Barbed Wire Collection Display, Patents 1876-1881
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Inventors received hundreds of patents for barbed wire during the late 1800s. Some innovators created strands of fencing with sharp metal points cut into the wire; others incorporated small wire spurs twisted and attached to the wire to create a painful barrier. Each inventor believed their variation made the best fencing to keep livestock out of crop fields or confine them to pastures.
Inventors received hundreds of patents for barbed wire during the late 1800s. Some innovators created strands of fencing with sharp metal points cut into the wire; others incorporated small wire spurs twisted and attached to the wire to create a painful barrier. Each inventor believed their variation made the best fencing to keep livestock out of crop fields or confine them to pastures.
Artifact
Showcase
Date Made
1876-1881
Creators
Place of Creation
United States, Illinois, Hometown
Creator Notes
Display made by Ed Mulcrone of Hometown, Illinois. Barbed wires found in display made by numerous makers and patent date ranges from 1876-1881.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
89.4.1
Material
Wood (Plant material)
Metal
Paint (Coating)
Color
Red
Yellow (Color)
Blue
White (Color)
Black (Color)
Dimensions
Height: 42 in (Closed)
Width: 22 in (Closed)
Length: 5 in (Closed)
Inscriptions
on left display board: SINGLE LINE / NAIL AND CLAMP STAPLE ON SINGLE LINE / SCUTT'S "BUTTERFLY" SINGLE LINE - JOLIET, ILL. / ALLEN'S FOUR POINT TWISTED BARB 1876 CRESTON, ILL. / MERRILL'S TWIRL FLAT WIRE 1876 TURKEY RIVER STA, IOWA / GLIDDEN'S SQUARE LINE WIRE 1876 DEKALB, ILL. / GLIDDEN'S OVAL PAT - 1876 DEKALB ILL / MERRILL'S "BUFFALO HOLDFAST" TWIRL SINGLE LINE / NELSON'S "CLIP" PAT. 1876 - ONE LINE CRESTON, ILL. / KENNEDY BARB INSTALLED ON SMOOTH WIRE FENCE / HANGING TWO POINT BARB ON SINGLE LINE / ALLIS PARALLEL BARB PAT. 1880 NEW YORK, N.Y. / NEW ROCK SAW HIGH TINSEL TWISTED WIRE / BRINKERHOFF'S TWISTED RIBBON 1881 AUBURN, N.Y. / T. V. ALLIS BARBLESS RIBBON WIRE 1881 N.Y., N.Y. on right side display board: ORNAMENTAL / HATHAWAY-WOODARD'S EDGE WEAVE PAT. 1890 / FINGRAHAM LOOP HITCH PAT. 1892 / D. SMITH VINEYARD PAT. 1897 YONKERS, N.Y. / J. CLEAVELAND 4 STRAND PAT. 1894 INDY IND / M. SHELLABERGER ZIGZAG PAT. 1891 BEAVER FALLS PA / MINE CABLE USED FOR FENCING / PEANUT FENCE WIRE / MINE CABLE CUT IN HALF NEV-COLORADO / D. SMITH SNOW FENCE PAT. 1897 YONKERS N.Y. / M. SHELLABERGER GRAPE WIRE PAT. 1891 N.Y. / MESH RIBBON SEVENTEEN STRAND BRAID / SPRING JOINT FOUND IN SHEEP FENCES / KILMER'S WINDOW STRIP PAT. 1885 SCHENECTADY N.Y. / J. HOLLNER "GREENBRIAR" PAT. 1878 ITHICA, NEB. handwritten on side: SINGLE LINE / ORNEMENTAL [sic] WIRE
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