Mows4three 826 #1 Posted April 8, 2020 Hello and good morning everyone! I was at a local junk shop looking for tools and source material for my blacksmith shop. I spotted a cardboard box full of hitch pins, chain, huge nuts and washers, and extra large nails. Also in the box was a glass jar of some pins that intrigued me. All of the contents of the box were had for one money ($2.00) so I couldn’t pass up the deal. Here’s the skinny: There are 100-120 blunt end pins with an “L” shaped bend in them. They are about 2 3/8” in length and appear to be made from stainless steel. There is not a bit of rust on any of them, and for finding them in this kind of an old glass jar, I’d say they are at least 25-30 years old. Here are a couple pictures of the pins. They are now in a plastic mayonnaise jar because I’m a clumsy guy and the glass jar wouldn’t have lasted long in a shop with big hammers and lots of steel scrap. What do do you think they are used for? I’ve already gone down the rabbit holes for: Lace working pins Upholstery pins Wig pins Carpet lacing pins Taxidermy pins I am at a loss. Anybody know for sure what these are used for? Bewildered in Pennsylvania and under COVID-19 quarantine, Dave 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,795 #2 Posted April 8, 2020 No idea! But I’m looking forward to someone smarter than I to chime in! @LengerichKA88 lookin here! You like these threads! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Digger 66 3,478 #3 Posted April 8, 2020 Acupuncture Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Tuul Crib 7,336 #5 Posted April 8, 2020 Pig sticker!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,277 #6 Posted April 8, 2020 @formariz @Ed KennellKennell @953 nut @pfrederi Anybody with any antiques knowledge.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #7 Posted April 8, 2020 (edited) Although I am fairly certain of what they are, what puts doubt in my mind is the quantity found together even though there may be a reason for that. I have used many moons ago a small hinge that was designed to be quickly and easily disassembled by removing a stainless pin like that . Pin protruded through the bottom of hinge roughly 1/2". It was tapered like that to allow quick alignment of hinge leaves. These were small hinges much like decorative hinges designed for small boxes. Extra pins were available to replace lost ones. I used them in many wall display boxes that I made for someone to display small hand made artifacts. This person would take these boxes or cases to shows through out country. Essentially it was a rectangular box about 4 feet tall by 30 inches wide and only 10 inches in depth. Box was split along the 10 inches creating two 5" leaves in which there was compartments for artifacts, covered by a piece of plexiglass. Box was hinged using those hinges. When desired he could easily remove pins and create two display cases. These cases had a removable "skate" on the bottom for ease of transportation from show to show. Each case had 4 hinges. The probable reason for so many is most likely, that what happened several times was that the pins were lost so spares were had to kept at hand. There is a modern version of same type hinge ( not easily found) that has a notch in the middle for a ball bearing within hinge barrel, so it requires a little more effort to be removed and will not fall on its own such as when turned upside down. I will see if I can find photos of that type hinge and post it as soon as I can. Edited April 8, 2020 by formariz 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LengerichKA88 1,883 #8 Posted April 8, 2020 2 hours ago, pullstart said: No idea! But I’m looking forward to someone smarter than I to chime in! @LengerichKA88 lookin here! You like these threads! And I haven’t a clue 😂 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mows4three 826 #9 Posted April 8, 2020 52 minutes ago, formariz said: Although I am fairly certain of what they are, what puts doubt in my mind is the quantity found together even though there may be a reason for that. HINGE PINS? Huh. That’s a real possibility. They are too blunt for any use that requires them to penetrate another surface like styrofoam, cork, or wood and wood composites. Thats the best guess I’ve had so far. Usually I can find other clues when I am buying from this junk store. The guy who runs it is a real peach. Seriously, a good guy. He’s pretty astute and didn’t know what they were himself. They were also not grouped with things that would have given us a clue what they were. He actually offered to give them to me for free (as a joke) if I could identify their purpose. I will look forward to you pictures of the hinges. Thanks! Dave 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Razorback 1,035 #10 Posted April 8, 2020 I say hinge pins.... makes it easy to remove a cabinet door... IBM equipment I work on use those so we can get covers off in tight spaces..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ohiofarmer 3,265 #11 Posted April 8, 2020 Looks like the pins they put in my broken thumb they were much longer than you think because they went in the bone through and through at an angle. i worked the hand hard enough that one got loose and i pulled it out a few days early. yeah, i'm a tough guy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #12 Posted April 8, 2020 Search and you shall find. This one is nearly identical to what I used except for the the square hole and notches. There is a good possibility I still have at least one here in the 40+ years of accumulated stuff. 2 hours ago, Razorback said: I say hinge pins.... makes it easy to remove a cabinet door... IBM equipment I work on use those so we can get covers off in tight spaces..... Correct. they are used in wall boxes. Similar to the new one available with the bearing detente. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 9,981 #13 Posted April 8, 2020 If I'd been earlier, hinge pins would have been my choice. Honest! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
