Barbed Wire Collection Display, Patents 1874-1894
Add to SetSummary
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
1874-1894
Creators
Northwestern Steel and Wire Company
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 1874-1894.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
89.4.3
Material
Wood (Plant material)
Metal
Paint (Coating)
Plastic
Color
Red
Yellow
Orange (Color)
White (Color)
Black (Color)
Inscriptions
on left display board: MODERN / PLASTIC COATED TWISTED FOUR POINT / STEEL WIRE ALUMINUM COATED 4 PT. / GLIDDEN'S ALL ALUMINUM PAT. 1874 DE KALB, ILL. / ALUMINUM HALF ROUND BARB TWO POINT / GLIDDEN'S ALUMINUM COATED TWO POINT on right side display board: THREE LINE / FLOOD WIRE - GIVES UNDER PRESSURE / UNDERWOOD TACK PAT. 1878 KENOSHA, WIS. / PRESTON'S BRAIDED HORNELLSVILLE N.Y. / CLINE'S RAIL PAT. 1883 JEFFERSON, IOWA / CLEAVELAND'S TWIST PAT. 1894 INDY, IND. / HORSE WIRE SMALL GAUGE COPPER TWISTED / HORSE WIRE HEAVY GAUGE COPPER / HORSE WIRE ONE LINE SOLID COPPER / ROSE ON PARALLEL PAT. 1877 WATERMAN ST ILL. / GLIDDEN 1 LARGE 2 SMALL LINE WIRE'S [sic] / BAKER BARB ON ONE LINE LARGE GAUGE WIRE / GLIDDEN'S LEFT TWIST PAT. 1874 DE KALB ILL. / ED MULCRONE / HOMETOWN. ILL. / U.S.A. handwritten on side: MODERN / THREE-LINE on yellow metal tag: NORTHWESTERN STEEL & WIRE CO. / STERLING, ILLINOIS / SINCE 1870 / Sterling / QUALITY / YOU EXPECT MORE FROM ELECTRIC STEEL / AND YOU GET IT / GREATER STRENGTH AND LONGER LIFE / 80 RODS (14 GAUGE) / 2 PT. SPECIAL / NORTHWESTERN STEEL & WIRE COMPANY / STERLING ILLINOIS on red metal tag: NORTHWESTERN STEEL & WIRE CO. / STERLING, ILLINOIS / SINCE 1870 / Sterling / QUALITY / YOU EXPECT MORE FROM ELECTRIC STEEL / AND YOU GET IT / GREATER STRENGTH AND LONGER LIFE / 80 RODS / 4 PT. REGULAR / 12 1/2 GAUGE / NORTHWESTERN STEEL & WIRE COMPANY / STERLING ILLINOIS on green tag: NORTHWESTERN STEEL & WIRE CO. / STERLING, ILLINOIS / SINCE 1870 / Sterling / QUALITY / YOU EXPECT MORE FROM ELECTRIC STEEL / AND YOU GET IT / GREATER STRENGTH AND LONGER LIFE / 80 RODS / 2 PT.. frontier / 13 1/2 GAUGE - HIGH STRENGTH / NORTHWESTERN STEEL & WIRE COMPANY / STERLING ILLINOIS on orange metal tag: NORTHWESTERN STEEL & WIRE CO. / STERLING, ILLINOIS / SINCE 1870 / Sterling / QUALITY / YOU EXPECT MORE FROM ELECTRIC STEEL / AND YOU GET IT / GREATER STRENGTH AND LONGER LIFE / 80 RODS / 2 PT. REGULAR / 12 1/2 GAUGE / NORTHWESTERN STEEL & WIRE COMPANY / STERLING ILLINOIS on light green tag: NORTHWESTERN STEEL & WIRE CO. / STERLING, ILLINOIS / SINCE 1870 / Sterling / QUALITY / YOU EXPECT MORE FROM ELECTRIC STEEL / AND YOU GET IT / GREATER STRENGTH AND LONGER LIFE / 80 RODS / 4 PT. FRONTIER / 13 1/2 GAUGE - HIGH STRENGTH / NORTHWESTERN STEEL & WIRE COMPANY / STERLING ILLINOIS on gray metal tag: 2 PLY CABLE / 12 1/2 GA / 80 RODS
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