Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-16
EDWIN MOORE, MADE
RICH AND FAMOUS BY
PUSH PIN, EXPIRES
Man Who Built Big Busi-
ness on Little Thing" Dies
at His Home Here of
Pneumonia
BEGAN ON SMALL SCALE

Edwin Moore, of Moore Push Pin
Fame" who was known throughout the
United States as the man who built n big
business on a little thing" died at 1890
O'Clock today at his home. 2225 West We.
mango street following an illness of five
weeks. Heart disease superinduced by the
grip, caused death.
Mr. Moore was one of those observant
opportunists described so'aptly by the Rev.
Dr. Russell II. Conwell in his famous lee.
ture "Acres of Diamonds" He conceived
an idea so simple that II seemed absurd
that somebody hadn't thought of II before.
and then he proceeded to give the world
the benefit of his idea through the medium
of national advertising That is why the
Moore push pin is used today in all civ.
ilized-lands
The idea of the push pin burst upon Mr..
Moore In 1897 while he was engaged in
the photography bushes. 1t was the force
Of necessity that caused him to get the
idea He was subject to much annoyance
by the need of convenient pin or tack
with which he could fasten his prints and
films to the drying rack after their long
baths In the water tank. Ordinary pins
were difficult to manage and bent easily.
Ordinary thumb tacks were not con-
structed for quick withdrawal
MAKER AND SALESMAN.
Mr.. Moore's great asset was an un-
pins and a great faith in publicity In
describing that trying period in his bus-
ness career, Mr.. Moore said sometimes be-
fore his death 81 had but SIP, which
was largely used in the purchase of mate
rials. made push pins one day and went
out to sell them the next, so | could get
money enough to manufacture more. |
was both manufacturer and salesman"
Mr.. MoOre's first sale was one gross for
So The next order was for SIS worth
and the first big deal was n sale of $1,000
to the Eastman Kodak Company.
Mr. Moore quickly realized the advisa-
bility OF placing his push pin on the world
market and in 1908 his first national adj
vertisement appeared in the Ladies' Home
journal, This was followed by others.
The experiment wa success, and today
the Moore Push-Ph Company owns and
occupies large well-equipped plant at
Wayne Junction which is devoted exclu-
sively to the manufacture of little
things"
WAS Al YEARS OLD.
Mr.. Moore was born in Northumberland.
Pa, Al years ago. He was the son of
the Rev. Alexander Davis and Maria l..
Moore. At the age of IS months he re-
moved with his parents to Bethlehem.
Pa, where he attended the public schools.
Later he removed to Moore, Pa where
his father was pastor of the Presbyterian
ton University, and, after working his
way through the institution, was grad
uated with the degree of civil engineer
Mr. Moore was member of the Beth
lehem Presbyterian Church, at Broad and
Diamond streets. of which his father was
assistant pastor for a number of years.
He taught a young women's Bible class
in the church for a number of years, and
was also chairman of the Music Com
mIttee. He was an elder of the church
and a member of Olivet Lodge, Free and
Accepted Masons.
Mr.. Moore is survived by his widow,
who was Miss Laura Stiles Moore, and
two sons, Alexander Davis and Mills
Moore. He also leaves his mother, Mrs.
Maria Moore, and two sisters and two
brothers-Miss Louise V. Moore, a tea cher
of music in the Germantown High School
Mrs. John De Gray, of Harrisburg. Pa.
William Douglas Moore, an attorney in
New York. and Daniel NJ Moore, of
Orange, N, j.