Texas Hill Country Trail Region: Exploring the Mystique of Central Texas (open access)

Texas Hill Country Trail Region: Exploring the Mystique of Central Texas

Travel guide for the various cultural and historical sites along the Texas Hill Country Trail in Central Texas.
Date: April 2010
Creator: Texas Historical Commission
Object Type: Pamphlet
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wheel. (open access)

Wheel.

Patent for an improved wheel tire. The improvements to a conventional tire include multiple hinged springs which limit the movement of the wheel in two directions when contact is made with the ground. The wheel includes shoes placed concentrically around the wheel that provides shock absorption, better traction, and overall stability.
Date: April 12, 1919
Creator: Schmidt, Oscar J.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Tractor (open access)

Tractor

Patent for "novel features of construction and combinations of parts" in tractors to ensure a steady, even pace of travel and allow for traversing uneven landscape while maintaining a level setting, including illustrations and instructions.
Date: April 23, 1918
Creator: Altgelt, Herman E.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Drill. (open access)

Drill.

Patent for improvements in drills by providing “a frame which may be readily attached to any suitable support and wherein the drill-spindle may be engaged for operation by a common form of chest-brace.” (Lines 9-13) The frame would enable the stock-rest to adjust in proper positions to receive different thicknesses of stock.” (Lines 15-17) Illustration is included.
Date: April 2, 1901
Creator: Willmann, Joseph
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rotary Force Pump. (open access)

Rotary Force Pump.

Patent for a new and improved rotary force-pump. This design "consists in a rotary force-pump constructed with a tubular standard provided with one or more flexible tubes having interior half-tubes and an interior cylinder mounted upon a crank-shaft and provided with adjustable bars carrying rollers whereby a liquid can be raised by the successive action of the said rollers upon the said flexible tubes" (lines 22-29).
Date: April 14, 1885
Creator: Serdinko, John
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Glass Globes or Reservoirs for Lamps. (open access)

Improvement in Glass Globes or Reservoirs for Lamps.

Patent for an "invention to prevent the breaking of glass globes used in kerosene lamps as reservoirs for the burning fluid; and this invention consists in the application around the reservoir of a rubber ring let into a groove, but projecting sufficiently to receive the concussion in case the lamp is overthrown." (Lines 10-16) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: April 16, 1872
Creator: Otto, Adolph
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History