Beautifully engraved certificate from Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Company issued in 1884. This historic document was printed by J.H. Bufford's Sons and has an ornate border around it with a vignette of the company's manufacturing facility. This item is hand signed by the Company's President ( Phillip Moen ) and Secretary ( Charles Washburn ) and is over 118 years old. This is the first time we have had this for sale.
Certificate Vignette In 1868, the Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Company was organized with Philip Moen becoming president and treasurer. The firm grew to be one of the largest wire producers in the United States. In 1890, the company established a rolling mill and barbed wire producing plant in Waukegan, Illinois. Phillip Moen died April 28, 1890. Moen was survived by his wife, one son, and two daughters. In 1895, the Washburn and Moen Manufacturing Company was producing 100,000 tons of barbed wire annually. The Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Company is responsible for many innovations in the manufacture of wire. By 1870, the company had developed a continuous wire rod mill allowing for unlimited production of wire and had begun development of automatic reels needed to speed up production.