Improvement in Seed-Planters (open access)

Improvement in Seed-Planters

Patent for an improvement in seed-planters, which allows for adjusting to plant less or more seeds as desired.
Date: May 21, 1872
Creator: Richards, Augustus
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Stalk-Chopper (open access)

Improvement in Stalk-Chopper

Patent for an improvement in corn and cotton stalk-choppers, allowing for the stalks to be turned under by the plow and prevent their interference with the machine.
Date: May 21, 1872
Creator: Richards, Augustus
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Washing-Machines. (open access)

Improvement in Washing-Machines.

Patent for the improvement of washing machines, using two washboards. It includes a description and illustrations.
Date: May 21, 1872
Creator: Harper, William F.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Pipe and Bar Cutters (open access)

Improvement in Pipe and Bar Cutters

Patent for a new and improved pipe and bar cutter, which cuts metal and steel. This design is simple, convient, and effective, including illustration.
Date: May 21, 1877
Creator: Astall, Jesse
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bee Hive. (open access)

Bee Hive.

Patent for improvements to "that class of bee-hives or bee-houses having a series of compartments..." (lines 15-17) with instructions and illustrations.
Date: May 21, 1878
Creator: Walton, George Slaughter
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Camp-Stoves. (open access)

Improvement in Camp-Stoves.

Patent for "an improved stove for camp and other uses, that may be reduced to small and compact size for transportation and readily put up for use." (Lines 14-17) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: May 21, 1878
Creator: Vollbrecht, Louis P.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Well-Augers. (open access)

Improvement in Well-Augers.

Patent for an improved well-auger, includes instruction and illustration.
Date: May 21, 1878
Creator: Glass, James T.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Account Book (open access)

Account Book

Patent for an account book that is to be used "to receive in condensed form the dates and other particulars when sums are due to and from a person or firm are payable" (p. 2).
Date: May 21, 1889
Creator: Goldberg, Samuel W. & Tillmann, Emanuel M.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Axle Box for Locomotives. (open access)

Axle Box for Locomotives.

Patent for a new and improved axle-box for locomotives. This design "has relation to self-adjusting wedges for axle or driving boxes for locomotives, and has for its objects to produce a wedge that is controlled by a spring, which can be readily and easily adjusted for removing the pounding and lost motion between the axle-box and pedestal" (lines 11-17).
Date: May 21, 1889
Creator: Carlson, Frank August
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Axle Lubricator. (open access)

Axle Lubricator.

Patent for a new and improved axle lubricator. This design "consist[s] of a box provided with bearings in which the axle works, and with a cellar below the said bearings for the reception of the waste for containing the lubricant; [and] . . . of a frame in which the box fits, . . . being provided with screws for elevating or depressing the box, whereby it may be kept always in contact with the axle . . . The object is to produce an axle or journal lubricator . . . [that] will keep the bearings of an axle or journal shaft thoroughly lubricated at all times, thereby preventing the same becoming heated and swelling" (lines 14-35).
Date: May 21, 1889
Creator: Good, William
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling-Press (open access)

Baling-Press

Patent for "a press of this character by means of which a direct stroke will be given to the plunger, the latter permitted to rebound by the recoil of the hay, and the hay properly held in position" (lines 8-12).
Date: May 21, 1889
Creator: Hallam, Leigh H.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Box for Matches, &c. (open access)

Box for Matches, &c.

Patent for a new and improved matchbox. This design "relates to boxes or cases of the class having folding securing flaps or covers . . . To this end [the] invention comprises . . . a box or case open at one extremity for insertion and removal of its contents, and provided with a slot or opening extending from its open extremity to or nearly to its opposite extremity to permit access to and removal of its contents, and having a folding flap or cover adapted to close its openings and be detachably secured so as to effectually confine and protect the contents of the box" (lines 8-27).
Date: May 21, 1889
Creator: Marshall, John F.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bridle Bit. (open access)

Bridle Bit.

Patent for a new and improved bridle-bit. This design consists "[i]n a bridle-bit, the combination, with the bit-bar, provided with the loops of the angle-levers mounted on the said bar and having their corresponding arms respectively connected by the curb-chain and provided with rein loops or rings and the studs or pins on the levers engaging the loops" (lines 70-76).
Date: May 21, 1889
Creator: Bowles, Zachary Taylor
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Buckle and Back Band Hook. (open access)

Buckle and Back Band Hook.

Patent for a new and improved buckle and back-band hook. This design "contemplates certain improvements in combined buckles and back-band hooks; and it consists of a buckle having, or to which may be separately applied, a peculiar hook or tongue" (lines 10-14).
Date: May 21, 1889
Creator: Munger, Ennis
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car Coupling. (open access)

Car Coupling.

