DiscoverOur American StoriesThe Inventor Extraordinaire Who Gave Us the Safety Pin: Walter Hunt
The Inventor Extraordinaire Who Gave Us the Safety Pin: Walter Hunt

The Inventor Extraordinaire Who Gave Us the Safety Pin: Walter Hunt

Update: 2025-11-10
Share

Description

On this episode of Our American Stories, Walter Hunt never set out to become famous. He spent his life surrounded by tools, sketches, and scraps of wire, moving from one idea to the next with little thought of fortune. In 1849, short on money and eager to repay a $15 debt, he sat down at his workbench and began bending a piece of brass wire. Three hours later, the safety pin was born. Hunt sold the patent for $400 and walked away without realizing what he had created. The simple clasp he designed would go on to secure clothing, diapers, and bandages across the world. Our regular contributor, Ashley Hlebinsky, tells the story of this man whose curiosity never rested.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comments 
In Channel
loading
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

The Inventor Extraordinaire Who Gave Us the Safety Pin: Walter Hunt

The Inventor Extraordinaire Who Gave Us the Safety Pin: Walter Hunt

iHeartPodcasts