Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01
THE MAKING OF PINS.
Automatic Machines Do the Work of
Many Hands.
From the American Exporter.

ioni Tue american Exporter.
The manufacture of pins has become such
an industry in the United States that the
mills OF this country practically supply the
"orid with this needed article, and yet the
demand is by no means a small one Pins
cost only trife nowadays where thew
were very expensive. In 1900 the $4,000 900
people in the United States used 66, 600. 600
gross of common pins, which is equal to
9.oO0,OO0,OOO pins, an average of about
l26 pins for every man. woman and child
In the country. This is the highest average
reached anywhere in the use of pins Ten
years ago we used only about 70 pins each
The total number of pins manufactured
In the United States during 1900, the CEN
sus year, was 6S,SS9, 260 gross There are
forty-three factories in all, with 1883 en-
ployeS. The business has grown RAPIDLY
during the last twenty years for although
there were forty factories in 1880 they pro-
duced only half as much, employed only
about half the capital and only 1O77 hands
There has been considerable increase in
the number of women and children employ-
ed In pin factories of late years. which is
an indication that the machinery is being
improved and simplifed and that it's OPERA
ton does not require so high an order of
mechanical skill.
Hooks and eyes are a by-product of min
making, and are produced at most of the
factories from material that will not do
for pins. The output of hooks and ewes in
1900 was ], 131, S24 gross
Pins and hooks and eyes are turned out
by automatic machines in such quantities
today that the cost of manufacture Is prac-
tically limited to the value of the brass
wire from which they are made. A single
machine does the whole business. Coils of
wire, hung upon reels, are passed into ma
chimes which cut them into proper lengths
and they drop off into receptacle and ar,
range themselves in the line Of slot form
ed by two bars. When they reach the low
er end OF the bars they are seized and
pressed between two dies. which form the
heads. and pass along into the grip of an
by pressure. They are then dropped into
solution of sour beer, whirling as they go
to be cleaned, and then into a hot solution
Of tin, which LIS also kept revolving. they
here receive their bright coat of metal, and
are pushed along, killing time until they
have had an opportunity to harden, wher,
they are dropped into revolving barrel of
bran and sawdust which cools and pclishes
them at the same time. Because of the os-
Citation of the bran they work gradually
down to the bottom of the barrel, which is
a metallic plate cut into Sits just big
enough for the body Of the pins, but not
big enough for the head to pass through.
Thus they are Strengthened out into rows
again. and, like well-drilled soldiers pass
along toward the edge Of the bottom, and
slide down an inclined plane, still hanging
by their heads, until they reach strips of
paper. to which they are introduced by a
curious jerk Of the machine. The first they
nho" tiiSJ are all pidCeQ III rows, wrapped
up and on their way to the big department
stores. where they are sold at from s cents
to 10 cents gross. A machine is expected
to throw out several thousand sross an
hour.
Needles are made by a similar machine.
IN igVo there were made i 1897 .533 gross of
machine needles, 212, ESQ gross for shoe
making. '34.416 gross for ordinary house
hold sewing machines. 3o7, 1928 gross for
knitting machines and the rest FOR other
KINDS OF sewing and knitting machinery.
generally for factory use. We Imported
S41S,Oo4 worth of ordinary needles. most of
them from England
Hatrpins and safety pins and other kinds
of pins are manufactured in similar man
ner. We made 1,1S9. 104 gross of hafrpins
In 1880 Both needles and hairpins are
manufactured 10 greater extent In En-
rope than plain pins. Safety pins, how
ever, are decidedly American, and of these
we make on an average 1000 900 gross a
year.