Improvement in Corn-Planters. (open access)

Improvement in Corn-Planters.

Patent for "corn-planters in which the corn is planted in hills or rows; and the particular features of [the] invention consist in the combination, with a pivoted rising and descending charger or cup, of a sleeve-seat for said charger, a charger-carrying stem, and the seed-hopper, whereby the charger is held and carried in position upon a seat to fill, to rise from said seat, and to dump upon its pivot, and to be again brought into and maintained in a vertical position upon said seat while descending through the corn, whereby the charger is held and moved vertically through the grain from the bottom of the hopper to receive and discharge the filled charge above the corn in the hopper." (Lines 7-22) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: May 5, 1874
Creator: Williams, Blasius & Cohn, Morris
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Mechanical Movements. (open access)

Improvement in Mechanical Movements.

Patent for a specific arrangement of a single-cylinder engine and two shafts with connecting rods that can be used to drive boat propellers.
Date: May 5, 1874
Creator: Franklin, Robert Morris
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Cotton Presses. (open access)

Improvement in Cotton Presses.

Patent for the improvement of cotton presses to bale cotton and other materials, including illustrations.
Date: May 12, 1874
Creator: Brown, Bartlett W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Horse-Powers. (open access)

Improvement in Horse-Powers.

Patent for a "means for driving cotton-gins and other light machinery by animal power; and it relates to that form of animal-power apparatus termed the vertical tread-wheel." (Lines 6-10) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: May 12, 1874
Creator: Powell, James M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Planters, Cultivators, and Stalk-Choppers. (open access)

Improvement in Planters, Cultivators, and Stalk-Choppers.

Patent for a combined planter, cultivator, and chopper.
Date: May 12, 1874
Creator: McCaleb, John L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Standards for Vehicles. (open access)

Improvement in Standards for Vehicles.

Patent for "a stanchion pivoted in a strong metal box adapted to be fastened to the side of the platform of the car or truck, the box being open at the top and at one end, so that the stanchion can be turned down on its pivot by the side of the platform, to be out of the way of loading the car or truck platform with goods which cannot be conveniently loaded when the stanchions are upright." (Lines 6-14) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: May 12, 1874
Creator: Martin, James J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Corn and Cotton Planters. (open access)

Improvement in Corn and Cotton Planters.

Patent for a new cotton and corn planter, including illustrations.
Date: May 19, 1874
Creator: Griffith, William Harrison
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Insect-Destroying Compounds. (open access)

Improvement in Insect-Destroying Compounds.

Patent for "a mixture of the arseniate of soda and water, or arseniate of soda, dextrine, and water, prepared in certain proportions of the respective ingredients, for the purpose of destroying cotton-worms." (Lines 7-12) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: May 19, 1874
Creator: Braman, John D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Scissors. (open access)

Improvement in Scissors.

Patent for "scissors for the use of dealers in dry goods; and it consists in providing an ordinary pair of scissors with an extension at or near the end of one of the blades, having an entering point and an eye to carry a thread, and designed to serve a convenient purpose in tagging and retagging goods." (Lines 14-21) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: May 19, 1874
Creator: Waldie, Samuel H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Box and Bale Hooks. (open access)

Improvement in Box and Bale Hooks.

Patent for "a guard or shield, of leather or other equivalent material, combined with the handle or shank of the hook used for turning or otherwise handling bales or boxes, &c., to prevent the hands from rubbing or pressing against the bale or box, whereby the are often injured." (Lines 6-12) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: May 26, 1874
Creator: Knight, John W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Compounds for Destroying Insects on Plants. (open access)

Improvement in Compounds for Destroying Insects on Plants.

Patent for a “combination of flour and cotton-seed meal with paris green, for the destruction of cotton-worms or caterpillars, and other pestiferous insects” (lines 47-50).
Date: May 26, 1874
Creator: Royall, William B.
System: The Portal to Texas History