The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-09-25
Pins aaa NeedIe..

A4in NAa MUuuiu1f
Pins are of very ancient inSention, as
they were manufactured by tho Egyptians
ID the time Of the Phsroahs. Many Of
these usefs,i articles were found 10 the
tolnbs Of her Kings 10 the Pyramids
Some Of them were Of quite elaborate
manufacture, and must have been costly,
as they had gold heads and we're 6 to 8
inches in length. Needles are also suppos-
ed 70 be Of great antiquity, and their in
PRODUCTION ia Europe Il said to have taken
place at the time Of the Sarncen invasion
and conquest Of Spain The first needles
made in England wero manufactured at
London BY q negro, who came there from
Spain during the reign Of Qneeu Mary.
lie died without imparting the secret Of
his art; but it was subsequently, recovered
in 1865 by one Elias Growse. A centu-
ry later one Christopher Greening was in.
strumental ia establishing q factory at
Long Creadon, in Buckinghamshire.
The first pins manufactured in England
werc made at Gloucester in 1896; but
subsequently, this industry was established
in Birmingham, aud that city Is now tho
headquarters Of the pin trade Of Great
Britain. The best English pins are Of
superior excellence, and are put up ia
green paper; but inferior pins are also put
up in the same way, and are frequently
palmed of upon the unsuspecting purchas-
er as the genuine production. When pins
were first made in England the raw mate
rial passed through fourteen different pro-
cesses before completion, and each of these
processes required separate operation.
The operations consisted Of strengthening
the wire, pointing, cutting into pin lengths
twisting wire for heads, annealing heads,
stamping heads, cleaning, Whitening,
washing, polishing, winnowing, paper-prick-
ing, and putting in papers.
The business Of pin making was esiab-
lished 10 this country in 1872, when. in
: consequence Of the war with Great Bri-
tain, the price rose from six cents to one
dollar per paper. Invention was subse-
quently stimulated, and pins vera manu-
! featured at Greenwich, New York, or
|. what now constitutes that part Of the me-
tropolis in the vicinity Of Christopher
street, west side. At the close Of hostili-
ties the effort was abandoned, as we could
no longer compete with English cheap la
{ Dor and low rates Of interest. 10 1920
e the business was resumed at Bellevue
Almshouse, but soon was again abandoned.
J In 1924 Lemuel Wright, Of Massachusetts,
invented and patented IN England the first
Z machine that made solid-headed pins, but
! the enterprise lacked encouragement, and
= 1t was nearly ten years subsequent before
pins Of his make were sold in London.
Perfect pins were by this process manu-.
tactured during the revolution Of single
= wheel, and this machine, since considera.
q bly, improved, is the one used at tpreseut il
y the largest manufactures in Birmingham
% Since 1924 several Americans hav,
y patented machines for making pins, bu
q the most successful invention was the worl
aa Of Mr. Fowler But the entire process
=. Is mystery to the unintialed, aud tn
~ secret is carefully kept hidden from curl
ns Gus eyes. Most Of tho best America
pins are made 10 Connecticut, after Fow
lers process. IL one establishment ar
eighty-6ve machines, which consume az
IN nually many tons Of brass or iron wir,
and turn out millions Of pins. Brass piu
are whitened by long boiling in copps
vessels containing block tin. The procei
's'i Of making white iron pins is still secre
90 There are eight pin factories ia the Unite
W States with an annual production Of abou
art 100000, 900 pins.
Pin-papers arc marked by the use Of
'rn nodded piece Of wood, which correspond
'fai to those portions representing the sma
folds, through which the holes are mad
oi for the pins to be secured. The pin.stick
~, er usually girl, gathers two Of the fold
~ together, and places these between th
'us jaws Of a vice having grooves to serve
~ a guide for the entry Of the pins Whel
% the paper is released and he:d up 80 tina
the eye Of the expert at once detects ever
IN defective pin, and causes its removal.
a Needles differ from pins in being mad
nc Of steel, and having an eye for the recep
&C tion Of the thread, sharper point, and
!, highly polished body English needles o
lit the best makes are very elastic, the meta
,e being suitably tempered, and the eyes al
le finely finished and FURNISHED, SO as not &
lo cut the thread A great many needle
are spoiled while in the process Of temper
fe ing, as the steel Of which they are mad
ne is apt to be so variable in quality, and il
:, a heated state, while undergoing ehemica
10 action, they are easily injured Scourin,
is also delicate operation, and needle
re when properly hardened and polished ar,
le always Of inferior strength and quickly ac
), cnmulate rust.-N. y Mercanti1e Joanal
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