The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-10-03

A Description Of tho Process by which
They are Made.


An old needle maker In the Hosiery
ana Knit Goods journal tells tho fol-
lowing interesting story in regard 10
the manufacture of knitting needless
No doubt IL would prove Of interest TO
readers. especially 10 those directly
engaged in knitting. 10 know the num-
Der OF different processes spring
needle has 10 go through before II is
ready TO leave the factory finished for
the knittor. The needles are mado
from tho best English east steel. cs-
pecially imported for this purpose In
rings or coils, OF all different sizes or
cages according TO the gage needle re-
CURED OF course there are several
different sizes or shapes Of needles,
which would at present take up too
much room il we should attempt TO
describe them an. We will therefore.
confne ourselves 90 the common round
frame needle, which is the cheapest
needle now In use.
The wire is first straightoned by be-
ing drawn through wire straightener.
then cut in lengths for the needle re-
quired, or rather they are cut double
the length required. since they can
then re handled much easier. They
are now taken and put through mill
ing machine which mills them down
10 the thickness required NJ the board.
milling at the same timo both ends "
The wire the same. Now they are
taken and ground and pounded 20 the
shape wanted. as the milling machine
leaves the barrel too wide. with burr
ON the edges which would crt the yarn.
After they have been ground and
/ pointed up the next process Is 20 get
/ the eye for the point OF tho beard. ac-
complished by means OF bag "A punch
and die, and punched ono at time.
1t Is now taken from the press and
4 the swell caused by the punching taken
from the eye, so the yarn will slip over
i the needle without catching. This Is
done by grinding, when they are put
through machine 90 be- crumped or
ia other words trim the boards. AT
this stage OF the work they are quick
~ but carefully examined by compe-
tent sorters and all imperfect work
thrown away.
Long experience has demonstrated
that there are now as far rs they can
be worked 10 double advantage. Con-
sequcntly they are now cut In two and
made the required length. Then they
are cranked or battened TO hold them
in the knitting machine. A cranked
needle has little turned square shank
which fits into ~ trick. aud battened
needle IL fattcned on the end instead
OF the shank and IL cast In compost
ton Of lead and block tin the tin be-
ing put in 10 make tho lead hard
enough 10 prevent the needles from
working loose.
After they are crnnked or battened
they are tied up in bundles containing
from seycnty-hve TO 100. In this bun
die form they are ready for the most
particular and delicate operation Of
ALL viz. tempering. IL matters not
how perfect the needle is formed. II Il
Is not tempered right IL Is OF no value.
They are tempered In oil and char
coal being first hardened and then
drawn 10 spring temper. whom the
oil is wiped of. and they are put in a.
rolling barrel" machine and rolled
I'm emery to make them smooth. whence
they are put In another rolling bar
rcl - filed with sawdust. otc., which
gives them polish
An inspection follows. when any liz.
tie finishing touches are added. Tho
success OF a needle firm Is due in "A
largo measure TO the care used In tenn
pering and inspecting. A very care
ful inspection and tho prompt rejection
OF all. even slightly imperfect needles,
is in the end u great economy for both
maker and user.
They are now counted and tied up n
hundred In paper and tho gage
marked outside. Ton bundles 60 %
make package ready for shipment
These noodles are usually ordered
10y the mills using them direct OF the
needle. manufacturers in lots Of from
one to hundred thousand. ranging ia
price from e. 10 or 81 10 $3.50 or ~
per thousand. owing 10 quality OF
workmanship and material.