Machine for Sawing Marble in Obelisk Form. (open access)

Machine for Sawing Marble in Obelisk Form.

Patent for "a new and Improved Machine for Sawing Marble Blocks in Polygonal Taper Form" (lines 4-6), including illustration.
Date: April 15, 1856
Creator: Haviland, J. E.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Fastening Iron Bands on Cotton-Bales. (open access)

Improvement in Fastening Iron Bands on Cotton-Bales.

Patent for an iron band to tie and hold cotton bales with convenience and quickly during the first pack and during the compression process, including illustration.
Date: April 5, 1859
Creator: Wells, Clinton G.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Cotton-Gins. (open access)

Improvement in Cotton-Gins.

Patent for the improvement of the cotton-gin by the arrangement of two cylindrical brushes and rollers to reduce damaging the staple of the cotton, illustrations included.
Date: April 19, 1859
Creator: Gottheil, Edward
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Distilling Turpentine. (open access)

Improvement in Distilling Turpentine.

Patent for new and useful improvements in apparatus for distilling turpentine to permit continuous distillation.
Date: April 15, 1872
Creator: Lee, Archibald K.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in filters for Cane Juice, Oils, and Other Dense Liquids (open access)

Improvement in filters for Cane Juice, Oils, and Other Dense Liquids

Patent for Improvement in filters for Cane Juice, Oils, and Other Dense Liquids with description of the improved liquid strainer and three illustrated figure drawings.
Date: April 5, 1873
Creator: Lee, Archibald K.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Automatic Fans. (open access)

Improvement in Automatic Fans.

Patent for " a new and improved Table-Fan"
Date: April 20, 1875
Creator: Stamps, Lorenzo D.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Processes of Reducing Asphaltum to a Liquid. (open access)

Improvement in Processes of Reducing Asphaltum to a Liquid.

Patent for a process to "reduce asphaltum to a liquid, and hold the same in a semi-fluid condition without heat, and which constitutes an entirely new article of commerce, and furnishes to the trade an article of asphaltum prepared and ready for use, without the labor, expense, and delay of melting, for paving and roofing purposes, and one most admirably adapted for use by manufacturers of varnish and japan." (Lines 8-16) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: April 20, 1875
Creator: Lee, Archibald K.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Processes of Reducing Asphaltum to Liquid. (open access)

Improvement in Processes of Reducing Asphaltum to Liquid.

Patent for improved “process of reducing asphaltum to a liquid and holding the same in a fluid condition without heat or the use of dead-oils” (lines 31-34).
Date: April 20, 1875
Creator: Lee, Archibald K.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Machines for Tightening Iron Bands on Bales. (open access)

Improvement in Machines for Tightening Iron Bands on Bales.

Patent for an apparatus that consists of "a series of metal bars to be inserted between what is known as the 'channel bars or teeth,' both on the upper and lower platens of a compress used for compressing cotton-bales, which bars thus inserted shall be so attached to the channel-bars that, by the force of springs, the said bars will be kept below the surface of the teeth on the platens, allowing ample space to insert the iron bands to be used in tying the bales, in the same manner as they are now universally inserted." (Lines 13-23) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: April 3, 1877
Creator: Quin, Michael
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Car Brakes and Starters (open access)

Improvement in Car Brakes and Starters

Patent for improvements in rail road-car breaks, starters, and checkers. "The nature of the invention consists in certain constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts" (lines 19-21).
Date: April 24, 1877
Creator: Marean, William
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Hooks for Suspending Meat. (open access)

Improvement in Hooks for Suspending Meat.

Patent for an improved meat suspending device that will prevent ants and insects from reaching meat, including illustrations.
Date: April 8, 1879
Creator: Mason, Sanford
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
CANNING SHRIMPS AND OTHER FISH. (open access)

CANNING SHRIMPS AND OTHER FISH.

Patent for a method for "canning shrimps and/other like shellfish and has for its object the better preservation of the fish and greater expedition, and cheapness in canning" (lines 7-10)with illustrations and instructions.
Date: April 6, 1880
Creator: Pecor, Emmett C. & Bartlett, F. W.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Selkirk Candlestick (open access)

Selkirk Candlestick

Patent for candlestick handle/dish with an extension that can be used traditionally for holding and carrying a candle as well as hanging on a nail in a wall with illustrations and instructions.
Date: April 13, 1880
Creator: Selkirk, William
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Snath Fastener. (open access)

Snath Fastener.

