‘Evil to washerwomen’ and men
The modern design we know today, dates back an 1853 patent of a clothespin by Vermont’s David M. Smith.
According to his patent, dated October 25, 1853, the updated clothespins “are hinged together” by a wire “so that the two longer legs may be moved toward each other and at the same time move the shorter ones apart.”
The two wooden pieces are shaped in such a way that they form a clamp when squeezed together. This allows the clothespin to securely hold onto garments without causing damage. The spring mechanism ensures that the clothespin remains closed when in use, providing a reliable grip on the laundry even in windy conditions.
Smith details in the patent: “Another advantage and a very important one too, [what] my improved clothes pin possesses over the common pin is that it cannot be detached from the clothes by the wind as is the case with the common pin and which is a serious evil to washerwomen.”
