Ancient use of safety pins
The safety pin — which has saved many from embarrassment at times — was used during ancient times and made in those days from gold and bronze.
The patent for the modern safety pin was taken out in 1849 by Walter Hunt of New York. Iron, brass and steel wire are used to fashion the “modern” safety pin. The first pins were thorns and fish bones, used by early people to hold together garments
fashioned from animal skins.
Ornamental pins made of bronze have been found in Egyptian tombs dating back more than 3000 years. Bronze pins, decorated with jewelled heads, were used by the Romans to fasten their robes.
Pins were so scarce and valuable in England in the 1100 s that Parliament adopted a low allowing pins to be sold on only two days of the year!
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Press, 26 January 1988, Page 14
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142Ancient use of safety pins Press, 26 January 1988, Page 14
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