170 fAsSEMBLT 



But a still more important machine in the pin-making business, 

 has appeared within the space of ten years, in the machine for stick- 

 ing pins on paper. This machine has reduced the labor of pin-ma- 

 king more than one-half in addition to the labor saved on the pin- 

 making machine itself. 



The quantity of pins now made in this country is about 500 tons, 

 and this amount is made on about 100 machines. The movement of 

 these machines are effected almost exclusively by " cam motions.''* 



Other kindred machines have been produced. The machine for 

 making ladies' hooks and eyes depends on cam motions. 



Machines for the manufacture of cloth-covered and metal buttons 

 have appeared, and are of the greatest importance. The business of 

 button-making has been carried to the highest degree of perfection in 

 this country only by the aid of suitable machinery. 



Machines for braiding straw and other materials for ladies' hats, 

 have recently appeared, of great ingenuity and usefulnesss, in which 

 cam motions prevail. Machines for weaving stock-frames and stuff- 

 ers, and for weaving hair cloth by power-looms, have appeared; and 

 here again, it may be said, that cam motions are indispensable. Ma- 

 chines for making men's hat-bodies have appeared, and so cheapened 

 that article, that now, while furs are getting more scarce, and dis- 

 tant, and rising in value, bats are getting more plenty and at less 

 price. We pay $5 or $6 for a beaver that our forefathers paid twice 

 that sum. 



We will now notice two or three other machines in this connec- 

 tion, and then pass to another branch of our subject. 



There has been invented within two or three years, a machine of 

 great promise, for burring wool, and separating impurities, such as 

 sticks, hay and straw, and other substances lodged in the fleece, 

 which have been the occasion of great destruction to cards, or other- 

 wise removed by hand. Attempts had heretofore been made with 

 partial success 5 but no plan had before been suggested which did 

 not more or less injure and break the staple. The machine in ques- 

 tion was invented by Stephen R. Parkhurst of this city, who is now 

 in Europe introducing it in foreign manufactories. It has been so 



•The pins exhibited at the late Fair show the result of these improvements in pin- 

 makinjT machinrry. Tlie cost of pins has boen reduced within the last ten j'sars 

 from %i . 5U to 25 cents per pack. 



