Until the twentieth century pins were normally made with a separate head and shank. The head was made from a short length of wire that was coiled around another wire (the shank). The head coil was then slightly flattened and secured in place by soldering together the two elements. By the mid-twentieth century most pins were in one piece, using stainless steel, except for specialist pins, such as those used by lace makers that were still made of brass.
See also the TRC Needles entries on American sewing pins, pin cushionand pin money.
Sources:
- GROVES, Sylvia (1966). The History of Needlework Tools and Accessories, Feltham: Country Life Books, pp. 49-56.
- Shorter Oxford English Dictionary: 'Pin'.
Digital source of illustration (retrieved 7th July 2016).
GVE