Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-06-11

Nearly all The needles used through
out the civilization world are made u
England, the principal factories being
located at Redditeh and other suburbs
Of Birmingham. There ere also fac.
tories In France and Germany, but they
make . comparatively small number.
Probably there Ii no instrument man
ufactured which-Eeceiyes such common
i use by people Of ell classes. The variety
n nee is wonderful; there are about
seventy distinct kinds. and numerous
styles Of each kind. For instance. there
are no less than thirty distinct styles d
surgeons needles, and perhaps there
SIRE as many varieties Of the numerous
other kinds, which include hand, ma
chine, sail, darning, knitting, uphol-
sters', broom, bono, and others too
numerous to mention.
The first known Of matchmaking was
at Nuremberg IN 1910, By Gaamar
Gurton, but these were crude 10 make
and formed Of rough material. That
needles, or something to do their work.
we're in use before that date there can
be little doubt, but nothing has been
told in the records. The FIRST men.
toned Of the needle trade In London
was in 1913, and in 1866 Cromwell
created . corporate body of the needle
makers. The needles then made were
practically the same as those Ia daily
use now, although the facilities Of man
ufacture have greatly improved. The
process Of manufacture requires two or
three weeks, from cutting the wire be-
fore the needle is ready to ship.
The early manufacturers had . verv
simple and awkward workshop, but at
present the greater part Of the work Il
done by machinery. The needles are
cut, pointed, and the eyes stamped 81
one move of the machine. Then the
wire is cut in two between the eyes and
the rough edge fled. Formerly the
points we're ground by nan who held
them to the wheel and had his mouth
tied up with . cloth. Yet the dust
entered his lungs and caused hem
orrhage If he continued at the work any
considerable length OF time. Now the
needles are held by pair Of rubber
hands, which do the work equally well.
The first patent obtained for manu-
featuring needles was taken out by VIM.
Ehoward In 1775. There are no hand.
needles made in this country.
An attempt was made for q time to
manufacture them at Springfield, Mass,
but it was not q financial success.
Nearly ell sewing machine needles are
made here, and they are the only ones
made to any extent outside OF England.
A man named EIlithorpe probably is as
large q manufacturer as Is known here,
and he usually sends to England unless
q small number Of some special style is
wanted. There are long-eyed, round
eyed, egg-eyed and counter-sunk-eyed
needles. The eyes are finished by STRING
ing the needles on q wire and swinging
them rapidly, then the rough rim Is cut
of. and they are put into sacks and
tumbled about for Q time In order to
obtain a polish by their friction upon
each other.
The most complicated and ingenious
needle made is for the knitting machine.
with o hook and automatic latch.
Among other very odd ones are uphol-
sterers, larding and trussing needles.
Then there are the ventilating needle
for wig-makers, the knotting needle for
making false whiskers, the hackle for
hair-dressers, the rug needle and the
sword needle, with two-edged blade,
used for soaking hams. The most ex-
pensive needles are usually surgeons
and broom-makers.
The largest steel needle is nearly two
feet long, and is used In casing hams.
Afghan and crochet needles are made Of
wood or bone usually. The leviathan
crochet and knitting needles are some
times one inch In diameter. Fine steel
crochet needles to be used III handles Of
bone or other material are called tam-
bour needles. Although there Is such
great variety Of needles there is an occa-
sional order from some particular old
bachelor or other eccentric individual
for peculiar needle TO suit his individ.