French glass headed pins, Black

A box of black glass headed pins from the museum factory of La Manufacture Bohin in Saint Sulpice sur Risle, Normandy - since 1952 the only needle maker left in France. Produced on a remarkable machine that melts the glass as the pins heads turn through it, catching a drop as they do so. Easily visible against variously coloured backgrounds, these pins are less likely to be inadvertently left in place, with the advantage that if they are they will not melt under the heat of an iron. About 30mm by 0.6mm. 20g or about 175.