Improved Horse-Power. (open access)

Improved Horse-Power.

Patent for an improvement in horse-powers (tread-powers) by changing the construction and arrangement of the driving wheels.
Date: May 18, 1869
Creator: Dillaha, J. G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Combined Plow-Carrier and Cotton-Chopper. (open access)

Improvement in Combined Plow-Carrier and Cotton-Chopper.

Patent for improvement in combined plow-carrier and cotton-chopper by “combining with a plow-carrier, a revolving wheel, placed at right angles with the line of direction of the plows, and provided with a number of horizontal cutters at the ends of its spokes, for the purpose of cutting square across the ridges of earth cast up by the plows, in which cotton seed is sown, and dividing the ridges into isolated hills, each containing one or more cotton-plants.” (Lines 23-29) Illustration is included.
Date: May 18, 1869
Creator: Kirtley, Fielding L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Brick-Machines. (open access)

Improvement in Brick-Machines.

Patent for improvement in brick machines by “providing the mixing and grinding-shaft with arms at the bottom, adapted in form and arrangement for pressing the clay through the openings, in the bottom of the curb, into the moulds, below, which rest on ways above a sliding carrier, provided with brackets, for forcing the moulds out.” (Lines 26-34) Illustration is included.
Date: May 4, 1869
Creator: Morgan, Asa
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Buckles. (open access)

Improvement in Buckles.

Patent for improvement in buckles “which does not require to be sewed to either of the straps which it is to connect, and which will securely fasten and hold the said straps of bands in any desired position.” (Lines 16-19) Illustration is included.
Date: May 4, 1869
Creator: Richer, F. C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Machine for Cutting Stalks in the Field Preparatory to Plowing. (open access)

Improvement in Machine for Cutting Stalks in the Field Preparatory to Plowing.

Patent for improvement in machine for clearing cotton and corn-fields of the stalks after the crops have been gathered by “providing a revolving drum or roller with knives, set spirally around it, which cut the stalks of cotton or corn-fields into pieces of any desired length, for the purpose of being plowed under the surface for fertilizing, by rolling it over them.” (Lines 14-19) Illustration is included.
Date: May 4, 1869
Creator: Wright, Reuben
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Wrench. (open access)

Improvement in Wrench.

Patent for improvements in monkey wrenches.
Date: May 4, 1869
Creator: Richer, F. C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Harvesters. (open access)

Improvement in Harvesters.

Patent for improvements in reaping and mowing machines.
Date: May 5, 1868
Creator: Ramsey, Jo.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improved Steering and Turning Apparatus for Vessels. (open access)

Improved Steering and Turning Apparatus for Vessels.

Patent for improvements in steering vessels: "by means of rotary paddle wheels the blades of which are arranged parallel to keel" (lines 21-23).
Date: May 29, 1866
Creator: Forshey, Caleb G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hanging Millstones. (open access)

Hanging Millstones.

Patent for improvement of hanging millstones using a driver to hang the runner of a pair of millstones, “as it rotates, adjust itself to the position of the stationary stone, and the parallelism of the faces of the two stones be preserved whether the stationary one be perfectly horizontal or not” (lines 19-24), including illustration.
Date: May 29, 1860
Creator: Dance, G. P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Plows. (open access)

Improvement in Plows.

Patent for an improved plow to turn and reverse the mold-board by using a single bolt to secure the reversible mold-board onto the stock of a plow.
Date: May 15, 1860
Creator: Pitts, William C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Seed-Planters. (open access)

Improvement in Seed-Planters.

Patent for the improvement of planting seeds using a single seed-slide and double tubes from seed box to distribute seeds to planting point in a more direct route than other seed-planters, including illustration.
Date: May 15, 1860
Creator: Pitts, W. C.
System: The Portal to Texas History