Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-09-26
KNITTING NEEDLES.
A Description of the Process by whlsA
They ara Made.

Description of the Process by whi,A
They ara Made.
An old needle-maker in the Hosiery
ana Knit Goods Journal tells the fol.
lowing interesting story in regard to
the manufacture Of knitting needles:
No doubt it would prove OF interest TO
readers, especially to those directly
engaged in knitting, to know the mum.
Der Of different processes a spring
needle has to go through before it ia
ready to leave the factory finished for
the knitter. The needles are made
from the best English cast steel, es-
pecially imported for this purpose In
rings or coils, OF all different sizes or
cages according to the gage needlere-
ouired. OF course there are several
different sizes or shapes of needleS
which would at present take up TOO
much room if we should attempt to
describe them all. We will therefore,
confinc ourselves to the common round
frame needle which is the cheapest
needle now in use
The wire is first Strengthened by DO.
ing drawn through a wire straightensr,
then cut in lengths for the needle re-
quired, or rather they are cut double
the length required since they can
then be handled much easier. They
are now taken and put through a mill
ing machine which mills them down
to the thickness required at the board
milling at the same time both ends Of
the wire the same. Now they are
taken and ground and pounded TO the
shape wanted. as the milling machine
leaves the barrel too wide, with a burr
on the edges which would cut the yarn.
After they have been ground and
pointed up tho next process is to get
the eye for the point OF the beard, 40
complished by means of bag punch
and die, and punched one at time
1t is now taken from the press and
the swell caused by the punching taken
from the eye, so the yarn will slip over
the needle without catching. This 10
done by grinding, when they are put
through a machine to be cramped or
in other words trim the boards At
this stage of the work they are quick
ly but carefully exam uod by cOmpe
tent so-ters and ali imperfect work
thrown away.
Long experience has demonstrated
that there are now as far as they can
be worked to double advantage. Con-
sequently 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 a little TUNED square shank
which fits into trick, and a battensd
needle is iattened on the end instead
of the shank and IL cast IN a compost
ton OF lead and block tin, the tin be-
ing put in to make the lead hard
enough to prevent the needles from
working loose.
After they are cranked or battened
they are tied up in bundles containing
from seventy to 100. In this bun
die form they are ready for the most
particular and delicate operation OF
all. viz. temperirg 1t matters not
how perfect the ne die is formed. If 1t
is not tempered right it is OF no value.
They are tempered in oil and char
coal being first hardened and then
drawn TO & sprjug temper when the
oil IS " ped of, and they arc put in
rolling harrel' achine and rolled
In emery to make them smooth. whence
they are put in another rolling Jar
rel. filled with sawdust, etc, which
gives them polish.
An inspection follows when any lit
tie finishing touches are added. Inc
success Of a needle firm is due in 3
large measure Is the care used in tenn
pering and inspecting A very care
full inspection and the prompt rejection
OF all, even slightly imperfect needles
Is 10 the end great economy for both
maker and user
They are now counted and tied up
hundred in a paper, and the gage
marked outside Ten bundles 20 70
make a package ready for shipment
These needles are usually ordered
by the mills using them direct Of tina
needle manufacturers. in lots Of from
enc 70 q hundred thousand, ranging 10
price from Sl75 or g. to $3.50 or -
per thousand owing to quality OF
workmanship and material