Posted 13 years ago
railman
(30 items)
Images 1 and 2 are the Harsha Pin Lock Barb patented in 1876 by Mortimer Harsha of Chicago, Ill. (Hagemeier #192 B)
Images 3 and 4 are the Dent Paired Barbed Ribbon patented in 1897 by Samuel Dent of Jansville, OH. (Hagemeier #980 B) This is one of the more primitive designs which seems easy enough to make. This example has 4 sets of paired holes and they alternate from which side of the ribbon they were punched, giving points to both sides of the ribbon.
It is interesting to discuss the orientation of many of these wires. While the Dent is fairly obvious, the Harsha probably was oriented horizontally with the barb below the single line wire. Vertically would have served little purpose. We often change the orientation on the original fence to display the wires in our collection.
Really nice Harsha! How many barbs?
It has only 2 but there both in great shape. Picked it up in Bullhead City earlier this year.
Would really love to have a 3 barb Harsha. The spacing would allow it. Never seen one. Interesting how collecting has evolved. The Harsha was found and cut up before there were unwritten rules for a specimen. Fewer cuts would have been the result had it been cut three barbs. That would have made it even more rare.
Do you have a 1046B? I've never seen one.
I don't have it. I believe our friend from Stanley, NM had one last year when I visited. Most likely it is long gone, but you should ask him anyway.