Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-27

Improvements in ManuiAetu . Since the
Time of Henry VIII.


London Invention. et
Pins are regarded as emblems Of in
significance, but their manufacture,
nevertheless, now forms an important
branch of British industry, and ii has
been estimated by competent authors
ties that their production in this coun-
try alone amounts 10 $4,000, 0000 daily,
and three-fourths of this quantity are
made in Birmingham. In Henry Wits
time pins must have been rather clumsy
ARTICLES, and were controlled by n legis-
lated specification as follows; NO per-
son shall put to sale any pins as shall
mol be dpube-headed and solderei fast
to the shank, well sinoothed, shaver,
| filed, canted and sharpenGd, &C." In
Charles is reign the industry had made
evident progress, for pin makers
corporation was then founded i'll Lon
don.
Adam South, a century ago, gave us a
very interesting description of the manu-
facture of pins as then carried on. At
that time an uneducated workman could
scarcely make dozen pins in day,
but within the last 80 years the trade
has been quite reyolutionized by the in
PRODUCTION of machinery.
Shortly after 1924 an American, l..
| w. Wright, invented n machine by
| which a perfect pin was produced dur
| ing the revolution of single wheel.
| The machine was first practically
worked in factory at Lambeth, but
soon afterward it was removed to Stroud
in Worcestershire, the seat of the pin
industry, and later removed to Birming-
| ham.
The wholesale prices of ordinary pins
may range from Is. Sd. to IS. per pound,
and on the average 10000 go to make
| this weight; chronological pins cost
about rs. per pound, and 1000 or moro
OF this class only weigh one ounce.
Each machine now used in this firms
establishment, produces 200 finished pins
per minute, which is indeed striking
contrast to the wearisome manufacture
of Adam Souths days.
Needles are manufactured out of
superior qualities of cast steel wire, cut
into lengths to make two NJ time.
These pieces are Strengthened upon an
iron table by means of an instrument
termed rubbing knfe.p The wire is
then pointed by automatic machinery
provided with u fan and shaft to carry
away the steel and grindstune dust
which is very injurious TO inhaie!: In
former days the lives of workmen en-
ployed in the needle trade were con
siderably shortened by breathing all
CHARGED with such particles.
A finished needle, however, must have
@ hard and elastic temper, whereas these
IN their present state, arc softer than the
wire outot which they are made. There
, fore, after the needles have been bur
nished III the eyes they are hardened by
heating in an oven and subsequently
cooled by plunging them into oil. Tn,
rapid cooling Of the steel makes it al
brittle as glass. The needles will nov
| almost break upon touching them; in
: deed, in this condition they would b.
. useless as in the soft state. To reduci
them to a perfect state Of elasticity thei
temperature has to be again raised Il
/, about 600 degrees and then, by allowing
them to cool gradually, the required dc
gree of elasticity is obtained. The head
/ are afterward softened by the appli
cation of heat for facilitating FURNISH
ing. The process of securing the needle
bright takes about a week. They ar
mixed with oil, soft soap and emer.
! powder, wrapped in loose canvas AM
j placed in kind of mangle worked b.
: mechanical power. This securing pro
=, cess done, the needles are washed in he
water and dried in sawdust.
The whole value OF ordinary needle
: varies from Is to IS per 1000, accordin
TO quality, and taking an average size
say No. 4, equivalent to twenty-nin
thousands of an inch in diameter, $50
Il will go to the pound.