518 A VISIT TO THE BRITISH NEEDLE MILLS. 
closely to his work, in order that he may see to " eye " the needles pro- 
perly. Were not the wires previously prepared by the stamper, it would 
be impossible thus to guide the piercers to the proper point, but this 
being effected, patience, good eye-sight, and a steady hand effect the rest. 
THE WIRE " SPITTED. 
There are several processes about this stage which are effected by 
boys ; some of these little labourers take the needles when they have 
been " eyed " and proceed to " spit" them, that is, to pass a wire through 
the eye of every needle. Two pieces of fine wire, perhaps three or four 
inches in length, are prepared, the diameter corresponding exactly with 
the size of the needle eye. These two pieces of wire are held in the 
right hand, parallel, and at a distance apart equal to the distance be- 
tween the two eyes in each needle-wire. The pierced needles, being held 
in the left hand, are successively threaded upon the two pieces of smaller 
wire, till, by the time the whole is filled, the assemblage has something 
the appearance of a fine toothed comb. A workman then files down the 
bur or protuberances left on each side of the eye by the stamper. 
It must be borne in mind that throughout all these operations the 
needles are double ; that is, that the piece of wire, three inches in length, 
which is to produce two needles an inch and a half long is still whole 
and undivided, the two eyes being nearly close together in the centre, 
and the two points being at the ends. Now, however, the separation is 
to take place. The filer, after he has brought down the protuberances 
on each wire, but before he has laid the comb of wires out of his hand, 
bends and works the comb in a peculiar way until he has broken the 
comb into two halves, each half " spitted " by one of the fine wires. 
The needles have arrived at something like their destined shape and 
size, for they are of the proper length and have eyes and points. In the 
annexed cut (p. 519) we -can trace the wire through the processes of 
change hitherto undergone. 
But although we have now little bits of steel which might by cour- 
tesy be called needles, they have very many processes to undergo before 
