By the 1950s meat production was the primary concern of American farmers, with this came an increasing demand for the modern cowboy. During the 1950s and 1960s livestock transportation shifted from a reliance on trains to trucks. This allowed cattle to be sold at local markets as opposed to be brought to a central distribution center. Despite the changing climate of the livestock industry, methods of containing animals remained the same, fences.
Patented in 1945 by James Birch this multipurpose tool helped the twentieth century cowboys repair fencing. The tool’s body is made up of a large ring intended to fit over the horn of a saddle or fit within a pocket. It was small enough to stay with the cowboys, despite their nomadic lifestyles. The tool functioned as a wire bender, gripper, and of course, a hammer. The hammer reads: “Atomic Glaskin MFG, Patent Pending”