Bit for Well-Drilling Apparatus. (open access)

Bit for Well-Drilling Apparatus.

Patent for an expansion bit for a well-drilling apparatus that can be "adjusted and removed without without withdrawing the well tubing, and to provide means whereby a bit capable of drilling a hole sufficiently larger than the well tubing to accommodate a casing may be introduced through the tubing" (lines 11-16).
Date: April 3, 1894
Creator: Horton, Stephen A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bicycle. (open access)

Bicycle.

Patent for a bicycle that can be operated by the operator's hands or feet or both, and the motion used to operate the bicycle is that of rowing. "the rider must assume a position upon the machine corresponding to that assumed by an oarsman in a boat, and as the rider can work with both hands and feet all the energy and strength he is capable of exerting can be brought to bear upon the propelling mechanism in a most effective manner, and the seat can be rendered much more comfortable than at present and in no wise interfere with the rider's movements" (lines 18-27).
Date: April 3, 1894
Creator: Hyde, Thomas B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
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
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling-Press. (open access)

Baling-Press.

Patent for improvements in baling presses: "This invention relates to baling presses provided with runners, (instead of the usual wheels,) to be removed about the field; and my objects are, to construct such a press in such a manner that it can be readily started down with but few stakes, second; to provide a rigid but removable side brace to prevent the press from canting, and third; to prevent the operating lever from canting or swinging upward or downward when in operation; and to promote simplicity" (lines 17-27).
Date: April 10, 1894
Creator: Schubert, George
System: The Portal to Texas History
Breast for Cotton-Gins. (open access)

Breast for Cotton-Gins.

Patent for improvements in breasts for cotton gins: " My invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of gin breasts for cotton gins and consists in providing in conjunction with a gin breast an adjustable "up-per circle" to facilitate the formation of the roll, to prevent the seed cotton from overflowing from the gin breast as the roll rotates, and preserve the proper degree of contact between the gin saws and the roll" (lines 12-20).
Date: April 10, 1894
Creator: Schulze, Andrew
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Elevator, Cleaner, Distributer, and Feeder for Seed-Cotton. (open access)

Combined Elevator, Cleaner, Distributer, and Feeder for Seed-Cotton.

Patent for a "simple and efficient apparatus for conveying seed-cotton from a wagon or other source of supply, to one or more gins or gin feeders, said apparatus being adapted, at the same time, to thoroughly clean the seed-cotton and to deliver it to the gins or feeders in the desired quantities in a uniform manner, and in loose and uncompacted condition" (lines 14-21).
Date: April 10, 1894
Creator: Littlefield, Thomas E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Elevator, Cleaner, Distributer, and feeder for Seed-Cotton. (open access)

Combined Elevator, Cleaner, Distributer, and feeder for Seed-Cotton.

Patent for Combined Elevator, Cleaner, Distributer, and feeder for Seed-Cotton: "provide a simple, cheap and efficient apparatus for taking seed cotton from a wagon, or other source of supply cleaning it, and delivering it in the desired quantity and in a suitable condition for ginning to one or more gins or gin feeders" (lines 13-18).
Date: April 10, 1894
Creator: Littlefield, Thomas E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Calculating-Machine. (open access)

Calculating-Machine.

Patent for an improvement to mechanical calculators by providing the "means for facilitating the addition of successive numbers of the same or different denominations, and also for subtracting and multiplying the same by substantially the means employed in adding" (lines 10-14). It includes a written explanation and illustrations.
Date: April 17, 1894
Creator: Stallard, Sherman R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton-Press. (open access)

Cotton-Press.

Patent for a simple, inexpensive, and powerful plunger for a cotton-press that is directly controlled by the operator. The plunger is hydraulically powered, the pressure being created by steam.The plunger's parts are arranged so the power is multiplied.
Date: April 24, 1894
Creator: Williams, Silas Jackson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wire-Stretcher. (open access)

Wire-Stretcher.

Patent for an improved, simple, and inexpensive wire stretcher that "may be readily employed for taking up the slack of a fence wire at a point between fence posts" (lines 13-15). It also cuts wire and removes staples.
Date: April 17, 1894
Creator: Hughs, George W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Machine for Handling and Cleaning Seed Cotton. (open access)

Machine for Handling and Cleaning Seed Cotton.

