A mixed bag of haberdashery …

Sta-Rite De-luxe Ringlet Curl Pins

Sta-Rite Inc, still in business, was established in 1917 in Shelbyville, Illinios . At first they made hair pins from celluloid, then from 1921, steel wire. During WW2 they shifted their production to defence department requirement, which is probably why these pins were made in England by Newey Bros Ltd, famous for the production of press-studs, hook & loops, and hair pins.

Daily Mercury (Mackay, Qld), 4th February 1925 page 4.

Advertising pasted onto the back of a packet of their hooks & eyes.

Thomas Phipson & Sons Fine London Brass Pins

Around the year 1785 Samuel Ryland transferred the making of pins to his nephew, Thomas Phipson. This is one ounce of mixed pins wrapped it paper, with  a trademark showing a beehive and the motto “nothing without labour” on the back.

Camperdown Chronicle (Vic), 30th May 1933 page 6.

Sew’n’Save Velvet Ribbon

These cards of “velvet” ribbon (made of rayon!) are a good example of “metrication” in Australia. This process started in 1966 with the conversion of our currency to decimal. From 1971 the conversion to decimal units of measurements occurred, and imperial units were withdrawn from use. The card was priced at 22 cents (decimal) but held yards of ribbon (imperial). Sew’n’Save was a Woolworths home brand from 1967-1972.

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