Needles. — The needle, though a simple instrument, has,
in its manufacture, to pass through the hands of nearly a
hundred workmen. It is made from steel wire, and the
processes through which it has to pass are as follows :
1st, cutting the wire; 2d, straightening; 3d, pointing; 4th,
eying; 5th, hardening; 6th, cleaning; 7th, counting and
packing.
In the first step, or the cutting of the wire, the wire is cut
in pieces the length of two needles, wires of equal diameters
being selected, so the needles will be all of one size. These
lengths, having been cut from coils of wire, are, of course,
all more or less bent, and have to be straightened, which is
the second step. This is done by enclosing them within two
rings, which are heated to redness. The edges of the rings
are inserted in what is called a smooth file, and the rings
held in this are rolled backward and forward until, by their
friction against each other, the wires become perfectly
straight.
They are then pointed at each end in a pointing machine,
which simply requires the feeding of the wires in a little
trough. In their almost momentary stay in the machine,
during which they are made to rotate on a centre-hollowed
stone, they are pointed precisely as if done by hand.
We now have a wire pointed at each end, or two needles
MENDING 373
joined together, ready for the eyes, or holes for the thread.
The eyes are now punched in by a stamping machine, and
the needles are broken in two.
They are next hardened by being brought to a red heat
and then placed in cold water or oil, heated again, and grad-
ually cooled. When they change to a blue color they are
properly tempered.
As the needles are now in a very dirty state, they are
cleaned by being put in heaps in canvas, and rolled into
bundles, and put in a scouring machine with soft soap,
emery, and oil, where they are rolled back and forth for
fifty or sixty hours.
When taken out they are sorted, so as to have the heads
all one way. This is done by girls, who wrap wash leather
around the fore fingers of their hands, and, pressing them
against the pile of needles^ catch all the points.
As a last touch, the needles are rubbed between chamois
leather to remove any stains which may have been left, and
are then ready to pack.
They are counted, and put into papers chemically pre-
pared, which prevents the needles from rusting. An expert
can count and paper three thousand needles in an hour.
The largest needle factory is in Redditch, England.
The Thimble. — Thimbles are made of metals, such as gold,
silver, steel, brass, aluminum, and celluloid.
The metal from which the thimble is to be made is rolled
in thin sheets, and cut into round disks, which are put upon
a die, and made to take the shape of a thimble. The edge is
then turned up, and the small indentations are made by
machinery upon the top and halfway down the sides, which
catch the needle when used in sewing. They are tempered
by heating and cooling, very much as the needles are. Most
of the ornamentation upon common thimbles is done by
machinery, though the finer thimbles are hand engraven.
374 HANDBOOK OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE
Some thimbles are made without a top, and are used
chiefly by tailors ; while sailors use only a broad ring, with
flat indentations on one side, and wear it on the thumb,
instead of the middle finger.
Lesson I
Facts
Page 182
Presented as published in 1900. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Needles. — The needle, though a simple instrument, has, in its manufacture, to pass through the hands of nearly a hundred workmen. It is made from steel wire, and the processes through which it has to pass are as follows : 1st, cutting the wire; 2d, straightening; 3d, pointing; 4th, eying; 5th, hardening; 6th, cleaning; 7th, counting and packing.
In the first step, or the cutting of the wire, the wire is cut in pieces the length of two needles, wires of equal diameters being selected, so the needles will be all of one size. These lengths, having been cut from coils of wire, are, of course, all more or less bent, and have to be straightened, which is the second step. This is done by enclosing them within two rings, which are heated to redness. The edges of the rings are inserted in what is called a smooth file, and the rings held in this are rolled backward and forward until, by their friction against each other, the wires become perfectly straight.
They are then pointed at each end in a pointing machine, which simply requires the feeding of the wires in a little trough. In their almost momentary stay in the machine, during which they are made to rotate on a centre-hollowed stone, they are pointed precisely as if done by hand.
We now have a wire pointed at each end, or two needles
joined together, ready for the eyes, or holes for the thread. The eyes are now punched in by a stamping machine, and the needles are broken in two.
They are next hardened by being brought to a red heat and then placed in cold water or oil, heated again, and gradually cooled. When they change to a blue color they are properly tempered.
As the needles are now in a very dirty state, they are cleaned by being put in heaps in canvas, and rolled into bundles, and put in a scouring machine with soft soap, emery, and oil, where they are rolled back and forth for fifty or sixty hours.
When taken out they are sorted, so as to have the heads all one way. This is done by girls, who wrap wash leather around the fore fingers of their hands, and, pressing them against the pile of needles^ catch all the points.
As a last touch, the needles are rubbed between chamois leather to remove any stains which may have been left, and are then ready to pack.
They are counted, and put into papers chemically prepared, which prevents the needles from rusting. An expert can count and paper three thousand needles in an hour.
The largest needle factory is in Redditch, England.
The Thimble. — Thimbles are made of metals, such as gold, silver, steel, brass, aluminum, and celluloid.
The metal from which the thimble is to be made is rolled in thin sheets, and cut into round disks, which are put upon a die, and made to take the shape of a thimble. The edge is then turned up, and the small indentations are made by machinery upon the top and halfway down the sides, which catch the needle when used in sewing. They are tempered by heating and cooling, very much as the needles are. Most of the ornamentation upon common thimbles is done by machinery, though the finer thimbles are hand engraven.
Some thimbles are made without a top, and are used chiefly by tailors ; while sailors use only a broad ring, with flat indentations on one side, and wear it on the thumb, instead of the middle finger.
Lesson I Facts