Galvanization Changed Things

Before galvanization, tubs, buckets, and other large containers had been made from wood. Nails came from a blacksmith and rusted easily, therefore wooden pegs were also still used. Galvanization changed all this. Some of the older generation may even remember taking a bath in a galvanized tub.

Galvanizing applies a zinc coating to iron or steel to keep it from rusting. The first patent for the process came in France in 1837, but the earliest example came from India in the 1600's on armor. Galvanization just slows down the process of rusting but doesn't completely stop it. Since it is a thin layer applied to the exposed areas, a dent will cause the metal to rust quickly. Yet, galvanized

items are expected to last around 50 years in non-coastal climates and 25 years in a coastal environment.

Not only did galvanization revolutionize the container industry so that buckets and tubs no longer were commonly made from wood,

but now nails no longer rusted so quickly, and farm and ranch fencing changed to barbed wire. All of these had a tremendous effect on America as other galvanized products arrived. The first U. S. patent for this new fencing was given to Lucien Smith of Kent, Ohio in 1867. Many different styles of barbs developed, and over 2,000 different varieties were used.

I know of two museums dedicated to just barbed wire. The one I've visited is in LaCrosse, Kansas, and there's also the Devil's Barbed Wire Museum in McLean, Texas.  In addition there are various societies and associations for barbed wire.

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