Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-18
NEEDLES And PINS.
BY Frederic ]. Haskin.

iii BY Frederic
From time immemorial these small in
struments Of trouble to the married man
have played an important part in the evo-
luton Of human civilization. Civilization
cannot exist among unclothed human be-
ings, and clothing cannot be produced
without needles to sew it. Consequently
the use of the needle dates back to the
stone age. when it took the form Of a
hooked bone, by means of which the
primitive woman drew together the skins
of the animals captured by her lord and
master, fastening them with sinews in
lieu Of thread. And because needles were
difficult to obtain and sinews even more
so, and also because different occupations
required a change in the manner of drap-
ing the prehistoric robe, temporary
fastening had to be evolved. This was
pinning, and nature provided strong
smooth thorns which required little or
no preparation to make them serve their
purpose. Thus the primitive family was
quite as dependent upon the needle anu
pin for its bodily comfort as is the ram
lily of the present.
The Kaffirs in Africa are today using a
curious combination of the needle ana
pin. They have an iron pin with roun9
head. They tie fiber or thread around
the needle next the head and by punctur-
ing holes, in the fabric they desire to sew
are able to put in stitches effectively ana
smoothly. though their method seems ID
borious compared with the use OF the
modern needle, which they are now learn,
;,>rv IA needle
be found only in museums, although II Is
still being used by the older women OIL
the tribes.
There is an almost endless variety OF
needles and the different uses Of them are
increasing.
Variety Almost Endless The use
and Uses Are Increasing.e for
knitting, shoemaking and garmen'-"aA.
ing calls for special needles, which must
be changed frequently to keep up Win
tho improvements developed in the ma
chimes. There are a number OF KINDS "
cooking needles which were Wen h.'o ~
in Eurone hut II took an American 10 III
vent the ham needle, which Is useo n'
all IF the great meat-packing estao"sh-
men+s Of this country. 1t Is really q
thin knife blade, tapered TO poin'' w.
it has a long oval eye to carry 'ne s.ou'
Irvine drawn through the end or the nam
and other pieces Of meat which nave u
be hung in the smokehouse.
The improvements upon the 1ara ,sI.
kinds of machine needles are idrseIs
made by Americans, although the 80 %
hand sewing needles are still supposed ~
he iInnorted from England. The develop
ment of the shoemaking trace CAREY ~.
MANY special kinds Of needles. one Oh .ns
most unique being grooved anu Gu ror
into a fraction of circle IL Is us ~ ~
nutting the welts upon shoes: MANY VI
the needles used in sewing leather al are
triangular in shape instead or rouno. me
fine glove needles are trians uiai ~
TO the extreme point. The khi.tnis Ia a
chine could not be mace PIactuo .i,.d n,
the idea of having the needles nooAeu &c. q.
the end occurred to the inventor: AL.ei
that principle became recognized lle eso
luton of the knitting macnime was Of
sured. No less than l:3o'.oJo, sloHa e 70
machine needles of various KINDS were
manufactured in this country last year
and about one-sixth ofthese were design
cd for some part of shoe manufacture.
The development of surgery calls lof
an a,most endless variety Of needles 1or
oii "- n cir
Success Of Operations Due s.t
Largely to Needles. grue-
some uses. It is the development OF the
surgeons needle which is largely re-
sponsible for the success Of many opera
lions and for the comparatively unnotice-
able scars resulting from the use of the
surgeons knife upon the face or hands.
Exnert dermatologists. who devote their
skill to the improvement Of facial de-
fec.s. have originated several new forms
of surgeons needles, one Of the most re-
markable of which is the nose needle.
which can sew clean through the carti-
lage of the nasal organ when change
in It's outline has been deemed desirable.
According to recent estimate the
daily consumption of needles throughout
the entire world amounts to over 3,OOOOoO.
The women of the United states use
about 300, 100000 needles each year. IN
addition to the machine needles ABOUT
half million gross of ordinary sewing nee
dies are manufactured in this country
each wear and little more than that
number are imported from England. Inc
manufacture of needles takes an intri-
cate routine, requiring at least twenty
two distinct processes from the time the
wire is cut into proper length until the
finished needles are finally stuck into the
purple paper used to prevent their rust
ing.
To many people the placing OF the eye
in the needle is the most interesting proc
ess. because of the minute eXactftude re-
ouired. 1t is related of a Russian prince
who went through an English needle fac
tory that he expressed his surprise that
a hole could be put in SO fine an object
as the silver of steel designed for fine
cambria needle. Twill your highness give
me a hair from your head?" asked the
manager, who was showing the distin-
guished visitor through the factory The
hair was given and the manager passed 1t
to the workman at the drilling machine.
who put a hole through it and presented
it to the prince. threaded with bit or
silk of microscopic finenese.
T.
The manufacture of needles and pins Is
usually conducted in the same factory,
and
Five Thousand Employed; he
out
Mostly Women arc {, mt
is usually reckoned together in the MAX
ing up of government reports. There are
now forty-six OF, these establishments.
fewer than were reported several years
IL. ID