Thumbtack
Encyclopedia
A drawing pin thumbtack (American English) , or push pin is a short nail
or pin
with a circular, sometimes domed, head, used to fasten items such as documents to a wall or board for display. Various designs and names are used. They are inserted and removed by hand, hence the terms "thumbtack" and "push pin". The term drawing pin comes from them being used to hold drawings on drawing board
s.
Thumbtacks made from brass
are sometimes called brass tacks , brass pins or brass press. Some are made by attaching a metal stem to a flat metal head. Others are made from thin steel by stamping and bending a small narrow V-shape out of the head to form the pin (see "Stamped thumbtacks" image on right).
Map pins (also referred to as "thumbtacks" or "push pins") have a plastic head, often spherical, or handle, allowing easy removal, and often colorful, allowing different pins to be identified, such as points on a map, hence the term. Similar pins used in sewing
are referred to as s, and are used for marking points in fabric when sewing, or for holding fabric temporarily together.
Map pins are safer than flat-head thumbtacks when dropped or discarded, since they fall flat on surfaces, rather than pointing straight up, as can easily happen with simple metal thumbtacks.
Paper Crickets are new push pins with a flexible wing design that allows paper to be slipped in and hung without puncturing or damaging the paper. It is very strong and can hold multiple sheets or heavy and light paper without giving into the weight.
The thumbtack was invented either by clockmaker Johann Kirsten (between 1902 - 1903) in the city of Lychen
, Germany, or by Mick Clay in 1903 in Barnsley
, South Yorkshire
, England
.
The idea was sold to Otto Lindstedt, a businessman, who received a patent
for the thumbtack on 8 January 1904. The patent made Lindstedt a millionaire. Other sources ascribe the thumbtack invention to Austrian factory owner Heinrich Sachs in 1888.
Nail (engineering)
In woodworking and construction, a nail is a pin-shaped, sharp object of hard metal or alloy used as a fastener. Formerly wrought iron, today's nails are typically made of steel, often dipped or coated to prevent corrosion in harsh conditions or improve adhesion...
or pin
Pin (device)
A pin is a device used for fastening objects or material together. It is usually made of steel, or on occasion copper or brass. It is formed by drawing out a thin wire, sharpening the tip, and adding a head. Nails are related, but are typically larger....
with a circular, sometimes domed, head, used to fasten items such as documents to a wall or board for display. Various designs and names are used. They are inserted and removed by hand, hence the terms "thumbtack" and "push pin". The term drawing pin comes from them being used to hold drawings on drawing board
Drawing board
A drawing board is, in its antique form, a kind of multipurpose desk which can be used for any kind of drawing, writing or impromptu sketching on a large sheet of paper or for reading a large format book or other oversized document or for drafting precise technical illustrations...
s.
Thumbtacks made from brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
are sometimes called brass tacks , brass pins or brass press. Some are made by attaching a metal stem to a flat metal head. Others are made from thin steel by stamping and bending a small narrow V-shape out of the head to form the pin (see "Stamped thumbtacks" image on right).
Map pins (also referred to as "thumbtacks" or "push pins") have a plastic head, often spherical, or handle, allowing easy removal, and often colorful, allowing different pins to be identified, such as points on a map, hence the term. Similar pins used in sewing
Sewing
Sewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the Paleolithic era...
are referred to as s, and are used for marking points in fabric when sewing, or for holding fabric temporarily together.
Map pins are safer than flat-head thumbtacks when dropped or discarded, since they fall flat on surfaces, rather than pointing straight up, as can easily happen with simple metal thumbtacks.
Paper Crickets are new push pins with a flexible wing design that allows paper to be slipped in and hung without puncturing or damaging the paper. It is very strong and can hold multiple sheets or heavy and light paper without giving into the weight.
Invention
Pins have been used on maps at least since the time of Napoleon. But the "map pin" was not patented until the early 1900's, when Edwin Moore founded his Moore Push-Pin Company.The thumbtack was invented either by clockmaker Johann Kirsten (between 1902 - 1903) in the city of Lychen
Lychen
Lychen is a town in the Uckermark district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated 24 km southeast of Neustrelitz, and 12 km east of Fürstenberg/Havel. This is the town where the thumbtack was created....
, Germany, or by Mick Clay in 1903 in Barnsley
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The idea was sold to Otto Lindstedt, a businessman, who received a patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
for the thumbtack on 8 January 1904. The patent made Lindstedt a millionaire. Other sources ascribe the thumbtack invention to Austrian factory owner Heinrich Sachs in 1888.