Seed-Planter. (open access)

Seed-Planter.

Patent for a seed planter, with illustrations. "The object of this invention is to facilitate the planting of seeds, and also to promote convenience in adjusting and operating the planter" (lines 22-24).
Date: May 8, 1883
Creator: Wise, David
System: The Portal to Texas History
Locomotive Wheel. (open access)

Locomotive Wheel.

Patent for a new and improved train wheel. This design "relates to locomotive drive-wheels; and it has for its object to so construct the same so as to avoid all slipping of the wheel upon the rail, as is usually the case when the locomotive is first started. A further object of the invention is to provide a wheel which shall be simple in its construction and durable in use" (lines 9-16).
Date: May 6, 1884
Creator: Mann, John H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wagon Axle. (open access)

Wagon Axle.

Patent for a new and improved axle. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with an axle having a seat at its outer end and a seat located in from said outer end, of the spindle having its shank provided with a threaded inner end, and nuts turned on said inner end on opposite sides of the inner seat, by which the spindle may be adjusted to and held in any desired position" (lines 79-85).
Date: May 1, 1888
Creator: Blevens, Nathan W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Corn and Cotton Planter (open access)

Corn and Cotton Planter

Patent for improvements to corn and cotton planters, including illustrations.
Date: May 8, 1888
Creator: Tedder, Louis
System: The Portal to Texas History
Whiffletree. (open access)

Whiffletree.

Patent for a new and improved whiffletree. This design "compris[es] a front rod and a back rod or spring united together by welding, said whiffletree having its ends rounded to form shoulders and provided with hooks fitting upon the rounded ends and prevented from slipping inward by the shoulders, and disks placed upon said rounded ends and attained thereon by swaging the latter" (lines 6-13).
Date: May 28, 1889
Creator: Black, William Jackson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Whiffletree. (open access)

Whiffletree.

Patent for a new and improved whiffletree. This design "compris[es] a front bar, a back rod or spring united to the front bar by welding, the ends of both said bar and rod being bent upon themselves and the parts welded together to construct an eye or opening, whereby both bar and rod are bent around the latter . . . a strengthening-piece placed between the front bar and the back rod or spring, and a casing secured to the back rod and adapted to hold the strengthening-piece in place" (lines 8-18).
Date: May 28, 1889
Creator: Black, William Jackson
System: The Portal to Texas History