Box for Washing Material for Concrete. (open access)

Box for Washing Material for Concrete.

Patent for "a new and useful improvement in boxes for washing aggregate or rough material for making concrete" (lines 5-7), including instructions and illustrations.
Date: April 20, 1886
Creator: Carrico, Thomas W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mold and Angle-Piece Used in Constructing Concrete Walls (open access)

Mold and Angle-Piece Used in Constructing Concrete Walls

Patent for tools to create uniform concrete pieces and angles, with description of use and improvements and illustrations.
Date: April 13, 1886
Creator: Carrico, Thomas W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Steam Vacuum Pump. (open access)

Steam Vacuum Pump.

Patent for a new and improved steam vacuum-pump. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with a pump-cylinder, the water inlet and outlet pipes, a condenser-pipe, a steam-pipe, and valves located in the several pipes, of a vertically-movable rod having stops thereon, levers connecting the rod with the valves in the condenser-pipe and steam-inlet pipe, and a float loosely mounted on the rod and adapted to actuate the same" (lines 62-70).
Date: April 13, 1886
Creator: Hensley, Frank A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rotary Engine (open access)

Rotary Engine

Patent for "an engine that is adaptable to all kinds of work, and which is capable of running the heaviest locomotive and the lightest sewing-machine with equal ease and satisfaction" (lines 9-13).
Date: April 23, 1889
Creator: Hines, John Fletcher, Sr.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pen or Pencil Holder. (open access)

Pen or Pencil Holder.

Patent for a new and improved pen or pencil holder. This design obviates "many of the serious objections to the ordinary pen-holder . . . among which may be mentioned cramp and that which is known as 'writer's paralysis.' In addition to this the use of this device will save many tedious hours to the child who is learning to write, as by its use no time will be wasted in teaching the child how to hold his [or her] pen or pencil" (lines 69-77).
Date: April 19, 1887
Creator: Merrick, Sarah J.
System: The Portal to Texas History