The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-01-09

ible that they can be produced and sold at
the prices asked for them, as each needle
has to be dealt with separately in dozen
different processes. The best quality of
crucible steel wire is used for sewing ma
into blanks of the required length, and the
blanks are passed over coarse and fine
emery wheels until they are reduced in
diameter, polished and pointed. Grooves
are then cut in the opposite sides of the
needles by fine circular saws and the eye
punched. The next processes involve
hardening and tempering. which are done
to the needless en- ma>se.
After being cleaned the needles are car
ried against rapidly revolving scratch
brush of brass wire which grind> the grooves
smooth and then against a bristle brush
for final polish The eye remains rough
and to polish this the needles are strung
upon cotton thread covered with oil and
emery and the thread is drawn back and
forth at all possible angles to round and
polish the eye The needles are then
cleaned and inspected, the imperfect ones
being rejected and the sound ones sent to a
hard stUaightener. who with defl blows of
a small hammer corrects any curvature they
may have acquired The final processes
are finish pointing and finish polishing done
respectively 10y fine emery weel and a
revolving hair brush Sometimes the blank
is formed by cold ~wagins, which stretches
out and reduces IN diameter the original
blank until the needle /, of the size and
form desired and then the other processes
follow. In the making of hand sewing
needles two needles are formed in one
piece. the points at the two ends and the
eyc- in the middle and they are afterwards
cut apart aud finished separately.
4 great many forms Of special needles
are made. some with hook At the end in
stead Of an eye, sore with chisel, diamond
or other kinds of points instead Of the
usual roaud point. aud then there are
curved needles for putting welis upon boots
and shoes. Steel spring and latch needles
are uade for use in hosiery and stockinet
sork and require great skill in their man
ufaoture
The yalne Of needles made in the United
States in 1900 exceeded 81, coo 600. Of
which common sewing machine needles
represented $500 GOO in value, knitting
machine uec,iles morc than half a million
dollars and ether sewing machine needles
about si00. 00l Connecticut produces
s40U O0o worth Of needles annually. and
the three Nes England S,ates-Co Connec,i-
cut, Massachasc,,. and New Hampshire
four 6tths q the total product of the Uni
ted States Pennsylvania produced only
so, 600 worth and New York only $50,
D00 worth Of needles.
HOOKS AND gfgS
Al,hoagh the manufacture Of hooks and
eyes Is of more Importance than ,hat Of
pins. both in the amount Of capital invest
Ell and in The value Of products, the indus
tn has beoo very largely developed since
the census Of 1880 was taken, and perhaps
fur ,ha, reason It's Importance a. special
industry has been overlooked,
The trade has grown to such an extent
uos ooly in this country bu, in Europe aud
other paFs. Of the world that great fac
tory 10 this city yhoagh ran nigh, aud day
Is unable to keep up wiih demand for that
style
an Of the daer grades of hooks and eyes
arc u;ade Of brass wire. but iron wire is
used for the coarse kinds There are ten
regular sizes, ranging from 90, very dain
" httle hook. to No -, an inch 10 length,
which Is used Tor cloaks The so-called in
visible eyes are almost straight pieces Of
wire to take the place Of the silk loops for
merly used.
SrEKL PENS.
On Spring Garden street, above Twelfth,
Is modest little steel pen iactory--one Of
three in the United States when the ecu
sus Of 1900 was taken One Of the Others
i, ia Camden, y J o., aud the other in Ohio.
There are, however, two other manutac-