Improvement in Railroad-Switches. (open access)

Improvement in Railroad-Switches.

Patent for improvement in railroad-switches by “mounting a frog on a plate, and provided with pivoted rails or rail-sections, arranged for operation in connection with fixed rail-sections upon the plate, to form a continuity with either line of main rail, and connected below the plate by pivoted bars or levers, to secure a relative action or adjustment of the pivoted or movable rail-sections, whereby a very perfect and simple frog operating to prevent break in the main line or lines is obtained, and which is capable of being adjusted by passing trains in opposite directions of travel.” (Lines 5-18) Illustration is included.
Date: July 16, 1872
Creator: Fitzsimmons, Henry
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Washing-Machines (open access)

Improvement in Washing-Machines

Patent for "a new and valuable Improvement in Washing-Machines" for which "the novelty consists in providing the tank with two separate apartments or boxes for containing, respectively, suds and clear water, and in arranging the separating partition so that an ordinary wringer may be attached thereto and used on the clothes as they pass from the suds-box to the clear-water box."
Date: July 16, 1872
Creator: Newman, Greer J.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement In Cultivators (open access)

Improvement In Cultivators

Patent for an improved cultivator, with adjustable wheel base, plow height and more (pg 1).
Date: July 23, 1872
Creator: Griffith, William H.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Fences. (open access)

Improvement in Fences.

Patent for improvement in iron fences by using rails and bars to support the braced posts. All the parts are easily taken apart, this flexibility allows the fence to be set on uneven as well as on level ground. Illustration is included.
Date: July 23, 1872
Creator: Lerick, Isaac N.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Grinding-Mills. (open access)

Improvement in Grinding-Mills.

Patent for the improvement of grinding-mills, including a description and illustration.
Date: July 23, 1872
Creator: Loy, George W. & Baker, Francis C.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Combination Locks. (open access)

Improvement in Combination Locks.

Patent for combination latch-locks, "in such manner as that the knob-latch, while performing its special function, will also serve as the lock upon any combination to which it may be adjusted, and the said latch can be operated from either the outside or inside of the door as a latch simply, or as a combination lock, which latter is further secured from the inside by the employment of a safety pin, rendering the bolt in its locked position perfectly secure, while by its partial withdrawal it prevents the possible change of the combination from the outside, and admits of the free use of the latch independent of such combination." (Lines 29-42) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: July 1, 1873
Creator: Hall, Phidello W.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Washing-Machines. (open access)

Improvement in Washing-Machines.

Patent for "washing-machines known as self-regulating machines; and consists in the arrangement for controlling at will the amount of pressure to be used, in combination with the construction of the feed and washing rollers." (Lines 11-15) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: July 1, 1873
Creator: Rowland, William M.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Extension Hat-Brims. (open access)

Improvement in Extension Hat-Brims.

Patent for a "new and Improved Extension Hat Brim" (lines 3-4) with folding arms to extend the brim, including illustrations.
Date: July 8, 1873
Creator: Cassiano, I. Ygnacio
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in extension hat-brims. (open access)

Improvement in extension hat-brims.

Patent for "a new and Improved Extension Hat-Brim" (lines 3-4) which can be extended or folded back by the wearer. Includes illustrations.
Date: July 8, 1873
Creator: Cassiano, I. Ygnacio
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Ant-Traps. (open access)

Improvement in Ant-Traps.

Patent for catching burrowing insects, especially for large ants.
Date: July 15, 1873
Creator: Rubarth, Leander
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Combined Spades and Forks. (open access)

Improvement in Combined Spades and Forks.

Patent for a new improved and combined spade and fork to be used as a spade. It "consists in a sheet-metal sheath or pocket adapted to receive a fork and be secured" (lines 16-18 ) including illustrations.
Date: July 15, 1873
Creator: Stone, Heber
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Scrapers. (open access)

Improvement in Scrapers.

Patent for improved road scraper with two-wheel vehicle and scoop pulled by a chain.
Date: July 15, 1873
Creator: Mayfield, William Dudley
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Cotton-Plows. (open access)

Improvement in Cotton-Plows.

Patent for improvements in plows with removable curved flanges.
Date: July 29, 1873
Creator: Sims, Zachariah B.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Farm-Fences. (open access)

Improvement in Farm-Fences.

Patent for a new and useful improvement in fence including instructions and illustrations.
Date: July 29, 1873
Creator: McKenzie, Winfield S.
Object Type: Patent
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
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Hay and Cotton Presses. (open access)

Improvement in Hay and Cotton Presses.

Patent for a new and improved hay and cotton press, including illustrations.
Date: July 3, 1874
Creator: Kirtley, Fielding L
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Combined Cistern Tops and Filters. (open access)

Improvement in Combined Cistern Tops and Filters.

Patent for improvements to cistern covers, combining a cast iron, charcoal filled filter and specially shaped cast perforated iron lid with handles for removing the cover and for changing the charcoal.
Date: July 9, 1874
Creator: Stacey, Ephraim Douglass
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Cotton-Bale Ties. (open access)

Improvement in Cotton-Bale Ties.

Patent for a new and improved type of cotton bale tie utilizing an automatic leverr-clasp buckle fastener.
Date: July 11, 1874
Creator: Lenard, William Rinulda
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Combined Ventilators and Chimneys (open access)

Improvement in Combined Ventilators and Chimneys

Patent for improvement in Combined Ventilators and Chimneys. This object is to be used with the brick chimney on top of the roof to provide air circulation. It consists of an iron-lined inner flue secured within an outer casing with suitable bottom and top perforation for establishing air current around the flue.
Date: July 14, 1874
Creator: Hickley, Walter R & Dibrell, Charles J
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement In Gun-Locks. (open access)

Improvement In Gun-Locks.

Patent for "new and useful improvement in Gun-Lock" (lines 4-5) including instructions and illustrations.
Date: July 14, 1874
Creator: Grisham, James Madison
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Medical Compounds. (open access)

Improvement in Medical Compounds.

Patent for a medical compound of alcohol (or "good brandy"), asafetida, camphor, laudanum, yellow jessamine, sassafras, and water.
Date: July 14, 1874
Creator: Dixon, Shadrach
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Medicinal Extracts. (open access)

Improvement in Medicinal Extracts.

Patent for the extract of Dasylirion graminifolium. This describes the method of acquiring the extract as well as illnesses the extra is purported to treat.
Date: July 14, 1874
Creator: Bihl, Charles A.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Cotton-Bale Ties. (open access)

Improvement in Cotton-Bale Ties.

Patent for the improvement in cotton-bale ties, with description and illustrations.
Date: July 21, 1874
Creator: Cooper, William
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Washing-Machines. (open access)

Improvement in Washing-Machines.

Patent for a new improvement to washing machines.
Date: July 21, 1874
Creator: Mitchell, Daniel Chasteen
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History