Improvement in Bee-Hives (open access)

Improvement in Bee-Hives

Patent for bee-hives to more easily retrieve honey from the combs, which also gives extremely specific instructions on four different types of bee-hives.
Date: July 28, 1877
Creator: Van Horn, James F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Billiard-Cushions. (open access)

Improvement in Billiard-Cushions.

Patent for improvement in billiard-cushions. Patent for removable billiard table cushion.
Date: July 10, 1877
Creator: Mansur, John S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Breech-Loading Fire-Arms. (open access)

Improvement in Breech-Loading Fire-Arms.

Patent for improvements in Winchester Repeating fire-arms, or magazine fire-arms. Patent for improvements in the "interior mechanism for operating the breech-block and resisting the recoil, and in the combination of parts". Patent that increases strength and capability to resist recoil, increases the charge of powder. Together, the ball is carried faster and farther with "perfect safety and without increase of recoil or rebound".
Date: July 31, 1877
Creator: Petmecky, Joseph C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Car-Couplings. (open access)

Improvement in Car-Couplings.

Patent for improved construction and arrangement of car-couplings.
Date: July 24, 1877
Creator: McCarty, Ezra B. & Heagerty, James
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
Improvement in Door-Checks. (open access)

Improvement in Door-Checks.

Patent for "a device for holding the doors in open position, which is readily applied to the door and worked without noise or jamming; and the invention consists of a holder or knob, with recessed front end, attached to the base-board, and of a counter-sunk door plate or case provided with a rubber block, that binds on the recessed part of the holder to retain the door in open position." (Lines 10-18) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: July 17, 1877
Creator: Francis, John
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Gang-Plows. (open access)

Improvement in Gang-Plows.

Patent for improvements to the gang-plow consisting of "an adjustable frame, within which two or more ordinary plows can be arranged to form the gang, said frame being constructed so as to enable one set of plows to run deep, while the other set can be made to run shallow." (Lines 15-19) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: July 17, 1877
Creator: Crump, Thomas J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Gin-Saw-Filing Machines. (open access)

Improvement in Gin-Saw-Filing Machines.

Patent for a "gin-saw-filing machine consisting, essentially, of a rotary and intermittingly movable file, of an intermittingly-operated feed and check device, and of adjustable reciprocating sharpening-files".
Date: July 24, 1877
Creator: Eastham, Albert S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Ground-Squirrel Exterminators. (open access)

Improvement in Ground-Squirrel Exterminators.

Patent for an "improved apparatus by means of which ground-squirrels and gophers can be destroyed in their holes, conveniently and effectively, and at small expense" (para. 4). The mechanism works by gassing underground vermin with sulphuric fumes.
Date: July 10, 1877
Creator: Dreyer, Henry
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Hoe-Handles. (open access)

Improvement in Hoe-Handles.

Patent for the improvement of hoe-handle tightening devices, including illustrations.
Date: July 17, 1877
Creator: Littleton, W. R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Masks for Horses and Cattle. (open access)

Improvement in Masks for Horses and Cattle.

Patent for a slitted leather mask for animals to be used for horses, cattle, etc. to deter the jumping of fences. Patent for "mask, covering the eyes of the animal, leaves him with a sufficiently free vision, and being thoroughly ventilated, will not injure his eyes".
Date: July 10, 1877
Creator: Trueblood, Albert H
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Plows. (open access)

Improvement in Plows.

Patent for "a plow which will effect a clean severance of the sod on the land side when operating in heavy, tenacious soil, and which will prevent the accumulation of rubbish against the edge of the mold-board or standard." (Lines 6-11) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: July 17, 1877
Creator: Wood, John W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Postage or Revenue Stamps. (open access)

Improvement in Postage or Revenue Stamps.

Patent for an improvement in postage or revenue stamps. Patent for postage or revenue stamp "composed of two superposed sheets or layers, A B, the top layer carrying the printed designs, having parallel incisions therein, and the bottom layer being provided with adhesive material on the back". Patent for postage and revenue stamps that cannot be re-used.
Date: July 10, 1877
Creator: Beaumont, David G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Riding-Plows. (open access)

Improvement in Riding-Plows.

Patent for "an improved riding or sulky plow which shall be so constructed that the plow may be readily lowered into, raised from, and adjusted to run at any desired depth in the ground, and which may be adjusted to take or leave land, and to hold the carriage level when both wheels are running upon unplowed land, and when one wheel is running in a furrow." (Lines 14-22) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: July 17, 1877
Creator: Florance, James L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Sand-Conveyers. (open access)

Improvement in Sand-Conveyers.

Patent for a machine for "taking up and conveying sand into a suitable receptacle". Patent for breaking up sand and transferring it into a receptacle by means of circular cutters, conducting apron, inclined plate.
Date: July 17, 1877
Creator: Garcia, Rufino C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Traction-Engines. (open access)

Improvement in Traction-Engines.

Patent for a traction engine "for running on common roads and rails, and to be used for drawing plows, and as a motive power generally" (lines 8-10) including illustrations.
Date: July 31, 1877
Creator: Walker, Leander
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Valve-Gear for Steam-Engines. (open access)

Improvement in Valve-Gear for Steam-Engines.

Patent for "an improvement in steam-engines which shall be so constructed as to give a full application of the steam and a free exhaust at regular intervals, which will enable the engine to be easily reversed, can be easily attached to any engine, which will enable an engine to be worked by water-pressure, will run smoothly and with very little friction, and will be very durable." (Lines 11-19) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: July 24, 1877
Creator: Davis, James H. & White, William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Vehicle-Wheels. (open access)

Improvement in Vehicle-Wheels.

Patent for an "invention to provide a vehicle-wheel that is capable of being expanded so as to fit the tire". Patent for an invention to facilitate removing and replacing wagon or buggy tires.
Date: July 10, 1877
Creator: Racer, Martin J.
System: The Portal to Texas History