Posts Tagged ‘history’

When I stumbled into this website a while back, my first reaction was “huh?  barbed wire?.”  Of course I had to check this out.  Officially chartered in 1991 as The Historical Museum Of Barbed Wire and Fencing Tools, is a non-profit entity dedicated to preserving the history and artifacts of barbed wire.  The complex, located on Route 66 in McLean, Texas, houses The Devil’s Rope Museum, The Texas Old Route 66 Museum, The Western Heritage Community Room, The Hagemeier Library, and the Museum Mercantile, a large souvenir store.

Even if you don’t give a hoot about barbed wire, their website (http://www.barbwiremuseum.com/index.htm) is a good read, encompassing almost 150 years of American history and the barbed wire woven through it.  Who invented barbed wire, making the wire, how it affected the West, the Fence Cutter Wars, use in warfare, how it attained the moniker “Devil’s Rope”, etc.  Thoroughly enjoyable and informative – students, teachers and historians will find this particularly helpful.

Seen one, seen them all?  Not quite.  There are over 570 patented wires with over 2,000 variations.  Two patents became the most practical and successful, leaving the rest to become part of history and varying from common to very scarce.  Wonderful drawings including clear descriptions take some of the mystery out of the different types of barbs.

Other sections of this website include a special library with recommended reading list, how to identify barbed wire, where it can be purchased, and what is going on today in the barbed wire collecting hobby.  A new wire collection Appraisal Service is now offered for tax, estate, or insurance purposes.

There’s a lot more here:  cattle brands and history, McLean POW camp, Texas Route 66 information.  Artist Al Martin Napoletano is featured with some of his works.  Closely associated with the barbed wire collecting hobby since the early 1970s, Napoletano is a rodeo circuit artist and has illustrated many books.

If you’re planning to travel in Texas, the museum has information about Texas Route 66, The City of McLean, Texas and other nearby areas.  You can see the first restored Phillips Service Station in Texas, learn all about the McLean Prisoner of War Camp built during WWII, stay in a vintage Route 66 Motel, and eat at the world famous Red River Steak House.

Take a look at the museum dedicated to barbed wire – “whose existence is both absolutely beneficial to progress, at times cruel beyond comprehension, caused drastic changes in world-wide warfare, and yet protects our lives twenty-four hours each day.  What more intrigue could you ask of any subject presented to you?”

Tell ‘em I sent ya ~ Victoria

For those of you who collect carnival glass (or wish you did), the go-to website for information is David Doty’s Carnival Glass Website at http://www.ddoty.com/index.html.  No registration or membership required, David graciously shares his information with all.

Over 1600 pages and 4000 photographs covers more than 1100 patterns including estimated prices.  Indexed by name, shape, motif, and maker, the chances are you can identify your piece even if you start out clueless.  Using the Google site search, you can quickly narrow down specifics from even the vaguest beginning.

Overlapping categories make navigating this site a breeze.  Besides the indexes mentioned, a comprehensive list of categories can take you right to information you need; back patterns, maker marks, edge treatments, colors, tumblers, vase identification, lighting, ashtrays, common geometric patterns, novelties,  rarities, whimsies, oddities, and a whole lot more.

What’s a swung vase?  The Illustrated Glossary can answer that and more.  New to Carnival Glass?  There’s a special section just for you.  History of carnival glass, how it’s made, contemporary carnival glass, fakes, price trends, upcoming events, and even helpful information on buying a digital camera.

The photos are excellent – close-up with all the detail.  A great deal of the information within this site can be used as reference for any type of glass.  Visit http://www.ddoty.com/index.html and consider making a donation.  For less than the cost of a carnival glass book, you can help keep this website going strong, continually providing more and updated information.

Visit, see and learn.  Tell ‘em I sent ya.  ~ Victoria