The Early History of Window Screens
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Art Screens Onsite KC, all we do is help Kansas City area homeowners and business owners rescreen their windows, doors, patios, porches and other screen enclosures and while the technology of screens has certainly advanced, screens actually a long history. It’s easy to take window and porch screens for granted because most of us have never really been without them throughout our lives but the use of screens and their history goes a back around 200 years.
Window, Porch and Screen Door Repair in Kansas City, Lees Summit and Liberty, MO
Cloth and more specifically cheesecloth was used on windows for centuries prior to the invention of woven wire window screens as we know them today to keep bugs and insects out of homes but cloth obviously had it’s limitations. While cheesecloth did allow air to come through windows, it didn’t last long because it obviously would tear quite easily and it didn’t allow much visibility through it. It wasn’t until around 1823 that the term “wove wire for window screens” was referenced in the American Farmer which was a series of periodical books that gave updates on life in rural farming communities among other topics.
Gilbert and Bennett factory
In 1861, a Connecticut based struggling company due to the Civil War called Gilbert and Bennett, which produced wire mesh screens for food processing, realized that their screens could be painted to prevent rusting and used in windows. At that point, Gilbert and Bennett shifted the focus of their company to solely to producing window screens or “wire cloth” as it was termed back then which revolutionized the ability to keep a home cool while keeping disease carrying insects like mosquitoes from being able to enter as well. In fact by the 1950’s most parasitic diseases in the United States had been mostly eradicated as a direct result of the widespread use of window screens. Today’s screen material is far superior to the wire mesh that was produced and used in the 1800’s as we no longer have to rely on alloy to produce screens. Modern screen material is more often than not fiberglass or a mix of materials to increase strength and durability.
Screens Onsite KC is Kansas City’s window and porch screen experts with the most advanced screen materials available that last years longer than standard screens you’ll find at your local hardware store. We make it easy to have your windows, porch and/or doors rescreened because we come to you in the greater Kansas City area. Call us today for a quote at (816) 406-8300 or CLICK HERE FOR OUR ONLINE QUOTE FORM.
Screens Onsite KC Repairs and/or Replaces All Types Of Screens In the Greater Kansas City Area At Your Home Or Business Because We Come To You! Call (816) 406-8300 For A Quote Today!
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