Papering the pins for sale is one of the slowest operations in the manufacture. When the pins are separated from the bran, as just described, they are thrown into bowls, with their points in all direc tions; but before papering it is necessary to arrange them all the aline way. This is done by laying a number of them upon a sort of comb, between the teeth of which they are caught by the head ; they arc then placed upon a piece of metal, with as many grooves as there are pins required in a row, and held there by another piece of metal being placed upon them. These pieces of metal are not quite so broad as the pins are long, no that their points project beyond the edge of the metal. The paper is folded into the required shape, and pressed against the points of the pins, which are then relieved from the holder ; and the next row is arranged in like manner.
Of these operations, drawing the wire, cutting it into lengths, cutting the heads from the coils, and tinning, are performed by men ; the rest by the women and children.
The above description relates to the manufacture of pin's by hand. It must now be stated, however, that most of the operations have gradually been brought within the scope of machinery. One of the earliest pin machines was that of Mr. Randy. This machine fixed on the heads in the old manner, but more firmly. Each head was fastened by one blow, and several pins were operated on at the same time. Since that time several other machines have been invented for forming the head out of the stem of the pin itself, by pressing a small part of the end of the stem into a hollow die. A large proportion of the pins now manufactured are made in this way, and are much superior to those made in the old fashion. One objection however has been urged against them. It is stated that to form the head in this manner by pressure, the wire requires to be very soft, and consequently the pins will easily bend ; but this evil has gradually been somewhat lessened. In Wright's pin-making machine, motion is given either by manual power or by machinery to a strong axis working in collars. This main axis carries several cams or excentric wheels which put forward at each revolution as many levers or slides at right angles to the main axis. These levers return to their former situation as soon as the cam ceases to operate by means of a strong spiral spring attached to each ; at the other ends of these slides the different operations are performed. A coil of brass-wire of the requisite size is placed upon a reel and spindle, and the end is drawn through a set of zig-zag pins as before described for straightening the wire, and placed between the teeth of a strong pair of pincers. This is all that is necessary to be done before setting the machinery in motion. The first slide then moving forward shuts the pincers upon the wire and instantly carries it forward into a nipping-gauge which closes and cuts off sufficient for one pin. This length can be regulated by the adjustment of a small screw attached to the first slide. The piece thus cut off is carried by an ingenious little adaptation called a carrier to the next operating slide. These carriers are four in number, mounted on a bar at right angles to the working slides, and parallel to the main axis ; this bar has a motion given to it in the direction of its length, and moves once for every piu length of wire cut off by the gauge before mentioned. The carriers
themselves are made somewhat in the manner of a pair of pliers, the under chap being kept up to the other by a spring. The juncture of these chaps is exactly opposite to the pin, which is forced between the chaps and carried to the next operation. The piece of wire is deposited by the first carrier in the centre of a chuck attached to a small mandril, which by a moveable lever clutches the pin ; the instant this is done, the frame which supports the mandril is tilted so as to bring the point of the pin down upon a revolving steel mill just below it ; a lever or . finger then presses the end of the wire upon the mill, and at the same instant the mandril carrying the pin is set in motion. The wire is thus ground to a point; the mandril frame then rises, the mandril itself is brought to rest, the pin released, and conveyed by the second carrier to a finer mill, where the point is completed by exactly the same process as the preceding. It is then taken by the third carrier to the first beading die, where the body of the pin is firmly held while a steel punch advances against the end of the wire, and forcing it into a hollow in the die, partially forms the bead. The last carrier then takes the pin,.and placing it in another die, the head is completed by another punch ; a small forked lever then draws the finished pin from the die, and drops it into a receptacle below. The pins are then tinned in the manner previously described. These operations are carried on by the machine simultaneously, and each occupies the same time ; five pins being constantly under operation in the different stages ; the machine will produce fifty or sixty pine per minute, and only requires the attendance of one person.
The patent method, just adverted to, was devised by an American of Massachusetts, but was first tried in England. A large factory was set up for the purpose at Lambeth, stocked with sixty of the pin-making machines. A difficulty at first arose in heading the pins; and a new machine was invented for this purpose. A lengthened period of ill success brought on the ruin of the company by whom the enterprise was conducted. Mr. Taylor, one of the sufferers by the scheme, bought the machines at a low price, took them down to Stroud in Glouces tershire, made several improvements, procured the assistance of capitalists, and established a solid-headed pin manufactory. This led to the establishment of others; and Stroud is now one of the head quarters of the trade.
America was supplied with pins from England until 1812 ; when the war between the two countries checked the import, and set the inven tors to work. Manufactories were established at New York and else where; but when the war ended, the United States were suddenly glutted with English pins at a price so low as to ruin these enterprises. Gradually, companies were formed (as is usual in the United States) to conduct the manufacture by new machines ; and at the present time, some of these companies conduct the operations on a very large scale, making eight or ten tons of pins per week each. The Americans have been successful in inventing machines whereby the papering of pins can be conducted with great expedition.