[2][3] On November 15, 1930, in Aurora, Illinois, Harry Barber made a sketch of a new machine that became the asphalt paver.

Dense-graded mixes that were common on city streets the machine experienced problems including surface imperfections.

In 1933, Barber's son Ashley joined the company and in the same year the independent floating screed was developed.

This screed, along with the tamper bar that permitted uniform material density of the finished surface were the two key features that made the machine successful.

By 1934, production had started on the model 79 paver which featured a feeder conveyor to move the material to the auger.

Barber-Greene shut down its manufacturing plant in Aurora, Illinois in 1985 and was later purchased by Astec Industries of Chattanooga, Tennessee in late 1986.