character described, which shall possess advantages in point of durability, cheapness of manufacture, and general efficiency" (lines 18-21).
Date: July 31, 1888
Creator: Bigham, Joshua R. & Bigham, Ambrose W.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History