Who Invented Clothes Peg?

Whether you’re looking for information on the who invented clothes peg or want to know why they’re used, you’ll find plenty of information in this article. Here you’ll learn about the history of the clothes peg, why they were invented, and why they’re still so popular today.

Smith

During the mid-19th century, American inventors began to mass produce clothespins. The United States Patent Office patented about 150 different kinds. Most of the designs incorporated a modified hinge or spring.

The earliest American clothespin patent was issued in March 1832. It described a bent strip of hickory wood held together with a wooden screw.

Another improved version was introduced by Solon E. Moore in 1887. This design introduced a “coiled fulcrum” that held the two wooden pieces of the pin together. This allowed the peg to be stronger and easier to open.

It also prevented the two parts from parting. The resulting pin was much easier to manufacture.

Solon E. Moore

Invented in 1853, the modern clothes peg was invented by American David M. Smith in Springfield, Vermont. It featured two wooden prongs that joined with a fulcrum to hold the pieces together.

The design was simple, but had a strong grip. The peg kept clothes securely on the wash line. The design is still used today, and is one of only 146 patents issued.

During the early 20th century, manufacturers in Vermont were producing tens of thousands of clothes pegs every day. The state became the “Silicon Valley” of the clothespin industry.

A clothespin is a small wooden object with two interlocking prongs. The prongs are connected with a coiled spring. This makes the pin easier to open and close, and stronger.

Scott Boocock

Inventor Scott Boocock is the founder of Hegs, an innovative half-peg/half-hook laundry hanging device. Hegs can be found in stores such as Foodland, IGA and Woolworths. They have ergonomic thumb grips and rust-resistant stainless steel springs.

Hegs are sold in Australia, New Zealand and China, but are also gaining a foothold in North America, England, Ireland, Japan, Korea and Mexico. They are manufactured in South Australia and have won several design awards in the process.

Scott has a knack for turning his ideas into action. Originally from Alice Springs, Northern Territory, he sold an events management company to focus on Hegs. In the early years of the company, Hegs produced 53 million pegs.

Willow pegs soothe pain

Throughout the centuries, willow pegs have been used to help soothe pain. The bark of willow trees contains chemicals that have anti-inflammatory and fever reducing properties. They also act as antioxidants.

Historically, willow bark has been used to treat arthritis and back pain. In a recent study, willow bark was found to be more effective than a placebo in reducing osteoarthritis symptoms. In addition, it was found to be more effective than placebo in reducing inflammation.

The effects of willow bark are believed to be due to its active ingredient, salicin. Salicin is a chemical that helps relieve pain and acts as an anti-inflammatory. It is similar to the chemical aspirin. It works by blocking prostaglandin production in the nerves.

Resilient material

Having a peg on the mantel doesn’t mean you’re stuck lugging it around the house. In fact, it’s a great thing to do. The old fashioned clothespin was a popular household item. Aside from its functional benefits, it was also a good way to spruce up your home. It is said that wooden clothespin makers like the aforementioned frugally inclined gents had a hard time competing with foreign competitors. This is not to say that American ingenuity did not come into play. A few clever inventors went the extra mile to make their devices more durable.

A smattering of these clever minds managed to turn their invention into a moneymaker. One such conglomerate snagged a 500,000 board foot of lumber in the early twentieth century.

Disadvantages

Compared to a conventional clothes peg, an improved version provides better grip and holds washing more securely. The invention also avoids marking the surface of the washing with the traditional clothes peg. The new clothes peg is simple in structure and economical to manufacture.

The improvement includes the use of a resilient material to allow the jaws to squash and hold the washing well. The resilient material may be a single piece or can be obtained through an industrial process such as two-shot injection molding.

This resilient material is fixed to the interior face of each of the jaw-forming parts. The anterior parts 6 and 7 are lined with the resilient material to provide a smooth surface for contact with the washing.