The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-29
NErpLEs ZOE rHr woRLn
An American Plant TO Compete with the
English Makers,
From u. Isa.Sure Di,pa,oA.

From he FYttf5uro DispdioA.
Pittsburg proposes TO enter into competition
with worcestershire. England, and bring forth
the nations supply OF needles. Options nave
already been secured on IA tract oil lano
lying along the Monongahela near here, and
indications are favorable for the establishment
Of q plant within q few months. The industry
is to be introduced into this city. and ut the
same time into the United States. on a much
larger and more modern scale than that oil
English plants. enabling the Iron City to COM
pete easily with European factories that have
thus far maintained a monopoly OF the worlds
output. The company ia to be known as the
American Needle Company. and it is the inten-
ton to have at least three plants In the United
States. with an aggregate capacity almost
double that OF the Old World factories.
All grades, from the delicate cambria needle
20 the huge darning and sailors needles. will
be turned out. The steel needle was first shown
! TO the world ut Nuremburg at the close OF the
fourteenth century. An old-time Spaniard i'm
proved slightly over the pattern then In use.
after which an Englishman conceived the
idea OF growing the thin steel wire and polish
ing 1t. Then the industry became established
at kedditch. in Worcestershire England. This
was over 200 years ago. since which time the
English mandatory, has been supplying the
Before Emperor Wilhelm was ever thought
OF, even before Bismarck had received his first
slash at n fencing tourney. In Heidelberg. the
Of needles. In the celebrated Westphalian
district. near to the present locality, of Krupp's
srsaS sSR SG Of The a sGar fsT IN p stssls so' But
a, clever Gr dGng gn,nnInd t game e, sIIong Id 6Gns NJ f biS
own ian ana T FSSisot to an se extent saa,r Is t &S1hh History % n u
the needle industry. To-day England ie turn
ing out thousands Of boxes sol OF the shining
Needles are made of crucible steel Of the fin
est quality. Their manufacture requires, great
chinery used must be Of special construction;
From the meters the steel comes In small
transferred to gauges, which bring Il forth as
wire, from one.ilftiethh to one-seventieth Of m
he Inch na IN t nISsasss and This HI tS wire sid i of f snHses tb to
s sScs safl SPs Ei for R RTc nssdl Iaso .R RfESPsFl esnEiRas
die thus to be equqlized contains from 1000 to
Is tn then n9f heated p and pressed ta ssdd'6 on, an iron plate
rings At, Oyer this plate The bundle works
iqnSIsGsdinSnI Sits SI through INV which e the edges q
rolling the lengths become straight.
The pointing Of the needles IL done on a
ger to the operative, arising from the sparks
and dust created, One operative In ten hours
Is able 70 point 100000 needles. The point
cry Of which the. wires to be pointed are
held by a rubber band. In eying the needles
they are again heated. Each Is separately
stamped by means of a die. with the grooved
end to end. Through these stamped heads
the ,~eyeholes are perforated by a screw press.
working a pair OF fine steel punches or prongs.
The polishing process Is. done on an emery
wheel. Acid is also used in this process.
pleted their plans. but 1t is stated that the New
Workers interested favor one Of the PittsburR
sites. The matter is to be, decided at q meet
ing to be held In New York on Sept. 10.