Artificial Stone Block. (open access)

Artificial Stone Block.

Patent for a new and improved artificial-stone block. This design "consists in the particular formation of the protuberances by which interlocking joints or seams of the building-blocks are attained, the object of which is to so form the prolific protuberances of said blocks as to permit joining them in close proximity on all the sides or faces of the seam, to reduce the binding material for the same and increase the strength of the same" (lines 14-22).
Date: May 3, 1892
Creator: Graham, George M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pier. (open access)

Pier.

Patent for a new and improved pier. This design "is to provide a new and improved pier which is simple and durable in construction, possesses great stability and strength, is readily sunk in the water and fastened in place, arranged to be built up to any desired height, and designed so as to cut the water in order to reduce the power of the current to a minimum. The invention consists of a series of rods formed at their lower ends with augers and adapted to pass through ears of an exterior shell forming the wall or casing of the pier" (lines 9-20).
Date: May 10, 1892
Creator: Haerem, Ommund
System: The Portal to Texas History
Locomotive Headlight. (open access)

Locomotive Headlight.

Patent for a new and improved train headlight. This design "has for its object to improve locomotive head-lights by so constructing the reservoir and burner and mounting the same that they may be easily removed from and connected with the reflector without moving the latter; and it consists of a reservoir for the head-light having certain features of novelty and in various improvements in the apparatus as a whole" (lines 11-19).
Date: May 17, 1892
Creator: Jobling, Lance L.
System: The Portal to Texas History