French ball-sprung safety pins, size 2 (36mm)

A pack of 12 size 2 safety pins of about 36mm length, made in the classic 'French' style, that is without a coil, but with the addition at the elbow of a small ball, or olive which helps to maintain tension of the spring, whilst avoiding fabric becoming nipped and trapped between the coils. Made on original machines at the museum factory of La Manufacture Bohin in Saint Sulpice sur Risle, Normandy — since 1952 the only needle maker left in France.