Buckle. (open access)

Buckle.

Patent for a new and improved buckle. This design utilizes two separate tongues that run freely along a middle bar, which lengthens the life of the strap by distributing pressure and allowing for broken out, frayed, or otherwise worn holes to be circumvented for new ones.
Date: May 3, 1881
Creator: Burket, John
System: The Portal to Texas History
Letter Tie. (open access)

Letter Tie.

Patent for a new and improved clasp for letters. This design calls for wire or sheet metal to be shaped into a suitable size and shape for letters, including tabs on the ends to snap together to fasten the letters. This eliminates the need for twine or string, which reduces the flammability of the packages.
Date: May 3, 1881
Creator: Price, James N.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stamp Canceler and Register. (open access)

Stamp Canceler and Register.

Patent for a new and improved stamp canceller. This design "consists in the combination, with an ordinary hand canceling device, of an indicator" (lines 22-24). This design utilizes a lever, and "[b]y properly adjusting [it], the device will indicate the cancellation of one-cent or three-cent stamps, and it is obvious that by making similar and proper provision for the adjustment of the throw of [the lever] the cancellation of stamps of any denomination may be indicated" (lines 83-89).
Date: May 3, 1881
Creator: Lupton, Lewis R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Planter. (open access)

Cotton Planter.

Patent for a new and improved cotton planter. This design is for "a cotton-planter, the vibrating agitator having radial flanges and lateral flanges upon its bow, and clamped to the under side of [a] rocking shaft by means of cuffs and [a] clamp-screw, in combination with [a] hopper having [a] removable adjustable bottom" (lines 62-67).
Date: May 10, 1881
Creator: Walton, Jacob Gipson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cultivator. (open access)

Cultivator.

Patent for a new and improved cultivator. This design is "for cultivating stubble, sugar-cane, cotton, corn, and other plants planted in rows or drills, which will remove the soil from the sides of the rows without injuring the roots, and will throw soil around the plants, and which shall be simple in construction and convenient in use" (lines 15-21).
Date: May 10, 1881
Creator: Brenner, August William & Fraser, James
System: The Portal to Texas History
Governor for Cotton Gins and Cotton Gin Feeders. (open access)

Governor for Cotton Gins and Cotton Gin Feeders.

Patent for a new and improved governor for cotton gins. This design "consists, first, in the combination of an oscillating or movable roll-breast with a regulating attachment, whereby the size of the roll or the pressure of the cotton in the roll-box is made to regulate the feed to the gin to any desired degree; second, in forming a series of slots through the outer side of the roll-breast, so that the cotton seed may be discharged through the outer side of the breast, as well as in addition to the usual slot which is made through the bottom of the roll-box" (lines 15-25).
Date: May 10, 1881
Creator: Forbes, Lycurgus D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Straw Cutter. (open access)

Straw Cutter.

Patent for a new and improved straw cutter. This design "relates to certain improvements in straw-cutters; and it consists in the [novel] construction and arrangement of parts" (lines 13-15). The novel construction and arrangement of parts means that "[t]he machine is simple, durable, and inexpensive in construction, will not readily get out of repair, and will perform the necessary work in an efficient manner" (lines 1-4).
Date: May 10, 1881
Creator: Cornish, John A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Sprinkler. (open access)

Cotton Sprinkler.

Patent for a new and improved sprinkler. This design consists "[i]n a cotton or other plant sprinkler, the reservoir or tank mounted upon a suitable carriage or truck, and having connected thereto a pump, in combination with the grooved pulley, rigidly secured to the wheel of the carriage or truck, belt or chain, pulley, clutch, and crank, connected by suitable levers or arms to the piston-rod . . . with the pipes, provided with roseheads, of the arm or carrier, formed in sections and connected to a suitable lever for raising or lowering it" (lines 20-33).
Date: May 17, 1881
Creator: Wolfram, John Arnold
System: The Portal to Texas History
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
Bridge (open access)

Bridge

Patent for the construction of substantial bridges of wood adapted for long spans, and which can be put up where iron bridges would be too expensive.
Date: May 24, 1881
Creator: Brenner, August W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Curtain Fixture. (open access)

Curtain Fixture.

Patent for a new and improved curtain fixture. This design calls for a rubber roller in which a curtain can withdraw and from which a curtain can emerge. The roller has holes for screwing and mounting.
Date: May 24, 1881
Creator: Nix, Manning L. & McClelland, Stephen
System: The Portal to Texas History
Insect Trap. (open access)

Insect Trap.

Patent for a new and improved ant trap. This design calls for a box to be placed over the mouth of an anthill, whereupon one expects the ants to enter a hole, climb an incline, and slip down a pair of glass pieces that lower the ants into an inescapable chamber. This design is cheaper and easier to make than previous ant traps.
Date: May 24, 1881
Creator: Blackwood, Curtis
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Chopper. (open access)

Cotton Chopper.

Patent for a new and improved cotton cutter. This design consists in "the combination [of] the two-part shaft having bearings in the frame and supported on the wheels of [a] removable wheel, secured upon the end of [a] portion and having the spokes and cups at the ends thereof, arranged to operate between the adjustable plows" (lines 62-68).
Date: May 31, 1881
Creator: Smith, Joseph F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pump. (open access)

Pump.

Patent for a new and improved pump. This design utilizes a new combination and arrangement of cylinders, pistons, pipes, chambers, valves, screws, levers, and air and water vessels to pump water more effectively.
Date: May 31, 1881
Creator: Maney, Henry, Sr.
System: The Portal to Texas History