Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-05
MAKING NEEDLES.
Many Processes Necessary to Corn
piete the Tiny Sewing implements.

Before the needle reaches the state in
which We know it, il undergoes many
different operations and passes through
many hands. Tie multiplicity Of the de-
tails of needle making is so great that
the needle factory has always been cited
as an example of what can be accom-
plished by iadicious division of labor.
In the needle factory AT Laigle, France,
six qualities of steel are used. varying
in value FROM eight cents to % cents a
pound. The steel thread of which the
needles are made IS imported from Ger
many, no French steel spinner having
as yet produced wire possessed OF all
the qualities required by the needle in
dnstry. The rolls Of wire are placed on
wheels similar 10 those used in chain
making, and the needle wire, unrolled
and carried on by the machine. passes
between two fine cutting wires placed
vertically upon a table.
This machinery. which does the rough
work Of preparing the steel. and which
when examined is found To be very COM
pllcated. automatically cuts 81 blades of
steel Al once. Each of the pieces is twice
the length Of The needle 10 be made.
The cutting machine cuts about 800 tlfih
slices or bladesaof steel a minute. Nearly
if not all the blades show moro or less Of
a curve. and they must be made straight
before The work can 30 on
For that part Of the operation, the
little blades are placed in two iron rings
which stand upright one near the other,
held as the fingnastcr holds the hoops
FOR the circus rider to jump through
The packed stecls ~. 1l=t H:li Gata
riecg, and &c ho! Is cDlcatca 10 a."
heat OF q gas itllaaee lie tlts+ III tao
steels are1 then drawn font IL &c
and put on an iron lahie, - i
man runs a two-bladed cit tr.af II
the rings and cuts the sta5i 70 nc
strings. ono part OF his cutter irs,iaE
against the outer part Of the riiGs lie
end Of the cat.
Holding the stools in position, tae
workman presses hard on lis cutter,
giving it a swift to-and-fro movement 10
ron the steeis ana make them round
The steel threads. pressed close together.
and compressed By the rings, roll ono
against another. perfecting their shape
at eseIy turn.
5dey ARE now seen rs delicate, per-
fectly rounded wires blunt at the ends
"A package OF WIRES OF StttlS Is p!i.Gcu IN
IA rubbeT-lined receptacle encircled by Il
rubber band, which revolves TO q dis
tanee of one-half of its circumference.
The space between the outer aud inner
circumference varies according TO the
size of the needle to be pointed ard
the spaces are 50 arranged that only
one needle can pass between the rubhers
lat time. The, little bundle OF steel
blades Is laid against the rubber
sheathed wheel, and the machine starts.
The wheel draws in the first needle.
dignity pressing it betwGen, the two rub
Der surfaces.
As the needles roll on. on of their
ends rests against an emery molder, at
first Very lightly, touching only with tne
point then with force. until the end is
properly pointed When the point IS
perfect, the wheel casts off, the pointed
needle and draws in the next one to be
treated Tne acuon is continuous.
owing To the continuity of movement,
the machine points 450 needles 4 minute.
When the whole pack of steel hairs has
beeh pointed and east off by the wheel,