Patent for a new and improved snath fastener. This design "relates to devices for attaching scythes to their handles; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction of the same" (lines 17-20).
Date: April 11, 1882
Creator: Schultze, August
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Push Bar for Locomotives (open access)

Push Bar for Locomotives

Patent for invention of new and useful improvements of Push-Bars for Locomotives for coupling to car
Date: April 2, 1889
Creator: Toohey, Matthew, D.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Splicing Device. (open access)

Splicing Device.

Patent for a new and improved wire splicer. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with the casing, of the wires entering the casing at the opposite sides of the respective ends and bent in opposite directions, so as to interlock within the casing, said casing being bent down . . . at each end" (lines 62-67).
Date: April 9, 1889
Creator: Basel, John Conrad
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Jetty. (open access)

Jetty.

Patent for a new and improved jetty. This design "is to provide structures . . . for protecting shores, and other similar work. . . . [The] invention consists, mainly, in the utilization of a central or interior core of clay, or clayey substance, about which is formed a retaining envelope in connection with suitable substructures, coping, walls, and tracks" (lines 15-27).
Date: April 16, 1889
Creator: Douglas, William M.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Crab and Fish Trap. (open access)

Crab and Fish Trap.

Patent for a new and improved seafood trap. This design consists in "a net or trap for crabs or fish, which comprises flat frame-sections hinged together, netting attached to said sections, and a rod or bar extending across said sections and engaging with suitable devices thereon for holding said sections partly extended until the hinged sides strike bottom and thereby release the rod or bar" (lines 83-90).
Date: April 1, 1890
Creator: Franklin, Robert M.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Flower Pot Trellis (open access)

Flower Pot Trellis

Patent for a flower pot trellis which is used "to be applied to flower-pots of various sizes to support plants or vines without interfering with their roots" (p.2).
Date: April 15, 1890
Creator: Brown, John Stoddart
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Trace Carrier. (open access)

Trace Carrier.

Patent for a new and improved trace-carrier. This design consists in "[a]n improved back-band buckle with hooks, consisting of a body portion formed of a single piece of wrought-wire, the meeting ends of each bent downward, upward, outward, and again downward to form chain-holding hooks or loops, and the tongues pivoted upon the said body portion" (lines 89-95).
Date: April 15, 1890
Creator: Brown, John Stoddart
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Channel Cleaner. (open access)

Channel Cleaner.

Patent for a new and improved channel cleaner. This design "is to construct an apparatus which may be anchored in a channel where there are sand-bars, for the purpose of agitating the water and stirring up the sand, so that the current may remove it. [The] invention consists in a trunk or large tube perforated along the bottom and provided at one end with a flaring mouth for concentrating the current within the trunk; also, in the combination, with the trunk, of a stirrer and a motor-screw for driving the same" (lines 17-28).
Date: April 22, 1890
Creator: Evans, William
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Machine for Decorticating Jute, Ramie, and Other Fibrous Plants (open access)

Machine for Decorticating Jute, Ramie, and Other Fibrous Plants

Patent for "a machine for separating the valuable fibrous portions of the stems of the plants of the jute, ramie, flax, and hemp, and like varieties from refuse matter and preparing the same for use with the least possible injury and waste" (lines 10-15).
Date: April 19, 1892
Creator: Fremery, Felix B.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fire-Escape. (open access)

Fire-Escape.

Patent for a fire-escape that uses ropes and pulleys held up by brackets and attached to a window. A receptacle is at the end of the rope and is designed to lower people from the building to the ground.
Date: April 18, 1893
Creator: Martin, Johan
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fire-Escape. (open access)

Fire-Escape.

Patent for a fire escape "with a cord or rope of suitable length which has at one end a weight to serve as a projectile to facilitate throwing the cord or rope to a person at any part of the burning building, after which the fire-escape or other device necessary for the purpose may be conveniently elevated to the window or other portion of the building where most needed for the rescue of person or property" (lines 14-22). It is adapted to assist firemen.
Date: April 18, 1893
Creator: Martin, Johan
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History