BARBED WIRE SALESMAN DEMONSTRATOR WITH CARRY CASE

15 7/8" x 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" mahogany carry case with sliding lid containing a 15 1/8 " piece of barbed wire made from 1/4" stainless steel rod. The name "I Lewis" is tattooed under the box cover.

The wire was patented by John D. Curtis of Worcester, Massachussetts, March 28, 1893, no. 494,325. His March 15, 1892 patent #470,747 for 1/2 round barbs with a quarter twist on each end are also a feature of this patent. Mr. Curtis was a very prolific inventor. He did a lot of work for the Washburn and Moen Company located in Worcester. His inventions include a cast iron splice for the Brinkerhoff ribbon wire produced by Washburn & Moen, wire barbing machines, and for an electric welding machine for online welding the ends of drawn wire on spools used in barbed wire machines. His invention increased production. Prior to his invention the barbed wire machines were stopped long enough to manually splice the ends together because the splices would not pass through the barbing mechanisms.

September 2017 - This item won first place in the Advertising category in the Hobby Collections section of the Creative Arts Division of the State Fair of Texas recently. It will be on display there for the duration of the Fair.