Copy Holder. (open access)

Copy Holder.

Patent for a new and improved book holder. This design "consists in the peculiar construction of the main frame or case provided at or near one end with a slot or opening to expose a portion of the blank paper, and a clamping device to hold the copy-slips, and at its opposite end with a tubular instrument and pen-wiper receptacle" (lines 21-27).
Date: July 24, 1883
Creator: Gerard, Alonzo
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bale Tie. (open access)

Bale Tie.

Patent for a new and improved bale tie. This design "consists of a short thin plate of metal having two tongues . . . fronting each other, said plate being pivoted at one end to the bale-hoop . . . the other end of the bale-hoop being passed under the tongues and drawn tightly around the bale, the expansion of the bale on the hoop causes the respective ends to pull on the respective ends of the tie-plate . . . so as to grip the edges of the end passed between the tongues and hold it firmly" (lines 7-19).
Date: July 24, 1883
Creator: Arnold, Abbott
System: The Portal to Texas History
Condenser. (open access)

Condenser.

Patent for a new and improved condenser. This design "consists in the construction and novel arrangement of a series of condensing-compartments, forming a continuous convoluted condensing-vessel having vertical walls, to be employed in the process of extracting alcohol, essential oils, ether, &c." (lines 18-23).
Date: July 24, 1883
Creator: Wilmans, Frederick A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lamp. (open access)

Lamp.

Patent for a new and improved oil lamp. This design "relates to improvements in lamps in which the reservoir is beveled, adapting it for use in conjunction with a conical corrugated reflector; and the object of [the] improvement is to produce a lamp that will afford more and better light with a given amount of oil" (lines 7-13).
Date: July 24, 1883
Creator: Newman, William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Quilting Frame. (open access)

Quilting Frame.

Patent for a new and improved quilting frame. This design "is to improve the means for suspending a quilting-frame, so that a sewing-machine may be more conveniently used in the quilting operation" (lines 7-10).
Date: July 24, 1883
Creator: Bledsoe, Robert B.
System: The Portal to Texas History