HARBAUGH REINFORCED RIBBON BARBED WIRE

The Harbaugh story is an interesting one. Joseph Harbaugh was an employee at Consolidated Barbed Wire Company, Lawrence, Kansas, owned by Albert Henley. Harbaugh was issued the patent for this style wire. There is no mention of his assigning the patent to Consolidated so I suppose he retained the rights to the patent and was paid commission on all of the wire produced. That is an assumption on my part as I have no proof. As shown on the display the Consolidated Barbed Wire Company was sold to the Washburn & Moen Company in Gardner, Massachussetts and the Harbaugh designed ribbon wire was manufactured with other patented barbs.