The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-09-09
A Paper Of Pins.

"Pins and poking- sticks of STEEL "-Shaks.
What pleasant jingling of pins we find
all through Shakespeare's plays, sometimes
suggestive of uncounted abundance, as.
mot worth pin;'' occasionally bearing
under the shadow of pithy sentence some
seed OF homely, perhaps unwelcome truth.
"To give crowns like pins" passing into
a proverb, expresses world-embracing
benevolence. All very charming this fla
vor of freedom and thrift, but times have
been when these now most common and
prosaic little implements were luxuries
indeed, nay more, time was when they
were not, at least as we enjoy them,
"slender, glittering shafts,'' without which
no household is fully equipped.
Looking back, we find it recorded of the
fair damsels who fiuttered about the Eng
fish court in the thirteenth century, that
they FUSED skewers of bone, ivory, or box
wood, in the arrangement of the toilet. y
We wonder, in an unsatisfed way, how the
delicate fabrics of tissue, gauze, and
fieecy netting, of marvellous device and
cost were deftly tucked into place. A
little later, in 1457, tho year following the
memorable battle of Cressy, the great want
was met, in SO far at least as one grand lady
was concerned, for it is told us that "for
the Princess Joan, twenty thousand pynnes
were ordered"
Until the middle of the sixteenth century
large, heavy articles were mostly in vogue,
fashioned sometimes of silver and gold,
and not unfrequently precious stones were
for this use pressed into beauty's service.
We read of one belle of the period, who,
Gin addition to much rich apparelling,"
with
"A sapphire bodkn for her hair"
stepped bravely into the arena of fashion
able life. Times of improvement were
dawning, for history certiies that "pins,
girdles, 'broideries, and rings" were now
accounted necessities in the outfit of grand
or titled ladies': "the better Sort" it is
added, "being supplied from the CONT
nent''
How the old story repeats itself! In
Egyptian tombs, pins have been found,
much resembling in general style and size
the old Continental and English articles
just mentioned, with difference, however,
in favor of Oriental artisans and the
resources of the market to be supplied
These ancient implements were often seven
or eight inches in length, exquisitely headed
with gold, and richly wrought.
Less fancifully inclined, the ancient Mex
lean danes appropriated as fasteners" of
their simple attire, the long tapering thorns
of the agave, a most convenient and
decidedly attractive natural pin,-each
household doubtless commanding at its
very door as it were, without cost or trou-
bic, an ever-thriving, never barren, family
pin-cushion.
Importation from the Continent must
have been active before 1883, for it was
then interrupted by a prohibitery statute.
France, we are told, had become the great
"
and "Eith reservation and much oversight
on the part of the authorities" it was
allowed modest place among the mechan-
ical enterprises of the day. 1t was, how
ever, deemed of sufficient importance to
call forth "Statutes" concerning the
ancient pin makers of that section, which
in these later times seems odd and strange.
One, most stringently enforced, was,
that no master should open more than
one shop for the sale of his wares, except
on New Years day and the eve thereof. I"
the charming simplicity of county cavalier
or honest burgher. purchasing for the ladies
of his circle, as rare and acceptable New
Years gifts, box of these small, glitter
ing implements!
In the reign of Henry the Eighth, the
making of brass pins became so important
a trade as to claim the attention of the
crown, and an Act was passed "For the
true making of pynnes, to wit, that no
person shall put to sale any pynnes but
only such as shall be double-headed, and
have the head soldered fast to the shank,
the pynnes we'll smoothed, and the shank
we'll sharpened." Improvements soon
made the statute of no Importance.
In 1926 pin-making establishment was
set up in Gloucester, and became SO pros
porous that in little time fifteen hundred
persons found there steady employment
Ten years later, London could boast man.
ufactory bidding fair to Guido the Glouces-
ter interest. Birmingham followed suit,
soon becoming the nucleus of trade in this
as we'll as in other noted manufacturing
operations in England.
The old English method involved four
teen distinct processes: everything was
done by hand. The crimping of the
papers, the final disposition of the pins in
them ready for market, was accomplished
principally by women and children
Machinery, the result Of much thought
and deep calculation, has utterly changed
the character of this branch of business,
that of rapidly and elegantly "papering -
them, being considered one of the most
curious and admirable inventions.
In the United States making was
first begun soon after the war of 1912,
when in consequence of the interruption to
commerce, the value of paper of pins
was not less than one dollar, and, that, too,
for such as can now be purchased for six
cents. From year to year trials were made,
improvements gave encouragement to labor,
and in 1924 Wright's patent gave to the
world the first continuance for making, by
machinery, solid-headed pins. In 1882
Howe's machines were patented in this
country, and four years later introduced
into New York. These were for making
pins with wire or "spun heads" like those
imported from England, and are considered
the first self.acting machines by which the
pin was entirely completed by one success
full process. The improved processes have
materially diminished the weight of the
pins, consequently less brass is consumed
in furnishing the same quantity.
Pins have recently been made of iron