Combined Stalk-Cutter and Rake. (open access)

Combined Stalk-Cutter and Rake.

Patent for an improved combined stalk cutter and rake that has a main frame, a rake frame, a hanger attached to the axle-bar under the frame, arms at the back of the frame, a transverse rod in the hanger and slots in the arms, a rock-lever, connections for operating the frame, a rake at the end of the frame, and an operating lever.
Date: April 3, 1894
Creator: Priestley, Joseph
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Boll-Weevil-Destroying Machine. (open access)

Boll-Weevil-Destroying Machine.

Patent for "a machine for destroying boll weevil and other pests which frequent and infect agricultural products" (lines 14-16) using "suction nozzles correlated with a common suction system adaptable to sweep a plurality of rows at a time" (lines 27-30) including illustrations.
Date: April 16, 1918
Creator: Diserens, Thomas H. & McKay, Frank C.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Occurrence, Availability and Chemical Quality of Ground Water in the Cretaceous Aquifers of North-Central Texas: Volume 1 (open access)

Occurrence, Availability and Chemical Quality of Ground Water in the Cretaceous Aquifers of North-Central Texas: Volume 1

Report on the quality and availability of ground water in the cretaceous aquifers of north-central Texas. Includes maps, hydrographs, rainfall data, pumpage, and more.
Date: April 1982
Creator: Nordstrom, Phillip L.
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oil Burner. (open access)

Oil Burner.

Patent for oil burner improvements, including economic and easily handle to control the pressure to control the oil and steam within the burner head.
Date: February 9, 1920
Creator: Obenshain, Kyle Derias
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Vault Cash-Indicator. (open access)

Vault Cash-Indicator.

Patent for a vault cash-indicator meant to "provide a new and improved indicator, designed for indicating an amount of money, commercial articles, &c.; for instance, indicating the amount of money contained in a safe or vault" (lines 7-11).
Date: April 23, 1895
Creator: Hamilton, Samuel R.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Hame Fasteners (open access)

Improvement in Hame Fasteners

Patent for a new and useful improvement in hame-fasteners. "This fastening can be readily fastened and unfastened without taking off the gloves, and with cold and benumbed fingers, and when fastened will hold the hames securely" (lines 35-38). Including instructions and illustrations.
Date: April 6, 1877
Creator: Poland, Tunis H.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stalk-Cutter. (open access)

Stalk-Cutter.

Patent for a stalk cutter that is light but durable that cuts the stalks up small enough that they can be plowed under the field to enrich the soil for the next crop.
Date: April 9, 1907
Creator: Cooper, Joseph P.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stalk Cutter. (open access)

Stalk Cutter.

Patent for a new and improved stalk cutter. This design has "the combination of the A-shaped frame, consisting of side pieces hinged together at their forward ends, and provided with lateral projecting knives or cutters and horizontal slots, in which work set-screws for adjusting the cross-braces, tongue or pole, hinged at its rear-end to a bracket, vertically adjustable on the front side of [the] cross-brace, and the seat-bar hinged or otherwise secured to the underside of [the] cross-brace" (lines 76-85).
Date: April 26, 1881
Creator: Horn, John W.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Grinding Attachment (open access)

Grinding Attachment

Patent for a grinding attachment. This attachment is a grindstone that is turned via the hand-car. Illustrations included.
Date: April 12, 1904
Creator: Brown, Mik
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Shingle Gage. (open access)

Shingle Gage.

Patent for a new and improved gauge for the installation of roofing shingles. This design utilizes a set of metal brackets and joined metal bars to guide in the nailing of shingles to the roof. This eliminates the need for marking in advance the target of the nail.
Date: April 5, 1881
Creator: Gay, Edward R.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Screen Catch (open access)

Screen Catch

Patent for a screen catch. This invention is a combined catch and lock design. It is "used for holding screen-doors, window-screens, and the like in a closed position" (line 15-17). Illustration included.
Date: April 23, 1907
Creator: Huber, Frederick K.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sash-Cord Guide. (open access)

Sash-Cord Guide.

Patent for a window sash guide, which is easily attached to the window jamb.
Date: April 7, 1908
Creator: Martin, John M.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Razor-Stropping Device (open access)

Razor-Stropping Device

Patent for a razor sharpening device in which the razor blade may be held on an incline for efficient sharpening.
Date: April 15, 1913
Creator: Greenwood, Charley E.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Disk-Plow. (open access)

Disk-Plow.

Patent for a riding disk plow, which uses less horsepower, has no side draft, and does not get clogged in wet conditions.
Date: April 19, 1910
Creator: Martin, John H.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Earth-Auger. (open access)

Earth-Auger.

Patent for a device that drills into the ground and lifts the contents into a metal container. The hand-operated device also has wings that expand to let the user know when to empty the contents.
Date: April 10, 1917
Creator: Phillips, Dave T.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Draft Equalizer. (open access)

Draft Equalizer.

Patent for improvement to draft-equalizers.
Date: April 17, 1900
Creator: Billington, Wesley E.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History