VERY EARLY BARBED WIRE DESIGN

Barbed wire designed and patented by Mortimer S. Harsha, Chicago, Illinois on July 4, 1876, patent # 179,555. A square nail was used to wedge the barb onto the line wire. The nail tab was also patented by Mortimer S. Harsha on October 17, 1876, patent # 183,299. It was touted as a more secure method of attaching a fence wire to a post than using a staple which allows the wire to slip. Evidently the users did not agree. The nail tabs are extremely rare.