Wrench (open access)

Wrench

Patent for an improvement to wrenches. This wrench uses a sliding jaw system for increased utility.
Date: April 29, 1920
Creator: Grogan, Edward W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bottle-Holder. (open access)

Bottle-Holder.

Patent for an ink bottle holder that allows for sturdy tilting and prevents ink from spilling.
Date: April 27, 1920
Creator: Smith, Edwin Ruthven
System: The Portal to Texas History
Demountable Rim. (open access)

Demountable Rim.

Patent for improved demountable rims for automobiles that are easy to mount and detach as well as cheaper and easier to manufacture.
Date: April 27, 1920
Creator: McPherson, Arthur Edison
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mail Carrier or Container. (open access)

Mail Carrier or Container.

Patent for a mail carrier designed with a ratchet and clamp to hold mail securely while also allowing for quick extraction of the mail.
Date: April 27, 1920
Creator: Blocker, Leck H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Method of Stretching and Securing Wire. (open access)

Method of Stretching and Securing Wire.

Patent for a "new method of stretching and securing wire" (line 6).
Date: April 27, 1920
Creator: Coulter, Thomas H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pipe-Wrench. (open access)

Pipe-Wrench.

Patent for a pipe wrench that can be "operated in either direction" (line 18) to screw and unscrew a pipe with an easy application and secure grip.
Date: April 27, 1920
Creator: Nixon, Jeddy D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rotary Cutting Device for Razors. (open access)

Rotary Cutting Device for Razors.

Patent for a shaving razor designed with a "cylindrical outer surface adapted to rotate in contact with the skin" (line 111-112) which allows for safer and more efficient shaving, includes illustrations.
Date: April 27, 1920
Creator: Jones, Sidney, P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rotary Engine. (open access)

Rotary Engine.

Patent for an improved rotary engine which overheats less, reduces the space between the piston and cylinder, and is easy to construct and operate.
Date: April 27, 1920
Creator: Jefferies, Charlie Q.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Torch or Burner (open access)

Torch or Burner

Patent for a torch or burner for use in burning brush or foliage, which uses a pressure-controlled liquid fuel tank that maintains a steady flow of fuel at the correct pressure.
Date: April 27, 1920
Creator: Hardt, Benjiman F. & Taylor, Samuel T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pump (open access)

Pump

Patent for an improvement on the design of pumps used in the oil industry. This uses a combination of water, sand, grits, and other sediments for deep wells.
Date: April 23, 1920
Creator: Scott, Floyd L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Adjustable Footrest. (open access)

Adjustable Footrest.

Patent for an improved, adjustable foot rest that allows for more adjustments and range of motion "to any desired position for the comfort of the user" (lines 13-14), and is secured to the floor.
Date: April 20, 1920
Creator: Kingsford, Walter E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Automobile-Windlass (open access)

Automobile-Windlass

Patent for improved windlass for an automobile that attaches to both rear wheels to prevent idling
Date: April 20, 1920
Creator: Davis, Marion A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Book-Holding Device (open access)

Book-Holding Device

Patent for a book-holding device that will keep books open by holding back turned pages, with illustrations.
Date: April 20, 1920
Creator: Barry, David Redmond
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Adding and Listing Machine. (open access)

Combined Adding and Listing Machine.

Patent for new improvements on combined adding and listing machines simplifying and economizing construction and facilitating, "rapidity of operation" (lines14-15). Improvements include: "causing the keys to act directly as stops for the adding wheel section; to provide novel accumulator mechanism...[with] a novel actuator; to provide a novel construction or sector-control bar; to provide a novel key-bar for operating...; to provide novel means for restoring the accumulator to normal; to provide stop mechanism to permit the carryovers of the accumulator...;to provide novel means for restoring the sectors to normal; to provide improved means for holding the accumulator in operative or inoperative position...; to provide novel means for connecting the accumulator sectors with the type sectors; 5o provide novel means for connecting the accumulator sectors with the type sectors; to provide novel means for actuating the hammer and paper feed mechanism; to provide improved general-error key mechanism; to provide an improved construction and operation of key-bar and sector-control bar; to permit of the operation of elimination" (lines 15-46).
Date: April 20, 1920
Creator: McCaleb, Walter F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Device for Teaching Music (open access)

Device for Teaching Music

Patent for a music education device aimed toward children and basic music building blocks. It is designed to teach the positions of piano keyboard notes through the use of differently dressed and named puppets. These puppets can be adjusted to also introduce basic musical concepts like rests, rhythm, and time.
Date: April 20, 1920
Creator: Maxwell, Annie L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mail-Transferring Apparatus. (open access)

Mail-Transferring Apparatus.

Patent for a mail transferring apparatus designed to transfer mail bags from a station to a moving mail car with minimal injury to the mail bag or the receiving employees.
Date: April 20, 1920
Creator: Bashell, Edward Allen & Smart, W. L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Man's Garment (open access)

Man's Garment

Patent for improvements in men's garments allowing for a reversible garment wherein the stitches appear the same regardless of which side is out.
Date: April 20, 1920
Creator: Góngora, Tomás
System: The Portal to Texas History
Percolator. (open access)

Percolator.

Patent for a percolator for coffee or tea that is "reliable and efficient in its operation, readily and easily adjusted to fit the various sizes of pots and also inexpensive in manufacture." (lines 44-47)
Date: April 20, 1920
Creator: Rose, Isabell M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plunger For Deep-Well Pumps (open access)

Plunger For Deep-Well Pumps

Patent for improved deep well pumps with plungers used to reduce wear and lower the amount of repairs needed
Date: April 20, 1920
Creator: Coulson, William J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Price-Tag. (open access)

Price-Tag.

Patent for an improved price tag that includes not only the price information, but also "at a glance a stock record and a cost record and provides space for making notations and writing other information" (lines 13-16) for the use of a store clerk's reference.
Date: April 20, 1920
Creator: Bedinger, Singleton B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Shock-Absorber and Axle-Reinforcement. (open access)

Shock-Absorber and Axle-Reinforcement.

Patent for a shock absorber and axle reinforcer designed to protect the axle and spring in motor vehicles with a front transverse spring while driving over rough road.
Date: April 20, 1920
Creator: Teller, John D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Spear (open access)

Spear

Patent for a spear that is used to help withdraw or remove pipes that may get stuck in wellbores.
Date: April 20, 1920
Creator: Gray, Ellsworth
System: The Portal to Texas History
Piston Ring (open access)

Piston Ring

Patent for improvements to piston rings to reduce leakage through piston grooves, rings, and joints.
Date: April 17, 1920
Creator: Olsen, Jens J. & Edwards, Lewis E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton-Chopping Machine (open access)

Cotton-Chopping Machine

Patent for a cotton "wheeled cultivator" (line 14-15) attachment which allows users to make adjustments to the cultivator blades, including illustrations.
Date: April 13, 1920
Creator: Sims, James G.
System: The Portal to Texas History