Various Fence and Nail Products offered over the years at Northwestern Steel & Wire Company
STERLING Brand Nails and other wire products were added to the Northwestern product line over the years.
The manufacture of nails was included into the product line during the early years of operation of the Northwestern Barb Wire Company.
The nail manufacturing portion of Northwestern Barb Wire, and in later years of Northwestern Steel & Wire Company, was an important product line and was enlarged over the years to meet the demands of various industries and costumers.
Under the STERLING Wire Product line, Northwestern manufactured the following under the regular nail division: common nails, smooth box, wire spikes, finishing, double-head nails, cement coated sinkers, cement coated box nails, casing nails, blunt point, flooring, galvanized shingle, lath, roofing, foundry, dish-head drywall, plasterboard, fence staples, poultry netting staples, panel staples, siding, and hardboard siding.
In the ring and screw shank nail division, Northwestern manufactured flat washer nails, pole barn, drywall, underlayment, flooring, pallet, roof rafter, common, Deniston lead seal, and gutter spikes.
In the agriculture line, Northwestern manufactured feedlot fence panels of rugged, one-piece construction, which quickly and easily erected onto wood posts using J-bolts or large fence staples. No stretching or bracing was required.
The Du-A-Lot cattle panels were 16-feet long, 55-inches in height, and weight of 55.5 pounds. The hog panels were 16-feet long, 34-inches in height and weigh 41.5 pounds.
Fence Division
STERLING field fence was manufactured in 20-rod rolls with a STA-BRIGHT galvanized coating. It was in the product line starting in 1879.
STERLING brand barbed wire was also STA-BIRGHT galvanized and it was made in two and four point Regular; two and four point Frontier, and the twisted barbless cable, all were available in 80 rod spools.
STERLING poultry fence and extra line netting were also in the Northwestern product line. Other products it the line included electric fence wire, baling wire, steel posts and accessories, merchant quality wire, hardware cloth, fabric-cloth, welded wire fabric, and single loop bale ties.
Products manufactured under the STERLING plastic coated facing line conclude Lawn Guard ornamental fence, flat top Color Guard flower boarder, flat top Color Guard flower border, and Tot and Lot lawn or “play-pen” fence.
Included also in the product line was STERLING Galvanized ornamental fence, ornamental flower boarder, welded yard fence, gates, and numerous metal gate fittings.
STERLING building and reinforcing fabric was manufactured to combat shrinkage while concrete is curing and later prevents cracks or spreading resulting from foundations settling, weather extremes, and load stress. Re-Bar tie-wire was sold in uniform coils of wire produced from 16 gage annealed wire with taped square core. Each three and one-half coil contained approximately 385 feet.
Northwestern maintained its own fleet of trucks for reliable delivery of products to its customers. In addition to the inventory at the mill, the company had warehouse facilities in east and southwest United States.
From top management down to the production employees, where was a spirit of dedication by over 4000 people who took pride in their work with the company. This was the reason Northwestern served the needs of its customers with the attitude: “We’re Big Enough To Server You…. Small Enough To Know You.”
Source, Daily Gazette, Modified by Dana Fellows ~ 2011