Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-12-10
Pins and Needles.

Inc business OF PIN making was cStab-
lished in this country in 1917, W hen in
consequence of the war with Great Britain,
the price rose from six cents to one dollar
per paper. Invention was consequently
stimulated, and pins were manufactured
at Greenwich, N. Y, or what now consti-
tutes that part of the metropolis in the
vicinity of Christopher street, West side.
At the close of hostilities the efforts were
abandoned, rs we could no longer compete
with English cheap labor ami low rates of
interest. In 1920 The business was resum-
ed at Bellevue almshouSe. but soon was
again abandoned. 1t 1924 Lemuel Wright,
of Massachusetts, invented and patented
in England the first machine that made
solid headed pins. but the enterprise lack
cd encouragement, and it was nearly ten
years subsequent before pins of his make
were sold in London. Perfect pins by this
process were manufactured during the
revolution on II single wheel, and this
machine, Since considerably improved, is
the one used ut present in the largest man.
ufactories of Birmingham.
Since 1924 several Americans have pa
tented machines for making pins. but the
most successful invention was the work of
a Mr.. Fowler. But the entire process is IL
mystery to the unnitiated. and the secret
is carefully kept hidden from curious
eyes. Most of the best American pins are
made in Connecticut after Fowler's pro-
cess. In one establishment are eighty
five machines, which consume annually
many tons of brass or iron wire, and turn
out millions of pins. Brass pins are
whtened by long boiling in copper YES
sells containing block tin. The process of
making white iron pins is still secret
There are eight pin factories in the United
States. with an annual production of about
1000 000, 900 pins.
The first pins manufactured in England
were made at Gloucester in 1926; but
subsequently this industry has established
in Birmingham and that city is now the
headquarters Of the pin trade of Great
Britain. The best English pins are of
superior excellence, and are put up in
green paper; but inferior pins are also
put up in the same way. and are frequent
ly palmed off upon the unsuspecting pur-
chaser rs the genuine production. When
pins were first made in England the raw
material passed through fourteen different
processes before completion, and each of
these processes employed a separate oper-
ative. The operations consisted of straight
cning the wire. pointing, cutting into pin
lengths, twisting wire for heads, annealing
heads. stamping heads, cleaning, whiten-
ing. washing, polishing, winnowing, paper
pricking and putting in papers.
English needles of the best makes are
very elastic, the metal being suitably
nopol and ba oil E,;, ,lol
and FURNISHED, so rs not to cut the thread.
A great many needles are spoilt while in
process of tempering, as the steel of which
they are made is apt to be SO variable in
quality, and in heated state, while UNDER
going chemical action they are easily
injured, Securing is also u delicate oper-
alton. and needles when uot properly
hardened and polished are always of in
ferior strength, and quickly accumulate
rust.
Pin papers are marked by the use of a
nodded peice of wood which corresponds
to those portions representing the small
folds, through which the holes are made
for the pins to be secured. The pin stick
er, usually n girl gathers two of the folds
together, and places these between the
jaws of a vice having grooves to serve as II
guide for the entry of the pins. When
filled the paper is released, and held up so
that the eye of the expert Mt once detects
every defective pin and causes its re-
moval.
Pins are of very ancient invention, as
they were manufactured by the Egyptians
in the time of the Pharaohs. Many of
these useful articles were found in the
tombs of the kings in the pyramids. Some
of them were of quite elaborate manufac-
ture. and must have been costly, rs they
had gold heads and were six to eight
Inches in length. Needles are also sup
posed to be of great antiquity, and their
introduction into Europe is said to have
taken place at the time of the Saracen
invasion and conquest of Spain. The first
needles made in England were manufac-
tured Mt London by u negro who came
there from Spain during the reign of
Queen Mary. lie died without impartng
the secret OF his art; but it was subsequent
ly recovered in 1865 by one Elias Growse.
A century later, one Christopher Greening
was instrumental in establishing factory
at Long Crcadon, Buckinghamshire.