Manufactured Under Columbia Patent License
In the early days of the manufacturing of barb wire by the Northwestern Barb Wire Company, the product was produced and tagged with a “Columbia Patent”.
The Panhandle – Plains Historical Review explains why as follows
“In 1891, the Columbia Patent Company was formed, being an organization composed of the licenses of Washburn and Moen. The Columbia Patent Company purchased from Washburn and Moen, the barbed-wire patents.
The royalty from the patents were fixed at one dollar per ton, subject to a rebate, and continued at this rate, almost without exception throughout the period during which the royalties were collected. A rebate of 70 cents per ton was paid during the six months period ending May 31st, 1893, and thereafter gradually increased until the end of the royalty period, at which time ninety-seven cents per ton was being refunded.
At the expiration of the royalty period covered by the licenses issued by the Columbia Patent Company, June 28th, 1904, the licensees were: John A. Roebling’s Sons, Dillon Criswold Wire Company, Jamesville Barb Wire Company and the American Steel and Wire Company.”
As a result of the licensing arrangement and the switch to Glidden wire, the Northwestern Barb Wire Company factory was enlarged and new machinery was installed.
In one account, it is reported that in a six-month period in 1884, sixty-five men worked night and day on thirty-five machines and produced 400 cars (4,000 tons), of barbed wire.
Paul W. Dillon, son of Washington Dillon, related that there was a nail “pool” similar to the barbed wire pool. Each plant was allowed to make an assigned quantity of nails and an inspector was stationed at each plant to see that the assigned volume was not exceeded and that the production was recorded accurately.
Northwestern was allowed to make 500 kegs of nails a day and sell them for $1.00 a keg. A keg contained 100 pounds.
The nail making machines used by Northwestern were made by Bates at Joliet, Ill., from whom the company later also bought wire drawing and galvanizing equipment.
In 1892, however, Washington Dillon had formed another business relationship, this time with J. W. Criswold, and this new obligation was given his primary attention during the 10 preceding years of the company’s history.
Retrieved From The Daily Gazette by Dana Fellows ~ 2011
Transcribed by Rachel Fellows ~ 2011