Patent for a new and improved coupling for railroad-cars. This design consists in "[t]he combination of the draw-head, the trip-block pivoted on the upper side of the same, the trigger secured to the upper side of the draw-head, and the spring bearing on the trip-block" (lines 82-86).
Date: May 21, 1889
Creator: Woolsey, Charles Alexander & Woolsey, William Wesley
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combination Railroad Cross Tie. (open access)

Combination Railroad Cross Tie.

Patent for a new and improved railroad-ties. This design "pertains to certain new and useful improvements in railroad-ties, having for its object the production of a metallic tie extremely simple in construction, and by means of which a rail can be readily removed or secured in place and a firm elastic bearing is secured for said rail" (lines 14-20).
Date: May 21, 1889
Creator: Bagby, William Henry
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Machine for Packing Cotton. (open access)

Machine for Packing Cotton.

Patent for a new and improved packer. This design consists "[i]n a cotton-packer, the combination of the frame, guides mounted therein, rack-bars moving in the said guides, a press-box and steam-cylinder, and heads secured to the rack-bars and moving in the press-box and cylinder, respectively, cog-wheels of different diameters journaled in the frame and meshing with the rack-bars, and anti-friction rollers pivoted in the guides and bearing against the rack-bars" (lines 4-13).
Date: May 21, 1889
Creator: Brady, Farley
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Means for Propelling Railway Cars. (open access)

Means for Propelling Railway Cars.

Patent for a new and improved means for propelling railway cars. This design "relates to motive power for railway-cars, and the purpose thereof is to provide a simple combination of parts whereby each car may be impelled by a separate motor, the entire series throughout a line or train of cars being supplied with energy from a common source, whereby the full horse-power of a steam-boiler may be applied in a manner enabling it to be utilized to the greatest possible advantage and to the utmost extent" (lines 10-20).
Date: May 21, 1889
Creator: Keith, John M.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oven-Thermometer (open access)

Oven-Thermometer

Patent for "an instrument for indicating the temperature of an oven, so that the fire may be regulated to secure the required temperature for any particular article" (lines 21-25).
Date: May 21, 1889
Creator: Voss, John C.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Washing Machine (open access)

Washing Machine

Patent for a washing machine so it can "provide a simple and improved device of this character, which can be efficiently operated" (p. 03).
Date: May 21, 1889
Creator: Fleischhauer, Louis
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Watch Case Pendant. (open access)

Watch Case Pendant.

Patent for a new and improved watch-case pendant. This design "is to improve the construction of the bow and crown-holder of stem-winding watches, so that they will be prevented from working loose. Furthermore, to produce a bow and crown-holder which may readily be attached to watches having the ordinary holder thereon, and, finally, to produce a stem which shall be simple of construction, and which may be attached to a watch with but a slight expense" (lines 15-24).
Date: May 21, 1889
Creator: Rohrer, Edmond Charles & Joseph, Isidora
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wire Stretcher. (open access)

Wire Stretcher.

Patent for a new and improved wire stretcher. This design consists in "[t]he combination . . . of the side bars having a toothed wheel journaled between them and provided with a crank, a set of cross bars or bolts connecting the two side bars, a pawl hung upon one of the cross-bars and having its toothed end arranged to abut against the teeth of the wheel, and a chain passing over the toothed wheel and underneath the pawl" (lines 67-76).
Date: May 21, 1889
Creator: Stiles, Frederick
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Horse and Team Holder. (open access)

Horse and Team Holder.

Patent for "a device adapted to be applied to ordinary vehicles, and designed to be connected with the driving reins, and capable of automatically engaging the horse or team, and by preventing the same from advancing or turning to the right or left or backing, thereby obviating the necessity of tying a horse or team, of dropping the traces, or of leaving it stand with small weights that endanger life." (Lines 12-20) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: May 21, 1895
Creator: Moore, Franklin Orville
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Self-Closing Cock or Faucet. (open access)

Self-Closing Cock or Faucet.

Patent for an improved self-closing cock or faucet that is made up of a pipe with an elongated chamber, a nozzle that is attached to the upper part of the pipe, an inner pipe within the chamber that has apertures in the upper part, a cylindrical valve in the inner pipe, a spring-actuated plunger-rod attached to the cylindrical valve, a handle attached to the plunger-rod, and a drop-valve that closes the lower end of the cylindrical valve.
Date: May 21, 1895
Creator: Murphy, George S.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History