"A man who could invent a safety pin... was truly a mechanical genius..."
New York Times
Necessity is the mother of invention according to Plato, and this was certainly true for Walter Hunt (1796- 1859) and his most famous invention—the humble safety pin. This useful object is found in households across the globe; it even gained status as a fashion accessory, with the Punk movement of the 1970s.
Walter Hunt was a New York mechanic who, in 1849, sat wondering how he could pay off a small debt. He spent around three hours twisting a length of wire in his fingers before he created the answer to his problems, the ubiquitous safety pin. Pins were by no means a new idea, having existed for centuries before Walter's twist on the design. However, his creation was unique as it provided a solution to the potential problem of pricking oneself with the old- style variety. His pin consisted of a length of wire coiled into a spring at the center, with a sharp point at one end and a safety clasp at the other.
Hunt's design was patented in April 1849, and he sold the rights to his creditor, clearing a $385 profit. Unfortunately Hunt had no idea how popular his invention was set to become. He also designed America's first sewing machine (with an eye-pointed needle) but, fearing the loss of jobs his creation may cause, he did not patent the idea. It was left to a fellow American, Elias Howe, to claim the credit for this invention some twenty years later.
