Automatic Cork Extractor. (open access)

Automatic Cork Extractor.

Patent for a new and improved automatic cork extractor. This design "consists, principally, of a vertically-moving and partially-rotating blade having a harpoon-shaped or shouldered head for piercing and drawing the corks; in laterally opening and closing jaws for holding the necks of the bottles; in pivoted and laterally-moving pointed levers for throwing the parts of the corks away from the blade when withdrawn, and in the construction and combination of the parts of the device" (lines 14-23).
Date: May 24, 1881
Creator: Clark, Chester Cady
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Picker (open access)

Cotton Picker

Patent for a cotton picker. This invention consists is a "pneumatic apparatus for conveying cotton when picked from the plant, and comprises a suction-fan and casing therefor, which latter has pipes and through which air is drawn" (lines 15-19). Illustration included.
Date: May 24, 1904
Creator: Bennie, William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Electric Sign. (open access)

Electric Sign.

Patent for an electric sign, which lights up each letter individually and turns them all off at the same time after being on a short while.
Date: May 24, 1910
Creator: Miller, Leonard
System: The Portal to Texas History