DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1311#0200
168 THE GREAT EXHIBITION
tastefully arranged around a centre, being of all sizes, from the large blanket-pin, of
three inches in lengths to the smallest ribbon pin used by the ribbon manufacturers,
of which 300,000 weigh only one pound. The collection of insect pins used by entomo-
logists was worthy of attention, as showing what minute specimens may be produced by
the aid of machinery. They are made of much finer wire than the ordinary pin, and
vary in length from two to three inches to a size considerably smaller than the tiny
ribbon pin. Some smooth elastic hair pins, highly approved of by the fair sex, and
of which some tons weight are annually made by Messrs. Eddelston, were also shown in
their case. The smoothness of the wire, and its fineness and elasticity, are certainly most
surprising. In connection with the manufacture of the solid-headed pins it is a curious
fact, that although so vastly superior to the old-fashioned pin, they are produced at a con-
siderably less price, in consequence of the great perfection of the machinery employed.
In addition to the improvements made in the heads, machines have recently been
constructed by the firm, each of which is capable of pointing pins at the rate of upwards
of six hundred per minute. These and various other improvements in the process of
manufacture enable the makers to sell the great majority of the pins at the merest trifle
over and above the cost of the raw metal; a large number of the pins manufactured
being sold at not more than twopence per pound over the cost of the metal of which
they are formed. Upwards of 200 hands are constantly employed by Messrs. Eddelston
in this branch of manufacture; and the number of pins made by them is, in con-
sequence of the improved machinery, more than three times that which could be
produced by the same number of workmen only a few years since. Upwards of 150 tons
weight of copper and spelter are annually worked up into pins by this one Birmingham
house alone. Were the whole of the metal which is worked up during the year, in
this one manufactory, converted into ribbon-pins, half an inch in length, it would produce
the enormous number of 100,800,000,000, or about 100 to each inhabitant of the globe.
If placed in a straight line, they would be 787,500 miles in length, or sufficient to extend
upwards of thirty times round the globe, or more than three times the distance of the
moon from the earth. Some idea may be formed from these figures, not only of the
extraordinary malleability of the metal, but of the astonishing consumption of the articles
formed from it. Indeed, we can scarcely conceive any question more completely
unanswerable than that of "What becomes of all the pins made?"
Messrs. Kirby, Beard, and Co. made an interesting display of pins in their stand; the
back of which was ornamented with the words <! Peace and Industry," and with various
other decorations produced in steel beads, closely imitating the heads of pins. In the
case itself were shown the pins in various stages of progress, and a large assortment of
" toilet," " hatters'," "jet," " ribbon," and " milliners'" pins. Mr. Goodman, of Birming-
ham, and Mr. Chambers and Mr. James, of Redditch, also exhibited a variety of pins,
which, so far as we were enabled to judge of them in the case, were well-finished spe-
cimens. In the machinery department wras shown an ingenious and interesting machine,
by Mr. lies, of Bardesley Works, Birmingham, used for sticking pins in circular tablets.
We may add that Messrs. Eddelston and Co. have since constructed a machine,
by which they are enabled to stick the pins upon the papers upon which they are sold,
and which performs its work with marvellous rapidity and accuracy. M. Reineker, of
Cologne, in the Zollverein division, showed several varieties of pins: some with com-
position metal heads, cast in the same mode as shot, with a hole in the centre and secured
to the shaft. Samples of iron wire in hanks with a coating of copper, were also shown in
the neighbourhood of the finished article. The pin manufacture of Austria was repre-
sented by M. Struntz, of Vienna; and M. Vantillard, of Me>ouvel, France, showed some
specimens of iron pins, tinned by a process recently patented both in France aud England,
tastefully arranged around a centre, being of all sizes, from the large blanket-pin, of
three inches in lengths to the smallest ribbon pin used by the ribbon manufacturers,
of which 300,000 weigh only one pound. The collection of insect pins used by entomo-
logists was worthy of attention, as showing what minute specimens may be produced by
the aid of machinery. They are made of much finer wire than the ordinary pin, and
vary in length from two to three inches to a size considerably smaller than the tiny
ribbon pin. Some smooth elastic hair pins, highly approved of by the fair sex, and
of which some tons weight are annually made by Messrs. Eddelston, were also shown in
their case. The smoothness of the wire, and its fineness and elasticity, are certainly most
surprising. In connection with the manufacture of the solid-headed pins it is a curious
fact, that although so vastly superior to the old-fashioned pin, they are produced at a con-
siderably less price, in consequence of the great perfection of the machinery employed.
In addition to the improvements made in the heads, machines have recently been
constructed by the firm, each of which is capable of pointing pins at the rate of upwards
of six hundred per minute. These and various other improvements in the process of
manufacture enable the makers to sell the great majority of the pins at the merest trifle
over and above the cost of the raw metal; a large number of the pins manufactured
being sold at not more than twopence per pound over the cost of the metal of which
they are formed. Upwards of 200 hands are constantly employed by Messrs. Eddelston
in this branch of manufacture; and the number of pins made by them is, in con-
sequence of the improved machinery, more than three times that which could be
produced by the same number of workmen only a few years since. Upwards of 150 tons
weight of copper and spelter are annually worked up into pins by this one Birmingham
house alone. Were the whole of the metal which is worked up during the year, in
this one manufactory, converted into ribbon-pins, half an inch in length, it would produce
the enormous number of 100,800,000,000, or about 100 to each inhabitant of the globe.
If placed in a straight line, they would be 787,500 miles in length, or sufficient to extend
upwards of thirty times round the globe, or more than three times the distance of the
moon from the earth. Some idea may be formed from these figures, not only of the
extraordinary malleability of the metal, but of the astonishing consumption of the articles
formed from it. Indeed, we can scarcely conceive any question more completely
unanswerable than that of "What becomes of all the pins made?"
Messrs. Kirby, Beard, and Co. made an interesting display of pins in their stand; the
back of which was ornamented with the words <! Peace and Industry," and with various
other decorations produced in steel beads, closely imitating the heads of pins. In the
case itself were shown the pins in various stages of progress, and a large assortment of
" toilet," " hatters'," "jet," " ribbon," and " milliners'" pins. Mr. Goodman, of Birming-
ham, and Mr. Chambers and Mr. James, of Redditch, also exhibited a variety of pins,
which, so far as we were enabled to judge of them in the case, were well-finished spe-
cimens. In the machinery department wras shown an ingenious and interesting machine,
by Mr. lies, of Bardesley Works, Birmingham, used for sticking pins in circular tablets.
We may add that Messrs. Eddelston and Co. have since constructed a machine,
by which they are enabled to stick the pins upon the papers upon which they are sold,
and which performs its work with marvellous rapidity and accuracy. M. Reineker, of
Cologne, in the Zollverein division, showed several varieties of pins: some with com-
position metal heads, cast in the same mode as shot, with a hole in the centre and secured
to the shaft. Samples of iron wire in hanks with a coating of copper, were also shown in
the neighbourhood of the finished article. The pin manufacture of Austria was repre-
sented by M. Struntz, of Vienna; and M. Vantillard, of Me>ouvel, France, showed some
specimens of iron pins, tinned by a process recently patented both in France aud England,