Patent for improvements in machines for handling and cleaning seed cotton: "For uploading cotton from wagons and for transferring it from place to place, for example, from wagon to storehouse or from the wagon or the storehouse to the gin house when it is to be delivered to gins or gin feeders, pneumatic apparatus has advantages over other devices" (lines 12-18).
Date: April 17, 1894
Creator: Elam, William E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Switch Attachment. (open access)

Switch Attachment.

Patent for a switch attachment that consists of a derailing guard, a side track rail, an adjustable shoe that pivots next to the rail, a vertical groove in the end of the shoe, and a swinging free arm.
Date: April 3, 1894
Creator: Warren, Governor D. & Casey, James
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pump. (open access)

Pump.

Patent for an inexpensive, simple, and effective pump that can be easily cleaned, but stays relatively clean.
Date: April 10, 1894
Creator: Tom, Joseph C. & Tom Edward A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Tile-Machine. (open access)

Tile-Machine.

Patent for a tile pipe molder that "expeditiously and cheaply make subirrigating pipe right at the side of the ditch where it is to be laid" (lines 10-13).
Date: April 3, 1894
Creator: Adamson, John
System: The Portal to Texas History
Ice-Cream Freezer. (open access)

Ice-Cream Freezer.

Patent for an ice-cream freezer that "effectually and with slight labor freez[es] cream; to be so constructed as to freeze the cream into sticks of merchantable size and adapted for retail trade; and, furthermore, to provide for a simultaneous manufacture of ice, so that as the cream is frozen water may be congealed forming ice that may be subsequently employed in the freezer or otherwise" (lines 10-18).
Date: April 3, 1894
Creator: Skipper, James M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Seed-Planter. (open access)

Seed-Planter.

Patent for a seed planter with a combined "furrow opener and seed dropper" (lines 15-16) with adjustable row width and furrow depth. Includes illustrations and instructions.
Date: April 10, 1894
Creator: Thompson, James A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Flushing Apparatus. (open access)

Flushing Apparatus.

Patent for a flushing apparatus to be used to flush tanks that are normally kept empty. It is also "an improved siphon for emptying the tank, and also an improved mechanism for starting the siphon" (lines 22-24).
Date: April 3, 1894
Creator: Ackley, George D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sad-Iron Heater. (open access)

Sad-Iron Heater.

Patent for sad iron heaters: "a device for heating sad irons, and it has for its object to provide a heater adapted to receive a plurality of irons" (lines 8-11).
Date: April 17, 1894
Creator: Lee, William R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Shoe for Bridges. (open access)

Shoe for Bridges.

Patent for a new and improved bridge shoe including instructions and illustrations.
Date: April 10, 1894
Creator: Seaman, George S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Metallic Cross-Tie. (open access)

Metallic Cross-Tie.

Patent for an improved, simple, and inexpensive metallic crosstie that has elasticity and the same vibration as a wooden cross-tie and does not require bolts or nuts. It can easily be placed or removed from rails.
Date: April 10, 1894
Creator: Budington, Albert G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Refrigerator. (open access)

Refrigerator.

Patent for an efficient refrigerator meant to preserve meat, dairy, and produce. The refrigerator uses evaporating water to cool the food, not ice. There are inner and outer layers, a large water pan with vertical drip openings, and inner screen walls.
Date: April 17, 1894
Creator: Denson, Joseph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Perforating Mechanism for Cylinder Printing-Presses. (open access)

Perforating Mechanism for Cylinder Printing-Presses.

Patent for a perforating mechanism for cylinder printing-presses that is simple and automatic. It produces "lines of perforations at any required distance apart and of any desired length in paper or cardboard at the time of printing thereon the forms for checks, draft, bills, notes, tickets or other printed or lithographed matter" (lines 12-17).
Date: April 17, 1894
Creator: Kellner, Eugene
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pendulum-Scale. (open access)

Pendulum-Scale.

Patent for "a self-registering scale which shall be composed of but a few parts, and which will be accurate and reliable in use, and not liable to get out of repair from constant employment" (lines 10-14).
Date: April 17, 1894
Creator: Graves, William J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Elevated Railway. (open access)

Elevated Railway.

Patent for improvements in elevated railways: "provide simple means for regulating and adjusting the weight of the car so as to throw the preponderence thereof upon either the upper or the lower track or to equally divide the weight so that each track bear a like proportion" (lines 12-17).
Date: April 10, 1894
Creator: Anderson, Lee
System: The Portal to Texas History