Autumn will be here in a little over a month—time to start tidying-up for the Winter. In times past, before homes had summertime air conditioning, the semi-annual ritual of swapping window screens for storm windows (and vice versa) was part of the seasonal cycle. But which custom-fitted screen (or storm window) went into which window frame? Brass tacks—like the set shown above—came to the rescue. Each set of tacks was numbered (in this case, 1 through 15). The homeowner would press a numbered tack (let's say #7) into his window frame, a matching tack (another #7) into the the corresponding window screen frame, and a third matching tack (#7) into the proper storm window. This way, screens and storm windows are easily identified—and matched to the proper window frame.
These days, I don't witness my neighbors changing screens and storm windows. I know that I don't do it. Modern HVAC (and improved, triple-glazed windows with built-in screens) seems to have made such seasonal exercises redundant. So numbered tacks, like the ones shown above, need to find new uses. I see them being wonderful for visual merchandising or other display-related functions. Perhaps a way of numbering items in a museum show case—or numbering the pictures along a gallery wall (which correspond to the artwork's information, printed on a card or placard).
The maker of these brass tacks, The Moore Push-Pin Company of Philadelphia, has an interesting history. Its founder, Edwin Moore was born in Bethlehem, PA and earned a civil engineering degree at Princeton. He worked in photography and lamented the unwieldy pins he had to use to hang freshly-processed photos on their drying racks. He invented the "modern" push-pin—with an easy-to-grip "handle" or "knob"—and patented it in 1900. Moore's invention used steel pins set within a glass knob. He borrowed $100 (plus the $12 he had saved himself) and rented a room in Philadelphia to fabricate and market his invention. Business was great! Moore took-in $1500 in his first year—with $1000 of that coming from photography company Eastman Kodak! He incorporated in 1904 and added new styles to his catalog. Edwin Moore made a fortune in push-pins—while revolutionizing such an unpretentious industry. Today, though the handle materials have changed (usually metal or plastic), the basic form of the push-pin remains unchanged. No improvement necessary.
Click on the photo above to learn more about these Moore Numbered Brass Tacks.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248