St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-05
MAKING PINS.
A Description of the Manufacture
of q Very Useful Article.


ola Very Useful Article. .
London Queen.
The manufacture of pin was very
tedious process when entirely made by
hand; no less than twelve or thirteen
processes had it to pass through before
it was completed; the wonderful ma
chinery now in use has much simplified
matters. First of all, the wire must be
prepared.
1t is placed in coil on revolving
block and drawn through holes pierced
in steel plate until it is of the size re-
quired for the particular pin to be made.
1t is then taken to the pin-making
room, where we find rows of machines
moved by steam power, and producing
a constant stream of pins at the rate OF
100 to 200 per minute, which are re-
moved from the receptacle into which
they fall by the workman and his
attendants, who look after the proper
working of the machines.
If we stand in front of a machine we
see a coil of brass wire on revolving
drum. The end of the wire passes
through hole. and then between pegs.
which straighten the wire and keep it
in place as it is drawn into the machine.
LII IllS W. OCC pan VI
sliding pincers take hold of the wire,
carry it forward short distance and
put the end through a hole in small
iron plate. Watch carefully and we see
pretty little hammer strike the end as
soon as it appears on the other side of
the iron plate.
By successive plows of this hammer
the head is made. This done, down
falls sharp blade and cuts the wire
into the length required for the pin.
The machine can be adjusted to cut the
pins any length desired.
This process of drawing in, heading
and cutting off goes on continuously,
and the pids are thus carried on to the
pointing part of the machine.
The pointless pin now falls into
slanting groove just wide enough for it,
but to narrow to let the head through.
Thus we see row of pins hanging by
their heads nearly the whole length of
the machine. Beneath is a revolving
cylindrical file.
The surface of the cylinder represents
a series of graduated files, on which, as
they are worked backward and forward,
The pins are pointed. They fall into
receptacle below. but as they are yell
low, the color of brass wire, they are
also greasy.
They are now put into barrels, which
are turned round and round, and by this
means thoroughly secured and cleaned,
and are now put into kettles heated by
steam. and spread about as evenly as
possible.
A powder of fine tin is then spread
over them, and certain portion of acid
added. In this they are boiled forab out
four hours.
When taken out they are found to be
covered with thin coating of tin, which
gives them the bright and lively appear
ance which all pins possess.
The pins are then dried by being
thrown into sawdust, and polished by
being put into barrels revolyed by
machinery. Thence they are placed
into fiat tray, and the workmen, by
peculiar tossing motion which requires
much skill, separate all the dust from
the pins. which are now clean, bright
and ready for use.
There is a very ingenious machine
used for sticking" the pins which are
to be sent to the market on papers. The
paper is placed on piece of curved
metal and crimped and placed in posi-
passed out of a receptacle at the top of
the machine by girl, who, with
brush, deXterouSly sweeps them into
grooves placed in an . inclined plane
leading down to the paper.
Thus arranged, they pass down the
machine in long lines, and by lever
the paper is brought under the pins,
and by beautiful bit of machinery they
are pressed through the crimpled edges
of the paper. Thus, row by row, the
whole sheet is filled.