Resource Type

File Case. (open access)

File Case.

Patent for a new and improved file case. This design "[t]he combination, with a case, of the pockets constructed in a series of a single piece of material having partitions formed by long folds connected at the bottom by short folds . . . [and t]he combination, with the folded pockets, of the file case having its sides constructed to overlap a part of the ends of the pockets, and an elastic follower with thumb-pieces arranged to bind with the sides of the case by straightening" (lines 9-24).
Date: July 31, 1888
Creator: Altfather, William F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Amusement Apparatus (open access)

Amusement Apparatus

Patent for an amusement apparatus of the character set forth with and inclined place made of a number of pivoted sections which may be simultaneously moved into horizontal position to form steps or seats and be held in such position by trip device provided with a target which latter upon being hit by a thrown ball will release the several sections of the inclined plane of steps and permit them through the weight of one or more persons thereon to aline one with the other and form a continuous inclined plane or sliding board down which the persons who were seated or standing upon the steps will be caused to slide and be thrown into a body of water over which the apparatus is erected.
Date: July 31, 1917
Creator: Andrews, J.W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Tent-Stake. (open access)

Tent-Stake.

Patent for a tent stake that is used with a metal guy or rope. The purpose of this tent stake is to secure tents under all weather conditions.
Date: July 31, 1917
Creator: Basnett, Augustus
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hay-Press (open access)

Hay-Press

Patent for "a simple and effective machine of the character described, which shall possess advantages in point of durability, cheapness of manufacture, and general efficiency" (lines 18-21).
Date: July 31, 1888
Creator: Bigham, Joshua R. & Bigham, Ambrose W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sleeping-Hood. (open access)

Sleeping-Hood.

Patent for an "inexpensive to manufacture, and convenient and comfortable in use" (lines 17-18) sleeping hood to be worn while sleeping to prevent snoring.
Date: July 31, 1917
Creator: Bloomfield, Emma D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hotel Office Dinkey (open access)

Hotel Office Dinkey

Patent for an hotel office dinkey. Illustration included.
Date: July 31, 1906
Creator: Browder, Henry Worden
System: The Portal to Texas History
Saw. (open access)

Saw.

Patent for a saw with a blade that can efficiently cut through wood and metal materials. Illustration included.
Date: July 31, 1900
Creator: Caruthers, John I.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Dirigible Headlight. (open access)

Dirigible Headlight.

Patent for "simple, durable and inexpensive" (line 22) dirigible headlight that can installed on automobiles and can be controlled from the steering wheel.
Date: July 31, 1917
Creator: Crawford, James E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Dental Swaging Apparatus (open access)

Dental Swaging Apparatus

Patent for a dental apparatus that produces gold facings and cusps for individual teeth, as well as plate and bridge work.
Date: July 31, 1906
Creator: Crawford, Lyter H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Cotton-Bale Ties (open access)

Improvement in Cotton-Bale Ties

Patent for Improvement in the fastening of the metal bands used to tie cotton bales. Includes detailed description and three labled figures
Date: July 31, 1873
Creator: Cromer, Thomas
System: The Portal to Texas History
Animal Trap (open access)

Animal Trap

Patent for an animal trap. Illustration included.
Date: July 31, 1906
Creator: Crowson, John J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wire Stretcher (open access)

Wire Stretcher

Patent for a wire stretcher. Illustration included.
Date: July 31, 1906
Creator: Culp, Willis Harmon
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bale-Tie (open access)

Bale-Tie

Patent for a bale-tie fastener including illustrations.
Date: July 31, 1900
Creator: Cypher, David A. & Dayton, William L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Window Sash (open access)

Window Sash

Patent for a window sash. Illustration included.
Date: July 31, 1906
Creator: Daugherty, William E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Machine for Cutting and Scoring Box-Blanks (open access)

Machine for Cutting and Scoring Box-Blanks

Patent for the mechanical cutting and scoring of box blanks with illustrations.
Date: July 31, 1917
Creator: Daven, Michael P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Apparatus for Cleaning Deep Wells. (open access)

Apparatus for Cleaning Deep Wells.

Patent for a device that uses hot steam to clean caked-on paraffin, mud, and other substances out of oil well pumping apparatuses.
Date: July 31, 1917
Creator: Deats, George W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Box for Presses (open access)

Box for Presses

Patent for a box used to house heated metal presses to extract fluid from cotton seeds.
Date: July 31, 1900
Creator: Galbraith, Oscar B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car Door Opener. (open access)

Car Door Opener.

Patent for a car door opener, making it possible to open a car door without using a hammer or injuring oneself.
Date: July 31, 1906
Creator: Gibson, Levi D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Cotton-Harvesters. (open access)

Improvement in Cotton-Harvesters.

Patent for "the construction and arrangement of a cotton-picking machine" (lines 15-16) using wire brushes on rods and chains, including illustrations.
Date: July 31, 1877
Creator: Graves, Clinton E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fence-Post. (open access)

Fence-Post.

Patent for improvements to fence post design in which a base is added to hold the post upright while keeping it above ground to prevent deterioration from soil with illustrations.
Date: July 31, 1900
Creator: Hammer, Willie Alice
System: The Portal to Texas History
Acetylene-Gas Generator. (open access)

Acetylene-Gas Generator.

Patent for "improvement in acetylene-gas generators, and has for one object to provide an exceedingly- simple apparatus of this description in which the pipes and connections are closed , and thus protected from freezing by the effects of atmospheric changes; and a further object of my invention is to remove the possibility of an explosion taking place during the manipulation of the machine." (lines 9-17) including illustrations.
Date: July 31, 1900
Creator: Hartman, Gus
System: The Portal to Texas History
Seed-Dropper. (open access)

Seed-Dropper.

Patent for a seed dropper that is used to drop peas or other seeds between hills of corn. This tool is very light and can be handled with one hand.
Date: July 31, 1917
Creator: Hefner, John M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Boll-Weevil Destroyer. (open access)

Boll-Weevil Destroyer.

Patent for machine to exterminate boll weevils, including illustrations. This device administers insecticide and captures damaged plants and insects.
Date: July 31, 1917
Creator: Henry, William L. & Calloway, Irven E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Roller Bearing (open access)

Roller Bearing

Patent for a roller bearing. Illustration included.
Date: July 31, 1906
Creator: Horger, John M. & Horger, Simeon D.
System: The Portal to Texas History