Apparatus for Obtaining a Vacuum. (open access)

Apparatus for Obtaining a Vacuum.

Patent for a new and improved vacuum. This design utilizes a liquid pump, plates, tubes and valves to make "about as perfect a vacuum . . . as can be obtained by an ordinary pump" (lines 53-55).
Date: July 27, 1880
Creator: Ward, Lyman Henry
System: The Portal to Texas History
APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ICE. (open access)

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ICE.

Patent for "a new and improved Apparatus for the Manufacture of Ice" (lines 3-4)
Date: July 13, 1880
Creator: Zilker, Andrew J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bale-Ejector for Presses. (open access)

Bale-Ejector for Presses.

Patent for the improvement in cotton-bale presses or compressors; and it has for its object to provide a means whereby the bale, after being properly compressed, will be automatically ejected from the press, as more fully hereinafter specified.
Date: December 7, 1880
Creator: Riesel, Henry
System: The Portal to Texas History
BED-BOTTOM (open access)

BED-BOTTOM

Patent for "a new and useful improvement in bed bottoms". The bed bottom fits any bedstead and it is cheap, portable, and durable.
Date: July 13, 1880
Creator: Pafford, John R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
BIRD-CAGE (open access)

BIRD-CAGE

Patent for a new and improved combined Bird-Cages and Fly-Traps. The improvements include the use of netting or wire gauze, making holes at the bottom of the cage to insert feed-cups or let flies in when the cage is used to catch flies, and placing a ring over the seed-cups in order to prevent insects or flies from getting into the cage when it is used as a bird-cage.
Date: July 6, 1880
Creator: Pinter, Francis T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
BOOK-RACK (open access)

BOOK-RACK

Patent for a book rack that can be used as book-rest.
Date: July 6, 1880
Creator: Murphy, James
System: The Portal to Texas History
BUCKLE (open access)

BUCKLE

Patent for "a new and improved buckle" (lines4-5)
Date: July 20, 1880
Creator: Bardwell, Henery G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
CAR-BRAKE (open access)

CAR-BRAKE

Patent for new and useful improvements for Caboose Cars' brakes. The brakes can be applied from within the car, and no strain is applied to the car frame or body.
Date: July 20, 1880
Creator: Dwyer, Denis R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Planter and Cultivator. (open access)

Cotton Planter and Cultivator.

Patent for improvements in cotton planters and cultivators by “attaching one or more levers to the axle which are pivoted to a frame below the axle, in which the levers are also connected with the caster-wheel in front, whereby the frame may be raised so as to elevate the cultivators above the earth.” (Lines 14-19) Illustration is included.
Date: July 27, 1880
Creator: Walsh, James D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Earth Borer and Excavator (open access)

Earth Borer and Excavator

Patent for an Improvement in Earth Boring and Excavating Machines whereby the machines may operate continuously except for the addition of shaft and belt sections.
Date: July 24, 1880
Creator: Carley, John Wesley
System: The Portal to Texas History
Grain Toller. (open access)

Grain Toller.

Patent for a new and improved grain toller. This design "consists in a novel construction of a revolving cylinder provided with cavities representing certain measures . . . separating a certain portion [of grain] to be retained as toll, and whereby, also, provision is made for varying the size of the toll-measure, so as to enable it to separate different proportions from the main body of the grain, according to the amount of toll to be taken" (lines 7-19).
Date: July 20, 1880
Creator: Wilson, William John
System: The Portal to Texas History
Running-Gear for Wagons (open access)

Running-Gear for Wagons

Patent for a new and improved wagon coupling. The invention is related to "king-bolts and coupling devices that connect the forward axle of wagons, carriages, and other vehicles." (lines 8-9)
Date: July 13, 1880
Creator: Fowler, Joseph C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sulky-Plow (open access)

Sulky-Plow

Patent for a new and useful improvement in Sulky-Plows. The invention utilizes "a novel construction-levers, and arrangement of hangers, braces, and levers, whereby provision is made for the attachment of plow-beams of different sizes, and for adjusting the parts" (lines 7-11)
Date: July 20, 1880
Creator: Powell, Louis W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Valve-Gear for Engines. (open access)

Valve-Gear for Engines.

Patent for "a new and useful improvement in Steam-Engine Valve-Gears." The invention consists in "combining with a crank-shaft and a valve-shaft a lever, shaft, and two friction-wheels" (lines 4-9)
Date: July 6, 1880
Creator: Josserand, Peter
System: The Portal to Texas History