Safety pin

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A safety pin.

A safety pin is a device most commonly used to attach two pieces of fabric together.

1 Origin
2 Construction
3 Culture
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Origin

The origin of the safety pin dates back to the Mycenaeans during the 14th century B.C. (Late Mycenaean III era). They are known as "Fibulae" (singular fibula) and were used in the same manner as modern day safety pins. In fact, the very first fibulae of the 14th and 13th centuries B.C. looked remarkably like the safety pin. The origin of the fibulae is detailed in Chr. Blinkenberg's 1926 book Fibules grecques et orientales.

The safety pin was re-invented in July of 1849 by Walter Hunt. The rights to the invention were sold for $400.

[edit] Construction

Made of rigid but bendable metal, it is activated by squeezing the parallel sides inwards. It is safe because the sharp needle tip is covered when the safety pin is closed. It is used for clothing and other cloth that has no special provision for attaching such as buttons or a zipper, and for provisional repair in the case of some imperfections of clothing. The safety pin punctures and goes through the surface of the material with its sharp end then joins back up to a shielded end on itself holding the object in place. Not only is the safety pin useful, but it is also used as an accessory in the punk fashion of past and present. The safety pin is strong, safe and very durable. Safety pins are very common and inexpensive and they come in many sizes. They are also manufactured in plastic variants.

[edit] Culture

According to Dick Hebdige, since the mid- 1970's in Great Britain, the punk subculture has incorporated safety pins in the punk style to represent a 'cut up' look of the post-war working-class youth. The look was taken originally from Richard Hell who the British punks saw pictures of in Punk magazine, among other places & adopted his style. This is according to a few documentaries & Malcolm McLaren, who has credited this style to his first impressions of Richard Hell while he was in New York managing the The New York Dolls. Also often mixed up with the word paper clip. Paperclips are also sometimes used in piercings by amateur piercers.